Canon CMos ISO-1600, Low-Light: image Quality in 3 Eos

Trio of ISO-1600 Champions : Eos 1D MkII, Eos 20d, 5D FF

Eos 1D Mk II, Eos 20d and 5D are 3 Canon cameras launched in January 2004, August 2004, August 2005. All 3 are DSLR models : Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras that are based on APSH (1D Mk II), APSc (Eos 20d) and Full-Frame (5D) CMos sensor. The 5D is the first affordable FF camera with a resolution of 12.7 Mpix, versus the 1D Mark II and the Eos 20d provide 8.2 Mpix. All 3 show Very Good image Quality at ISO-1600 setting in Low-Light conditions.
Overview of the Main Specs of the 3 Eos as a starting point to compare them:

Camera bodies from APSc up to Full-Frame specifications

body size, weight, CF/SD card, Canon 1D MkII, Eos 20d, 5D FF

Let's compare the body Front-Area (Width * Height / 100) of our 3 DSLR : 1D = 246 cm2 - 20d = 153 cm2 - 5D = 172 cm2. the Canon Eos 1D Mk II is way larger, 43% than the Eos 5D which is itself 12% larger than the Canon Eos 20d. Plus, the 1D Mk II is considerably heavier, 75% than the Eos 5D which is itself 16% heavier than the Eos 20d. Both 1D and 5D DSLR bodies are Weather Sealed and can hence, be used in inclement weather conditions and in harsh environments.

The above size, weight comparisons are somewhat incomplete since they do not take into account the interchangeable Lenses that all of these 3 cameras require. A large CMos sensor, as in the Eos 1D and more in the Eos 5D will tend to need Bigger, Heavier lenses, while More Compact EFs Lenses are available for the APSc-CMos of the more Compact Eos 20d.

The Eos 20d and 5D write their imaging data to 1 Compact Flash card, while the 1D Mk II uses 1 CF and 1 Secure Digital card. The 1D Mark II features Dual card slots, which can be useful in case a memory card fails or card full.

About their Battery Life, the Eos 5D and Eos 20d get respectively 400 and 700 shots out of their BP 511A battery charge, while the Eos 1D Mk II can take 1200 images on a single charge of its NP-E3 power pack. The 1D Mk II has a built in Battery Grip while for the Eos 20d and the 5D, Canon provides respectively the BP-E2 and the BG-E4 vertical Grip as optional accessories. Image-taking in portrait orientation is easier and they carry additional battery power

Despite larger FF sensor, the 5D was launched at a lower price than the 1D Mk II, launched into a Higher Market Segment class. Street prices remain initially close to Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, but after a few months, first discounts lower their price. When replacement models are about to appear, later in their product cycle, further discounting, stock clearance sales, push the camera price down. After the New Models are out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market. Quality / price ratio is a big factor in any DSLR decision, but you'll have a real idea about it only after a few months or years of usage.

Feature-Sets from Expert up to PRO-camera compared

Canon Eos 1D Mk II, Eos 20d and 5D are similar in the sense that all three have an Optical ViewFinder, as any DSLR camera has. Which OVF is useful to get a Clear image for composing a scene and framing it, even in Dim lit environments. The 100% viewfinder in the 1D Mk II has a wider Field of View than the one in the 5D (96%) and the one in the 20d (95%), so that a larger proportion of the framed image is visible in the finder. But the OVF of the 5D has a Higher Magnification Factor (0.71x) than the one in the 20d (0.56x) and the one in the 1D Mk II (0,55x). So that the size of the image viewed from the 5D appears closer to the size seen with our naked human eyes. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Eos 1D Mk II, the 20d, the 5D and other DSLR.

Sony A7-R II is a very different MirrorLess interchangeable Lens camera, of EVIL or MILC type. Overheating issues due to tiny EVIL format drove Sony to include a strong Raw-NR (Star-Eater) into their A7-R family instead of a Passive Sensor Cooling system that need a little room to be efficient.

Camera Sensors from APSc up to Full-Frame compared

Large sensored DSLR cameras will give the photographers more possibilities in selecting shallow Depth of Field in order to isolate a Subject from its Background. On the downside, Larger sensors tend to need heavier, larger, more expensive camera Bodies, Lenses and optical Accessories.

Neither the 1D Mark II(N) nor the Eos 20d nor the 5D offer Live View, so that they can't Show the live image that their sensor receives onto their rear LCD screen.
All these 3 DSLR cameras are also Still-image limited and can't record Video.

Full-Frame +Smaller sensors : Diagonal, Width x Height, Area - Click enlarges

From our DSLR Trio, the Eos 1D Mk II features an APSH sensor, the Eos 20d a Canon APSc sensor and the Eos 5D a FF sensor. These 3 DSLR show a Crop Factor of respectively, 1.3, 1.6 and 1.0. All cameras in this page have an Aspect Ratio = sensor Width to Height, of 3:2. With 12.7 Mpix, the Eos 5D offers Higher Resolution than both the 1D Mk II and the Eos 20d (8.2 MP). The 5D also has the Largest pixel area. A pixel pitch of 8.25μm for the Eos 5D vs 8.17μm for the 1D Mark II and 6.42μm for the Eos 20d.

Resolution advantage of the Canon Eos 5D offers the possibility to print Larger pictures (higher flexibility for cropping images). The Max Print size of the Eos 5D outputs to ~77*51 cm at 144 dpi for Good quality prints ; to ~50*33 cm at 220 dpi for Very Good quality ; to ~37*25 cm at 300 dpi for Excellent quality. Max Print size of Eos 1D Mk II and Eos 20d are ~62*41 cm for Good quality A2 ; 40*27 cm for Very Good quality A3 ; 30*20 cm for Excellent quality A4.
Calculation : Print-Size in cm = Pixels * 2.54 / DPi

from Canon Eos 20d, 5D Astro Makeup to final Jpeg image

Equatorial-Mount informations : I use a Black HEQ5 Mount (1st Models).
- the building where I live Hides me the North-Half of the Sky, but...
as I can see the " Bonne-Mere " ND de la Garde, through the trees, ok...
I've to perform a complex Trigonometric HEQ5 Mount 2D Angular positioning
from the North-South axis, the 3rd-D stands in a +/- Perfect Horizontal plane.

Guiding informations : I use a PCvc840k ToUCam PII on the Finderscope.
- Upgraded my HEQ5-Mount with the SkyWatcher HEQ5 Goto-Kit in 2009...
- Connected to PHD-Guiding-1.11 via Win-2k on an Acer TM-270 NoteBook

Optics, Filters, Correctors : Newtonian Reflectors, Optical Accessories
- Very Good (but Narrow Focuser) SkyWatcher Newton 254/1200 often in use
- Good (but Loose, Wobbly Focuser) SW Blue Newtonian 203/1000 was used
- SkyGlow LP Neodymium filter Keeps Blue Color : M27, M20, Veil6960/6992,
- UHCs interference filter (Hard Focus) NIR Nebulae : IC5146, M16, Rosette,
- Good 56mm ext. diameter Coma Corrector (Vixen 200/800 Newtonian)
.. but it only fits in the SW-8" Newtonian's Loose, Wobbly Focuser !

Raw-files Processing infos : All Softwares used via Win-2k.
- Sharpness Ranking of subs w/ DeepSkyStacker versions, final was 3.3.6
- SNR Ranking of subs via the camera's Raw-Developper or with IrFanView
- Stacking with DeepSkyStacker's different versions ending at 3.3.6
- Final Tiff file processed with Toshop-Elements-3 or IrFanView.

AstroPhotography DSOs : en.astronomike.net/u/6809 - +NXm, Fuji, 3 pages.

Deeper in CMOS Sensors from APSc up to Full-Frame

CMos image Sensor, CiS will quickly be the core of all Digital cameras. Its Size is-one of the main determining factors of image Quality. If same sensor Size, all depends on FSI-BSI Quantum Efficiency, CDS Efficiency, on Pixel Read Noise, Conversion and Electronic Noise - ADC included. All other specs equal, Larger sensors will offer Richer Color-Depth, Wider Dynamic Range, Better Low-Light Sensitivity than a Smaller one from the Same Technology Generation.

The Canon 1D Mk II, the Eos 20d and Eos 5D, all have a Sensitivity Range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be Extended up to ISO 3200 for all three. And a low setting at ISO 50 sensitivity for the 2 Big-ones, Eos 1D and 5D. Our 3 DSLR benefit from CMos, Complementary Metal-oxide semiconductor sensors. In front of-their sensor, under the microlenses, these 3-Eos use a Bayer Filter Mosaic to Separate RGB Colors through "RGBG" Squares of photosensors.

Reliable, useful informations on actual Sensor Performances are available from : DxoMark for 3 Eos DSLR +other cameras. Dxo measures Color Depth Portrait, Dynamic Range Landscape, Low Light Sensitivity Sports. Then, Overall Sensor Rating is computed from these 3 Scores. Of our 3 Canon DSLR, the 5D has a 5 points higher Overall Dxo Score than the 1D MkII (9 points higher than Eos 20d) which gives it an advantage in terms of image Quality. Benefit that's based on .6 bit-higher Color Depth (1 bit) and 0.4 stop more Low Light Sensitivity (0.9 stop). Table below reports on Physical sensor Specs and Results of the DxO sensor image Quality measurements for our Trio of DSLR and other cameras.

Despite the older Canon DSLR of our trio here, the Eos 1D Mark II(n) design has been severely refined for High-ISO Long-Exposure SNR. Circuits that could emit Near Infra-Reds during Long Exposures are cleverly Switched Off. Protecting the CMos sensor against ugly Amp-Glow spots. Neither the Eos 20d, nor the 5D can benefit from this useful very Simple technical improvement. This is a real Shame from Canon : Eos 20d, 5D: last Eos w/ ugly Amp-Glow spots

The Main ~2004~2019 Drawback of these Canon Eos DSLR cameras were their lower ~11 Ev Screen-Mode Dynamic-Range mainly due to their Canon-Eos High Conversion-Noise Level. Screen-Mode is to compare the DR-values at Pixel level : so that they can't be artificially upped by the Mega-Pixel race. Two improved Eos : the 80d at 12.3 Ev and the OverPriced 5D Mk4 at 12.6 Ev DR. But the older Nikon D7200 APSc, D750-D810 FF were all at 13,7 Ev Screen DR and over. The Eos 5D Mk4 was launched over 4k-euro: Twice the D750 price of which was the Clear Winner of the Most Difficult Long-Exposure in very Low-Light test (Sony imx128 CMos sensor as on the TOP Astro-Cameras of these years).

Connection-Sets from Expert to PRO-camera compared

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. Table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon Eos-1D Mk II, Eos 20d, Eos 5D and the interfaces our 3 DSLR and other cameras provide for Data Transfer and Accessory Control.

All 3 DSLR feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights. This will be appreciated by Studio photographers.

our Camera-Trio's Strengths review summarized

Is it a clear favorite among Eos 1D Mk II, Eos 20d and Eos 5D FF ? Which DSLR is better ? Here is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the 3 challengers.

Reasons to choose an Eos-1D MkII(n) :

- More Field of View : ViewFinder has a larger field of view (100% vs 95 / 96%).
- Faster burst : shoots at higher speed (8.3 v 5 / 3 fps) to capture the decisive moment.
- More portrait friendly : has an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shots.
- Longer lasting Battery : Gets more shots (1200 vs 700 / 400) out of 1 battery charge.
- More Memory on board : 2nd card slot as backup in case of card full, card failure.
- Clean Long Exposures : Far Less Noise than Eos-1D and No Amp-Glow in LE-LL.

Strengths in favor of a Canon 20d :

- Longer lasting than 5D : gets more shots (700 vs 400 the 5d) out of 1 battery charge.
- Faster Burst than 5D : shoots at higher fps (5 v 3 fps) to capture the decisive moment.
- More Compact than 1D2 : is smaller (144x106 vs 156x158mm), less room in bag.
- Less Heavy than 1D2 : is lighter (by 740g or 48%), hence easier to carry around.
- Faster USB transfer than 1D2 : More advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
- More Affordable than 1D2, 5D : ~Specs of 1D2 at lower price (33% 1D2 launch price).

Arguments to prefer an Eos-5D FF :

- More Detail : Offers more Megapixels (12.7 vs 8.2MP), 25% higher linear resolution.
- Better Dxo image Quality : Scores higher (5 / 9 points) in DXO Overall Rating.
- Better Low-Light Sensitivity : Less Light for good images (0.4 Ev ISO advantage).
- Larger ViewFinder image : Viewfinder has a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.55x).
- Larger LCD screen : Wider rear LCD (2.5" v 2" / 1.8") image review, settings control.
- More Compact than 1D2 : is smaller (152x113 vs 156x158mm), less room in bag.
- Less Heavy than 1D2 : is lighter (by 640g or 42%), hence easier to carry around.
- Faster USB transfer than 1D2 : More advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
- More Affordable : introduced into a lower priced category (27% cheaper at launch).

Canon Eos 5D is the clear winner of this comparo, 9 : 6 / 6 lines, if the number of relative Yellow Strengths is taken as is. You might weight each Camera Feature according to its importance for your own imaging needs before taking a buying decision. Wildlife hunters will view the differences between the 3 Eos in different ways from the perspective of Architecture engineers who has very distinct needs from Sports shooters, and so on...

Full Specs : Eos 1D MkII, Canon Eos 20d, Eos 5D FF

A side-by-side comparison of the Specs of these 3 Canon Eos DSLR.