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Manual Control Options
The EOS-1D Mark II n offers full manual control, as it should. Aperture and shutter speed can be set in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments. ISO can be set in 1/3-stop increments as well. Manual adjustments for image parameters allow significant changes, as well as numerous file sizes and JPEG compression options.
Focus
Auto Focus (9.25)
The EOS-1D Mark II n has 45 autofocus points arranged in a diamond, clustered in the middle half of the viewfinder. By pressing the autofocus sensor select button and turning the control dial, the user can activate a particular sensor, or even a pattern of sensors.
The EOS-1D Mark II n offers one-shot and continuous autofocus modes.
We compared the EOS-1D Mark II n with a Nikon D2H (not the current D2Hs) during our hands-on review, and we were curious about how the autofocus performance of the two cameras would compare. Canon's system has 45 autofocus points clustered in the center half of the frame. Seven of the 45 points are “cross-type” sensors, meaning they are sensitive to both horizontal and vertical detail, while the remaining 38 points are horizontal detectors. The EOS-1D Mark II n manual adds that six of the seven points are cross-type only with f/2.8 or faster lenses. The seven points aren't spread across the frame— they are the ones closest to the vertical centerline. Nikon's system, on the other hand, has 11 sensors spread much closer to the edges of the frame, and 9 of its sensors are cross-type. The Nikon sensor sites are larger than the Canon’s, so users can focus more specifically with the Canon 1D Mark II n. This level of precision will enable users to focus right in on a subject’s eye rather than the whole cheek and will be quite helpful to commercial shooters.
The good news is that we had a hard time confusing either camera in good light, even when tracking fast-moving objects at close range. In very dim light, we found that the Canon would intermittently get lost on low-contrast subjects, racking focus in and out from infinity to the lens’ near limit. Given a couple of chances, it hit focus. In the same setting – a dim transit station, with dirty concrete walls – the Nikon hit focus every time.
To examine how important the distinction between cross-type and horizontal-only sensors is, we shot a low-contrast subject that has a bit of detail – a freshly-painted exterior wall of a cinderblock building in shade. We couldn't get the Nikon to fail. The EOS-1D Mark II n’s horizontal sensor, on the other hand, could not focus on the wall when we held the camera horizontally. Turned vertical, the camera matched the D2H.
So, in the occasional scenes that give the EOS-1D Mark II n focusing system trouble, either get the cross-type sensors involved, or turn the camera on its side to focus. It just might help.
Manual Focus (8.5)
The EOS-1D Mark II n has interchangeable focusing screens. The camera comes with the standard Ec-CIII screen, which provides a crisp, bright view for focusing. Canon also sells the relatively new Ec-S screen, which is best with lenses with maximum apertures of f/2.8 or faster. According to Canon, the Ec-S makes slightly out-of-focus images look more blurry, so that images snap into focus more definitively.
Metering (8.5)
The EOS-1D Mark II n's metering modes are based on a 21-zone TTL system, with configurations for Evaluative metering, which can be linked to the selected AF point; “Partial metering,” which measures the middle 13.5 percent of the screen; and Spot metering, which includes a center spot option, an option to measure at the current AF point, and an option to choose up to 8 spots simultaneously.
Exposure (9.0)
The EOS-1D Mark II n offers exposure compensation of 3 stops above and below the metered value, in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments. The camera also offers bracketing over the same range, with the same increments.
White Balance (9.25)
The EOS-1D Mark II n offers white balance presets, auto, custom, direct entry of a white balance in degrees Kelvin, and the option to save three “personal” white balances via PC software. The presets are: Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Twilight, Sunset, Tungsten, White fluorescent, and Flash.
Canon's custom white balance system is convenient and straightforward. The instructions say to take a picture of a plain white surface, then bring up the custom white balance feature and select that image. The great part is that there is no need to take the image of the white surface immediately before setting the white balance – it works with older saved images as well.
The EOS-1D Mark II n offers an unusually fine adjustment of white balance. As other Canon DSLRs do, the camera allows adjustment on two axes: Blue-to-Amber and Magenta-to-Green. The adjustments offer nine steps of shift toward each color, and the maximum effect in each direction is very pronounced.
In practice, we found the camera’s automatic white balance to be fairly errant in strong lighting; however, most photographers relying on the camera to make rent will probably feel more comfortable using a preset setting tailored to the situation, a Kelvin temperature, or a customized measurement.
Shot using Auto WB under photographic tungsten lamps
ISO (8.75)
The EOS-1D Mark II n offers a standard ISO range of 100 to 1600, in 1/3-stop increments, and ISO ratings of 50 and H (equivalent to 3200) in extended mode.
Shutter Speed (9.0)
The EOS-1D Mark II n shutter speeds range from 1/8000 to 30 seconds, with X-sync up to 1/250. There is also a bulb setting available for untimed exposures.
Aperture (0.0)
The EOS-1D Mark II n controls aperture via electronic connections to EF lenses, and offers either 1/3-stop or 1/2-stop increments.
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