Camera processor

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Im looking at getting a 7D to replace my 450D. The 450D has the Digic 3 processor and the 7D has dual Digic 4's. Is there any image quality improvment going from the Digic 3 to the Digic 4?
 
The processor has nothing to do with image quality. That comes from the sensor and the lens.

The biggest improvement in IQ comes from using decent lenses.
 
In that case, go for it, the 7d is fantastic!

And so is the Canon 10-22, probably my favourite lens!
 
HoppyUK said:
:thinking: Apart from less noise, better colour, processing speed, buffer capacity, power consumption... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIGIC

How does it affect the noise? Are we talking better in camera NR as the processor has more capacity to deal with it? This of course will make no difference to raw files.

Bear in mind we were talking IQ, so buffering, processing speed and power consumption wernt considered in my reply!

How does it improve colour?
 
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It's the signal amplifier Jim, and newer processors are just better. That's where the lower noise and purer colours (mainly in the shadows) come from. Big differences, and nothing to do with noise reduction in post - it's inherant to the Raw file.
 
I'm actually intrigued as I didn't think the processor made much difference!

But I guess when you look at it as a signal amplifier (which it is) it makes sense.

I suppose it's the same difference as using poor speaker cable in your home cinema system against top notch speaker cable...
 
I'm actually intrigued as I didn't think the processor made much difference!

But I guess when you look at it as a signal amplifier (which it is) it makes sense.

I suppose it's the same difference as using poor speaker cable in your home cinema system against top notch speaker cable...

Those kind of analogies are never quite comparable, but the processor is certainly central to the whole system, maybe like both the pre-amp and main amps in a hi-fi system.

We tend not to hear much about processing engines as they always come out with a new sensor with more pixels etc which grab the headlines, but it's interesting to note that Nikon often use Sony-made sensors, but Nikon usually gets slightly better IQ out of them, albeit in more expensive cameras with a higher spec processor.
 
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