Compared to...

As we said when we reviewed the Nikon D3 a couple of months back, the air is pretty thin at the very top of the digital SLR tree and at the moment both the big players avoid trampling on each other's toes too heavily, meaning the EOS-1Ds Mark III has nothing you could call a direct competitor. There are currently only three other full frame digital SLRs on the market; Canon's venerable EOS 5D and Nikon's dynamic duo, the D700 and D3. None of these can hold a candle to the Mark III in sheer resolution terms, and only the D3 can match it for build and functionality. The EOS-1Ds Mark III sits on its own (for the time being) as the undisputed king of the megapixel.

Positives versus the competition

• Highest resolution SLR on the market today
• Built-in sensor cleaning / dust removal system

Negatives versus the competition

• No autofocus at all in live view
• Compared to D3: lower resolution screen, no HDMI output, only 5.0 fps, ISO range and metering / AF specs
• Price (as compared with other 35mm format digital cameras)

	Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III	Nikon D3
Price (body only)	$8000 [check]	$5000 [check]
Dust removal	• Self-cleaning filter • Anti-static coating • Dust delete data	• Dust-off image
Environmental sealing	• Environmentally sealed • O-rings around controls	• Splash proof • Dust proof • Sealed lenses available
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	36 x 24 mm	36 x 23.9 mm
Sensor area	864 mm²	860 mm²
Image Stabilization	Lenses only	Lenses only
Effective pixels	21.1 million	12.1 million
Aspect ratio	3:2	3:2
FOV crop	1x	1x
Image size	5616 x 3744	4256 x 2832
Live View	• Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Manual focus • Remote live view over USB or Wi-Fi/Ethernet	• Yes • Up to 1:1 pixel view • Contrast detect AF • Mirror flip AF
Lens support	• Canon EF • Incompatible with EF-S (crop)	• Nikon F mount • Compatible with DX (crop)
File formats	JPEG (10 compression options), RAW (CR2, 14-bit)	JPEG, TIFF, RAW (NEF 12-bit / NEF 14-bit)
Auto focus	• 45 point • 19 cross-type • -1.0 to 18 EV	• 51 point • 15 cross-type • -1 to 19 EV
AF illuminator	External speedlite only	External speedlite only
AF adjustment	Yes, body and per lens	Yes, body and per lens
Metering sensor	63 zone	1005 pixel RGB
Metering range	0 to 20 EV	0 to 20 EV
Metering modes	Evaluative, Partial, Spot, CWA	3D Color Matrix, CWA, Spot
Exp. comp.	+/- 3.0 EV	+/- 5.0 EV
Exp. comp. EV steps	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV
Manual EV steps	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV
Sensitivity range (boost setting)	(50), 100 - 1600, (3200)	(100), 200 - 6400, (25,600)
Auto ISO adjust	No (Safety shift option will over-ride selected ISO if enabled).	Max ISO & Min shutter speed selectable
Shutter speed	30 - 1/8000 sec	30 - 1/8000 sec
Shutter life	300,000 exposures	300,000 exposures
Continuous rate (high)	5 fps	9.0 fps (11 fps in DX crop mode)
Continuous buffer	• 56 JPEG • 12 RAW	• 130 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW
White balance	• 6 presets + fine tune • Color temp (K) • Manual (5 mem) • WB Bracketing	• 7 presets + fine tune • Color temp (K) • Manual (4 mem.) • WB Bracketing
Image parameters	• 6 presets • 3 user presets • Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G	• 4 presets • Saturation +/- 3, A • Contrast +/- 3, A • Brightness +/- 1 • Hue +/- 3 • Sharpness 0-9, A • Quick adjust +/- 2 • B&W filter • B&W tone
Noise reduction control	1 additional level	4 levels (ISO 2000+ only)
DR / Shadow adjust.	Highlight Tone Priority	Active D-Lighting (4 levels)
Built-in flash	None	None
External flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash
Flash sync speed	• 1/250 sec • Up to 1/8000th with supported speedlights	• 1/250 sec • Up to 1/8000th in Auto FP mode (with supported speedlights)
Customizable controls	• SET button • AF-ON button • AE lock button • Dials	• FUNC button • FUNC+dials • Multi-selector cent. • Preview button • AE-L/AF-L button • Dials
User memories	3 via menus	4 via menu
Delete in record review	Yes	Yes, drive mode
Storage	• CF (inc. UDMA) • SD / SDHC	CF (inc. UDMA) x2 slots
Viewfinder	• 100% coverage • 0.76x magnification	• 100% coverage • 0.7x magnification
LCD monitor	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 922,000 dots
LCD articulation	No	No
Top panel LCD	Yes (plus rear info panel below screen)	Yes (plus rear info panel below screen)
Battery	25.5 Wh	27.75 Wh
Battery status	• Percentage (%) • Shutter Count • Recharge performance	• Percentage (%) • Shots since charge • Battery aging
Vertical grip	Built in	Built in
Mirror lock-up	Yes, custom function	• Yes (drive mode) • Exposure delay
Other features	• Custom 'My Menu' • Audio clips • Silent drive mode • FTP, PTP, HTTP connectivity (via IEEE802.11 b/g or ethernet) plus storage onto attached USB disks via optional WFT-E2/E2A Wireless File Transmitter	• GPS record with optional cable • Retouching & RAW processing • Intervalometer • Custom 'My Menu' • FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (IEEE 802.11 b/g) • Audio clips (with playback via built-in speaker) • Virtual Horizon • Image Authentication
Video output	Composite	HDMI (up to 1080i)
Dimensions	150 x 160 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in)	160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in)
Weight (no batt)	1205 g (2.7 lb)	1240 g (2.7 lb)
Weight (inc batt)	1385 g (3.1 lb)	1420 g (3.1 lb)