Review based on a production EOS-1Ds, Firmware Version 1.0.1
The EOS-1Ds is Canon's newest professional SLR. Based on the EOS-1D body the EOS-1Ds raises resolution to 11 megapixels, uses a CMOS sensor (just like the EOS-D30 and D60) and is the first Canon digital SLR with a sensor which captures a full 35 mm frame.
Last year Canon introduced the EOS-1D, it was the first professional digital SLR since the EOS-D2000 which was a collaboration with Kodak. The EOS-1D has a 4 megapixel sensor and can capture at an amazing 8 frames per second, clearly targeted at the sports photographer. The EOS-1Ds covers almost every other type of photography, from landscape to portrait, photo journalism to weddings. The ability to use 35 mm lenses at their designed focal length (field of view) combined with the high pixel count will be strong points for those film photographers who have hesitated on going the digital route because of these two issues. The 1Ds is capable of shooting at wider angle than any other digital SLR (at least until the actual release of Kodak's DCS-14n).
The EOS-1Ds body is based around the EOS-1V professional film SLR. From a size point of view the 1Ds body is almost identical to an EOS-1V with the additional powerdrive booster attached. The base of the camera contains the large battery pack and allows for the integration of a vertical (portrait) hand grip and control system. Build quality is superb, the entire body moulded from magnesium alloy with environmental seals around every compartment door, terminal, connector and button.
The EOS-1Ds features a full-frame 11 megapixel CMOS sensor. The sensor makes this camera the first Canon EF mount digital SLR without any field of view crop (focal length multiplier), that 16 - 35 mm lens will provide the exact same field of view on the EOS-1Ds as it would on an EOS-1V with film.
Interestingly despite the increase in resolution compared to the EOS-D60 the EOS-1Ds sensor has a larger pixel pitch because of its larger effective imaging area, this in theory will lead to more sensitivity, dynamic range and lower noise. Below you can see a comparison of the EOS-1Ds sensor beside that from the EOS-1D and EOS-D60. To the right is a shot 'down the neck' of the EOS-1Ds with the sensor exposed.
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| Camera | Type | Effective
pixels (millions) |
Output image size |
Focal length mult. | Effective imager size (mm) | Pixel
pitch (�m) |
| Canon EOS-D30 | CMOS | 3.25 | 2160 x 1440 | 1.6x | 22.7 x 15.1 | 9.9 x 9.9 |
| Canon EOS-1D | CCD | 4.15 | 2464 x 1648 | 1.3x | 27.0 x 17.8 | 10.8 x 10.8 |
| Nikon D100 | CCD | 6.11 | 3008 x 2000 | 1.5x | 23.7 x 15.6 | 7.8 x 7.8 |
| Canon EOS-D60 | CMOS | 6.30 | 3072 x 2048 | 1.6x | 22.7 x 15.1 | 7.4 x 7.4 |
| Nikon D1x | CCD | 5.33 | 3008 x 1960 | 1.5x | 23.7 x 15.6 | 5.9 x 11.7 |
| APS-C negative | Film | n/a | n/a | 23.4 x 16.7 | n/a | |
| Canon EOS-1Ds | CMOS | 11.1 | 4064 x 2704 | n/a | 35.8 x 23.8 | 8.8 x 8.8 |
| Kodak DCS-14n | CMOS | 13.8 | 4536 x 3024 | n/a | 36.0 x 24.0 | 7.9 x 7.9 |
| 35 mm negative | Film | n/a | n/a | 36.0 x 24.0 | n/a |
Custom / Personal functions - throughout this review you will see small items written in this blue text, these relate to the interaction of one or more of the EOS-1Ds custom or personal functions on that particular camera feature.
Because of the similarity between the EOS-1Ds and EOS-1D some portions of this review are based on our review of the EOS-1D. Note however that certain critical points must still be observed and so I would recommend you read the entire review even if you are familiar with the EOS-1D.
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).
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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2002 Phil Askey and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey.
Canon EOS-1Ds 11.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $649.99 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II 16.7MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $955.00 |
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon EOS 1D, 1DS, 1DX, 5D Mark II/III, 6D, 7D, 40D, 60D, EOS Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 6pc Bundle Accessory Kit | $429.95 |
Canon EOS-1Ds 11.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $649.99 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark III 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $5,990.00 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $2,800.00 |
Canon EOS-1D Mark II 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $530.00 |
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens Digital SLR Cameras + 10pc Bundle Deluxe Accessory Kit | $459.95 |
Canon EOS-1D X 18.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera | $6,799.00 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV 16.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and 1080p HD Video (Body Only) | $3,275.00 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | $680.00 |
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