Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Review
The EOS-1Ds Mark III is the seventh Canon professional EOS-1D series digital SLR, although only the third of the 's' suffix sub-category which indicates a full frame sensor. Three years since the last EOS-1Ds, the Mark II, the Mark III pushes digital SLR resolution over the twenty megapixel barrier with specifically twenty-one-point-one million pixels (5616 x 3744) on its 36 x 24 mm (full 35 mm frame) sensor. Canon also claims to have increased the 'light gathering efficiency' of the sensor by reducing the amount of (wasted) space between micro lenses, hence despite the resolution increase the Mark III still provides sensitivity up to ISO 3200 (with boost enabled).
As well as increasing resolution Canon has pushed continuous shooting up a step with five frames per second over the Mark II's four frames per second. This means that at full speed the two DIGIC III image processors are dealing with an impressive 185 MB/sec. Other improvements include the larger screen, Live View, a fourteen-bit A/D converter and fourteen-bit RAW files, UDMA Compact Flash support (up to 45 MB/sec) and a whole range of features (such as dual storage slots and Picture Styles) inherited from the EOS-1D Mark III.
From a build, function and usability point of view the EOS-1Ds Mark III is identical to the EOS-1D Mark III apart from the full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor, (naturally) larger viewfinder and UDMA support for Compact Flash cards.
Model line history
The EOS-1Ds Mark III represents a 26% increase in resolution over the EOS-1Ds Mark II which in turn represented a 50% increase in resolution over the original EOS-1Ds.
| Model | Announced |
Effective pixels |
Sensor size |
Continuous High (JPEG) | LCD monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOS-1D | Sep 2001 | 4.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.0 fps, 21 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1Ds | Sep 2002 | 11.1 mp | Full frame | 3.0 fps, 10 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1D Mark II | Jan 2004 | 8.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.3 fps, 40 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1Ds Mark II | Sep 2004 | 16.7 mp | Full frame | 4.0 fps, 32 images | 2.0" |
| EOS-1D Mark II N | Aug 2005 | 8.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.3 fps, 48 images | 2.5" |
| EOS-1D Mark III | Feb 2007 | 10.1 mp | 1.3x crop | 10.0 fps, 110 images | 3.0" (Live view) |
| EOS-1Ds Mark III | Aug 2007 | 21.1 mp | Full frame | 5.0 fps, 56 images | 3.0" (Live view) |
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III vs. EOS-1Ds Mark II feature and specification differences
 Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III  |
 Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II |
|
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | • 21.1 million effective pixels • 6.4 µm pixel pitch |
• 16.7 million effective pixels • 7.2 µm pixel pitch |
| Image processor | Dual DIGIC III | DIGIC II |
| A/D converter | 14-bit | 12-bit |
| Image sizes | • 5616 x 3744 • 4992 x 3328 • 4080 x 2720 • 2784 x 1856 |
• 4992 x 3328 • 3600 x 2400 • 3072 x 2048 • 2496 x 1664 |
| RAW files | • CR2 format, 14-bit • RAW full resolution • sRAW (5.2 MP) |
• CR2 format, 12-bit • RAW full resolution |
| Dust reduction | High speed vibration of filter | None |
| Auto focus | • 45-point TTL CMOS sensor • 19 cross-type for F2.8 or faster lens |
• 45-point TTL CMOS sensor • 7 cross-type for F4 or faster lens |
| AF adjustment | Yes | No |
| Metering | 63-zone linked to AF points | 21-zone linked to AF points |
| Shutter | 300,000 exposure durability | 200,000 exposure durability |
| Noise reduction | Optional High ISO | No option |
| White balance | Up to five personal WB presets | Up to three personal WB presets |
| Image parameters | • Picture Styles (six default, three user) • 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 |
• Color matrix (five default, two user) • Sharpness: 0 to 5 • Contrast: -2 to +2 • Saturation: -2 to +2 • Color tone: -2 to +2 |
| Viewfinder | • 100% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.76x • Eyepoint: 20 mm |
• 100% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.70x • Eyepoint: 20 mm |
| ISO in viewfinder | Yes | No |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • 7 brightness levels |
• 2.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • 5 brightness levels |
| LCD Live View | Yes | No |
| Playback modes | Exposure line at top in single image view | No exposure in single image view |
| Silent shooting | Yes (quieter release) | No |
| Continuous shooting | • 5.0 / 3.0 fps • Up to 56 JPEG Large/Fine images |
• 5.0 fps • Up to 32 JPEG Large/Fine images |
| Auto rotate | • On (recorded and LCD display) • On (recorded only) • Off |
• On • Off |
| My Menu | Up to six menu options can be customize | No |
| Menu languages | 18 | 15 |
| Custom functions | 57 | 20 |
| Hot-shoe water resistance | Yes (with 580 EX II) | No |
| Storage | • Compact Flash slot (UDMA support) • SD card slot (SDHC support) • USB drives via WFT-E2/E2A |
• Compact Flash slot • SD card slot |
| Data connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | • USB 1.1 • Firewire IEEE 1394 |
| Battery power | Lithium-Ion LP-E4 rechargeable battery | Ni-MH NP-E3 rechargeable battery |
| Dimensions | 150 x 160 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in) | 156 x 158 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in) |
| Weight | • No battery: 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) • With battery: 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) |
• No battery: 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) • With battery: 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) |
EOS Integrated Cleaning System video
Foreword / notes
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Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the 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 also A, B and C.
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