Compared to...

Studio scene comparison (JPEG)

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II sharpness

The default sharpness setting on the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II is 0 (Zero), this effectively equates to no sharpening at all which will obviously produce a soft looking image. In these comparisons we chose to use the Sharpness 2 setting on the EOS-1Ds Mark II to at least get close to the EOS 5D's default sharpening without over-sharpening the image (the EOS 5D and EOS-1Ds Mark II sharpness levels do not appear to correlate directly).

Canon EOS 5D vs. Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Camera settings:

  • Canon EOS 5D: Canon EF 85 mm F1.8 lens, Aperture Priority,
    ISO 100, JPEG Large/Fine, Manual WB, Default Parameters (Standard PS), Self-Timer
     
  • Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II: Canon EF 85 mm F1.8 lens, Aperture Priority,
    ISO 100, JPEG Large/Fine, Manual WB, Sharpness 2, Self-Timer
Canon EOS 5D
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
4,012 KB JPEG (4368 x 2912)
4,969 KB JPEG (4992 x 3328)

First of all a 'big wow' at the amount of detail the EOS-1Ds Mark II can resolve, truly impressive. That said the EOS 5D does hold its own and you would have to be producing very large prints for the difference in resolution between these two to be obvious. Considering the price difference between these two cameras you can't help but be impressed by the EOS 5D. Color and tone response appear quite similar.