Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Review

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)