Canon 1Ds Mark III overview and product specifications

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Overview & Specs All the details in one place
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Review Score 9.4/10
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Canon 1Ds Mark III

$6,059.95from Abe's of Maine

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$6,059.95from Abe's of Maine $6,113.95from B & H Photo Video Global $6,113.95from Amazon $6,399.00from Adorama $7,999.99from RitzCamera.com

Resolution: 21.1MP

LCD Size: 3inches

Picture Quality

9.5

Show what experts say (6 sources) Hide what experts say (6 sources)

"The 1Ds Mark III can capture beautiful, amazingly detailed images. Colors are extremely accurate and, as mentioned above, the automatic white balance system does a great job of keeping color neutral across a wide range of lighting."

CNET

"The camera’s...JPEGS or 12 RAW images is unmatched in its class, making it the ideal instrument for capturing the fluid motion and free-flowing lines of location-based fashion photography as well as a wide range of other professional photographic applications."

Digital Camera Resource Page

"There has never been any question that the Canon EOS 1Ds produces the best quality images of any handheld digital camera on the market."

Photo.net

"In all respects, the EOS-1D Mark III we have reviewed is the best digital camera we have seen…. This impressive performance is not restricted to Raw file capture; JPEG files from the test camera were clean, detailed and colour accurate."

Source: LINK

"The image quality up to around ISO 400 or 800 is stunning, with breathtaking detail giving texture and depth that you simply won't get anywhere else…"

Digital Photography Review

"The image quality achievable from the 1Ds Mk III, when coupled with excellent optics, is, quite frankly, awesome."

What Digital Camera

Prints

9.5

Show what experts say (4 sources) Hide what experts say (4 sources)

"And who exactly needs 21-megpixels anyway? The answer here is that the EOS 1Ds is aimed mainly at studio photographers, who do need larger images for ad campaigns, double page magazine spreads (with cropping) and large fine art prints. In short, more pixels have significant commercial advantages."

What Digital Camera

"…The Nikon D3 actually outperforms the EOS 1Ds Mark III in overall image quality at ISO 6400, and it can still capture acceptable newspaper-quality shots at an incredible ISO 25,600."

Popular Photography

"One of the nicest things about the 1Ds Mark III is its low noise. You can make pleasing prints across the entire sensitivity range of this SLR, which is a liberating feeling when you're out shooting."

CNET

"We found the 8x10 printed results to be quite acceptable from the ISO 6,400 setting."

Imaging Resource

Ergonomics

6.0

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"Canon's 1Ds series body design, with its long, relatively straight grip, seems somewhat blocky compared with [other] sculpted designs [and] might better accommodate people with larger hands.... The first thing most people say when holding the 1Ds Mark III is that it's heavy, and they're right."

CNET

"Though it's still too big and heavy for most shooters, it's much easier to use."

Imaging Resource

"But the size of the body is actually a benefit, providing enough space for the logical and ergonomic location of its ample buttons and controls."

Steve's Digicams

Advanced Features

10.0

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"[This camera is for] people [who] are always interested in the top end, desirable-but-unaffordable gear…. For the enthusiast or hobbyist, the dreams of new kit, or of owning the best kit…"

What Digital Camera

"The Mark III is an excellent value for the pro who needs its increased resolution and improved performance, and to the extent that the Mark III enables them to earn more income, they will buy it."

Steve's Digicams

Menu System

7.5

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"You can tweak the camera to your heart's delight. That means you really should sit down and read the manual--at very least the section that details the custom functions."

CNET

"The menu options are large enough to be easily read…"

Steve's Digicams

"There’s nothing especially unique about the layout of the camera which keeps almost the same interface as other Canon digital SLR cameras. Even if you’ve only used an entry-level EOS model before, the 1Ds Mk III will be immediately familiar."

What Digital Camera

"Improved user interface including easier menu navigation."

Digital Photography Review

Low-light

9.5

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"The low-light sensitivity of the new AF sensor has been doubled to EV-1 for superior performance, compared with earlier EOS digital SLRs."

Digital Camera Resource Page

"If high-speed action or low-light shooting is your specialty (and you're already a Canon shooter), the EOS-1D Mark III is a better choice..."

Popular Photography

"Even in extremely low light. The camera seems to be able to lock focus..."

Art By Phil

"Autofocus performance in low light is slightly better than the 5D, down to EV -1 compared to the 5D's EV -0.5."

Photo.net

Action and Sports

9.0

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"The new EOS 1D Mark III, will no doubt continue the Japanese camera company's preeminence among the paparazzi, sports shooters, news photographers, and anyone else who has to shoot fast bursts of high-megapixel images."

CNET

"The camera’s fast, five-frame-per-second (fps) shooting rate for bursts of up to 56 Large/Fine (21-megapixel) JPEGS or 12 RAW images is unmatched in its class, making it the ideal instrument for capturing the fluid motion and free-flowing lines of location-based fashion photography..."

Digital Camera Resource Page

"Canon has pushed continuous shooting up a step with five frames per second."

Digital Photography Review

"If high-speed action or low-light shooting is your specialty (and you're already a Canon shooter), the EOS-1D Mark III is a better choice, as it boasts a blazing burst rate of up to 10 frames per second (compared with the 1Ds Mark III's 6 fps) and higher ISOs, up to 6400."

Popular Photography

Snapshots and Performance

9.0

Show what experts say (4 sources) Hide what experts say (4 sources)

"Once we’re up and running, the camera is a breeze and a joy to use. The AF is quick and quiet, and the shutter release button is responsive. While it’s not the fastest shooter at five frames per second…"

What Digital Camera

"The camera powered up almost instantaneously and we were able to take a shot within 0.1 seconds. Shut-down was also instantaneous."

Source: LINK

"Fast, reliable AF (we had no problems with tracking AF but we're not sports shooters)."

Digital Photography Review

"The camera can capture 5 pictures per second, but it can't write them to the memory cards that fast."

Photo.net

Sensor Cleaning

7.5

Show what experts say (3 sources) Hide what experts say (3 sources)

"Outdoor photographers will appreciate the 1Ds Mark III's dust reduction system. It shakes the sensor whenever you turn the camera on or off to shake dust from the IR-cut filter in front of the sensor. That filter is also has an antistatic coating to prevent dust from adhering in the first place."

CNET

"Include the EOS Integrated Cleaning System.... Not only does the system shake dust from the low-pass filter, but the camera has been designed to shed less dust from its internal parts, so that the camera's creating less dust of its own. You can also clean the sensor yourself..."

Imaging Resource

"All of the 1D Mark III controls and external cover seams are sealed from water and dust."

Steve's Digicams

LCD Screen

7.0

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"The new 3 inch LCD is gigantic and bright…. I also didn't have a problem reveiwing images in direct sunlight. Keep that lens cloth handy though. The monster sized LCD picks up finger prints and smudges pretty easily."

Art By Phil

"The big LCD on the back is 3.0 inches, with 230,000 pixels; and like the EOS 40D, its angle of view is restricted to 140 degrees, whereas past models have offered 170 degree viewing angle."

Imaging Resource

"The clarity and speedy refresh on the 1D Mark III's three-inch LCD is really impressive, making manual focus fairly easy."

Imaging Resource

Viewfinder Quality

10.0

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"Canon extends its 'ease-of-reading' policy to the EOS-1Ds Mark III’s viewfinder as well. Bright and clear with zero distortion and a 100 percent picture coverage and a magnification factor of .75x, it is the finest viewfinder ever placed in an EOS camera."

Source: LINK

"The viewfinder is exceptionally large and impressive. I have never seen a digital SLR, or even a 35mm film camera for that matter, with a viewfinder this large and bright. A lovely surprise and very welcomed upgrade to the 1Ds Mark II."

Art By Phil

"Huge, bright viewfinder view really fills your vision."

Digital Photography Review

"In our tests we found similar viewfinder accuracy (99%, an Excellent rating) and magnification (76%, Good), but the image in the 1Ds Mark III has full-frame coverage."

Popular Photography

"The viewfinder image is large, bright, and shows 100 percent of the image to be captured...just like a 1959 Nikon F. The in-viewfinder displays, one underneath and one on the right side, show more information than the heads-up display on an F-16 fighter jet."

Photo.net

Live View

5.0

Show what experts say (5 sources) Hide what experts say (5 sources)

"No autofocus of any kind in live view mode."

Digital Photography Review

"Like the EOS-1D Mark III, the EOS-1Ds Mark III features a fairly rudimentary live view system that doesn't support autofocus (of any kind - not even the mirror flipping kludge used by DLSRs without contrast-detect AF). What you do get is the ability to magnify any portion of the frame up to 10x..."

Digital Photography Review

"With the new Live View feature you will be extremely thankful for the screen size."

Art By Phil

"One of the dynamic innovations incorporated into new EOS digital SLRs...is Canon’s Live View shooting mode which provides photographers with an expanded and exceedingly convenient set of shooting options beyond the conventional SLR through-the-lens viewing."

Digital Camera Resource Page

"Following the current trend, the 1Ds Mark III includes a Live View shooting mode, which lets you frame images with the big 3-inch LCD on the back of the camera instead of the optical viewfinder, should you choose to do so."

CNET

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Review Score 9.4

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Release Date

August 19, 2007

General Specs

Resolution: 21.1 MP

Battery

Has Proprietary Battery

Features

Has WiFi

Has A/V Out

Has USB

Has Full Frame

Has Flash Hotshoe

Composing and Reviewing

LCD Size: 3 inches

Has Viewfinder

Has Optical Viewfinder

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Find the best DSLRs

Canon 1Ds Mark III

Release Date

General Specs

Battery

Features

Composing and Reviewing

Storage

Style

Size and Type

Stay Tuned

Old Electronics

As Seen On

Measy, Inc.