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Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | 
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| Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
List Price: $7,999.00
Buy New: $6,679.95
You Save: $1319.05 (16%)
New (32)
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 992
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Display Size: 3
Maximum Resolution: 21
Shipping Weight (lbs): 7.9
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 8.1 x 7.5
MPN: 1Ds Mark III
Model: 1Ds Mark III
UPC: 013803079265
EAN: 0013803079265
ASIN: B000V5LX00
Release Date: December 10, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor | | • | Large 3.0-inch LCD display with Live View and seven brightness settings | | • | 5 fps at shutter speeds 1/500 second or faster (for bursts of up to 45 Large/Fine JPEGs or 15 RAW images) | | • | sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; 45-point AF; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit | | • | Powered by LP-E4 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF, SD, or some SDHC memory cards |
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Product Description
The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is an engineering tour de force which, true to the EOS-1 legacy, redefines the state of the art in no uncertain terms. An entirely new 21.1-megapixel full-frame Canon CMOS sensor delivers astounding image quality and creates new photographic possibilities. Dual "DIGIC III" Image Processors work in tandem to speed up data handling and camera operation, while further refining imaging performance.Tough, high-durability body and shutter designs, combined with the unique EOS Integrated Cleaning System, set new standards for professional dependability. Cutting-edge features-such as a large 3.0-inch LCD monitor with Live View Function, and a fast, precise 45-point AF system-make the EOS-1Ds Mark III powerful and versatile. And, of course, the EOS-1Ds Mark III is part of the unparalleled EOS System, which, with more than 50 EF lenses, 15 interchangeable focusing screens, and extensive wireless, remote control and lighting accessories, is the most advanced and powerful digital photography system in the world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 The best Canon has to offer October 22, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Ok, the price of this thing is absolutely ridiculous.
Yes, Canon was now nice enough, only a little over a year later, to release a lower level product with equal Megapixels (the forthcoming 5D mark II), and do serious damage to my asset value (this camera). Thanks.
My previous high end camera is the Canon 5D.
It is clear to me that, other than the improved sensor, which gives the latest chip (DIGIC IV), higher Megapixels (21.1) and higher ISO (6400 natively), a very slight speed improvement (3.9 fps) and a bigger, nicer screen on the back (3", 1 million dots), it's pretty much the same camera as the 5D. Thanks to the Megapixel war, Nikon & Sony have turned up the heat on Canon a bit, so they went higher in those specs than they probably would've otherwise. This is great for the consumer, if those are the only specs you're looking at. And hopefully it will eventually obliterate Canon's ability to put pricetags like the one on this camera on anything (see my first sentence).
Of course, I did BUY this camera, nevertheless. Because I could afford to do that. If you can't, then look at what you can, because a lot of insane specs sit at much lower price points.
With that out of the way, let's just view it from the perspective of a mid-range user that might want to move up - someone with a 5D or a 10-50D, who might be trying to decide what else he will get from this camera versus just going for a 5D mark II instead, because either is a very valid option:
- 45 point AutoFocus. What's so great about this? Let's say you've seen it, and you realize it's a bunch of little points congested in the center instead of the 9 on the 5D mark II and their 6 "assist" points. That's just a lot of marketing - 45 is a much bigger number and makes it look much better, right? No, not really. It really IS that much better. I do a lot of bikini/fashion/glamour photography, and therefore I shoot a lot of shots that are of one very, curvy female (ok, yea, I know, I know - it's tough. But SOMEONE has got to do it, and I'm taking the bullet for you guys on this one, OK? LOL). Anyway, as you might realize, a very or at least somewhat shallow depth of field is frequently, in fact is most often, desirable for these types of shots. Curves create a complicated task, and the truth is, the Automatic choice of focal points on the 5D gave spotty results without VERY strict attention to focusing. Consequently, I gave up on it, and set my focus to the Center point and used focus/recompose. This works great most of the time. If the Depth of Field gets TOO shallow, you have to be VERY precise when using this method, which gets very tiring, on both your concentration and your hands/body. However, with the 1Ds Mark III, the advanced AF can be set to automatically detect, and it gives excellent results, with a very low mistake ratio. In observing the points it chooses while I'm shooting, it appears to me that it is very good at recognizing contours, and subtle depth differences, and this is where it achieves it's greatest advantage.
- Focal performance with high end lenses. L lenses perform better with any Canon camera. Even moreso with this. FAST lenses, in this case f/2.8 or faster, perform especially well with this camera. This still ties into the focusing system, yes, but it is worth noting that the better lenses take yet another performance leap on this body. This is no accident, rather by design. I say you lose part of the reason (not all of it, make no mistake) for having the L glass if you don't have a high end body.
- Dual Memory Cards. Yea, it could just as well be two CF cards instead of a CF and an SD, but whatever. I buy a lot of memory cards anyway. And this is more a convenience than anything. It's nice to be able to write large JPEGS to one and RAW to the other. And if you are shooting with someone who needs the photos immediately and HAS an SD card, this could be a huge plus. It, of course, accepts SDHC also.
- Greater flexibility in writing JPEG files. If you shoot mostly or only RAW, this might not matter. But, the fact is, while the 5D and the 10D-50D models allow to write two different quality levels at each JPEG size, this camera has a separate "quality" level that ranges from 1-10, much like Photoshop's 1-12 range. When you look at Canon's site and see the estimate for JPEG's of 6-8MB (it was something like that), it was only an average estimate. They've since removed it (probably because the amount of possibilities are too great to post). I have set mine at the maximum quality of "10." My JPEG's are generally between 10MB-13MB in size. One note, however, as I attempted to photographer a fast moving stage event, and was taken back that I had problems with lag in shooting quickly, as it is advertised at 5fps. I believe you would need to step down to a 7 or 8 quality, whatever their test for "average" is, to achieve these speeds along with it's buffering ability. I used a Sandisk Extreme III card. Since that speed of card has performed exceedingly well on a 50D that I own, at a pro football game, I think it's safe to say the card wasn't the factor. I was blazing off shots on the 50D at 6.3fps for several seconds and it hardly went into using the buffer it was so fast. The "writing" light was barely ever lit whenever I checked right after a long flurry. And that is a 15MP camera - it was set on Large/Fine, which are about 6MB shots, in this case.
- Best weather sealing is on these bodies. If you need it, it's worth it. I think the others are fairly resistant anyway, but the comfort of not worrying much about conditions is nice.
- The display system on the larger body. Less information is pushed up to the top. The display on the bottom portion is easier to look at, and it's nice to have the memory card info visible down there.
- The LCD changing of shooting modes. This might not be something better to some, because if you're used to the other Canon bodies, it can be a bit off-putting at first. But once you get used to it, it's definitely better. Moreover, the simplicity of having the modes you need and no "dumb user" modes, which the 5D had largely eliminated while keeping the dial anyway, is still nicer on here. (e.g. - why do I need a "Sports Mode" when I can set my focus to AI Servo, and then set a high shutter priority speed, and make ISO adjustments as needed to accomodate light changes - or just shoot Aperture Priority with the lens wide open and make ISO adjustments? Whichever).
- Specifically if comparing to one of the new 5D's, my bet is that there will be a very noticeable lag in the 5D mark II compared to this camera, since it is only running one processor versus two on this camera.
This is definitely the best of the best.
ooooooohhhhhh wow October 2, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
So got this little baby a few days ago... it arrived right on time and was well packaged. Took it out for a little test spin the next day... all I can say is oh my god wow this thing is the best camer I have every had the privlige of using! I had the Canon Rebel XTi, the 1D mark II, and now this camera... it is by far the best camera I have ever used.... it takes fantastic photos (exposures were so good that they required minimal post production work), great color, responsive, and long battery life. This will be my primary camera for years to come... it is great! if you can stomach the price, you will not be disapointed one bit!!!
Great camera but no review yet by DPReview August 17, 2008
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
Great camera. Wonderful images. Fast, responsive, wonderful viewfinder. Good dynamic range. I wonder why amazon.com's dpreview.com web site has chosen not to publish their review of Canon's flagship despite being announced over a year ago.
Just what I needed. June 25, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have a 5D that has been moved to backup duty since acquiring this beauty. The problem I was having with the 5D was that many of my images were getting rejected by the stock agency I shoot for due to excessive shadow noise. I spent hours cleaning up noisy shadows in post, and still got some rejects. Not so with the 1Ds. It produces absolutely clean, perfect, huge files straight out of camera with little or no post work. Even when you turn on the extended ISO and crank it to "Hi" (essentially ISO 3200), The images it produces are just outstanding. It may be a bit big and heavy for the casual user, but pros shouldn't be bothered by it. It is actually not much bigger or heavier than a 5D with a battery grip installed. I like the live view when shooting macros on a tripod. It really helps get the focus just perfect. Battery life is awesome. I shot about 1800 RAW files over a 4 day shoot and still had juice left without charging. Bottom line, if you have the cash, and want the best camera this side of a hasselblad H3d-39, then go for it! You can see some images that I shot with this at my site [...] (the battleship was shot with this and the 16-35)
 GREAT camera, stinky controls June 9, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's definitely an improvement over the 1Ds Mark II, which means it's the best 35 mm format digital out there, period. Auto dust removal is a huge plus - FINALLY - and picture quality, especially noise suppression, is noticeably improved. Downside: Canon's firmware and software and control buttons and dials, which have always been needlessly convoluted and confusing, are, if anything, even MORE convoluted and confusing on this model than the Mark II. How anybody could screw up anything so simple so thoroughly is beyond me. Oh, and another thing - what they call ISO 100 is more like ISO 64 - just so you know. Overexpose everything a half or 2/3 of a stop to compensate. But after all that is said and done, it does make absolutely gorgeous pictures - nipping at Hasselblad's $35,000 medium format heels. Go ahead, mortgage the house and splurge - you won't regret it.
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