Canon EOS-1D Mark III Digital Camera Review

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Digital Camera Review

4.6 The Canon EOS-1D Mark III looked fantastic at the Photo Marketing Association trade show last spring. Its 10 frame-per-second (fps) speed tops the industry, the 3-inch LCD looks like a movie screen, and its live preview puts Olympus and Fujifilm to shame. On the technical side, the Mark III's electronics amount to a dual-processor computer. Unfortunately, the 10-megapixel Mark III's autofocus system malfunctions in certain situations, though a firmware patch clearly improves its performance and may have fixed the problem. Still, it's a kick in the teeth for Canon – shooters who would have jumped for the Mark III are waiting to see if the firmware fix is real, or if the next batch of bodies is better.
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Specs Table
Canon EOS-1D Mark III Specs
Type Digital SLR  
Price 3999.00  
Length 6.10  
Width 3.10  
Height 6.20  
Weight 40.70  
Mega Pixels 10.70  
Effective Pixels 10.10  
Sensor Type 1.11 x 0.74 in. APS-H size CMOS sensor  
Image Size 3888 x 2592  
Aspect Ratio 3:2  
Color Filter System RGB primary color filter  
IR Cut Low Pass Filter Yes  
Image Format JPEG, RAW (Canon CRs), sRAW  
File Size 10.1 MB (highest res); 2.5MB (lowest res)  
Compression JPEG, RAW (Canon CRs), sRAW  
Lens EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens  
Lens Mount EF mount  
Compatible Lenses EOS-EF lenses  
Viewfinder eye-level SLR with fixed pentaprism  
Diopter Adjustment yes (-3.0 to +1.0)  
Frame Coverage 100  
Magnification 0.76x (-1 dpt with 50mm lens at infinity)  
LCD 3-inch TFT LCD  
Mirror Quick-return half mirror (Transmission: reflection ratio of 37:63)  
Auto Focus Type TTL-AREA-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor  
Focusing Modes one-shot AF, predictive AI servo AF, AI focus AF, manual  
Focusing Points 19 points, inner 9 AF points, outer 9 AF points (19 cross-type AF points plus 26 assist AF points)  
Detecting Range EV -1 ~18 (ISO 100 at 73°F/23°C)  
AF Assist Illuminator no  
Metering Modes evaluative, partial, spot (center, AF, multi-spot), center-weighted average  
Metering Range EV 0-20 (ISO 100 at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)  
Shutter Type Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically controlled  
Shutter Speed 30.00  
Self Timer 2 or 10 sec  
Modes Single, Silent, High-speed continuous, Low-speed continuous  
Speed Yes  
Burst Yes  
Exposure Compensation +/-3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments  
Bracketing Auto Bracketing (AEB): 3 shots, up to +/- 3 stops, in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments, in all exposure modes. Can be changed via C.Fn I-6 to 2, 5, or 7 shots. Bracketing order can be changed via C.Fn I-5.  
Sync Contact yes (voltages up to 250V max)  
Resolution 3888 x 2592  
Settings JPEG Large, JPEG Medium, JPEG Small, RAW, sRAW  
ISO Sensitivity 100-3200, 50-6400 expansion via C.Fn1-3  
White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, five custom, Color Temp, five Personal White Balance  
Menus Shooting, Playback, Setup, Custom function/My Menu  
Playback Options single, 4, 9-image thumbnail, jump, magnify, historgram, auto rotate, rotate, live view  
Direct Printing Yes  
Video Output Yes  
Software Digital Photo Professional 3.0 and EOS Utility 2.0  
Battery Power Source Li-ion Battery LP-E4, AC Adapter Kit AK-E4  
Zoom Wide 0  
Zoom Tele 0  
Intro Date 2007-02-21  
fstop Max 0.00  
fstop Min 0.00  
Zoom Digital 0.00  
Storage Type CF (type I and II), SD, SDHC, USB v2.0 hard drive via WFT-E2A transmitter  
LCD Pixels 230000  
Resolution Maximum 3888 x 2592  
Resolution Minimum 1936 x 1288  
External Flash yes Speedlite 580EX II Flash  
Ratings Raw Weight 
Color 10.54  
Resolution 10.53  
Noise Auto ISO 0.00   1.15 
Noise Manual ISO 12.40  
Low Light 9.50  
Dynamic Range 11.19  
Size Portability 6.50  
Model Design Appearance 9.00   1.3 
Handling 9.25  
Control Button Positioning Size 9.00   1.85 
Front 8.00   0.65 
Back 9.25   0.75 
Left 9.00   0.5 
Right 9.00   0.5 
Top 8.25   0.75 
Bottom 8.50   0.5 
Menu 8.50   1.65 
Auto Mode 7.00   1.05 
Auto Focus 8.00  
Focus 9.50   1.5 
ISO 9.25  
White Balance 9.25   2.5 
Exposure 9.00   1.75 
Meterng 9.75  
Shutter Speed 9.00   1.75 
Aperture 0.00  
Custom Image Presets 0.00   0.5 
Drive Mode 10.50   2.5 
Picture Quality Options 9.50   1.25 
Picture Effects Mode 9.00   2.15 
Playback Mode 7.50   1.5 
Movie Mode 0.00  
Viewfinder 9.25  
LCD Screen 9.00   1.75 
Flash 8.00   1.75 
Lens Mount 9.00   1.75 
Memory 4.00   0.5 
Battery 9.50   1.95 
Startup 1st Shot 9.70  
Shot Shot 9.90  
Shutter Shot 10.00  
Software 8.00   1.25 
Jacks / Ports / Plugs 9.50  
Direct Print Options 6.00   0.4 
Ease of Use 6.25   0.75 
Other Features 9.00   0.75 
Value 9.00   2.5 
Processing Speed 8.80  
Total (weighted)   737.44
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