CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Canon 1Ds MII

17 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon 1Ds MII
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Canon 1Ds MIII

21 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon 1Ds MIII
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing 1Ds MII and 1Ds MIII, two Pro DSLR cameras by Canon. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Canon 1Ds MII has a 17.0 MP and Canon 1Ds MIII has a 21.0 MP resolution. Canon 1Ds MII was introduced to market in October 2005 and Canon 1Ds MIII was launched in August 2008. As you can see, 1Ds MII is 3 years older than 1Ds MIII. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

1Ds MII and 1Ds MIII are members of Canon's 1D series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Canon 1D Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
Canon 1D X III
  
2020 20.0MP - Full frame 20.0 fps 158 x 168 x 83mm 1440g
Canon 1D X II
  
2016 20.0MP - Full frame 16.0 fps 158 x 168 x 83mm 1530g
Canon 1D C
  
2012 18.0MP - Full frame 14.0 fps 158 x 164 x 83mm 1500g
Canon 1D X
  
2011 18.0MP - Full frame 14.0 fps 158 x 164 x 83mm 1340g
Canon 1D MIV
  
2010 16.0MP - APS-H 10.0 fps 156 x 157 x 80mm 1230g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon 1Ds MII Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2005-10-11
  • 17MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 2" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 4 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 1565g. 156 x 158 x 80 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Canon EOS 1Ds Compare

Canon 1Ds MIII Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2008-08-18
  • 21MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 50 - 3200
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 1385g. 150 x 160 x 80 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II Compare

Canon 1Ds MII was replaced by Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III vs Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III vs Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon 1Ds MIII was replaced by Canon EOS 1D X. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II over Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Sensor Pixel Area
52.02µm2 vs 41.08µm2 26% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III over Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
Viewfinder Magnification
0.76x vs 0.7x Larger Viewfinder
Max Sensor Resolution
21 MP vs 17 MP 23% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2" 1 inches larger display
Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 4.0fps 1 fps faster
Weight
1385 g vs 1565 g 180 g lighter
Color Depth
24.0 vs 23.3 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
12.0 vs 11.3 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
1663 vs 1480 better High ISO performance
Shutter Life Expectancy
300000 cycles vs 200000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism

Common Strengths of Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Max Resolution
17 MP vs 21 MP Bigger prints and more details
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy
200000 cycles vs 300000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Storage Slot
2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Common Weaknesses of Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon 1Ds MII has external dimensions of 156 x 158 x 80 mm (6.14 x 6.22 x 3.15″) and weighs 1565 g (3.45 lb / 55.20 oz) (including batteries). Canon 1Ds MIII has external dimensions of 150 x 160 x 80 mm (5.91 x 6.3 x 3.15″) and weighs 1385 g (3.05 lb / 48.85 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII.

Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon 1Ds MIII is 180g lighter than the Canon 1Ds MII but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII have the same Canon EF lens mount and Full frame sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

1Ds MII
1Ds MIII
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

1Ds MII
1Ds MIII
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both 1Ds MII and 1Ds MIII have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon 1Ds MIII's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon 1Ds MII's 2" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII: Sensor Comparison

Canon 1Ds MII has a 17.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Canon 1Ds MIII has a 21.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the 1Ds MII and 1Ds MIII sensor size comparison.

Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII Cameras


Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Canon 1Ds MII has 26% larger pixel area compared to Canon 1Ds MIII, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that 1Ds MIII has a better overall score of 80, 6 points higher compared to 1Ds MII's score of 74.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Canon 1Ds MII 74 23.3 bits 11.3 Evs 1480 ISO
Canon 1Ds MIII 80 24.0 bits 12.0 Evs 1663 ISO
Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. In this case, both Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII have the same Canon EF lens mount so have 250 native lenses available. But be careful that only 250 of these lenses can cover the full frame sensors of these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 76 lenses with Image stabilization for Canon EF mount.

Lens Type # of Canon 1Ds MII Lenses # of Canon 1Ds MIII Lenses
Standard Zoom 22 (22 Full Frame) 22 (22 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 17 (17 Full Frame) 17 (17 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 20 (20 Full Frame) 20 (20 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 46 (46 Full Frame) 46 (46 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 50 (50 Full Frame) 50 (50 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 43 (43 Full Frame) 43 (43 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 9 (9 Full Frame) 9 (9 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 3 (3 Full Frame) 3 (3 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 24 (24 Full Frame) 24 (24 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 16 (16 Full Frame) 16 (16 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 250 (250 Full Frame) 250 (250 Full Frame)

Here are some of the most popular Canon EF Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Canon EF Mount Lenses for 1Ds MII and 1Ds MIII
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II Lens Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
35mm FF 130gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM
35mm FF 670gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM Lens Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM
35mm FF 159gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM Lens Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM
35mm FF 630gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 15mm f2.8 Fisheye Lens Canon EF 15mm f2.8 Fisheye
35mm FF 330gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Lens Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM
35mm FF 290gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 40mm f2.8 STM Lens Canon EF 40mm f2.8 STM
35mm FF 130gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM Lens Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM
35mm FF 1490gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon 1Ds MII for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon 1Ds MIII for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 17.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon 1Ds MII for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon 1Ds MIII for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Canon 1Ds MII for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon 1Ds MIII for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
45 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
45 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1800 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon 1Ds MII for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon 1Ds MIII for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1565g
Body Thickness 80mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1385g
Body Thickness 80mm
Read the details

Canon 1Ds MII for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Canon 1Ds MIII for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 17.0MP
Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Canon 1Ds MII vs Canon 1Ds MIII: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon 1Ds MII and Canon 1Ds MIII scores compare:

Canon 1Ds MII
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #18 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #486 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Canon 1Ds MIII
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #16 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #340 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Canon 1Ds MIII is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon 1Ds MII in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Canon 1Ds MII
Canon 1Ds MII
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Canon 1Ds MIII
Canon 1Ds MIII
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Canon 1Ds MIII vs Canon 1Ds MII Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Brand Canon Canon
Announced 2005-10-11 2008-08-18
Body Type Large SLR Large SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 36 x 24 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 864.00mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 17 megapixels 21 megapixels
Max Resolution 4992 x 3328 5616 x 3744
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 45 45
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Canon EF Canon EF
Number of Available Lenses 250 250
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7x 0.76x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution None None
Video Formats n/a n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 1565g 1385g
Dimensions 156 x 158 x 80mm 150 x 160 x 80mm
Battery Life n/a 1800 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 74 80
DxO Color Depth 23.3 24.0
DxO Dynamic Range 11.3 12.0
DxO Low Light ISO 1480 1663
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated DSLR Cameras
Top DSLR Cameras Under $500
Top DSLR Cameras Under $750
Top DSLR Cameras Under $1000
Top DSLR Cameras Under $1500
Latest Cameras
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Nikon Z7 II
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Nikon Z6 II
25 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Sony A7c
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Panasonic S5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Copyright © 2020 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction