Product Reviews

Canon's Eos 1Ds models have been at the vanguard of advances in sensor resolution in DSLRs and have been the model of choice for many location and studio photographers since their introduction in late 2002.

The Eos 1Ds Mk III is the successor to the highly regarded full-frame 16.7-megapixel Eos 1Ds Mk II, featuring an additional 4 million pixels, 14-bit colour capture, automated sensor cleaning and faster continuous shooting at up to five frames per second (fps).

Even allowing for a little cropping, the 21-megapixel resolution Cmos sensor can comfortably deliver a full-colour double-page spread at 300dpi. Delivering 5616 x 3744 pixel images, equating to an 8-bit 63MB Tiff, the 1Ds Mk III easily surpasses the minimum file size required by all the leading photo agencies.

The Eos 1Ds models are the high-resolution, full-frame variant of action photographers' favourite DSLR, the ultra-robust Eos 1D, and share many of the same features, layout and design cues.

There's a downside in this case, though, as the 1Ds Mk III is based on the troubled 1D Mk III. While the 1Ds Mk III inherits the larger 3in screen, handy live view and anti-dust systems, it also adopts the same troublesome wide-area autofocus system.

With no fewer than 19 ultra-sensitive cross-type distance sensors, and 26 autofocus assist points, it was a flaw in this new autofocus module that was the apparent cause of intermittent focus inaccuracies in early models. Although we were unable to check using the same lenses with which we reviewed the 1D Mk III, during our test period with the 1Ds Mk III we found the autofocus worked smoothly and without fault.

Held to the eye, the 1Ds Mk III has a larger, seemingly brighter viewfinder image than its sibling. However, like other full-frame models, the autofocus system covers a smaller, more concentrated area. It's handy for subjects located in the centre of the frame, but not quite so versatile overall.

We were also impressed with the 3in

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colour monitor. It's not a patch on the panels found on rival Nikon's pro-level cameras, but it's certainly an improvement on the blurry image delivered by the early 1D Mk III's LCD. That said, the crush-resistant outer screen is highly reflective and easily smeared in daylight.

Live view works much the same as it did in the earlier model, in that it has to be enabled first from the menu, and feels very much like an afterthought. Somewhat surprisingly, Canon hasn't taken the opportunity to add autofocus, like that found on the Eos 40D. This will hardly be a concern for the majority of pro-users, though, especially as focus can be operated remotely using the bundled Eos Utility software.

From our Labs tests, the Eos 1Ds Mk III comfortably out-resolves all other competing, 35mm-based DSLRs and is clearly an alternative to many mid-range medium-format backs. In sheer detail, it trounces the 12-megapixel Nikon D3, a full-frame model that won plaudits for speed of operation and low noise levels, but it's not a clear-cut victory in everyday use.

Picture quality is good, but in theory 1Ds Mk III eschews speed for image quality. Sadly, at pixel level at least, it doesn't match its sibling or the D3. We were also surprised by the 1Ds Mk III's tendency to underexposure even with fairly straightforward lighting. Although this helps prevent clipped highlights and isn't much of an issue if shooting Raw, it may be a concern for those wanting in-camera processed Jpegs.

At higher ISOs, the Eos 1Ds Mk III can't match the low noise of either the 1D Mk III or the Nikon D3, an indication of the rather low maximum ISO1600 setting, although an expanded H option effectively doubles the sensitivity to ISO3200. With somewhat murky-looking images across the range, we found the camera's colour rendition slightly disappointing when you compare it with previous offerings. Although it's fairly easy to correct in Raw files, the internal processing of Jpegs isn't exactly one of the 1Ds Mk III's strengths.

For its intended audience using Raw capture workflow, many of these idiosyncrasies may be overcome with relative ease, but it all adds up to a pretty high-maintenance camera, and something that's at odds with the Canon's hard-won reputation for ease of use.

If you want high picture quality with exceptional low-light capabilities, the smaller, semi-pro Eos 5D may be the better bet overall. However, if outright resolution in a reasonably portable camera really matters to you, then the Eos 1 Ds Mk III is, for the time being at least, the only practical solution.