A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Canon 1D vs 1D Mark II

The Canon EOS-1D and the Canon EOS-1D Mark II are two professional cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2001 and January 2004. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-H sensor. The 1D has a resolution of 4.1 megapixels, whereas the 1D Mark II provides 8.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 1D
versus
Canon 1D Mark II
Canon 1D   Canon 1D Mark II
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
4.1 MP – APS-H sensor 8.2 MP – APS-H sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 200-1,600 (100 - 3,200) ISO 100-1,600 (50 - 3,200)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
2.0" LCD – 120k dots 2.0" LCD – 230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
8 shutter flaps per second 8.3 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
500 shots per battery charge1200 shots per battery charge
156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1585 g 156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1535 g
logo
Check 1D offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check 1D Mark II offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D and the Canon EOS-1D Mark II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

ad

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 1D and the Canon 1D Mark II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 1D vs Canon 1D Mark II
Compare 1D versus 1D Mark II top
Comparison 1D or 1D Mark II rear

In this particular case, the Canon 1D and the Canon 1D Mark II have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the 1D Mark II is slightly lighter (3 percent) than the 1D. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

As can be seen in the images above, both cameras have a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1D 156 mm 158 mm 80 mm 1585 g 500 Y Sep 2001 6,499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 1D Mark II 156 mm 158 mm 80 mm 1535 g 1200 Y Jan 2004 4,499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 1D X Mark III 158 mm 168 mm 83 mm 1440 g 2850 Y Jan 2020 6,499 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 1D X Mark II 158 mm 168 mm 83 mm 1530 g 1210 Y Feb 2016 5,999ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 1D C 158 mm 164 mm 83 mm 1545 g 1120 Y Apr 2012 14,999ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 1D X 158 mm 168 mm 83 mm 1551 g 1120 Y Oct 2011 6,799ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV 156 mm 157 mm 80 mm 1230 g 1500 Y Oct 2009 4,999ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 1D Mark III 156 mm 157 mm 80 mm 1155 g 2200 Y Feb 2007 4,499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark III 150 mm 160 mm 80 mm 1385 g 1800 Y Aug 2007 7,999ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 1D Mark II N 156 mm 158 mm 80 mm 1565 g 1200 Y Aug 2005 3,999ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 5D 152 mm 113 mm 75 mm 895 g 400 Y Aug 2005 3,299ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark II 156 mm 158 mm 80 mm 1215 g 1200 Y Sep 2004 7,999ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 1Ds 156 mm 158 mm 80 mm 1265 g 600 Y Sep 2002 8,999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 1D Mark II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 31 percent) than the 1D, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-H sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.3. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the 1D Mark II uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC II) than the 1D (DIGIC), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon 1D and Canon 1D Mark II sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the 1D Mark II offers a higher resolution of 8.2 megapixels, compared with 4.1 MP of the 1D. This megapixels advantage translates into a 40 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the 1D Mark II has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 8.17μm versus 11.56μm for the 1D). However, it should be noted that the 1D Mark II is much more recent (by 2 years and 4 months) than the 1D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1D Mark II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1D Mark II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 17.5 x 11.7 inches or 44.5 x 29.7 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 14 x 9.3 inches or 35.6 x 23.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 11.7 x 7.8 inches or 29.7 x 19.8 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1D are 12.5 x 8.3 inches or 31.7 x 21.1 cm for good quality, 10 x 6.6 inches or 25.4 x 16.9 cm for very good quality, and 8.3 x 5.5 inches or 21.1 x 14.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS-1D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS-1D Mark II are ISO 100 to ISO 1600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-3200.

In terms of underlying technology, the 1D is build around a CCD sensor, while the 1D Mark II uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

1D versus 1D Mark II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 1D APS-H 4.1 2496 1662none........
2.
 
Canon 1D Mark II APS-H 8.2 3504 2336none22.311.1100366
3.
 
Canon 1D X Mark III Full Frame 20.0 5472 36484K/60p24.214.5324891
4.
 
Canon 1D X Mark II Full Frame 20.0 5472 36484K/60p24.113.5320788
5.
 
Canon 1D C Full Frame 17.9 5184 34564K/24p24.313.0215585
6.
 
Canon 1D X Full Frame 17.9 5184 34561080/30p23.811.8278682
7.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV APS-H 16.0 4896 32641080/30p22.812.0132074
8.
 
Canon 1D Mark III APS-H 10.1 3888 2592none22.711.7107871
9.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark III Full Frame 21.0 5616 3744none24.012.0166380
10.
 
Canon 1D Mark II N APS-H 8.2 3504 2336none22.311.297566
11.
 
Canon 5D Full Frame 12.7 4368 2912none22.911.1136871
12.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark II Full Frame 16.6 4992 3328none23.311.3148074
13.
 
Canon 1Ds Full Frame 11.0 4064 2704none21.811.095463
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding
Neither the 1D nor the 1D Mark II offer Live View, so that they cannot project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen. Moreover, both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 1D and the 1D Mark II are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), as well as the same magnification (0.55x). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 1D and Canon 1D Mark II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 1Doptical Y2.0 / 120 fixed n 1/16000s 8.0/s n n
2.
 
Canon 1D Mark IIoptical Y2.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s n n
3.
 
Canon 1D X Mark IIIoptical Y3.2 / 2100 fixed Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n n
4.
 
Canon 1D X Mark IIoptical Y3.2 / 1620 fixed Y 1/8000s 16.0/s n n
5.
 
Canon 1D Coptical Y3.2 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 14.0/s n n
6.
 
Canon 1D Xoptical Y3.2 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 14.0/s n n
7.
 
Canon 1D Mark IVoptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
8.
 
Canon 1D Mark IIIoptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
9.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark IIIoptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
10.
 
Canon 1D Mark II Noptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 8.5/s n n
11.
 
Canon 5Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s n n
12.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark IIoptical Y2.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
13.
 
Canon 1Dsoptical Y2.0 / 120 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

The 1D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the 1D Mark II uses Compact Flash or SD cards. The 1D Mark II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 1D only has one slot.

ad

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS-1D and Canon EOS-1D Mark II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 1DY- / ----FW---
2.
 
Canon 1D Mark IIY- / ----1.1---
3.
 
Canon 1D X Mark IIIYmono / monoYYmini3.1Y-Y
4.
 
Canon 1D X Mark IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
5.
 
Canon 1D CYmono / monoYYmini2.0---
6.
 
Canon 1D XYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
7.
 
Canon 1D Mark IVYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon 1D Mark IIIY- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark IIIYmono / ----2.0---
10.
 
Canon 1D Mark II NY- / ----1.1---
11.
 
Canon 5DY- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark IIY- / ----2.0---
13.
 
Canon 1DsY- / ----FW---
padding

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the 1D and the 1D Mark II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1D was replaced by the Canon 1D Mark II, while the 1D Mark II was followed by the Canon 1D Mark II N. Further information on the features and operation of the 1D and 1D Mark II can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 1D Mark II Manual.

ad

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 1D and the Canon 1D Mark II? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS-1D:

  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/16000s vs 1/8000s) to freeze action.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2001).


Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (8.2 vs 4.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 40%.
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC II vs DIGIC).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (230k vs 120k dots).
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1200 versus 500) out of a single battery charge.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (31 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 4 months of technical progress since the 1D launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 1D Mark II is the clear winner of the contest (7 : 2 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

1D 02:07 1D Mark II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1D and the Canon 1D Mark II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1D or the 1D Mark II perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1D......+ +.... Sep 2001 6,499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 1D Mark II......+ +.... Jan 2004 4,499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 1D X Mark III..+ +5/5..4.5/54/5 Jan 2020 6,499 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 1D X Mark II....4.5/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 5,999ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 1D C............ Apr 2012 14,999ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 1D X5/5......4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2011 6,799ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV5/5....89/100.... Oct 2009 4,999ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 1D Mark III............ Feb 2007 4,499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark III......+ +4.5/5.. Aug 2007 7,999ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 1D Mark II N............ Aug 2005 3,999ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 5D..88/100..+ +o.. Aug 2005 3,299ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark II......+ +.... Sep 2004 7,999ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 1Ds......+ +.... Sep 2002 8,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

logo
Check 1D offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check 1D Mark II offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Canon 1D vs Canon 1D Mark II

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 1D Canon 1D Mark II
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2001 January 2004
    Launch Price USD 6,499 USD 4,499
    Sensor Specs Canon 1D Canon 1D Mark II
    Sensor Technology CCD CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-H Sensor APS-H Sensor
    Sensor Size 28.7 x 19.1 mm 28.7 x 19.1 mm
    Sensor Area 548.17 mm2 548.17 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 34.5 mm 34.5 mm
    Crop Factor 1.3x 1.3x
    Sensor Resolution 4.1 Megapixels 8.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 2496 x 1662 pixels 3504 x 2336 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 11.56 μm 8.17 μm
    Pixel Density 0.76 MP/cm2 1.49 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 3,200 ISO 50 - 3,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC DIGIC II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 66
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 22.3
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 11.1
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 1003
    Screen Specs Canon 1D Canon 1D Mark II
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.55x 0.55x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
    Rear LCD Size 2.0inch 2.0inch
    LCD Resolution 120k dots 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 1D Canon 1D Mark II
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 8 shutter flaps/s 8.3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF or SD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Canon 1D Canon 1D Mark II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector Firewire USB 1.1
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 1D Canon 1D Mark II
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type NP-E3 NP-E3
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge1200 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 156 x 158 x 80 mm
    (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in)
    156 x 158 x 80 mm
    (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 1585 g (55.9 oz) 1535 g (54.1 oz)
    logo
    Check 1D offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check 1D Mark II offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Canon 1D vs Canon 1D Mark II