Canon 1Ds Mark II vs 200D

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and the Canon EOS 200D (labelled Canon SL2 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2004 and June 2017. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on a full frame (1Ds Mark II) and an APS-C (200D) sensor. The 1Ds Mark II has a resolution of 16.6 megapixels, whereas the 200D provides 24 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon 1Ds Mark II		Canon 200D
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
16.6 MP, Full Frame Sensor		24 MP, APS-C Sensor
no Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (50 - 3,200)		ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.0 LCD, 230k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel touchscreen
4 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
1200 shots per battery charge		650 shots per battery charge
156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1215 g		122 x 93 x 70 mm, 453 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and the Canon EOS 200D? 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.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 1Ds Mark II and the Canon 200D. 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 width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 200D can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the 1Ds Mark II is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 200D is considerably smaller (54 percent) than the Canon 1Ds Mark II. Moreover, the 200D is substantially lighter (63 percent) than the 1Ds Mark II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 1Ds Mark II is splash and dust resistant, while the 200D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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. A larger imaging sensor (as in the 1Ds Mark II) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (200D). You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 1Ds Mark II gets 1200 shots out of its NP-E3 battery, while the 200D can take 650 images on a single charge of its LP-E17 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1Ds Mark II has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. In order to provide similar functionality for the 200D, there are third party battery grips available as optional accessories (see here on eBay).

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	7,999
2.		Canon 200D	122 mm	93 mm	70 mm	453 g	650	n	Jun 2017	549
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1440 g	2850	Y	Jan 2020	6,499
4.		Canon 2000D	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	475 g	500	n	Feb 2018	449
5.		Canon 77D	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	540 g	600	n	Feb 2017	899
6.		Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499
7.		Canon 1D X Mark II	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
8.		Canon M5	116 mm	89 mm	61 mm	427 g	295	n	Sep 2016	979
9.		Canon 100D	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549
10.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
11.		Canon 1D X	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1551 g	1120	Y	Oct 2011	6,799
12.		Canon 1D Mark IV	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	4,999
13.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	4,499
14.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999
15.		Canon 1D Mark II N	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1565 g	1200	Y	Aug 2005	3,999
16.		Canon 5D	152 mm	113 mm	75 mm	895 g	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299
17.		Canon 1Ds	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	8,999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 200D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 93 percent) than the 1Ds Mark II, 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.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1Ds Mark II features a full frame sensor and the Canon 200D an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the 200D is 62 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the 200D uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 7) than the 1Ds Mark II (DIGIC II), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the 200D offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 16.6 MP of the 1Ds Mark II. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 7.21μm for the 1Ds Mark II). However, it should be noted that the 200D is much more recent (by 12 years and 9 months) than the 1Ds Mark II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 200D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 200D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1Ds Mark II are 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm for good quality, 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.7 x 33.8 cm for very good quality, and 16.6 x 11.1 inches or 42.3 x 28.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The 200D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 50-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS 200D are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 200D has a markedly higher DXO score than the 1Ds Mark II (overall score 5 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.3 bits higher color depth, 2.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.5 stops of reduced low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Full Frame	16.6	4992	3328	none	23.3	11.3	1480		74
2.		Canon 200D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.4	1041		79
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.2	14.5	3248		91
4.		Canon 2000D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	11.9	1009		71
5.		Canon 77D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.3	971		78
6.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272		78
7.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207		88
8.		Canon M5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.4	1262		77
9.		Canon 100D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843		63
10.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340		82
11.		Canon 1D X	Full Frame	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	23.8	11.8	2786		82
12.		Canon 1D Mark IV	APS-H	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	22.8	12.0	1320		74
13.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078		71
14.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663		80
15.		Canon 1D Mark II N	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.2	975		66
16.		Canon 5D	Full Frame	12.7	4368	2912	none	22.9	11.1	1368		71
17.		Canon 1Ds	Full Frame	11.0	4064	2704	none	21.8	11.0	954		63

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The 200D indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1Ds Mark II does not. The highest resolution format that the 200D can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1Ds Mark II and the 200D 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 viewfinder in the 1Ds Mark II offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 200D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the 1Ds Mark II has a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.54x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 1Ds Mark II and Canon 200D in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	optical	Y	2.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0	n	n
2.		Canon 200D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	optical	Y	3.2	2100	fixed	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	n
4.		Canon 2000D	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
5.		Canon 77D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
6.		Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
7.		Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2	1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0	n	n
8.		Canon M5	2360	n	3.2	1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	n
9.		Canon 100D	optical	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9	Y	n
10.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
11.		Canon 1D X	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
12.		Canon 1D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
13.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
14.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
15.		Canon 1D Mark II N	optical	Y	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.5	n	n
16.		Canon 5D	optical	Y	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0	n	n
17.		Canon 1Ds	optical	Y	2.0	120	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0	n	n

One feature that is present on the 1Ds Mark II, but is missing on the 200D is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The 1Ds Mark II writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDHC cards, while the 200D uses SDXC cards. The 1Ds Mark II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 200D only has one slot. The 200D supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the 1Ds Mark II cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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-1Ds Mark II and Canon EOS 200D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon 200D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon 2000D	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon 77D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
7.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon M5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
9.		Canon 100D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Canon 1D X	Y	mono	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon 1D Mark IV	Y	stereo	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Canon 1D Mark II N	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
16.		Canon 5D	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Canon 1Ds	Y	-	-	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-

It is notable that the 200D offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 1Ds Mark II does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 1Ds Mark II (unlike the 200D) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 1Ds Mark II and the 200D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The 1Ds Mark II was replaced by the Canon 1Ds Mark III, while the 200D was followed by the Canon 250D. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 1Ds Mark II or the Canon 200D – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II:

• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.5 stops ISO advantage).
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.54x).
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1200 versus 650) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2004).

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 200D:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 16.6MP), which boosts linear resolution by 20%.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (5 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.1 EV of extra DR).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 7 vs DIGIC II).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x93mm vs 156x158mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 762g or 63 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (93 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 12 years and 9 months of technical progress since the 1Ds Mark II launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 200D is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 11 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision 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.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1Ds Mark II and the Canon 200D 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 1Ds Mark II and the 200D in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	7,999
2.		Canon 200D	4/5	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jan 2020	6,499
4.		Canon 2000D	..	o	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449
5.		Canon 77D	4.5/5	..	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	899
6.		Canon M100	3/5	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
7.		Canon 1D X Mark II	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999
8.		Canon M5	4/5	+	82/100	4/5	4/5	Sep 2016	979
9.		Canon 100D	4/5	+	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
10.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
11.		Canon 1D X	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2011	6,799
12.		Canon 1D Mark IV	5/5	..	89/100	..	..	Oct 2009	4,999
13.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	4,499
14.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	7,999
15.		Canon 1D Mark II N	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2005	3,999
16.		Canon 5D	..	88/100	+ +	o	..	Aug 2005	3,299
17.		Canon 1Ds	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2002	8,999
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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Specifications: Canon 1Ds Mark II vs Canon 200D

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.

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