Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Leica S3

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Leica S3 are two professional cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2007 and September 2018. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on a full frame (1Ds Mark III) and a medium format (S3) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 21 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 64 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

	VS
Canon 1Ds Mark III		Leica S3
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Leica S mount lenses
21 MP, Full Frame Sensor		64 MP, Medium Format Sensor
no Video		4K/24p Video
ISO 100-1600 (50-3200)		ISO 100-50000
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD, 230k dots		3.0" LCD, 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
150 x 160 x 80 mm, 1385 g		160 x 120 x 80 mm, 1260 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Leica S3? 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 physical size and weight of the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Leica S3 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica S3 is notably smaller (20 percent) than the Canon 1Ds Mark III. Moreover, the S3 is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the 1Ds Mark III. 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. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

As can be seen in the images above, the 1Ds Mark III 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 S3, Leica provides the Multi-Function Handgrip S vertical grip as an optional accessory (see here on eBay).

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1Ds Mark III»	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Leica S3«	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2018	18,995		Leica S3
	Canon 1D X Mark II« »	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999		Canon 1D X Mark II
	Canon 1D C« »	158 mm	164 mm	83 mm	1545 g	1120	Y	Apr 2012	14,999		Canon 1D C
	Canon 5D Mark III« »	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	950 g	950	Y	Mar 2012	3,499		Canon 5D Mark III
	Canon 6D« »	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099		Canon 6D
	Canon 1D X« »	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1551 g	1120	Y	Oct 2011	6,799		Canon 1D X
	Canon 1D Mark IV« »	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	4,999		Canon 1D Mark IV
	Canon 5D Mark II« »	152 mm	114 mm	75 mm	850 g	850	Y	Sep 2008	3,499		Canon 5D Mark II
	Canon 1D Mark III« »	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	4,499		Canon 1D Mark III
	Canon 1Ds Mark II« »	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	7,999		Canon 1Ds Mark II
	Leica M10« »	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595		Leica M10
	Leica S-E Typ 006« »	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	16,900		Leica S-E Typ 006
	Leica S Typ 007« »	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	24,490		Leica S Typ 007
	Leica S Typ 006« »	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	21,950		Leica S Typ 006
	Leica S2« »	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1410 g	..	Y	Sep 2008	22,995		Leica S2
	Nikon D3X« »	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1260 g	4400	Y	Dec 2008	7,999		Nikon D3X
Convert to Imperial
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. 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 1Ds Mark III was launched at a markedly lower price (by 58 percent) than the S3, 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels 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 tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1Ds Mark III features a full frame sensor and the Leica S3 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S3 is 56 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 0.8. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 64MP, the S3 offers a higher resolution than the 1Ds Mark III (21MP), but the S3 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.59μm versus 6.41μm for the 1Ds Mark III). Yet, the S3 is a much more recent model (by 11 years and 1 month) than the 1Ds Mark III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the S3 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica S3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 49 x 32.7 inch or 124.5 x 83 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 39.2 x 26.1 inch or 99.6 x 66.4 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 32.7 x 21.8 inch or 83 x 55.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1Ds Mark III are 28.1 x 18.7 inch or 71.3 x 47.5 cm for good quality, 22.5 x 15 inch or 57.1 x 38 cm for very good quality, and 18.7 x 12.5 inch or 47.5 x 31.7 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III 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 Leica S3 are ISO 100 to ISO 50000 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The S3 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1Ds Mark III does not. The highest resolution format that the S3 can use is 4K/24p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1Ds Mark III and the S3 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 III offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the S3 (98%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the S3 has a higher magnification (0.87x vs 0.76x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 1Ds Mark III and Leica S3 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

The 1Ds Mark III writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDHC cards, while the S3 uses Compact Flash or SDXC cards. The S3 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 1Ds Mark III only has one slot. The S3 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the 1Ds Mark III 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 III and Leica S3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the S3 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 1Ds Mark III does not offer wifi capability.

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

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the S3 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The S3 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Leica. In contrast, the 1Ds Mark III has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 1Ds Mark III was succeeded by the Canon 1DX. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Leica websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon 1Ds Mark III better than the Leica S3 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 98%).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (58 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2007).

Arguments in favor of the Leica S3:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (64 vs 21MP), which boosts linear resolution by 74%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/24p video.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.87x vs 0.76x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 230k dots).
• More compact: Is smaller (160x120mm vs 150x160mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More modern: Reflects 11 years and 1 month of technical progress since the 1Ds Mark III launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the S3 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 7 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 III and the Leica S3 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 1Ds Mark III or the S3 perform in practice. 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 why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	cam era   labs	dp re   view	e photo   zine	ima ging resource	photo graphy   blog	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	..	Aug 2007	7,999		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Leica S3	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2018	18,995		Leica S3
	Canon 1D X Mark II	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999		Canon 1D X Mark II
	Canon 1D C	..	..	..	..	..	Apr 2012	14,999		Canon 1D C
	Canon 5D Mark III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2012	3,499		Canon 5D Mark III
	Canon 6D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099		Canon 6D
	Canon 1D X	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2011	6,799		Canon 1D X
	Canon 1D Mark IV	..	89/100	..	5/5	..	Oct 2009	4,999		Canon 1D Mark IV
	Canon 5D Mark II	91/100	79/100	4/5	5/5	..	Sep 2008	3,499		Canon 5D Mark II
	Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	o	..	Feb 2007	4,499		Canon 1D Mark III
	Canon 1Ds Mark II	..	+ +	..	..	..	Sep 2004	7,999		Canon 1Ds Mark II
	Leica M10	..	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595		Leica M10
	Leica S-E Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	16,900		Leica S-E Typ 006
	Leica S Typ 007	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	24,490		Leica S Typ 007
	Leica S Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2012	21,950		Leica S Typ 006
	Leica S2	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2008	22,995		Leica S2
	Nikon D3X	..	86/100	4/5	5/5	5/5	Dec 2008	7,999		Nikon D3X
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, 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 comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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 make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

Specifications: Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Leica S3

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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