Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Nikon D3S

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3S are two professional cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2007 and October 2009. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 21 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 12.1 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 III		Nikon D3S
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
21 MP, Full Frame Sensor		12.1 MP, Full Frame Sensor
no Video		720/24p Video
ISO 100-1600 (50-3200)		ISO 200-12800 (100-102400)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD, 230k dots		3.0" LCD, 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		11 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
1800 shots per battery charge		4200 shots per battery charge
150 x 160 x 80 mm, 1385 g		160 x 157 x 88 mm, 1240 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3S? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3S is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. 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 Nikon D3S is somewhat larger (5 percent) than the Canon 1Ds Mark III. However, the D3S is markedly lighter (10 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. Yet, since both cameras are based around a full frame sensor, their respective lenses will tend to have similar dimensions and heft. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (1Ds Mark III) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D3S).

Concerning battery life, the 1Ds Mark III gets 1800 shots out of its LP-E4 battery, while the D3S can take 4200 images on a single charge of its EN-EL4a power pack. 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 adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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)	Used 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
	Nikon D3S«	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1240 g	4200	Y	Oct 2009	5,199	-		Nikon D3S
	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 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
	Canon 1Ds« »	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	8,999	-		Canon 1Ds
	Nikon D5« »	160 mm	159 mm	92 mm	1415 g	3780	Y	Jan 2016	6,499			Nikon D5
	Nikon D4« »	160 mm	157 mm	91 mm	1340 g	2600	Y	Jan 2012	5,999	-		Nikon D4
	Nikon D3X« »	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1260 g	4400	Y	Dec 2008	7,999	-		Nikon D3X
	Nikon D700« »	147 mm	123 mm	77 mm	1074 g	1000	Y	Jul 2008	2,999	-		Nikon D700
	Nikon D3« »	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1300 g	4300	Y	Aug 2007	4,999	-		Nikon D3
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 retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D3S was launched at a markedly lower price (by 35 percent) than the 1Ds Mark III, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 21MP, the 1Ds Mark III offers a higher resolution than the D3S (12.1MP), but the 1Ds Mark III has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.41μm versus 8.43μm for the D3S). Moreover, the D3S is a much more recent model (by 2 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 pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1Ds Mark III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1Ds Mark III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 28.1 x 18.7 inch or 71.3 x 47.5 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 22.5 x 15 inch or 57.1 x 38 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.7 x 12.5 inch or 47.5 x 31.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D3S are 21.3 x 14.2 inch or 54.1 x 36 cm for good quality, 17 x 11.3 inch or 43.2 x 28.8 cm for very good quality, and 14.2 x 9.4 inch or 36 x 24 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 Nikon D3S are ISO 200 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-102400.

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"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The D3S indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1Ds Mark III does not. The highest resolution format that the D3S can use is 720/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1Ds Mark III and the D3S 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%), but the viewfinder of the 1Ds Mark III has a higher magnification than the one of the D3S (0.76x vs 0.70x), 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 Nikon D3S along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

The Nikon D3S has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 1Ds Mark III writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDHC cards, while the D3S uses Compact Flash cards. The D3S 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.

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 Nikon D3S and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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

Both the 1Ds Mark III and the D3S have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The 1Ds Mark III was replaced by the Canon 1DX, while the D3S was followed by the Nikon D4. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3S? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (21 vs 12.1MP) with a 32% higher linear resolution.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.70x).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2007).

Advantages of the Nikon D3S:

• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1 stops ISO advantage).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 720/24p video.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 230k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (4200 versus 1800) 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 (35 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 1 month of technical progress since the 1Ds Mark III launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D3S is the clear winner of the contest (9 : 3 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.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3S 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 specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1Ds Mark III or the D3S perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1Ds Mark III»	-	+ +	4.5/5	-	-	Aug 2007	7,999	-		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Nikon D3S«	-	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Oct 2009	5,199	-		Nikon D3S
	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 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
	Canon 1Ds« »	-	+ +	-	-	-	Sep 2002	8,999	-		Canon 1Ds
	Nikon D5« »	-	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	6,499			Nikon D5
	Nikon D4« »	-	-	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Jan 2012	5,999	-		Nikon D4
	Nikon D3X« »	-	86/100	4/5	5/5	5/5	Dec 2008	7,999	-		Nikon D3X
	Nikon D700« »	89/100	+ +	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2008	2,999	-		Nikon D700
	Nikon D3« »	-	+ +	5/5	o	4.5/5	Aug 2007	4,999	-		Nikon D3
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods 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? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

Specifications: Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Nikon D3S

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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