Canon 1Ds vs Nikon D750

The Canon EOS-1Ds and the Nikon D750 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2002 and September 2014. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 11 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 24.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon 1Ds		Nikon D750
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
11 MP, Full Frame Sensor		24.2 MP, Full Frame Sensor
no Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,250		ISO 100-12,800 (50 - 51,200)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.0 LCD, 120k dots		3.2 LCD, 1229k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second		6 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
600 shots per battery charge		1230 shots per battery charge
156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1265 g		141 x 113 x 78 mm, 750 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1Ds and the Nikon D750? 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 and the Nikon D750 is provided in the side-by-side display below. 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.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D750 is considerably smaller (35 percent) than the Canon 1Ds. Moreover, the D750 is substantially lighter (41 percent) than the 1Ds. 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) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D750).

Concerning battery life, the 1Ds gets 600 shots out of its NP-E3 battery, while the D750 can take 1230 images on a single charge of its EN-EL15 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1Ds 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 D750, Nikon provides the MB-D16 vertical grip as an optional accessory (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	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	8,999
2.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1440 g	2850	Y	Jan 2020	6,499
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
5.		Canon 1D C	158 mm	164 mm	83 mm	1545 g	1120	Y	Apr 2012	14,999
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	4,999
7.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	4,499
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999
9.		Canon 1D Mark II N	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1565 g	1200	Y	Aug 2005	3,999
10.		Canon 5D	152 mm	113 mm	75 mm	895 g	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299
11.		Canon 1D Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1535 g	1200	Y	Jan 2004	4,499
12.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	7,999
13.		Nikon D780	144 mm	116 mm	76 mm	840 g	2260	Y	Jan 2020	2,299
14.		Nikon Df	144 mm	110 mm	67 mm	760 g	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749
15.		Nikon D610	141 mm	113 mm	82 mm	850 g	900	Y	Oct 2013	1,999
16.		Nikon D600	141 mm	113 mm	82 mm	850 g	900	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
17.		Nikon D700	147 mm	123 mm	77 mm	1074 g	1000	Y	Jul 2008	2,999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The D750 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 74 percent) than the 1Ds, 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D750 is 1 percent bigger. 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 24.2MP, the D750 offers a higher resolution than the 1Ds (11MP), but the D750 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 8.83μm for the 1Ds). Yet, the D750 is a much more recent model (by 11 years and 11 months) than the 1Ds, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D750 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D750 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.1 x 20.1 inches or 76.4 x 51 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.1 x 16.1 inches or 61.1 x 40.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.1 x 13.4 inches or 50.9 x 34 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1Ds are 20.3 x 13.5 inches or 51.6 x 34.3 cm for good quality, 16.3 x 10.8 inches or 41.3 x 27.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.5 x 9 inches or 34.4 x 22.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS-1Ds has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1250, which can be extended to ISO 50-1250. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D750 are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-51200.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the D750 offers substantially better image quality than the 1Ds (overall score 30 points higher). The advantage is based on 3 bits higher color depth, 3.5 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.6 stops in additional 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	Full Frame	11.0	4064	2704	none	21.8	11.0	954		63
2.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956		93
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.2	14.5	3248		91
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207		88
5.		Canon 1D C	Full Frame	17.9	5184	3456	4K/24p	..	..	..		..
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	APS-H	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	22.8	12.0	1320		74
7.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078		71
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663		80
9.		Canon 1D Mark II N	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.2	975		66
10.		Canon 5D	Full Frame	12.7	4368	2912	none	22.9	11.1	1368		71
11.		Canon 1D Mark II	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.1	1003		66
12.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Full Frame	16.6	4992	3328	none	23.3	11.3	1480		74
13.		Nikon D780	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
14.		Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279		89
15.		Nikon D610	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.4	2925		94
16.		Nikon D600	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.2	2980		94
17.		Nikon D700	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2303		80

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The D750 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1Ds does not. The highest resolution format that the D750 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1Ds and the D750 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 (0.70x). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 1Ds, the Nikon D750, and comparable 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	optical	Y	2.0	120	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0	n	n
2.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	optical	Y	3.2	2100	fixed	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	n
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2	1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0	n	n
5.		Canon 1D C	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
7.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	n	n
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
9.		Canon 1D Mark II N	optical	Y	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.5	n	n
10.		Canon 5D	optical	Y	2.5	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0	n	n
11.		Canon 1D Mark II	optical	Y	2.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3	n	n
12.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	optical	Y	2.0	230	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0	n	n
13.		Nikon D780	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	n
14.		Nikon Df	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	n
15.		Nikon D610	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
16.		Nikon D600	optical	Y	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	Y	n
17.		Nikon D700	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D750 has one, while the 1Ds does not. While the built-in flash of the D750 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Nikon D750 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 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the D750 uses SDXC cards. The D750 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 1Ds 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 and Nikon D750 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	Y	-	-	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1D C	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	Y	stereo	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 1D Mark II N	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
10.		Canon 5D	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon 1D Mark II	Y	-	-	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
12.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D780	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Nikon Df	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D610	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Nikon D600	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Nikon D700	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the D750 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 1Ds does not provide wifi capability.

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

Both the 1Ds and the D750 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The 1Ds was replaced by the Canon 1Ds Mark II, while the D750 was followed by the Nikon D780. 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? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 1Ds or the Nikon D750 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-1Ds:

• 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.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2002).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D750:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24.2 vs 11MP), which boosts linear resolution by 48%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (30 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (3 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (3.5 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.6 stops ISO advantage).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 120k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (141x113mm vs 156x158mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 515g or 41 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1230 versus 600) out of a single battery charge.
• 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.
• 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 (74 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 11 years and 11 months of technical progress since the 1Ds launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D750 is the clear winner of the contest (19 : 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 and the Nikon D750 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 1Ds or the D750. 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 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	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2002	8,999
2.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
3.		Canon 1D X Mark III	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jan 2020	6,499
4.		Canon 1D X Mark II	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999
5.		Canon 1D C	..	..	..	..	..	Apr 2012	14,999
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	5/5	..	89/100	..	..	Oct 2009	4,999
7.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	4,499
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	7,999
9.		Canon 1D Mark II N	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2005	3,999
10.		Canon 5D	..	88/100	+ +	o	..	Aug 2005	3,299
11.		Canon 1D Mark II	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jan 2004	4,499
12.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	7,999
13.		Nikon D780	5/5	..	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2020	2,299
14.		Nikon Df	4/5	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749
15.		Nikon D610	4/5	+ +	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,999
16.		Nikon D600	4/5	+ +	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
17.		Nikon D700	..	89/100	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2008	2,999
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. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon 1Ds vs Nikon D750

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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