Contax N Digital vs Canon 1Ds

The Contax N Digital and the Canon EOS-1Ds are two professional cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2002 and September 2002. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Contax has a resolution of 6.1 megapixels, whereas the Canon provides 11 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Contax N Digital		Canon 1Ds
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Contax N mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
6.1 MP – Full Frame sensor		11 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 50-1,600		ISO 100-1,250
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.0" LCD – 200k dots		2.0" LCD – 120k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
4 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
100 shots per battery charge		600 shots per battery charge
152 x 138 x 80 mm, 990 g		156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1265 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Contax N Digital and the Canon EOS-1Ds? 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 Contax N Digital and the Canon 1Ds. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size 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 Canon 1Ds is notably larger (18 percent) than the Contax N Digital. Moreover, the 1Ds is markedly heavier (28 percent) than the N Digital. It is noteworthy in this context that the 1Ds is splash and dust-proof, while the N Digital 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. 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, both cameras have a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

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.		Contax N Digital	152 mm	138 mm	80 mm	990 g	100	n	Feb 2002	7,399	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1Ds	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	8,999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	4,499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	4,999	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	7,999	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999	ebay.com
7.		Canon 5D	152 mm	113 mm	75 mm	895 g	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299	ebay.com
8.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
9.		Canon D60	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	855 g	620	n	Feb 2002	2,999	ebay.com
10.		Canon Rebel	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
11.		Leica M9	139 mm	80 mm	37 mm	585 g	550	n	Sep 2009	7,999	ebay.com
12.		Leica M10	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595	ebay.com
13.		Leica M10-P	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Aug 2018	7,995	ebay.com
14.		Leica SL	147 mm	104 mm	39 mm	847 g	400	Y	Oct 2015	7,450	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D1X	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	1200	Y	Feb 2001	5,999	ebay.com
16.		Nikon D100	144 mm	116 mm	81 mm	780 g	370	n	Feb 2002	1,999	ebay.com
Note: 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 manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The N Digital was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 18 percent) than the 1Ds, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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 imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. 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 more expensive and 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 1Ds is 1 percent smaller. 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.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the 1Ds offers a higher resolution of 11 megapixels, compared with 6.1 MP of the N Digital. 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 8.83μm versus 11.90μm for the N Digital). However, it should be noted that the 1Ds is a somewhat more recent model (by 6 months) than the N Digital, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that partly offset its pixel-size disadvantage.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1Ds implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1Ds for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 20.3 x 13.5 inches or 51.6 x 34.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 16.3 x 10.8 inches or 41.3 x 27.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13.5 x 9 inches or 34.4 x 22.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Contax N Digital are 15.2 x 10 inches or 38.6 x 25.5 cm for good quality, 12.2 x 8 inches or 30.9 x 20.4 cm for very good quality, and 10.1 x 6.7 inches or 25.7 x 17 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Contax N Digital has a native sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS-1Ds are ISO 100 to ISO 1250, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-1250.

In terms of underlying technology, the N Digital is build around a CCD sensor, while the 1Ds 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.

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"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Contax N Digital	Full Frame	6.1	3040	2008	none	21.5	10.5	1283	59
2.		Canon 1Ds	Full Frame	11.0	4064	2704	none	21.8	11.0	954	63
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078	71
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	APS-H	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	22.8	12.0	1320	74
5.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Full Frame	16.6	4992	3328	none	23.3	11.3	1480	74
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663	80
7.		Canon 5D	Full Frame	12.7	4368	2912	none	22.9	11.1	1368	71
8.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571	57
9.		Canon D60	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	20.3	9.8	301	47
10.		Canon Rebel	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544	55
11.		Leica M9	Full Frame	18.1	5212	3472	none	22.5	11.7	884	69
12.		Leica M10	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	24.4	13.2	2133	86
13.		Leica M10-P	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	25.1	14.1	2739	93
14.		Leica SL	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	13.4	1821	88
15.		Nikon D1X	APS-C	5.9	3008	1960	none	..	..	..	..
16.		Nikon D100	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	9.9	394	48
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The N Digital and the 1Ds 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 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the N Digital (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the N Digital has a higher magnification (0.73x 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 Contax N Digital and Canon 1Ds along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		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.		Contax N Digital	optical	Y	2.0 / 200	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0/s	n	n
2.		Canon 1Ds	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
5.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	optical	Y	2.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0/s	n	n
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
7.		Canon 5D	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	n	n
8.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon D60	optical	Y	1.8 / 114	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
10.		Canon Rebel	optical	n	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
11.		Leica M9	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.0/s	n	n
12.		Leica M10	optical	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
13.		Leica M10-P	optical	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
14.		Leica SL	4400	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
15.		Nikon D1X	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	3.0/s	n	n
16.		Nikon D100	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the N Digital and the 1Ds write their files to Compact Flash 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 Contax N Digital and Canon EOS-1Ds 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 Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Contax N Digital	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
2.		Canon 1Ds	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 5D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 10D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
9.		Canon D60	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
10.		Canon Rebel	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
11.		Leica M9	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Leica M10	Y	- / -	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
13.		Leica M10-P	Y	- / -	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
14.		Leica SL	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	-
15.		Nikon D1X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
16.		Nikon D100	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-

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

Both the N Digital and the 1Ds have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1Ds was replaced by the Canon 1Ds Mark II, while the N Digital does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Contax and Canon websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Contax N Digital and the Canon 1Ds? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Contax N Digital:

• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.73x vs 0.70x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (200k vs 120k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (152x138mm vs 156x158mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 275g or 22 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (18 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2002).

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (11 vs 6.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 34%.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (600 versus 100) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (6 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the N Digital emerges as the winner of the contest (7 : 5 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 Contax N Digital and the Canon 1Ds 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the N Digital or the 1Ds 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 hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Contax N Digital	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2002	7,399	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1Ds	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2002	8,999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	4,499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	5/5	..	..	89/100	..	..	Oct 2009	4,999	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	7,999	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	7,999	ebay.com
7.		Canon 5D	..	88/100	..	+ +	o	..	Aug 2005	3,299	ebay.com
8.		Canon 10D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
9.		Canon D60	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	2,999	ebay.com
10.		Canon Rebel	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
11.		Leica M9	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	..	Sep 2009	7,999	ebay.com
12.		Leica M10	4.5/5	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595	ebay.com
13.		Leica M10-P	..	..	3/5	..	..	4/5	Aug 2018	7,995	ebay.com
14.		Leica SL	4/5	..	4/5	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2015	7,450	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D1X	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2001	5,999	ebay.com
16.		Nikon D100	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	1,999	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) 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. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, 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.

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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.

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