Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Join Group104591110August 20th, 2007

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3X are illustrated 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 D3X is somewhat larger (5 percent) than the Canon 1Ds Mark III. However, the D3X 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. 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 (D3X).

Concerning battery life, the 1Ds Mark III gets 1800 shots out of its LP-E4 battery,
while the D3X can take 4400 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 following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.

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 two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Canon 1Ds Mark III better than the Nikon D3X or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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

• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.70x).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in August 2007).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D3X:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24.4 vs 21MP), which boosts linear resolution by 8%.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (8 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.7 EV of extra DR).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 230k dots).
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (4400 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 modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 3 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D3X is the clear winner of the contest (8 : 2 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. 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.

1Ds Mark III ₀₂₀₈ D3X

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3X 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.

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 (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.

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.

Canon 1Ds Mark III: Check Ebay offers
Nikon D3X: Check Ebay offers

Specifications Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Nikon D3X

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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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 D3X 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.

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 , and have richer than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies 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.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the D3X offers a higher
resolution of 24.4 megapixels, compared with 21 MP of the 1Ds Mark III.
This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a of 5.94μm versus 6.41μm for the 1Ds Mark III). However, it should be noted that the D3X is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 3 months) than the 1Ds Mark III, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that partly offset its pixel-size disadvantage.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D3X implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the
possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D3X for good quality output (200 dots per inch)
amounts to 30.2 x 20.2 inch or 76.8 x 51.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.2 x 16.1 inch or 61.4 x 41 cm, and for
excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.2 x 13.4 inch or 51.2 x 34.1 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 Nikon D3X are ISO 100 to ISO 1600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-6400.

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 D3X has a markedly higher DXO score than the 1Ds Mark III (overall score 8 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.7 bits higher color depth, 1.7 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.3 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.

still-image focused

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. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

• Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Canon 500D
• Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Canon 600D
• Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Nikon D5100
• Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Nikon D800
• Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Sony A7R II
• Canon 1Ds Mark III vs YI M1
• Canon M6 Mark II vs Nikon D3X
• Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3X
• Nikon D3X vs Olympus E-420
• Nikon D3X vs Ricoh WG-60
• Nikon D3X vs Sony A77
• Nikon D3X vs Sony NEX-5N

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1Ds Mark III and the D3X 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 D3X (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 following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 1Ds Mark III, the Nikon D3X, and comparable cameras.

The Nikon D3X 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 D3X uses Compact Flash cards. The D3X 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.