Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III (2007–2012)

A professional full-frame DSLR with 21.1 megapixels, built for studio and landscape photographers who demanded resolution and reliability.

Overview

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is a professional digital SLR camera produced by Canon from 2007 to 2012. It belongs to Canon’s high-resolution EOS-1 series, designed for demanding still photography applications. Announced on August 20, 2007, it succeeded the EOS-1Ds Mark II and was later replaced by the EOS-1D X, which unified Canon’s high-speed and high-resolution lines. The camera features a full-frame 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and was among the first full-frame DSLRs to offer this level of resolution, making it a benchmark in studio, portrait, landscape, and architectural photography.

Specifications

Image Sensor	Full-frame (24x36mm) 21.1 megapixel CMOS
Image Sizes (Native)	5,616 x 3,744 (L)
Viewfinder Magnification	0.76x (with 50mm lens at infinity)
Diopter Adjustment	-3 to +1
Eyepoint	20mm
Interchangeable Focus Screens	Yes (types available vary)
Eyepiece Shutter	Yes, built-in
Autofocus Points	45-point AF (19 cross-type, 26 assist)
Shutter Speed Range	30s to 1/8000 sec
Flash Sync Speed	1/250 sec
Shutter Durability (Rated)	300,000 cycles
Continuous Shooting Speed	5 frames per second
Buffer Depth (JPEG)	56 frames
Buffer Depth (RAW)	12 frames
Drive Modes	Single, Silent single, High-speed continuous (5 fps), Low-speed continuous (3 fps), 10-sec & 2-sec self-timer
Cable Release Terminal	Canon N3
Color Spaces	sRGB, Adobe RGB
White Balance Range	2,500K - 10,000K
Highlight Tone Priority	Yes (Custom Function)
Sensor Cleaning	Built-in ultrasonic
Live View	Yes
Analog-to-Digital Conversion	14-bit
ISO Range	100-1600 (expandable to 50 (L), 3200 (H1))
LCD Screen	3.0-inch, approx. 230,000 dots
Storage Media	Dual slots (CompactFlash Type I/II (UDMA supported) and SD/SDHC)
Battery	LP-E4 Lithium-Ion
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Approx. 156 x 159.6 x 79.9 mm
Weight	Approx. 1,210g (body only)

Design

The EOS-1Ds Mark III features a magnesium alloy body with extensive environmental and dust/moisture resistance, reflecting its professional build quality and durability.

Context

Announced on August 20, 2007, the EOS-1Ds Mark III succeeded the EOS-1Ds Mark II and was positioned as the high-resolution flagship within Canon’s EOS-1 series. It was later succeeded by the EOS-1D X, which merged the high-resolution 1Ds and high-speed 1D lines into a single model.

Market

Used units currently sell for $285–$450, depending on condition. The camera is valued for its enduring image quality and robust construction, though it is obsolete for action photography and video due to lack of video recording and slower burst performance.