Canon EOS-1Ds
Competitors

As well as being compared against other pro DSLRs, the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is also often compared to entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless. The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III's top rivals come from Canon (such as the EOS 5D Mark II and the EOS-1D Mark IV) and Nikon (such as the D3X and the D800)

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds compared to other pro DSLR competitors include: it slightly larger viewfinder (0.76x vs 0.59x) and has a self cleaning sensor.

However, on average it is slightly more noisy at high ISO (1,663 ISO vs 2,293 ISO), doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 30fps), has a slightly smaller screen (3.0" vs 3.2"), has a much lower resolution screen (230k dots vs 1,040k dots) and slightly lower maximum light sensitivity (1,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO).

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 1 year newer $2,189 (body only) $2,899 - $2,999 24-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the 5D Mark II (vs the EOS-1Ds) Significantly fewer focus points: 9 vs 45 Significantly fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 19 Has fewer storage slots: 1 vs 2 common strengths of the 5D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Supports RAW
	Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1Ds
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV 2 years newer $5,000 - $5,930 (body only)	Significant advantages of the EOS-1D Mark IV (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the EOS-1D Mark IV (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much smaller viewfinder: 0.59x vs 0.76x Significantly smaller sensor: APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Lower true resolution: 16 MP vs 21 MP common strengths of the EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS-1Ds Supports RAW Multiple storage slots: 2 vs 2
	Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the EOS-1Ds
Canon EOS 5D Mark III 4 years newer $3,499 - $3,500 (body only) $4,299 - $4,300 24-105mm lens	Significant advantages of the 5D Mark III (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much higher resolution screen: 1,040k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the 5D Mark III (vs the EOS-1Ds) None found common strengths of the 5D Mark III and EOS-1Ds Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Supports RAW Multiple storage slots: 2 vs 2
	Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS-1Ds
Nikon D3X 1 year newer $8,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D3X (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Significant disadvantages of the D3X (vs the EOS-1Ds) Lacks a self cleaning sensor Significantly thicker: 3.5" vs 3.1" common strengths of the D3X and EOS-1Ds Large sensors: Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Supports RAW Multiple storage slots: 2 vs 2
	Compare the Nikon D3X vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Nikon D800 4 years newer $2,999 - $3,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D800 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 2,853 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Significantly better image quality: 95.0 vs 80.0 Much higher resolution screen: 921k dots vs 230k dots Significant disadvantages of the D800 (vs the EOS-1Ds) None found common strengths of the D800 and EOS-1Ds Large sensors: Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Supports RAW Multiple storage slots: 2 vs 2
	Compare the Nikon D800 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Nikon D4 4 years newer $5,999 - $6,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D4 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 2,965 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Significant disadvantages of the D4 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Lower true resolution: 15.9 MP vs 21 MP Significantly thicker: 3.6" vs 3.1" common strengths of the D4 and EOS-1Ds Large sensors: Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Supports RAW Multiple storage slots: 2 vs 2
	Compare the Nikon D4 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds compared to entry-level DSLR competitors include: it is much less noisy at high ISO (1,663 ISO vs 977 ISO), has slightly better image quality (80.0 vs 73.0), has slightly more color depth (24 bits vs 22.7 bits), much larger viewfinder (0.76x vs 0.54x) and takes significantly higher resolution photos (21 MP vs 12.2 MP).

However, on average it doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 24fps), has a much lower resolution screen (230k dots vs 1,040k dots), significantly lower maximum light sensitivity (1,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO), doesn't have a screen which flips out and lacks a built in HDR feature.

Nikon D7000 3 years newer $1,000 - $1,197 (body only) $1,100 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D7000 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs None Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Significant disadvantages of the D7000 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much more noise at high ISO: 1,167 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Much smaller viewfinder: 0.62x vs 0.76x common strengths of the D7000 and EOS-1Ds Very low noise at high ISO: 1,167 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Good image quality: 80.0 vs 80.0 Good color depth: 23.5 bits vs 24 bits
	Compare the Nikon D7000 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Canon Rebel T2i 2 years newer $528 - $949 (body only) $649 - $867 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T2i (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much higher resolution screen: 1,040k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Significant disadvantages of the T2i (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much more noise at high ISO: 784 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much worse image quality: 66.0 vs 80.0 common strengths of the T2i and EOS-1Ds Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Capture very high resolution images: 17.9 MP vs 21 MP
	Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS-1Ds
Canon Rebel T3i 3 years newer $619 (body only) $749 - $1,000 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T3i (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much higher resolution screen: 1,040k dots vs 230k dots Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Significant disadvantages of the T3i (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much more noise at high ISO: 793 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Much smaller sensor: APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much worse image quality: 65.0 vs 80.0 common strengths of the T3i and EOS-1Ds Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Capture very high resolution images: 17.9 MP vs 21 MP
	Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS-1Ds
Pentax K-5 3 years newer $930 (body only) $1,049 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the K-5 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 25fps vs None Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Significant disadvantages of the K-5 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much more noise at high ISO: 1,162 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Many fewer focus points: 11 vs 45 common strengths of the K-5 and EOS-1Ds Very low noise at high ISO: 1,162 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Good image quality: 82.0 vs 80.0 Good color depth: 23.7 bits vs 24 bits
	Compare the Pentax K-5 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Nikon D90 1 year newer $830 - $897 (body only) $1,047 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D90 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Much higher resolution screen: 930k dots vs 230k dots Much smaller: Professional size 132x103x77 mm vs Large 150x160x80 mm Significant disadvantages of the D90 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much more noise at high ISO: 977 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Many fewer focus points: 11 vs 45 common strengths of the D90 and EOS-1Ds Relatively low noise at high ISO: 977 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Above average viewfinder size: 0.63x vs 0.76x
	Compare the Nikon D90 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Nikon D5100 3 years newer $500 - $597 (body only) $600 - $697 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D5100 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection Much higher resolution screen: 920k dots vs 230k dots Significant disadvantages of the D5100 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Much more noise at high ISO: 1,183 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Much smaller viewfinder: 0.51x vs 0.76x common strengths of the D5100 and EOS-1Ds Very low noise at high ISO: 1,183 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Good image quality: 80.0 vs 80.0 Good color depth: 23.5 bits vs 24 bits
	Compare the Nikon D5100 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Generally, some of the advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds compared to mirrorless interchangeable-lens competitors include: it is much less noisy at high ISO (1,663 ISO vs 884 ISO), has a significantly larger screen (3.0" vs 2.5"), has higher quality type of viewfinder (pentaprism vs digital), slightly larger viewfinder (0.76x vs 0.68x) and has a weather sealed body.

However, on average it doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 30fps), has a significantly lower resolution screen (230k dots vs 614k dots), significantly lower maximum light sensitivity (1,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO), doesn't have a screen which flips out and doesn't have an OLED screen (LCD vs OLED).

Leica M9 2 years newer $6,721 (body only)	Significant advantages of the M9 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much smaller: Mid size 139x80x37 mm vs Large 150x160x80 mm Much lighter: 585 g vs 1,385 g Much thinner: 1.5" vs 3.1" Significant disadvantages of the M9 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much more noise at high ISO: 884 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Much smaller screen: 2.5" vs 3.0" No weather sealing common strengths of the M9 and EOS-1Ds Relatively low noise at high ISO: 884 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Good image quality: 69.0 vs 80.0 Viewfinders: Rangefinder vs Pentaprism
	Compare the Leica M9 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Sony NEX-7 4 years newer $1,200 (body only) $1,350 - $1,499 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the NEX-7 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 60fps vs None Much smaller: Compact 111x59x38 mm vs Large 150x160x80 mm Much higher resolution screen: 921k dots vs 230k dots Significant disadvantages of the NEX-7 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Much more noise at high ISO: 1,016 ISO vs 1,663 ISO No weather sealing Much fewer lenses available: 8 lenses vs 125 lenses common strengths of the NEX-7 and EOS-1Ds Relatively low noise at high ISO: 1,016 ISO vs 1,663 ISO Extremely good image quality: 81.0 vs 80.0 Viewfinders: Digital vs Pentaprism
	Compare the Sony NEX-7 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Samsung NX20	Significant advantages of the NX20 (vs the EOS-1Ds) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much smaller: Mid size 122x90x40 mm vs Large 150x160x80 mm Significantly higher resolution screen: 614k dots vs 230k dots Significant disadvantages of the NX20 (vs the EOS-1Ds) No weather sealing Much fewer lenses available: 11 lenses vs 125 lenses Much smaller sensor: APS-C 23.5x15.7mm vs Full frame 36.0x24.0mm common strengths of the NX20 and EOS-1Ds Large viewfinder size: 0.68x vs 0.76x Viewfinders: Digital vs Pentaprism Capture extremely high resolution images: 20 MP vs 21 MP
	Compare the Samsung NX20 vs the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III