Canon
EOS-1Ds Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D3S

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3S

100
Winner

Nikon D3S
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise
"Buttons and other controls are positioned to be used easily."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

62

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.6 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 156x158x80 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 1,480 ISO
Help
 The D3S has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.0"
Help
 More than 50% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 74.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3S's boost ISO is 5 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 23.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Weight Significantly lighter 1,240 g vs 1,565 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
62 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS-1Ds Mark II
 Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II vs Nikon D3S
NikonD3S
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
3
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
1
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
2
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
2
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
1
2
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,480 ISO
D3S:3,253 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
0.70x
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:23.3 bits
D3S:23.5 bits
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:74.0
D3S:82.0
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,565 g
D3S:1,240 g
Size Large Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:156x158x80 mm
D3S:160x157x88 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:16.6 MP
D3S:12.1 MP
Movie format One shoots movies Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:None
D3S:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Size Is significantly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D700 vs the D3S
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3S
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

$6,682 body only
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D3 vs the D3S
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D3S
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3S

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D

Canon EOS 5D

Pro DSLR

$3,279 with 24-105mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Size Significantly smaller
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 5D vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$8,000 body only
Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the D800 vs the D3S

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Nikon D3S
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Nikon D3S
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Nikon D3S

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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