Canon
EOS-1Ds Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D3S

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

Nikon D3S

95
Winner

Nikon D3S
"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

59

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 Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.0"
Help
 More than 50% larger screen
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 resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 74.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
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
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
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
59 vs 95
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
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
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
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format One shoots movies Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:None
D3S:720p @ 24fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:16.6 MP
D3S:12.1 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,600 ISO
D3S:12,800 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:2.0"
D3S:3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Size Is significantly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D700 vs the D3S
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the D3 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D3 vs the D3S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 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

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 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
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm 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
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D5100 vs the D3S
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is much smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D90 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D90 vs the D3S

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III 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

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