Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III vs Canon Rebel T3i

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

66

Winner

Canon EOS-1Ds

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,663 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
24 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.76x
True resolution
High true resolution
21 MP
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

55

Runner-up

Canon Rebel T2i

"High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's video-quality
"Since the body shell is virtually identical to the EOS 500D that it replaces, the handling is also virtually identical, meaning the grip still feels a bit fiddly unless you're got very delicate hands."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Weight
Light-weight
530 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,663 ISO vs 784 ISO
Help
The EOS-1Ds has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the T2i
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 2x larger viewfinder
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
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Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 9
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Set focus accurately within the frame
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 19 vs 1
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Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
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Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3.7 fps
Help
Around 40% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
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Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
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Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 150x160x80 mm
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2.4x smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
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Around 30% more lenses available
Weight Much lighter 530 g vs 1,385 g
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2.6x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
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More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Much cheaper $544.00 vs $9,136.74
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The best price we've seen is $8,593 cheaper (16.8x less)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
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The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The T2i's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS-1Ds
66 vs 55
Explain scores
Canon Rebel T2i Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
EOS-1Ds:3,200 ISO
T2i:12,800 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds:1,600 ISO
T2i:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
EOS-1Ds:5 fps
T2i:3.7 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Overall image quality Worse image quality
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 resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 - $6,800 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
True resolution Lower true resolution
Size Larger

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Longer battery life
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Less shutter lag
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Dynamic range More dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Movie format Lower resolution movies

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS Rebel T2i

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