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
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.76x
True resolution
High true resolution
21 MP
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Nikon D5100

62

Runner-up

Nikon D5100

"Image quality is definitely the D5100's trump card. It offers effectively the same image quality as the higher-end D7000, at a lower cost."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's image-quality
"Unintimidating interface, but with plenty of manual control."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds

Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 2x larger viewfinder
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,663 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
The EOS-1Ds has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 19 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
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 4 fps
Help
Around 30% 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 Nikon D5100

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Size Much smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 150x160x80 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Weight Much lighter 560 g vs 1,385 g
Help
2.5x lighter
Lowest price Much cheaper $499.99 vs $9,136.74
Help
The best price we've seen is $8,637 cheaper (18.3x less)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D5100'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 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5100's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.1" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS-1Ds
66 vs 62
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
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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0
votes
by Zoya-Khan last month
Canon 7D vs Nikon D5100

Beginner I like to all kinds of photos especially wants the camera to be water proof so I can take...

One person recommends the Canon 7D:

" d5100 is cant survive rain directly w/o external housing - not sure of canon"

0
votes
by Brooke-Baker last week
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

I need to be able to play around with low and high light situations, take beautiful still shots ...

0
votes
by David-Brown last month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

Beginner, looking to get first DSLR.  A major concern is whether Canon or Nikon has better avail...

0
votes
by augfig last month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

We will take pictures of sons at home, on the farm etc. We like making movies too and taking pic...

0
votes
by desy-boo last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT A65

Hello, I am having trouble figuring out if I want to stick with the Sony or if I want to go with...

4 people recommend the Sony SLT A65:

" A65 is much better than D5100 Has a OLED viewfinder (the best of viewfinders) More dinamic r..."

" The Sony has a much bigger view finder, which helps a lot when composing shots. Sure, the Nikon..."

"If i was you id when with nikon most there camera bodies how very little image noise at 1600 and 3..."

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" its all about ISO and better GLASS"

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
80.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1Ds:24 bits
D5100:23.5 bits
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
D5100:6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
EOS-1Ds:5 fps
D5100:4 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

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$890 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Weight Is slightly heavier
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available
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
Thickness Is thinner
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
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
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

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

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

Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Overall image quality Worse image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D5100
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D5100
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D5100

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