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

Nikon D3

87

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
88 ms shutter lag
Battery life
Great battery life
4300 shots
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

76

Runner-up

Canon EOS-1Ds

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.76x
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.70x
Help
Around 20% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Size Smaller 150x160x80 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 19 vs 15
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
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 III Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 1,663 ISO
Help
The D3 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
80% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 80.0
Help
Almost the same
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 45
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D3's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Weight Lighter 1,300 g vs 1,385 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Canon EOS-1Ds
76 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

advice

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1
votes
by motoservo last month
Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."

1
votes
by Michele-McCormick last month
Nikon D800 vs Nikon D3

I'm intermediate, aspiring to do editorial photography. I shoot travel, portraits, dogs in competi...

2 people recommend the Nikon D800:

"Image quality, low light... definitely go D800. You know I've shot Canon for years but a few of yo..."

"The D800 is better is almost every regard (notably, better low light performance and less shutter ..."

0
votes
by Jos-Ab-lio-Perez this month
Nikon D3 vs Nikon D3S

I´m looking for some combination of body/lenses with the following characteristics: - not ver...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1Ds:1,663 ISO
D3:2,290 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1Ds:80.0
D3:81.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1Ds:24 bits
D3:23.5 bits
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
EOS-1Ds:0.76x
D3:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points Many focus points Help
EOS-1Ds:45
D3:51
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:1,385 g
D3:1,300 g
Size Large Help
EOS-1Ds:150x160x80 mm
D3:160x157x88 mm
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
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds:1,600 ISO
D3:6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
EOS-1Ds:3,200 ISO
D3:25,600 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Size Is significantly smaller
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Is significantly smaller
Lowest price Is significantly less expensive
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
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 significantly more shutter lag
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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III.

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D3
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D3
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D3

discussion

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