Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III vs Nikon D7000

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 D90

62

Runner-up

Nikon D90

"Although the buttons have been redesigned and are a lot easier to press the layout is identical to the D80."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's button-layout
"Fast Autofocus with useful control options"
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,663 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
The EOS-1Ds has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 73.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.63x
Help
Around 50% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
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
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 930k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Size Much smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 150x160x80 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Lowest price Much cheaper $829.88 vs $9,136.74
Help
The best price we've seen is $8,307 cheaper (11x less)
Weight Much lighter 703 g vs 1,385 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
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 Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D90's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
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 D90 Nikon D90
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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon EOS-1Ds or the Nikon D90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Deanna-Strieb last week
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

I'm mainly taking pictures of my children but am super picky!  I don't want to do manual setting...

0
votes
by Lisa-Bunn last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

been stealing my dad's d-slr for quite some time for mini photo shoots with my dogs and friends ...

0
votes
by Howard-Ridge last month
Nikon D40 vs Nikon D90

Was a very keen amateur photographer in the old days 35mm and had a few dslrs.

1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

0
votes
by Kate-Hughes 3 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
EOS-1Ds:3,200 ISO
D90:6,400 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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds:1,600 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
EOS-1Ds:5 fps
D90:4.5 fps
Movie format One shoots movies Help
EOS-1Ds:None
D90:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$2,000 body only

Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Color depth Has slightly less color depth

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 D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D90
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D90
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 0 comments