
Review Summary
2014-07-21T21:00:00
I use this body pimarily for landscape shots. It was rated by Adorama as an E+, but that was a extremely conservative. I can't imagine it being in better condition without being new. If I have a complaint about this body, it is the LCD screen (the only reason for the 4* rating). They improved the screen on the 1D Mark IV, one of which I also own. Other than that, I have NO complaints!
Dub M.
2014-02-17T19:00:00
This is my second mkiii body. You will really love the clean files this camera produces. Would be nice to have had a larger buffer but for landscapes its fantastic and I normally don't need that anyway.
Ronald G.
2013-02-11T19:00:00
This was a purchase upgrade from my 5DmkII after shooting with it for nearly 2 years. Even though I enjoyed the images I was creating with the 5DmII, especially at ISO 3200, the advantages to shoot with a 1Ds mkIII were quite overwhelming for the price; the 45AF points and improved focusing system alone was worth the upgrade! I was a bit skeptical at first about Adorama's "condition" ratings because it's subjective, but I figure I had nothing to loose with their generous return policy if I wasn't satisfied. This particular 1Ds was given a E+ rating and included the original box & accessories - when I received the camera, the first thing I did was look closely at its physical & operational condition. I was very impressed & pleased with this camera's condition after doing some test shots and several shoots with it! The only thing Adorama is not able to provide with these used 1D series cameras they sell is the shutter count, but that's fine (CPS membership comes in handy for this). Overall, I am very happy with my purchase experience with Adorama and upgrading to a pro series camera. It's always good to know what your getting upfront with your hard-earned cash so purchasing through Adorama makes better sense to me. =)
Fotodude71
2012-12-12T19:00:00
While not being the newest, this camera is still one of the best full frame offering out there. The AF system is very fast and accurate even in low light and from the standpoint of ruggedness, its a 1 series body. Pretty much indestructible.
CHRIS H.
2012-03-27T21:00:00
I just love this camera. Eventhough it is very expensive, it's worthy it. Especially the color tone is great
Sue
2011-10-02T21:00:00
I bought this Camera to upgrade from the 1DS Mark II, the quality of the camera and images are about the same. The 3 inch screen, extra image quality, and low light ability, and compatibility to 64 bit Windows OS are some of my reasons for the upgrade. overall -- you would think that the quality of the images produced would be better than the 1DS Mark II? that is not the case, the 1DS Mark II is probably one of the best cameras Today even though its been out since late 2004. I am sure that when the 1DS Mark IV comes out that I will still be amazed at the Images produced from the 1DS Mark II and 1DS Mark III. Just because you put more pixels on a sensor doesn't mean you can visually see it!!
ershotz
2011-09-03T21:00:00
Fast shutter speed,sequential shot speed,and high ISO good for night sporting events.
JERRY S.
2011-03-06T19:00:00
I'm owned from the 1DS up to this one. Currently still have the MarkII which I seldom use. I love the image quality and large LCD which is why I purchased the Mark III. When I shoot low light in the studio I have to keep one modeling light on or it doesn't focus quickly other than that I love this camera.
RAYMOND-RUTH P.
2010-04-26T21:00:00
After years of Nikon NOT listening i switched. The D3x has priced itself out of a large market and i found a Demo grade 1Ds Mk3 on Adorama. Its a joy to use, maybe not quite as intuitive as my old Nikons but wow, picture quality, just beautiful. Just keep cropping and cropping and it just keeps giving and giving! Have heard Canon glass is a step down from Nikkor stuff but the L series lens i purchased gives sharp rich results. Easily as good as my Nikon lenses. Some moans about the lack of AF in Liveview, not a problem for me, autofocus through the viewfinder, switch to Liveview and hit the shutter..easy and accurate. Grab one and be amazed by 21.1 MP.
Nicksouth
2010-01-09T19:00:00
A great upgrade from my 40d
THOMAS B.
2009-04-10T21:00:00
In a nutshell: Used for wildlife and scenic work in all conditions and geographic locations, and the Mk.III really fits the bill. Image quality is exellent from the 21MP RAW files, and seriously- you can crop the image and end up with a high res file suitable for demanding stock libraries. I found the upper useable ISO limit to be 800, even with the DPP software or Photoshop adjustment. AF is much better than prosumer models and Mk.II, - not in terms of frames/sec - but in terms of responsiveness and being able to tailor to your specific needs Battery life is excellent compared to earlier models -almost a factor of 2X for the way I shoot Dust and moisture sealing and the general feel of a solid chunky camera give the camera a serious edge. However, with the price of the 5 Mk.II and the Sony 24 MP camera now less than half the current price of the MK.III - how much is a built in vertical grip and better sealing worth? I bought the camera during a (substantial) temporary price reduction, and it is still not worth the price. Only buy this camera if you need the robustness - otherwise buy the 5 Mk.II.
RENE N.
2009-02-19T19:00:00
Great piece of equipment. Focusing accuracy instills confidence. It feels good in your hands and works as a extention of the mind. I have no complaints regarding this purchase.
gjones
2008-12-30T19:00:00
To the one who wrote about "blown" highlights. First know where to take the meter reading. Second, remember the rule about blacks and whites. I won't repeat them here because you can check them out in Photo 101.
Dave
2008-12-24T19:00:00
[...] I always try a new camera it auto or program mode for the first week or two and in many shots white highlights are completely blown out. I think a firmware update would fix this, and the black spot problem noted by others, without having to compensate on every shot with a white highlight (weddings, eagrets, cara cara necks etc.)
Dennis
2008-11-27T19:00:00
Without doubt the best digital camera on the market.Fabulous resolution and a delight to use.Highly recommended for wildlife photographers especially where its hard to get too close to your subject,even a cropped shot produces a fabulous poster size image..If you have the bucks, buy it!
tootsie
2008-07-14T21:00:00
I'm really happy with this camera. I can get HUGE poster size images without spending the bucks for medium format and without using blow up programs such as Genuine Fractals. Very low noise even at high ISO. Not the fastest camera out there in terms of FPS, (with a sensor that size there are limits to how fast the fames will load into memory) but still plenty fast enough for all my needs. I highly recommend this camera for the serious professional.
Soundman
2008-06-28T21:00:00
I replaced my 1Ds Mark II with the 1Ds Mark III and I am happy I did. The Sensor cleaning function is really quite good. The new larger LCD is a big plus too. It is amazing to be able to use Live View through my computer. That function alone has elevated this system way beyond its predecessor especially for studio work. There are very few things I can think of that would improve the system. Perhaps future versions could have higher resolution on the LCD and auto focus during Live View but these things are really quite minor in light of the many improvements. All in all this is an awesome tool for any professional or serious amateur.
Adam
2008-04-15T21:00:00
Very happy I got it.
JACK O.
An Awesome Tool
By Adam
I replaced my 1Ds Mark II with the 1Ds Mark III and I am happy I did. The Sensor cleaning function is really quite good. The new larger LCD is a big plus too. It is amazing to be able to use Live View through my computer. That function alone has elevated this system way beyond its predecessor especially for studio work. There are very few things I can think of that would improve the system. Perhaps future versions could have higher resolution on the LCD and auto focus during Live View but the...
View full Review
To the one with the "blown" highlights .
By Dave
To the one who wrote about "blown" highlights. First know where to take the meter reading. Second, remember the rule about blacks and whites. I won't repeat them here because you can check them out in Photo 101.
The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III redefines the state of the art in no uncertain terms. A new 21.1-megapixel full-frame Canon CMOS sensor delivers astounding image quality. Dual "DIGIC III" Image Processors work in tandem to speed up data handling and camera operation, while further refining imaging performance.
Tough, high-durability body and shutter designs, combined with the unique EOS Integrated Cleaning System, set new standards for professional dependability. Cutting-edge features such as a large 3.0-inch LCD monitor with Live View Function, and a fast, precise 45-point AF system makes the EOS-1Ds Mark III powerful and versatile. .
A New Full-Frame Performance Standard The recording area of the sensor is 36 x 24mm, which is equivalent to the full-frame size of the 35mm film format. The tremendous pixel count delivers high-resolution images of exacting precision, with Photoshop file sizes over 60MB for outstanding quality at large print sizes and post-processing cropping flexibility. Despite the higher pixel density, Canon CMOS sensor technology ensures exceptionally low noise and the widest usable ISO range* (from 50 to 3200, using ISO range extension).
Dual DIGIC III Image Processor Developed to maximize performance between the capture and recording stages of digital photography. The latest-generation DIGIC III Image Processor works in concert with Canon's CMOS sensor to achieve even higher levels of performance. The entire electronic system is totally re-designed, giving the camera itsincredible combination of speed and image quality. Digital noise is significantly reduced in shadow areas, and color reproduction issuperior.
Live View Function which makes the LCD monitor a real-time finder. When the Live ViewFunction is enabled, the reflex mirror is locked up and the shutter opens. The image output from the CMOS sensor will be displayed in real time on the LCD monitor with 100 percent coverage. A selectable portion of the image can be magnified by 5x or 10x to aid inprecise manual focusing. Focus, exposure check, composing, and shooting can all be accomplished in this mode. There is also a grid overlay option, perfect for architectural photography.
Weather-Resistant Design Extensive weatherproofing ensures superior reliability, even when shooting in harsh environments.
EOS Integrated Cleaning System Dust that settles on the low-pass filter is removed using ultrasonic vibration. This Self Cleaning Sensor Unit is automatically activated whenever the camera is powered on or off.
Dust that has been missed by the Integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit can also be erased with software included in Digital Photo Professional (DPP) Version 3.2 or higher
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