Canon
EOS-1D 2001
Best for Professional digital camera history collectors
£150
list price · used from £81 at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
EOS-1D vs EOS 500D
Quick take: The EOS 500D has the highest resolution at 15MP; the EOS 500D is the most affordable; only the EOS-1D is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS-1D — Professional Digital Camera History Collectors: Canon's first pro digital DSLR — a 4MP, 8fps APS-H monster from 2001 that set the template for every 1D to follow. A landmark piece of digital camera history.
Who should buy what
EOS-1D (2001)
is the right camera for you if…
- Collectors of professional digital camera milestones
- Canon historians documenting the evolution of the EOS-1 line
- Sports photography archivists
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS-1DCanon · 2001 | EOS 500DCanon · 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £57Best |
| Sensor | 4.1MP APS-H CMOS (1.3× crop) | 15.1MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 4.1MP | 15.1MPBest |
| Video | — | Full HD 1080p/20, 720p/30 |
| Autofocus | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | 9-point phase-detect (centre cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view |
| Stabilisation | — | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames)Best | 3.4fps |
| Battery Life | ~1200 shots per chargeBest | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1225g (body only) | 530g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 155.6 × 117.8 × 77.5mm | 128.8 × 97.5 × 61.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | OVF, 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x |
| Screen | 2.0" fixed LCD | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF / EF-S |
| Memory Cards | CompactFlash Type I/II | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 1.1, FireWire | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, E3 remote |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS-1D
EOS 500D
Portrait
4.7/10
5.3/10
Street
3.6/10
5.3/10
Travel
3.6/10
4.7/10
Wedding & Events
5.0/10
3.9/10
Documentary
3.7/10
3.5/10
Sports & Action
5.6/10
4.4/10
Landscape
3.7/10
3.8/10
Wildlife
5.9/10
4.9/10
Casual
1.9/10
3.3/10
Food
3.1/10
3.9/10
Macro
2.9/10
3.7/10
Architecture
3.3/10
4.1/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
4.4/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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