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EOS-1Ds vs EOS 5D Mark II

Quick take: The EOS 5D Mark II has the highest resolution at 21MP; the EOS 5D Mark II is the most affordable.

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-1Ds — Full-Frame Dslr History & Canon Archive Collections: The world's first production full-frame DSLR — the EOS-1Ds arrived in 2002 with 11MP and changed professional photography forever. Historically irreplaceable.

Who should buy what
EOS-1Ds (2002)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Collectors and historians of professional digital photography
  • Canon archivists who want the full EOS-1 lineage represented
  • Photography educators documenting the full-frame transition
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS-1DsCanon · 2002EOS 5D Mark IICanon · 2008
Price £200£128Best
Sensor 11.1MP full-frame CMOS21.1MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution 11.1MP21.1MPBest
Video —Full HD 1080p/30
Autofocus 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view
Stabilisation —No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
Burst Rate 3fps continuous3.9fpsBest
Battery Life ~500 shots per charge~850 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 1270g (body only)890g (with battery)Best
Dimensions 155.6 × 117.8 × 79.9mm152 × 113.5 × 75mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder OVF, 0.70× magnification, 100% coverageOptical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.71x
Screen 2.0" fixed LCD3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots
Mount Canon EFCanon EF
Memory Cards CompactFlash Type I/IISingle CompactFlash slot
Connectivity USB 1.1, FireWireUSB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, 3.5mm mic jack, N3 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-1Ds
EOS 5D Mark II
Portrait
5.1/10
5.8/10
Street
3.6/10
4.7/10
Travel
3.4/10
4.8/10
Wedding & Events
4.6/10
5.4/10
Documentary
3.6/10
5.1/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
5.1/10
Landscape
4.2/10
5.4/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
5.6/10
Casual
1.9/10
2.9/10
Food
3.5/10
4.2/10
Macro
3.2/10
3.8/10
Architecture
4.0/10
5.1/10
Astrophotography
5.7/10
5.9/10

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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