Decision tools · Compare

EOS-1Ds vs EOS M

Quick take: The EOS M has the highest resolution at 18MP; the EOS M is the most affordable; only the EOS-1Ds is weather sealed.

15 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.

EOS M — Canon Mirrorless History & Ef-M Collectors: Canon's first mirrorless — a historic body that broke new ground with touch-AF and EF-M, but its sluggish contrast-detect system quickly became its Achilles heel.

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
EOS M (2012)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Canon shooters who want the camera that started Canon's mirrorless story
  • Budget first-time mirrorless buyers who already own EF/EF-S glass
  • Collectors of significant digital camera milestones
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS-1DsCanon · 2002EOS MCanon · 2012
Price £200£80Best
Sensor 11.1MP full-frame CMOS18MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution 11.1MP18.0MPBest
Video —1080p 30fps
Autofocus 45-point AF with 7 cross-type pointsHybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow
Burst Rate 3fps continuous4fpsBest
Battery Life ~500 shots per chargeBest~230 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1270g (body only)262g (body only)Best
Dimensions 155.6 × 117.8 × 79.9mm108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder OVF, 0.70× magnification, 100% coverageNo viewfinder
Screen 2.0" fixed LCD3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Canon EFCanon EF-M mount
Memory Cards CompactFlash Type I/II1× SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity USB 1.1, FireWireUSB 2.0

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 M
Portrait
5.1/10
4.9/10
Street
3.6/10
6.6/10
Travel
3.5/10
6.2/10
Wedding & Events
4.6/10
3.6/10
Documentary
3.6/10
4.5/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
3.6/10
Landscape
4.2/10
4.2/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
3.9/10
Casual
1.9/10
4.9/10
Food
3.5/10
4.6/10
Macro
3.2/10
3.9/10
Architecture
4.0/10
3.8/10
Astrophotography
5.7/10
4.0/10

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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