Canon
EOS-1Ds 2002
Best for Full-frame DSLR history & Canon archive collections
£200
list price · used from £102 at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
EOS-1Ds vs EOS M3
Quick take: The EOS M3 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS M3 is the most affordable; only the EOS-1Ds is weather sealed.
15 specs side by side·14 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 M3 — Casual & Everyday: The EOS M3 was a meaningful upgrade over the original EOS M — bringing 24MP, a tilting touchscreen, and improved Hybrid CMOS AF III. Video tops out at 1080p/30p and burst shooting is modest, but for stills photographers wanting affordable APS-C quality, the M3 is a competent used-market option.
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 M3 (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers who want affordable 24MP APS-C quality on a budget
- Casual shooters who want a compact EF-M camera with a tilting screen
- Users looking for an affordable entry into the Canon EF-M ecosystem
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable but inexpensive mirrorless
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS-1DsCanon · 2002 | EOS M3Canon · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £150Best |
| Sensor | 11.1MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 11.1MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | — | 1080p/30p |
| Autofocus | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) |
| Burst Rate | 3fps continuous | 4.2fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots per chargeBest | ~250 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1270g (body only) | 366g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 155.6 × 117.8 × 79.9mm | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | OVF, 0.70× magnification, 100% coverage | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) |
| Screen | 2.0" fixed LCD | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF-M mount |
| Memory Cards | CompactFlash Type I/II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 1.1, FireWire | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
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 M3
Portrait
5.1/10
5.6/10
Street
3.6/10
6.9/10
Travel
3.5/10
6.2/10
Wedding & Events
4.6/10
4.1/10
Documentary
3.6/10
4.3/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
4.2/10
Landscape
4.2/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
4.4/10
Casual
1.9/10
4.7/10
Food
3.5/10
5.5/10
Macro
3.2/10
4.5/10
Architecture
4.0/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
5.7/10
4.1/10
Vlogging & Video
—
5.0/10
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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