Decision tools · Compare

EOS-1Ds vs D3

Quick take: The D3 has the highest resolution at 12MP; the D3 is the most affordable; only the EOS-1Ds 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-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 · 2002D3Nikon · 2007
Price £102 used£97 usedBest
Sensor 11.1MP full-frame CMOS12.1MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution 11.1MP12.1MPBest
Video —No video
Autofocus 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; phase or contrast AF in live view
Stabilisation —No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
Burst Rate 3fps continuous9fpsBest
Battery Life ~500 shots per charge~4300 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 1270g (body only)1240g (body only)Best
Dimensions 155.6 × 117.8 × 79.9mm159.5 × 157 × 87.5mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder OVF, 0.70× magnification, 100% coverageOptical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x
Screen 2.0" fixed LCD3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots
Mount Canon EFNikon F mount
Memory Cards CompactFlash Type I/IIDual CompactFlash slots
Connectivity USB 1.1, FireWireUSB 2.0, HDMI (Type A)

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
D3
Portrait
5.1/10
5.5/10
Street
3.6/10
4.0/10
Travel
3.4/10
3.5/10
Wedding & Events
4.6/10
6.0/10
Documentary
3.6/10
3.2/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
5.8/10
Landscape
4.2/10
4.0/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
5.5/10
Casual
1.9/10
2.2/10
Food
3.5/10
3.6/10
Macro
3.2/10
3.2/10
Architecture
4.0/10
4.1/10
Astrophotography
5.7/10
6.2/10

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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