Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS-1Ds→Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS-1Ds. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS-1D X Mark III
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Resolution20MP vs 11MP (+9MP)
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Burst rate16fps mechanical, 20fps live view vs 3fps continuous
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Battery life~2850 shots (CIPA) vs ~500 shots per charge
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Generation18 years newer (2020 vs 2002)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS-1Ds | EOS-1D X Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.2 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.7 | ||
| Documentary | +2.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.6 | ||
| Landscape | +1.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.7 | ||
| Casual | +1.3 | ||
| Food | +1.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.9 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS-1Ds | EOS-1D X Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £3,500 | |
| Released | 2002 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 11.1MP full-frame CMOS | 20.1MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 11MP | 20MP | ↑ |
| Video | — | 5.5K RAW, 4K 60fps (crop), 4K 60fps (full-frame via firmware) | |
| Autofocus | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | 191-point all cross-type OVF AF; 525-point Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Live View) | |
| Burst Rate | 3fps continuous | 16fps mechanical, 20fps live view | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots per charge | ~2850 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 1270g (body only) | 1250g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OVF, 0.70× magnification, 100% coverage | OVF 0.76× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 2.0" fixed LCD | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 4.15M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | CompactFlash Type I/II | Dual CFexpress Type B slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS-1Ds and EOS-1D X Mark III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS-1D X Mark III against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS-1Ds
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Camera family history