Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS-1Ds→Canon EOS M3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The EOS M3 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS-1Ds owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS M3
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Resolution24MP vs 11MP (+13MP)
-
Burst rate4.2fps vs 3fps continuous
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Generation13 years newer (2015 vs 2002)
Unchanged or similar
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
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 M3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.5 | ||
| Street | +3.3 | ||
| Travel | +2.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.5 | ||
| Documentary | +0.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.6 | ||
| Casual | +2.8 | ||
| Food | +2.0 | ||
| Macro | +1.3 | ||
| Architecture | +0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS-1Ds | EOS M3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £150 | |
| Released | 2002 | 2015 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 11.1MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 11MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | — | 1080p/30p | |
| Autofocus | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | |
| Burst Rate | 3fps continuous | 4.2fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots per charge | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1270g (body only) | 366g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | 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 |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS-1Ds and EOS M3 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 M3 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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