Canon 1Ds Mark 3 review
Hello.
I just wanted to share my views about my new camera with the rest of the world. As a professional photographer with nearly 20 years experience I find many of the online reviews to be confusing and far too technical. So Im going to have a go myself. To begin with I will keep it pretty basic and follow up with more info if anyone is interested.
Having been a Canon user since the A1 and T90. I have used pretty much every pro spec camera since including the EOS 1,1hs, 5 , 3 film cameras. and the DC520, d60, 1d,10d,20d,40d,5d, and my old favorite the 1Ds mark 2. It was with much fear that I handed over my credit card and took possession of the brand new 1Ds mark 3 just 2 weeks ago. Although it costs a lot of money and I wasn't really sure if I needed the extra resolution, I am pretty happy - Here is my review.
At first glance the camera is a beast, looks like it means business, is lighter than the 1Ds mark 2 and has a much bigger screen. Controls are similar to other 1 series cameras.
The battery is smaller and lighter and more powerful, this is very good and one battery will easily last for a full days shooting.. Its a shame that there's another new charger - this means if I want to take both my 1Ds cameras and a 5d on assignment then I need to carry 3 chargers and 3 different sets of batteries (I cant tell you how annoying this is.)
Some more good and bad points.
The new placement of the ISO button is brilliant. It allows me to change film speed almost as easily as shutter or aperture - brilliant! This allows the ISO to become a full part of the creative exposure control on a shot to shot basis.
The reintroduction of the set button in the back wheel - brilliant! - a big step forward / backwards in controls over the 1ds mark 2. Now the controls on the new camera just make the mark 2 look badly designed.
The files are just lovely. I wasn't really expecting much of a surprise here but they are simply divine - they pop out at you unlike the 1Ds mark 2 that always looked a bit soft no matter what you did.
The colour is just like old fashion tranny film - a bit noisy here and there but that goes away with a little bit of noise removal. actually I don't dislike a bit of noise - adds to the overall look of the file.
The shutter sounds sweet and is much quieter than the clunk of the 1Ds mark 2.
Sensor cleaning - yes please - love it - works a treat, I do wonder how long this will last but I guess time will tell.
So to sum up - this camera is a big step forward from the 1Ds mark 2. a huge step up from the 5d (which I never liked very much) and is a very well evolved professional camera.
Update
Just thought I should add a few more comments about the Canon 1ds mark 3. I have been using this camera for 9 months and I am really growing to love it.
Its now "one of my boys" Its had its baptism of fire and excelled, this camera is often seen as a bit of an expensive lump by many online reviewers, out priced and out performed by the Nikon D3 and the Canon 5d mark 2.
I have other opinions. I really like so much about the 1Ds Mark 3, it does everything I want and more.
Will I buy a 5d mark 2? possibly, but only really for the HD video option.. I want to make a movie..
Update mark II
Its now May 2009 and I have been shooting with the Canon 1Ds Mark 3 for over a year and feel the need to once again give some opinions.
The camera is still working perfectly. I have had 1 or 2 moments when the sensor cleaner has not seemed to work but it appears to have sorted itself out.
Once again I must talk about the beautiful smooth files from the 1DS mark 3. I have become so used to editing files from this camera and being able to do some amazing things to the RAW files. You can push and pull these images around to a point that is almost criminal - and still get amazing results. In contrast I recently re-edited some old work from the 1DsMark 2 and the Nikon D3 and was shocked at how easily these images broke in post production.
I should also say how tough this camera has proven itself to be, up mountains, across oceans, thrown in the sand and battered in every way possible the 1Ds mark 3 just keeps on taking amazing quality pictures.
A tiny bit noisy at high ISO is my only complaint. Will just have to wait for the Mark 4!
Roy Riley
I just wanted to share my views about my new camera with the rest of the world. As a professional photographer with nearly 20 years experience I find many of the online reviews to be confusing and far too technical. So Im going to have a go myself. To begin with I will keep it pretty basic and follow up with more info if anyone is interested.
Having been a Canon user since the A1 and T90. I have used pretty much every pro spec camera since including the EOS 1,1hs, 5 , 3 film cameras. and the DC520, d60, 1d,10d,20d,40d,5d, and my old favorite the 1Ds mark 2. It was with much fear that I handed over my credit card and took possession of the brand new 1Ds mark 3 just 2 weeks ago. Although it costs a lot of money and I wasn't really sure if I needed the extra resolution, I am pretty happy - Here is my review.
At first glance the camera is a beast, looks like it means business, is lighter than the 1Ds mark 2 and has a much bigger screen. Controls are similar to other 1 series cameras.
The battery is smaller and lighter and more powerful, this is very good and one battery will easily last for a full days shooting.. Its a shame that there's another new charger - this means if I want to take both my 1Ds cameras and a 5d on assignment then I need to carry 3 chargers and 3 different sets of batteries (I cant tell you how annoying this is.)
Some more good and bad points.
The new placement of the ISO button is brilliant. It allows me to change film speed almost as easily as shutter or aperture - brilliant! This allows the ISO to become a full part of the creative exposure control on a shot to shot basis.
The reintroduction of the set button in the back wheel - brilliant! - a big step forward / backwards in controls over the 1ds mark 2. Now the controls on the new camera just make the mark 2 look badly designed.
The files are just lovely. I wasn't really expecting much of a surprise here but they are simply divine - they pop out at you unlike the 1Ds mark 2 that always looked a bit soft no matter what you did.
The colour is just like old fashion tranny film - a bit noisy here and there but that goes away with a little bit of noise removal. actually I don't dislike a bit of noise - adds to the overall look of the file.
The shutter sounds sweet and is much quieter than the clunk of the 1Ds mark 2.
Sensor cleaning - yes please - love it - works a treat, I do wonder how long this will last but I guess time will tell.
So to sum up - this camera is a big step forward from the 1Ds mark 2. a huge step up from the 5d (which I never liked very much) and is a very well evolved professional camera.
Update
Just thought I should add a few more comments about the Canon 1ds mark 3. I have been using this camera for 9 months and I am really growing to love it.
Its now "one of my boys" Its had its baptism of fire and excelled, this camera is often seen as a bit of an expensive lump by many online reviewers, out priced and out performed by the Nikon D3 and the Canon 5d mark 2.
I have other opinions. I really like so much about the 1Ds Mark 3, it does everything I want and more.
Will I buy a 5d mark 2? possibly, but only really for the HD video option.. I want to make a movie..
Update mark II
Its now May 2009 and I have been shooting with the Canon 1Ds Mark 3 for over a year and feel the need to once again give some opinions.
The camera is still working perfectly. I have had 1 or 2 moments when the sensor cleaner has not seemed to work but it appears to have sorted itself out.
Once again I must talk about the beautiful smooth files from the 1DS mark 3. I have become so used to editing files from this camera and being able to do some amazing things to the RAW files. You can push and pull these images around to a point that is almost criminal - and still get amazing results. In contrast I recently re-edited some old work from the 1DsMark 2 and the Nikon D3 and was shocked at how easily these images broke in post production.
I should also say how tough this camera has proven itself to be, up mountains, across oceans, thrown in the sand and battered in every way possible the 1Ds mark 3 just keeps on taking amazing quality pictures.
A tiny bit noisy at high ISO is my only complaint. Will just have to wait for the Mark 4!
Roy Riley