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Canon EOS-1D Mark III review
Canon’s flagship EOS-1D Mark III is the most advanced EOS Digital SLR
ever produced. It has a new 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-H size) with
Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor
with Canon’s Live View technology. The 1D Mark III has a redesigned
100% viewfinder, a new 45-point AF system, and can shoot up to 10 fps
continuously with a maximum burst of 110 shots. Dual DIGIC III Image
Processors work in tandem to speed up every process while refining image
quality; a new, lighter body has improved weather sealing and shutter
durability. Every facet of the EOS experience has been enhanced with the 1D
Mark III. It’s the new standard.
The EOS-1D Mark III features an all-new Canon 10.1 megapixel APS-H size
CMOS sensor with an expanded sensitivity range of ISO 50–6400.* 14-bit
A/D conversion means fine gradation and a significant drop in digital and
shadow noise. With its generous 28.1 x 18.7mm image size, the sensor
captures every nuance of your scene from highlight to shadow. Extensive
noise reduction ensures an extremely high signal to noise ratio. Framing is
natural because the sensor’s 3:2 aspect ratio is the same as in 35mm
cameras, and the sensor’s large size realizes an effective angle of
view that’s just 1.3 times the focal length indicated on Canon EF
lenses.
To combat against stray dust that enters the camera and adheres to the
image sensor during a lens change, the 1D Mark III features Canon-designed
Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit. The IR-cut filter cleans itself automatically
with ultrasonic vibrations, removing dust from the sensor assembly.
Dust that has been missed by the Integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit can
also be erased with software included in
. The 1D Mark III’s imaging sensor is able to single out the dust
particles on its surface, then plots out their location coordinates within
the image. This data is transmitted along with the image, whether JPEG or
RAW, and can be either manually or automatically erased in Canon’s DPP
version 3.0. This added software option ensures the cleanest possible
image, perfect for printing or archiving.
With a maximum continuous shooting speed of approximately 10
frames-per-second, for up to 110 shots, the EOS-1D Mark III is the
world’s fastest digital SLR. Bursts are first recorded to the
camera’s internal memory to ensure maximum speed and then transferred to
memory cards for storage. The number of shots remaining during a burst is
displayed on the right side of the viewfinder.
The EOS-1D Mark III raises the bar for AF performance. It uses an
extraordinary 45-point high-density area AF system that provides not only
the industry’s largest continuous AF coverage area, but also the
greatest range of control over focusing point selection. The focusing point
can be selected automatically by the camera (based on high-speed
microcomputer analysis of image content), or users can manually select any
of 19 high precision, cross-type AF points which can be complemented by 26
additional Assist Points for pin sharp accuracy, instantaneously.
In response to requests from professional users, the new EOS-1D Mark III is
more rugged, yet lighter than its predecessor. Able to withstand shooting
in the roughest conditions, the 1D Mark III is clad in a magnesium alloy
shell, chassis and top panel, providing impressive strength without
excessive weight. All of the 1D Mark III controls and external cover seams
are sealed from water and dust. Even the perimeter of the 1D Mark III’s
hot-shoe is ribbed for water resistance, enabling flash photography with
Canon’s new Speedlite 580EX II.
Developed to maximize performance between the capture and recording stages
of digital photography, the EOS-1D Mark III’s Dual DIGIC III chips give
the camera two of Canon’s newest processing units, working in parallel,
to dramatically enhance image quality and deliver the speed and power
needed to combine 10 million pixels and 10 frames per second. The
latest-generation DIGIC III Image Processor works in concert with Canon’s
new CMOS sensors to achieve even higher levels of performance. The entire
electronic system is totally re-designed, giving the camera its incredible
combination of speed and image quality. Digital noise is significantly
reduced in shadow areas, and colour reproduction is superior.
By expanding the range from the correct level (18% gray) to the maximum
allowable highlight level, the gradation from the grays to the highlights
becomes smoother and loss in highlight detail is minimized. This vital
Custom Function lets photographers get even better detail in bright
highlights, even in contrasty lighting conditions. It’s beneficial for
nearly any form of professional work, where a user may encounter bright
highlight areas where he or she wants to preserve details. Finally,
there’s no impact on the camera’s shooting speed or burst rate when
Highlight Tone Priority is engaged.
With Picture Style technology and the 1D Mark III, photographers can
recreate characteristics of their favorite films. Colour, saturation,
sharpness and contrast settings create noticeable variation in the saved
image. In addition to six preset Picture Styles (Standard, Portrait,
Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome), users can create three
additional settings for their particular photographic style.
The largest LCD monitor ever in an SLR with interchangeable lenses (as of
February, 2007), the 3.0-inch LCD monitor on the EOS-1D Mark III contains
another: a Live View option, where the photographer can compose and shoot
directly from the LCD monitor. Achieved via a menu setting (by raising the
SLR camera’s mirror) and perfect for a number of applications, Live
View enables the photographer to zoom in and navigate the composition at 5x
or 10x normal size, while enabling critical manual focus and allowing more
attention to detail. Users can even choose a grid overlay, perfect for
architectural photography.
EOS-1D Mark III is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF lineup,
ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses
employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to
deliver unprecedented performance in all facets of the photographic
process. Special optical technologies, such as aspherical optics and
fluorite elements are featured in the universally acclaimed L Series
lenses, and Canon’s Image Stabilizer technology in select lenses
minimizes the effect of camera shake. Through Canon lenses, photographers
can truly maximize the quality and liberating performance of the 1D Mark
III.
The EOS 1D Mark III features the acclaimed E-TTL II flash metering system.
With any of the flashes in the EX Speedlite line, E-TTL II provides
reliable flash output whether shooting fill-in flash pictures in sunlight,
or using flash in total darkness. The camera’s new 63-zone Evaluative
Metering Sensor is also used for flash metering – giving even finer
metering command of the image area. If you prefer a broader area for flash
metering, Custom Function II-4-1 allows shifting flash metering so that all
63 zones of the sensor are used equally to calculate flash exposures.
Canon’s second-generation Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2A incorporates
a number of significant new features into a robust, camera-powered system
to make wireless transfer faster, simpler and less cumbersome than ever.
WFT-E2A is smaller, attaches to the side of the EOS-1D Mark III, transfers
images wirelessly through either 802.11 B or G, has USB and Ethernet
connections for situations where wireless access is limited, as well as a
more powerful antenna, capable of transmission up to 150 feet from the
computer, or an accessory router/access point receiver. It can connect to a
third-party GPS device via USB; generating GPS information in the image’s
EXIF data. Or, you can plug a compatible USB v.2.0 hard drive into the
transmitter’s USB port, and actually shoot directly to a large portable
hard drive. Dust- and water-resistance are also matched with the EOS-1D
Mark III body. (Note: the previous WFT-E1A Wireless Transmitter unit is not
compatible with the EOS-1D Mark III camera.)
The EOS-1D Mark III comes bundled with an updated Canon EOS Digital
Solution Disc, which features powerful software programs designed to extend
the EOS experience to the computer. These include Canon’s
for Windows?® (Version 5.8),
for Macintosh?® OS X (Version 5.8),
(Version 3.0), Canon’s
(Version 2.0),
(Version 2.6),
Each application is designed to perfect captured images and streamline the
digital workflow. ZoomBrowser EX v. 5.8 and Digital Photo Professional v.
3.0 for Windows are compatible with the new Windows Vista operating system,
too.
is an image processing program that enables high-speed RAW image
processing, high-speed previewing for real-time image adjustment and
support for sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces. Because
it’s CMS (Colour Management System) compatible, Digital Photo
Professional allows for easy image layout and printing in Adobe RGB in
conjunction with Easy-PhotoPrint and PictBridge printers. It also features
the Dust Delete Data Detection tool for cleaner images.
for Macintosh or Windows handles the connection between the camera and
computer, whenever they’re connected via USB. It allows remote
controlled shooting from the computer, handles downloading of images from
the camera to the computer, and allows seamless linking to either
Canon’s ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser or Digital Photo Professional
software once images have been copied to the hard drive. Furthermore,
it’s used to upload settings back into a USB-connected camera.
for Windows and
for Mac OS X are the easy, user-friendly options for viewing and editing of
JPEG and even RAW image files. Both allow viewing of numerous types of
images including finished TIFF and BMP files. Both also have a variety of
search options for finding images, allow re-naming of single images or
batches of files, and offer a variety of options for printing without using
a separate image-editing program.
This software is an integrated component of ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) or
ImageBrowser (Mac). It allows processing of RAW images from EOS cameras,
including the new EOS-1D Mark III, with a variety of adjustment
possibilities. These options, as well as the overall colour, contrast and
“look” of RAW Image Task, closely mimic the characteristics of
Canon’s in-camera JPEG processing.
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