IX. CONCLUSION 37
When itwas introduced, Canon, with complete justification, called the EOS-1Ds MarkII
“The Absolute Pinnacle ofDSLR Design and Performance.” Now the pinnacle has been
raised. Technologicaladvances have continued to come at a furiousrate, even as the
digitalage of photography has matured, and it should surprise no one that Canon is
able to build a better flagship than itdid a few years ago. Nonetheless, there are many
aspectsof the EOS-1Ds Mark III that are astonishing. For example, the 16.7-megapixel,
4fpsEOS-1Ds Mark II it succeeds is still the leader in itsclass. On the same full-size
sensor plate, Canon now has21.1 megapixels that, although they are smaller than
those ofthe EOS-1Ds Mark II, record a finer image with 14-bit depth and vastly greater
controlpossibilities. At 5 fps, the EOS-1Ds Mark III fires off its enormous image filesas
fastas most 10 megapixel cameras can make 12-bit files. Thisis one camera that can
excelin studios, sporting venues, and the farthest and most remote reaches of the
earth. Itsfiles can generate prints and magazine layouts equally remarkable for their
greatsize and superlative quality. No other camera can make such a claim credibly.
Viewed in termsof its resolution alone, the EOS-1Ds Mark III seems to compete with the
medium formatdigital backs that cost somewhere between more and much more. At
thispoint, many even have less resolution than the EOS-1Ds Mark III. But their cumber-
some handlingand their verylimited and expensive systems, especially in comparison
with the Canon EOSSystem, mean that they are capable of functioning in justa very
smallportion of all the photographic situations in which the EOS-1Ds Mark III excels.
Consider, too, the question ofcontinuity, a matter of considerable relevance when the
purchase ofan $8,000-or- more camera is on the table. Where the EOS-1Ds Mark III is
completelycompatible with virtually all of the vast EOSSystem, and can be expected to
remain compatible—and supported—for decadesto come (note the current software
supportfor the D6000 and D2000), today’s medium format digital backs often do not fit
even recentproducts from the same manufacturer. Will a newly-purchased component
be compatible with same-brand software and hardware in the not-too-distantfuture?
Betting on, and investing in, the EOS-1DsMark III is a sure thing.
When Canon showsa diagram of its DSLR family, it has co-equals at the top of the
range, the EOS-1D MarkIII with a 1.3x sensor, 10.1 megapixels and a breathtaking 10
fps, matched with the EOS-1DsMark III, with its full-frame sensor, 21.1 amazing
megapixelsand a not-to-be-believed 5 fps for that file size. Both have Live View
Function, the SelfCleaning Sensor Unit, the endless control and customization options,
the high ISOsand low noise and the super-rugged construction. Both epitomize profes-
sionalhardware. Choosing between them is really a matter of degree. Both have extraor-
IX. CONCLUSION