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Canon EOS-1D Mark III Digital SLR
As the "1" designation has always been used for the flagship models in the EOS line, Canon has made no compromises with the construction and performance of the EOS-1D Mark III. Photographers can expect an exceptional degree of performance and reliability on par with any film camera they've ever used.
New Low-Noise 10.1 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
The EOS-1D Mark III features a newly developed 10.1 million pixel Canon CMOS sensor. 10.1 million effective pixels are more than sufficient for 13 x 19-inch prints, output directly without interpolation, at 200ppi. Megapixels alone, however, do not determine image quality. While maintaining the same APS-H size sensor area (with 1.3x lens conversion factor) as its predecessor, the new 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor boasts significant design improvements that further reduce digital noise and expand the useful ISO range. Specifically, the 1D Mark III exhibits 50% less shadow noise at all comparable ISO speed settings than the previous 1D Mark II N. The newly designed sensor also features high-speed signal reading (approx. 10 fps), low power consumption, and Live View shooting.
The EOS-1D Mark III's new, Canon-designed and manufactured, APS-H-size, CMOS single-plate sensor advances the state of the art in professional DSLR sensor design. APS-H is the largest sensor that can be imaged in one pass using cutting edge semiconductor manufacturing technology. The imaging area of the new CMOS sensor measures 28.1 x 18.7mm, appreciably larger than APS-C and about the same size as the sensor s in the EOS-1D Mark II and Mark II N. The lens magnification factor is 1.3x.
EOS-1D Mark III's CMOS Sensor |
Exceptionally Wide ISO Range
Combining the superb image capture capabilities of the new sensor with advanced Dual DIGIC III Image Processors, the EOS-1D Mark III offers the widest ISO range of any DSLR in the world (as of February 2007). The standard range of 100-3200 can be extended to a remarkable 50-6400*. More important, the low-noise performance at high ISO settings makes the entire range usable in real-world shooting situations.
EOS Integrated Sensor Cleaning System
The EOS-1D Mark III incorporates the EOS Integrated Sensor Cleaning System, which is a complete anti-dust system. It suppresses dust generation and dust adhering to the sensor, removes dust and makes any remaining dust less noticeable.
Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit |
- The shutter has been improved to generate less dust
- The body cap has also been improved to generate less dust
- The low-pass filter's anti-static charge surface prevents attracting dust due to static charge
- The sensor unit is self-cleaning
- Dust Delete Data is obtained and appended to images.
- Manual cleaning of the imaging sensor is still an option
The new, compact Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit for the APS-H size imaging sensor has been designed for the EOS-1D Mark III and is different from the EOS Digital Rebel XTi's unit. On the front infrared-absorption glass, two thin, single-layer piezo-electric elements are attached. By applying ultrasonic vibration to the infrared-absorption glass, the adhering dust is shaken off. The removed dust particles are stuck onto absorbent material around the infrared-absorption glass. Also, to prevent dust from entering the sensor unit, the assembly is secured with sealing material around the perimeter.
Another camera maker vibrates an extra glass plate dedicated to dust removal. Because the EOS-1D Mark III vibrates the infrared-absorption glass directly, the optical performance is not degraded by an extra layer of glass and the unit can be kept compact. The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit can therefore be incorporated in a conventional size body.
Dual DIGIC III Image Processors |
Dual DIGIC III Image Processors
Canon's DIGIC III Image Processor sets new standards for picture detail, natural color reproduction, and processing speed. The 1D Mark III employs Canon's latest DIGIC III Image Processor, which maintains the extremely high image quality standard of its predecessor but, amazingly, attains even high processing speed. Moreover, the 1D Mark III uses not one, but Dual DIGIC III Image Processors operating in parallel to provide even greater data bandwidth.
DIGIC II, a high-performance imaging engine that has been used since the EOS-1D Mark II in 2004, has been a major feature of Canon digital cameras because of its very fine image detail, natural color reproduction and high-speed signal processing. DIGIC III retains the DIGIC II's basic concept and improves upon it with higher performance and faster speed. To cope with the voluminous signal processing required by the EOS-1D Mark III's 10.10 megapixels and top continuous shooting speed of 10 fps, Dual DIGIC III Image Processors are incorporated for parallel signal processing. The CMOS sensor reads out to the dual DIGIC III Image Processors simultaneously in 8 channels.
By having 2 processors handle the workload, image processing is now approximately 1.5x faster; Compact Flash™ access speed is now 1.3x faster, and SD card access is now 2x faster compared to the EOS-1D Mark II N. The extra power of Dual DIGIC III Image Processors has also allowed analog-to-digital conversion to improve from 12 to 14 bits per channel, meaning that tonal gradation for RAW images is now divided into 16,384 separate levels per channel rather than 4,096. When saved as a 16-bit TIFF image, the image retains the full range of tones obtained with 14 bits. Also, JPEG images, at 8 bits per color, are generated from the 14-bit data. Tonal skipping is thereby reduced substantially, improving gradation and overall image quality.
14-Bit A/D Converters
The analog signal output of the imaging sensor must be converted to digital data before it can be processed by the DIGIC III engine. Whereas earlier EOS Digital SLR cameras used 12-bit A/D (analog-to-digital) converters, the 1D Mark III employs new 14-bit converters. This ensures smoother tonal transitions and more natural gradations.
Highlight Tone Priority
Activated via a Custom Function on the EOS-1D Mark III, the new Highlight Tone Priority feature employs sophisticated processing algorithms to preserve greater detail in image highlight areas -- a perennial problem for digital photographers, especially in bright sunlight or contrasty studio lighting. It actually expands the available range of capture in the highlights, yet it exacts no penalties in either shadow detail or camera performance. It benefits photographers who shoot RAW images as well as those who rely on in-camera processing.
Highlight Tone Priority is a win-win proposition for professional photographers of nearly all disciplines. A sports photographer shooting white baseball uniforms in bright sunlight stands to benefit as much as a nature photographer shooting winter snow scenes or a wedding photographer seeking to preserve detail in the bride's dress.
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