Canon's EOS-1D Mark III DSLR with live LCD

Canon's latest pro DSLR is officially here as of tonight: welcome the EOS-1D Mark III. This 10.1 megapixel shooter can fire 10fps in bursts of up to 110 large JPEGs or 30 RAW files with is dual DIGIC III processor. It also features a really friggin light sensitive APS-H size 28.1 x 18.7mm CMOS sensor with ISO modes up to 3200 (it's also got a "highly usable" just-in-case 6400 mode sure to kill image quality), but the real winner here is the 3-inch live LCD (with 5 and 10x magnification for locking that zoom). There's also a new WFT- E2A Wireless File Transmitter option for dumping to external storage and even GPS geotagging, the OSK-E3 Original Data Security Kit for file encryption and verification (if your images are just that valuable), the Speedlite 580EX II flash, and EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens. We don't yet have word on price or release date, but you know what they say about having to ask.

Gallery: Canon's EOS-1D Mark III DSLR with live LCD

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Alex @ Feb 21st 2007 11:30PM]

What a strange piece of technology this "Live View LCD" is...the user manually selects a menu setting to raise the SLR mirror so the LCD can display a live view from the CMOS sensor. Why don't digital SLRs do away with the mirror entirely and simply feature a LCD and viewfinder that simply displays the live view from the CMOS or CCD sensors? This method seems much more accurate, it's what-you-see-is-what-you-get without the optical distortions of a mirror mechanism, and much more flexible due to the zooming and other live effects you can apply to a digital display.

[James Boswell @ Feb 22nd 2007 1:04AM]

Noise levels, an active sensor generates heat, which shows up as noise on photos

[ScaryFast @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:14AM]

electronic viewfinders (LCD inside the viewfinder) suck because #1 they have a limited number of pixels and can't show all the detail needed to make sure you're in focus. #2 they become unusable in very dark environments. So if you enjoy taking photos at night like I do, the only way you can frame your shot with an EVF or LCD is if there are points of light to use as a reference.

Optical Viewfinders are often a bit dark, but you can still see through them to properly frame your shot. As long as you can see the scene with the naked eye you can frame it through the optical viewfinder.

[Jus10 @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:16AM]

"Why don't digital SLRs do away with the mirror entirely and simply feature a LCD and viewfinder that simply displays the live view from the CMOS or CCD sensors?"

Because the mirror is an integral part of the Single Reflex Camera--without the mirror they would no longer be SLRs--google "SLR" for more details.

[john.mcd @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:26PM]

Some photographers like to actually hold the camera correctly rather than the regular consumers that hold their cameras feet in front of them causing horrid blur.

[Dustin @ Feb 21st 2007 11:33PM]

Live view LCD? Good to see Canon can still pull off some surprises. This, combined with the new 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens, makes me interested to see what they have up there sleeves for replacements for their other SLR's. Sports shooters will be rejoicing, for sure!

[jonjon @ Feb 21st 2007 11:44PM]

dont forget a new Speedlite 580EX II was released also.

[tchiseen @ Feb 21st 2007 11:53PM]

ah, what a creamy creamy piece. i want one.

i like how there's a tiny little lens on it. i bet it'd look great with a nice aftermarket wa. :o

[Scott @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:00AM]

A real beauty... can't wait to try one out. Very exciting - especially to see what else Canon has up its sleeves...

Sad they put a 50mm f/1.4 on that monster of an amazing body.

[Stuart Carnie @ Feb 26th 2007 5:07PM]

Why is that sad? The 50mm f/1.4 is a fantastic portrait lens. It is one of my most frequently used, and I do own 3 L series lenses. Granted, there is now the f/1.2L 50mm - but I haven't seen any reports that would make me want to spend the extra money right now - plus, I want to spend it on one of these :)

Cheers,

Stu

[Alex @ Feb 22nd 2007 1:23AM]

I think low light shooting could be one of the strong points of an electronic viewfinder. Most camcoders with EVF feature zero-light shooting modes via infrared recording. An EVF may implement this feature to help frame shots in low light conditions and revert back to normal mode to capture the image.

[Taylor @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:15AM]

I've been a photographer for a number of years, and i really don't see the point of a live view LCD... I dunno, maybe i just haven't seen how useful it could be on an SLR, but i always shoot with the camera to my face, and never think "i wish i could hold this away from my face". I mean, i guess it doesn't hurt to have it, but i feel like i wouldn't use it.

10fps is awesome though... the 30D is 5fps and that seems awesome... But really i'm just glad to see this because it means they've gotta be announcing the 40D soon! :)

As far as the lens used in this photo, i think they just put it on there instead of a larger lens to keep the focus of the picture on the camera, and not on a lens.
-Taylor

[Traycer @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:26AM]

When combined with a large viewing angle, being able to compose a shot through the rear LCD can be a godsend. Just earlier today, I was shooting the new DP-01 Champ Car body, and I had to lie on the floor to get certain shots. I also took some wide angle overhead shots of the entire car. In both situations, being able to compose and focus a shot without having to bring my eye up to the viewfinder would have been very welcome!

Now all Canon needs to do is add a swivelling LCD...

[Ramón @ Feb 25th 2007 3:08AM]

I like the new features, but I can't envision myself holding a 70-200mm or a 100-400mm IS lens away from my body to claim a good, steady shot while looking thru the LCD. Perhaps it will be useful for framing with a tripod, if your subject is inanimate or at rest.
Still, if Canon went thru the bother to provide this feature I hope that they improved the LCD - a weakness in the 20D and the 5D that I currently own.

[Stuart Carnie @ Feb 26th 2007 2:37PM]

Macro photography is what I think it will be extremely useful for. Less of a need to squint through the viewfinder when trying to focus.

In the studio, being able to hook up to a computer and view the live image on a large screen will be even better. Probably good for product shoots.

[Rob @ Mar 5th 2007 7:50PM]

Humm,, if what you are saying is true, i will be a bit disappointed as well. I thought it was a cool feature till i read this.

[Josh Freeman @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:20AM]

Here's a link to the camera white paper
http://www.jirvana.com/pdfs/EOS_1D_Mark_III_WP_070221.pdf

Dual Digic III processing and 14 bit color...drool

It talks about studio still life for the live view and how with the software you can do 4x zooms to check focus. But it does say that there are failsafes in place to protect against heat build up when it is used with hot studio lights. If you're using a CF card no problem, if using a microdrive or wireless transfer the camera will shut down after a certain temp is reached.

[Josh Warner @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:23AM]

All that sounds nice, but a huge 3" 'Live LCD' along with some of those other options (WiFi?) is going to go a long way toward killing one of the large advantages DSLRs have, namely, battery life. Most DSLRs function with their screens completely off except for reviewing, and the optical viewfinder used otherwise. This allows for phenomenal battery life... and it's what the pros use. These are features that belong on a consumer digicam (and yes, I know you can just turn them off. My point is that they have no place here).

I want to see the number of shots per battery this thing gets with Live LCD and without, when used similarly in a pro environment. My bet: Live LCD cuts it in half, if not even further.

[Traycer @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:26AM]

Going from a 2.5" LCD to a 3" LCD may not do anything to power consumption. In fact, with newer (read: more efficient) backlight technology, power consumption might even drop.

Running the sensor and LCD continuously in Live View mode will obviously use up battery juice faster, but you are not forced to use it. And besides, Canon finally ditched their heavy, old NiMH 1-series battery and went with an intelligent lithium ion rechargeable. They claim 2200 shots on a single charge. So even if Live View usage cuts battery life in half, you're still looking at 1000+ shots before swapping batteries.

It's impressive any way you look at it.

[Matt B @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:42PM]

Never used a 1D series camera huh? They have monster batteries.

[Christian James @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:32AM]

Wow!!! Here is the press release from Canon:

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20070221_1dmark3.html

And of course I just bought a Speedlite 580EX a few days ago! Lots of nice improvements to that too.

The live view LCD I think is a wonderful addition especially for composition w studio work.

I do find it sort of strange the sensor is a magnification factor of 1.3x don't see why they wouldn't go full frame?

[Jay @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:33AM]

"you know what they SAYING about having to ask."

should be "say"

[Peter @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:21AM]

Not bad at all. BUT: Why no full-frame sensor??? The idea behind a pro DSLR like the 1D-Series is that you get a full-frame sensor so your 16-35mm is a 16-35. With a crop of 1.3 (like this APS-H sensor will have), you're gonna have a 24-45mm. No more Fisheye for the pros, though.
C'mon. Even the 5D has a full-frame. Is this a typo, or does Canon wanted to cut the costs?

[Traycer @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:31AM]

Wait for the rumoured 1Ds Mark III if you want a full-frame sensor.

[BrandonLehman @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:45AM]

You are missing the point, this is the sports line, which traditionally has enjoyed the crop / zoom factor the 1.3x sensor provides.

For the fine art and landscape photographers, Canon provides the 1Ds series. Now, in the future there may be a full frame Canon sports camera, but I suspect this won't happen unless there is a crop mode that provides at least 10mp in 1.3x.

If you follow the pro forums elsewhere on the internet you would know that a good number of sports shooters and working pros actually like the 1.3 crop and don't wish for full frame for sports shooting.

Cropping out the center of the image uses the best part of the lens and results in less CA and vignetting / soft corners that can be an issue with full frame.

Understand that I'm not bashing full frame, just saying it's not the best solution for sports cameras and as such your argument doesn't make much sense.

Nikon even offers a 2x crop for the D2X especially for the sports marketplace.

[Ryan Rahn @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:42AM]

Two things:

1. I can see how the live vew would make a photographer's life much easier, but one of the main assets of DSLR's is their optical viewfinders. You can view infinitely more detail through an optical viewfinder than an LCD, especially at the low resolution of LCD monitors.

2. A 1.3x crop works perfectly for this camera as it provides enough wide angle coverage for normal-range EOS lenses and allows for some "zoom" in telephoto lenses. It's sensor is large enough to be usable by pros, but small enough to provide the much needed crop factor of action photographers using long telephotos.

I'm dissapointed that this is the only pre-PMA DSLR Canon has released though. Looks like we'll have to wait for Photokina for any 30D/5D/1Ds upgrade.

[Nogami @ Feb 22nd 2007 4:20AM]

"the OSK-E3 Original Data Security Kit for file encryption and verification (if your images are just that valuable)"

This is geared mainly for forensic work where pictures have to be proven "unmodified/altered" for court cases and such.

[Wisconsin @ Feb 22nd 2007 6:40AM]

No word on price or release date?!

How about: "Scheduled for initial U.S. shipments in Spring, the estimated selling price of the EOS-1D Mark III Digital SLR will be similar to that of its predecessor, the EOS-1D Mark II N Digital SLR".

Or was that too many paragraphs down for Engadget to read? (Plus it would spoil the never-before-made 'if you have to ask' crack).

[Alex @ Feb 22nd 2007 1:39PM]

This is just semantics. It is irrelevant to whether an electronic viewfinder could replace an optical viewfinder in a DSLR.

[Alex @ Feb 22nd 2007 1:40PM]

One views an electronic viewfinder the same way one views an optical viewfinder, I don't see how this is a valid argument against using an EVF.

[Jaxim @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:33PM]

Because the "Live LCD" cannot be angled, taking Macros or low/high shots are still hard/impossible. Kind of defeats the purpose of a "live LCD".

[Bill Reals @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:39PM]

This "live lcd" would be good for underwater photography where the camera is housed and you have to rely on either small view finder because of the way your mask and the housing are designed. There are external view finders but they cost $2k. Having a large "live lcd" would be a boon to underwater photographers.

Also, this would be useful in astrophotography as well. Canon made a version of the 20D (20Da) that had a live lcd for astrophotography.

[craig @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:58PM]

"This "live lcd" would be good for underwater photography where the camera is housed and you have to rely on either small view finder because of the way your mask and the housing are designed."

Some feel that way but, for macro shooting, critical focus can be very hard to achieve underwater. A live LCD would be virtually useless for that. For wide angle, framing is much easier and holding the mask to the viewfinder is generally not a problem. I personally see no value in live LCD underwater and I have plenty of experience there.

People who like live LCD underwater are those who hold their cameras at arm's length. Good for presbyopia and for ramming a camera into a subject but not a good technique otherwise. You won't see fine underwater work from anyone who shoots that way.

[ken @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:58PM]

has no one thought about the ability to manage long exposures in real-time with a live LCD?

[Alex Wegel @ Feb 22nd 2007 4:02PM]

Stumbling in here without purpose, i sure do like to add sth.

Live-preview in a DSLR has been around for about a year now - it isn't that new.
The Olympus E-330 proves the usefulness of this feature for a fraction of the cash (and also has the original dust-remover:-).

The camera is no match for a big pro Canon - my intention to post here was stirred by the apparent unawareness of the existence of this feature.

[Thomas Nguyen @ Feb 22nd 2007 5:32PM]

As a life-long Nikon shooter, this is the "straw that broke the camel's back" for me. I've been holding off switching to Canon all this time (even went as far as getting the D2Xs a few months back), hoping that Nikon would eventually come out with something comparable to the 1D Mark II N for sports shooters like myself. While Nikon is sitting on its a**, Canon keeps coming out with better cameras. The only consolation for waiting this long is I'll be getting the more advanced Mark III, instead of the Mark II N. Unless Nikon announces something new in the pro line by the time this camera hits the market, consider myself a new Canon convert.

[Chris Taylor @ Feb 22nd 2007 6:42PM]

"One views an electronic viewfinder the same way one views an optical viewfinder, I don't see how this is a valid argument against using an EVF."
-----------------------

EVF sucks - big time. at least in the things that I shoot. Go dig up the pixel count in an EVF fo detailed shooting its horrendous - also for action shots an EVF is worthless. WEll ok if you have 10fps for 110 shots I guess it does not matter either way but if like me you have 2fps for 3 shots that first shot is the only shot and the "delay" in registration of movement between SEEING it and viewing it through an LCD is enough that you will MISS your shot almost 100% of the time. I hate EVF's before DSLR became consumer affordable its why I would not upgrade my coolpix 5000 I needed that optical viewfinder and the newer models had EVF which is unusable to me.

I want the 5D unless this camera is comparably priced. I would take the 2mp hit to get the lower noise and faster framerate. Much better for rocketry.

[lee @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:00PM]

dpreview says it'll be $3999 in April. PJs do not need 10megapixels at 10fps but it beats Nikon's 8@8. Watch for the 1DIIn to come down in price in the next few weeks.

[Andy @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:09AM]

This camera is neat, but clearly marketed towards sports and journalism photographers. For which I'm sure it will be the bee's knees.

For myself I'm much more interested in what the update to the 5D will look like.

[eerdepeer @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:18AM]

€ 3.612,61 excl. V.A.T. at my Dutch reseller. You get a 4Gb CF for free if you pre-order. http://www.calumetphoto.nl/ctl?&ac.ui.pn=cat.SpeedSearchPromo&promoKey=1627

That isn't too bad as I expected for this brand new top cam!

[eerdepeer @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:19AM]

I actually don't know if this links is allowed to post?? I can't remove it. Because it isn't supposed to be advertisement or spam in any kind of way. Sorry

[kombizz @ Feb 23rd 2007 8:39AM]

How much does this camera cost?

[Van Hanja @ Feb 23rd 2007 10:09AM]

I have been using the whole line-up of canon, camera.
i shoot action sport with remote balcar strobe. i had a 1 ds, A 1d mk2, a 1d mk2n, and i finally got back on a 1d ( yeah the old 4megs one) why? i dont see the point to have Tons of pixel if you are not able to freeze the action wit a sync @ 1/500. i got sharper picture with the 1D @ 100 iso than with all the other camera.
i dont care about ISO 6400 as i carry 6400W/S of strobe !!!!.8fps is enough for most of us. so please Mr Canon give us a 16 meg full frame that we can use on 6 meg to shoot faster if we whant like the nikon D2X and give us a decent sync speed. like a 1/750s and most important get back to CCD!!!!!!
a full frame that can be turned to a 6 or 8 Mp might not be very hard to do and will make me use my 8mm and 15mm more often.

[Darko Hristov @ Mar 8th 2007 4:15PM]

"(with 5 and 10x magnification for locking that zoom)"
It should be locking that focus. Nikon entry Level DSLRs are way better build tha Canon Rebel Line. But when it comes to EOS 1D vs. Nikon D2H or D2X, one can say that both lines are built equally well like tanks. But than comes that Canon has Full Frame, larger max resolution, better noise control faster frame rate and now live view(someone will sure find it usefull), GPS geotagging and dust removal. These all are very important things for Sports and Photojournalists. The real surprice is the sensor size. All the new APS C/DX sized Lenses are useless. Does it meann that this will become the new standard for DSLR and we'll have to throw the DX/ APS C lenses away?

[Jim Kirby @ Mar 9th 2007 11:28AM]

I'm curious about the menu design on the Mark III. Is it layed out like the Mark II? Personally, I did not like Canon's menu design for the Mark II. I prefer the simplicity of the 5D and 30D. Comments?

[Mark @ May 28th 2007 1:06AM]

What I want to know is, MUST an SLR have a mirror if it uses only Live View to compose a shot? I think an active Live View digital SLR would be very useful in composing and framing photographs. Sure would be a heck of a lot easier to use. If a mirror isn't necessary without a viewfinder, perhaps camera manufacturers could make a few models with Live View only for those of us who prefer this method of composing a picture over the old viewfinder method.

[Manny D. @ Jun 8th 2007 12:07AM]

Get mine tomorrow......Will post a short review........http://www.ujenatalent.com/masters/16327.html

[Brian Nutcart @ Aug 14th 2007 12:17PM]

One thing that seems to have been missed by the commenters is that this camera supports SD and SDHC cards - a first for a Canon SLR.
Also, those who are waiting for the "EOS 40D" (or whatever) to be launched at Photokina have a while to go - the next Photokina isn't until September next year...