Canon EOS 1DS DSLR Camera Body {11.1MP}

Canon's first full-frame EF-mount body, 11MP with no crop

The EOS-1Ds broke from every digital SLR before it by putting a full 35.8 x 23.8mm CMOS sensor behind the EF mount, meaning a 16-35mm lens frames exactly as it would on a 35mm film body. No focal length multiplier, no reframing your wide glass to compensate for a cropped sensor. At 11.0 megapixels with output up to 4064 x 2704, it gave working photographers a resolution jump paired with the field of view they'd built their kits around.

Built on the EOS-1V film body, the magnesium alloy shell carries the same 45-point autofocus system and a shutter rated to 1/8000 sec. Metering runs through evaluative, partial, center-weighted, spot and multi-spot modes, and exposure compensation extends to ±3 EV. ISO runs 100 to 1250 in 1/3-stop steps, with a 50 option available, and shooting tops out at 3.0 fps for RAW or JPEG bursts. The 100% pentaprism viewfinder at 0.7x magnification gives the accurate framing large-format shooters expect, and a Firewire connection handles fast file transfer off Compact Flash Type I or II cards, including Microdrive compatibility.

This is a camera built around getting the full-frame image right the first time, with the control layout and ruggedness of a body meant to work every day.

Who It's For

Landscape photographers gain from the true full-frame sensor holding onto the actual angle of view stamped on their wide primes, no math required to figure out what a 24mm actually sees. Portrait and wedding shooters benefit from the 11.0MP resolution and 45-point AF system for precise focus on faces at wide apertures. Photojournalists and documentary shooters working from a 35mm film background get a body they already know, since the EOS-1Ds shares its magnesium chassis and control layout with the EOS-1V. Studio and location shooters relying on flash will find the hot-shoe plus sync connector setup and 1/250 sec X-sync speed useful for controlled lighting work.

Key Features

• Full-frame 35.8 x 23.8mm CMOS sensor, 11.0MP, no focal length multiplier
• 4064 x 2704 RAW or JPEG output with simultaneous RAW+JPEG mode
• Canon EF mount with 45-point autofocus system
• ISO 100-1250 in 1/3 stops, extended to ISO 50
• 1/8000 sec maximum shutter speed, 3.0 fps burst for up to 10 RAW or JPEG frames
• 100% pentaprism viewfinder at 0.7× magnification, accurate framing
• Magnesium alloy body based on EOS-1V film SLR
• Compact Flash Type I or II storage with Microdrive compatibility and IEEE 1394 Firewire transfer

FAQ

Does the EOS-1Ds use a full-frame sensor like a 35mm film camera?

Yes. The 35.8 x 23.8mm CMOS sensor is full frame with a 1× focal length multiplier, so a 16-35mm lens frames exactly as it would on an EOS-1V with film. No crop, no reframing required.

What resolution does the EOS-1Ds shoot at?

11.0 megapixels at 4064 x 2704 pixels, or 2032 x 1352 for half-size output. Both RAW and JPEG are available, plus simultaneous RAW+JPEG mode.

How fast can the EOS-1Ds shoot in burst?

3.0 fps for up to 10 RAW frames or 10 JPEG frames before the buffer fills.

What autofocus system does the EOS-1Ds have?

The same 45-point AF system as the EOS-1V film body, with shutter release lag of 57 ms and viewfinder blackout of 87 ms.

What's the ISO range and how is it stepped?

ISO 100 to 1250 in 1/3-stop increments, with ISO 50 available via custom function. The full-frame sensor gives larger pixel pitch than cropped-sensor bodies of the era, trading some pixel density for better per-pixel sensitivity.

What metering modes are available?

Evaluative, partial, center-weighted, spot, and multi-spot. Exposure compensation runs ±3 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps depending on custom function setting.

Does the EOS-1Ds have image stabilization?

No. The body relies on the 100% pentaprism viewfinder at 0.7× magnification and shutter speeds down to 1/8000 sec to frame and freeze motion.