The Canon EOS 1D Mark III vs. the Canon EOS 5D

While teaching a private digital photography lesson I was able to get my hands on and familiarize myself with the recently released and industry rocking new Canon EOS 1D Mark III. I haven’t had enough time to get to know all the finer details and nuances of this camera, but at first look I would have to say that it does live up to the hype it has received and certainly sets a new level of function and performance in the high-end DSLR world. However, the most important question on my mind is, “as a landscape, architecture and travel photographer does the Canon EOS 1D Mark III have what it takes to get me to pony up $4000 and switch over from my current much loved Canon EOS 5D, 12.7 megapixel, full frame camera?”

About a year and a half ago I purchased my 5D and have been very pleased with it ever since. The small size and weight, superior resolution, ease of use, price and full frame sensor form a pretty solid base of features important to the types of photography that I do. The $8000 price tag of the respected full frame EOS 1Ds Mark II along with its notoriously complex operation and large, heavy body all made it impractical for hauling into the wilderness, shooting in the dark and operating it in abusive conditions. The 1D Mark II N was geared more towards sports and journalistic photography and didn’t have the resolution I wanted, not to mention that the smaller APS sized sensor cut into my wide angle capability. Upon first reading about the 1D Mark III I thought that it might just have the right combination of advanced technology and features to persuade me to make the jump.As stated by Dave Etchells and Shawn Barnett on image-resource.com, “the big story with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III is that it’s a better, more universally appealing professional camera for more types of professional photographers. A lot of intermediate photographers may want to make the jump as well, given its more friendly interface and astonishing high ISO performance. And, the Canon EOS 1D Mark III isn’t just for sports anymore. It’s a more universal camera for the vast majority of pro photographers. With the multiple improvements in the new camera, photographers will no longer need to trade off resolution, image quality, and speed against each other. The 1D Mark III now has enough of all three to satisfy a huge slice of the market in a single camera body.”

While the 1D Mark III’s 10 frames per second burst rate, the fastest in the world, is impressive it really isn’t an important consideration for photographers who photograph low motion subjects like landscapes. Below I have listed the features of the 1D Mark III that really caught my eye as a landscape and architecture photographer that might challenge my preference for the 5D.

• Three inch LCD monitor with live view capability for on screen compositions - handy for creative and difficult compositions.
• Dual DIGIC III Image Processors for fine detail, natural color reproduction and high-speed performance - I’m all about better color reproduction and fine detail. High speed is an added bonus.
• Professional EOS Integrated Cleaning System with Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit - dust spots on the sensor may be my single biggest gripe with digital SLRs.
• Dust Delete Data acquisition - for those times when the self-cleaning sensor misses some specks.
• More intuitive menus and controls similar to the 5D - my 5D fits like a glove and is almost as easy to use.
• Expanded ISO range with less noise in images shot at a higher ISO - I often shoot on a tripod, but expanding my handheld shooting ability while still producing low noise images is very tempting.
• 14-bit A/D conversion for fine color/tonal gradation - again, any technology that allows for better, more accurate color reproduction is high on my list of priorities.
• New 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, improved microlens array and pixel fill factor plus optimized photodiode structure to increase light-reception efficiency - the improved sensor design and resolution along with the other image quality enhancements would most likely give me plenty of detail for 20 x 30 art prints or larger (as with my 5D), but I’m not excited about the smaller than full frame sensor size. I really need to be able to access the entire wide angle view of my 16 mm lens.
• Increased shutter durability of approximately 300,000 cycles - it just keeps going and going.
• 50% less shadow noise for all images - shadow noise is something that I’m constantly trying to avoid in my landscape photography.
• High-capacity, lightweight and compact lithium-ion battery with estimated battery life display - lithium-ion is the way to go and I like that Canon has finally figured out a way to let you know how much more time you have left on your battery.
• Strong magnesium alloy body construction sealed to resist dust and water - I take my gear to some pretty harsh environments. The fact that the 5D is not as well sealed as the 1D series cameras is one of its serious drawbacks for abusive professional photographers.

Based on the image comparisons I have been able to make between the 1D Mark III and the 5D, along with viewing many sample images taken by independent reviewers on the web, I would have to say that the Mark III certainly does produce remarkably detailed high resolution images with extremely accurate colors. When used with a sharp lens, the 1D Mark III can produce images with a vast amount of fine detail. I would say that the image quality and resolution at low ISO settings rivals that of the 12 megapixel 5D. In some situations, such as along high contrast edges, in shadow detail and in tricky lighting, I would say that the Mark III even outperforms the 5D.
However, this camera really shows its stuff with its low noise levels when shooting at higher ISO settings. Even at its highest setting of ISO 6,400, the images are cleaner than those shot at ISO 1600 and perhaps even 800 on the 5D. There is digital noise, but there’s still an amazing amount of shadow detail and finer detail for such a sensitive ISO setting. At lower sensitivities, images are extremely clean, and noise doesn’t even begin to show up significantly on monitors until you reach ISO 800.

The 1D Mark III certainly sets new standards on many fronts. The ease of use, sensor cleaning technology, color accuracy, detailed resolution and low noise are features that really excite me, and there are many more that are pretty cool, although not essential, to the landscape photographer. Impressive as it is, would it tempt me away from my 5D? It is close, but the answer is, Nope.

The main factor that would keep me away is the APS-H sized sensor which applies a magnification factor of 1.3x to the focal length of the lens. Being able to get full use out my wide-angle lenses with the 5D is just too important to give up. To a lesser degree I am also deterred by the size and weight of the camera.

So what would the camera that would get me to hand over the keys to my 5D look like? We’ll my guess is it would be called the EOS 5D Mark II and it would have the follwing features:

• A compact, lightweight body like the current 5D
• Magnesium alloy body construction sealed against dust and moisture to the same standards as the EOS 1D cameras
• The same dual DIGIC III processors, firmware and sensor improvements found in the 1D Mark III
• The same high sensitivity/low noise ability of the 1D Mark III
• 14 bit color
• Live view LCD screen
• Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
• The same intuitive menu and control system found on the 5D and 1D Mark III
• Battery life display
• Shutter rated to 300,000 shots
• And most importantly…a FULL FRAME sensor in the 13-16 megapixel range

What is the chance that such a camera is on the horizon? The consensus among the big dogs seems to be that Canon will put this technology to use at the top end first by coming out with a 1Ds Mark III. It would include all the improvements made to the 1D but it is anticipated that the new 1Ds will feature a 22 megapixel full frame sensor as well. This is sure to be an amazing camera, but the body size and likely $7000 to $9000 price tag will not place it high on my wish list. Hopefully, soon after that, a new 5D will hit the market. I’m holding out for that day.

Finding the right projector for presenting digital images can be tricky. There is a lot to discuss. The March 2007 issue of Outdoor Photographer Magazine just ran a several page article on digital projectors for photographers. I would recommend seeing if you can find a copy.

There are three main technologies used in digital projection LCD, DLP and LCOS. LCD projectors use transmitted light while DLP and LCOS projectors reflect light off of an array of thousands of microscopic mirrors. LCD projectors tend to have very good color saturation and image sharpness, but the image is broken into small visible squares or pixels. DLP projectors have a very seamless image with no apparent pixels. Both projectors have improved dramatically in recent years and either can offer a great image for projecting photos. LCOS projectors offer the best of both worlds with great color and sharpness and no square grid pattern. The trade off here is cost and larger, heavier equipment.
I have a Canon Realis. They have the highest resolution and best color on the market due to their LCOS projection system but they are also quite expensive ($3000 - $5000). There are many good LCD and DLP models out there for much less. When comparing projectors there are some key characteristics to consider. Contrast ratio is important. Look for 400:1 or 500:1 for an LCD projector (higher is better). For DLP projectors a contrast ratio of 2000:1 is good. How many lumens you need is another consideration. If you plan to use it in a completely dark room then fewer lumens (1000 to 1500) is OK. If you want to show during the day or in lighted rooms then you need more lumens (2000 or more). For good photo sharpness you want as much resolution as you can afford. Stay away from VGA (640×480 pixels) and SVGA (800×600 pixels). If you can afford XGA (1024×768 pixels) or SXGA (1280×1024 pixels) you will get a much sharper picture.

As a starting point you might want to Google the Canon LV-X6, Epson PowerLite 76c, ViewSonic PJ400 and the Sony VPL-EX3. The best way to decide on a projector is to go somewhere you can actually see and compare the projected images. However, most electronics stores like Best Buy or Circuit City tend to carry mostly home theater projectors or business presentation projectores. The former generally use wide screen format and are optimized for showing video and not still images with crisp detail. The latter are often lower resolution and best for showing large graphics, clip art and limited colors.

I almost always project images and multil media shows directly from my computer’s hard drive. If you want to play from DVD you have a few options. You can play from your desktop computer’s DVD player if you will alway be projecting at home. If you need to be portable, you can project from a laptop computer or you can use a dedicated DVD player to project images on DVD. If you are planning on creating slide shows with music, fades and titles then you will need some sort of editing software that can create the show. Microsoft Windows Movie Maker works pretty well for basics and comes with the system software in new PCs. Adobe Premier or Apple’s Final Cut Pro are top of the line. You will also need some sort of sound system as well. If you plan on only projecting from your home then everything is much easier. You can set up a permanent home theater with good sound and the size and weight of the equipment isn’t so crucial. If you want to take it on the road, then a laptop, small sound system and portable screen are essential.

I always find it difficult to get out and photograph during the winter. The days are short and cold. The sky is often an unappealing gray and the weather is hard to predict. However, I find that when I do go out I’m usually pleased with what I find.

Recently I loaded up my VW Eurovan camper and headed to Crater Lake National Park which is about 80 miles from my home. Crater Lake always makes for a great outdoor experience, but in the winter it is especially stunning and sees very few visitors. Sometimes I like to make a full backcountry adventure and ski or snowshoe around the rim of the lake. On two occasions I have attempted to complete the entire 35-mile circumnavigation. The first time ended up being a seven-day epic in a multi-day blizzard. The second time I took a different approach and skied the entire distance in a single day in good weather. On this most recent and less ambitious trip I planned to camp overnight in my van and photograph the sunset and sunrise and do a little snowshoeing not far from the parking area.

The rim of Crater Lake is over 7,000 feet in elevation in the Cascade mountain range and is subject to severe winter conditions. Driving can be hazardous and the roads are often closed by snow. It is not unusual for there to be a snow pack of 10 or 15 feet. During stormy weather the lake is often hidden in a cap of clouds. There are also many good weather days each winter, so it is worth trying to time a visit with a clear spell.

I like to shoot at dusk and dawn. Even during good weather the temperatures at these times are usually below freezing and there is often a stiff breeze. I wear normal winter layers, warm boots and a hat. My three most critical layers are my gaiters, down jacket and Windstopper gloves. The gaiters keep snow out of my boots while wandering around in the snow. My down jacket provides good insulation for my core even while I stand still behind my tripod for long stretches. My windstopper gloves are made of thin fleece and have enough dexterity to operate my camera. The Windstopper layer blocks the wind and makes the gloves very warm for how thin they are. I also bring my snowshoes so I can venture off a bit into the untracked snow.

During this visit I was treated to a fantastic sunset and interesting ice patterns on the partially frozen surface of the lake. Before dawn I hiked out to a point overlooking Wizard Island and Lao Rock and photographed the changing light as the sun came up. To view some images from this trip click HERE.