Canon EOS 1D Mark III SLR Review

The back of the EOS-1D Mark III has a brilliant 3 inch color LCD. You use the LCD review your images and access the menu system. The controls are well laid out and highly functional. The color LCD gives you nearly 100% coverage when reviewing your images and displays 230,000 pixels.

Controls on the back of the camera (left from top to bottom): MENU calls up the menu system on the color LCD. Next to it is the INFO button. Below the LCD, on the left, is the PLAYBACK button. And you see the smaller, rear monochrome LCD Info Panel towards the bottom.

The small, monochrome LCD Info Panel at the bottom shows the CF/SD memory card indicators, external media connection, White Balance correction, image size, LAN connection, folder number, file number and Custom White Balance acquisition information.

The buttons below the data LCD Info Panel are used to erase images, access the Function menu and Picture Style settings.

The eye level viewfinder offers 100% coverage vertically and horizontally. It has a 20mm eye point and -3.0 to +1.0 diopter correction. On the back right side is the eyepiece shutter lever to block light from entering during self timer or long shutter exposures and the diopter correction knob is on the left side.

Here's the layout inside of the viewfinder. Shown is the standard focusing screen layout, however there are other focusing screens available as options from Canon. In the center of the viewfinder you can see the Spot metering circle, the Area AF ellipse and the 45 AF point (Cross-type and Assist AF) indicators. On the right side is the Exposure level indicator, the Maximum Burst frame indicator, the JPEG, RAW and Battery check icons.

Along the bottom of the viewfinder is the status line showing the Metering mode, Manual exposure, the "*" for AE lock / AEB in-progress or Multi-spot metering, the Flash Ready / Improper FE lock warning icon, the "Bolt + H" is for High-speed flash sync, "Bolt + *" is the FE lock. Next we see the AF Point selection mode, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, White balance correction, shots remaining, ISO speed, and Focus confirmation light.

The buttons on top left hand side provide access to the Metering mode selection /Flash exposure compensation, AF mode/ Drive mode selection and the AEB set button.

Using a combination of buttons and the Main Dial lets you set the Exposure Mode, ISO speed, AF mode, Metering mode, Flash exposure compensation and the AE Bracketing modes.

Controls on the grip side: Shutter release, FEL (Flash ExposureLock), the Main Dial, +/- Exposure compensation, ISO speed set and the LCD illumination (light bulb) button.

The monochrome LCD Info Panel on the top of the camera displays several camera settings such as shutter speed and aperture values, exposure mode, ISO speed, focus mode, metering mode, drive mode, flash mode, exposure compensation, exposure bracketing, self timer and battery status. Both the top and back LCD Info Panel displays can be illuminated, by a highly visible blue back light, by pressing the "light bulb" icon on the top of the EOS-1 D.

Behind the top monochrome LCD Info Panel along the back edge of the camera, from left to right, are the AF on button, AE Lock/Reduce button and the AF point selection/Magnify button. These buttons are duplicated on the bottom right of the camera for use in conjunction with the vertical grip shutter release.

And speaking of the vertical grip, here it is, shown from the side. The On/Off switch prevents an accidental tripping the shutter. There is a shutter release, main command dial and FEL button on the front, the AEL, Assist and AF frame selection buttons are on the back.

The EOS-1D Mark III uses both Compact Flash and Secure Digital memory cards and you can have both in the camera simultaneously. In fact you can choose to record images on either card or both cards at the same time. Both Type 1 and Type II CF cards are usable. I also used a Seagate 5 gig ST1, CF hard disk-type card.

Approximate File Sizes

The I/O ports are located on the left side of the camera behind a pair of weather-proof rubber flaps.

On top of the first I/O cover is the PC sync connector for external flash units.

Below that we see a remote port for the Remote Switch RS-80N3, Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3, both are options available from Canon. This connector supports any ESO accessory equipped with an N3-type terminal.

First on the lower of the 2 I/O ports we see a connection for the provided Canon Video out for connecting to a TV (NTSC or PAL)

And finally there is a USB port for connecting to a computer or a PictBridge-enabled printer.

The camera is powered by the Canon LP-E4 lithium ion Battery Pack. Canon claims the LP-E4 provides approx. 2,200 shots at 73°F/23°C with a fully-charged Battery Pack. The actual number of shots will vary depending on your shooting conditions and use of the color Live View feature and the LCD.

Date/time continuity is provided by a CR2025 lithium battery.

The supplied Canon LC-E4 battery charger can charge two LP-E4 packs at the same time. A fully discharged pack is recharged in about two hours (per pack). AC power can be supplied via the AC Adapter Kit ACK-E4.