Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

The EOS 1Ds Mark III is a full-frame DSLR released in 2007. It is a large camera, measuring 150 x 160 x 80mm, and it weighs 1385g, so it rewards planned outings over spontaneous carrying.

The Canon EF mount gives access to the EF lens range, and the resolution suits print work. The optical pentaprism viewfinder keeps the shooting experience direct and immediate.

Video recording is absent, so this is a dedicated stills tool for photographers whose work does not require motion capture.

The heart of the camera is its 21.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor. That combination suits landscape, studio and portrait photographers who want files with room to crop or print large.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 1600. That ceiling is limited, so dim interiors and evening work call for fast lenses, flash or a tripod.

Continuous shooting tops out at five frames per second, which suits portraits and general work but limits fast sport. The 1/8000s maximum shutter speed helps when using wide apertures in bright light and for freezing quick motion.

Autofocus offers 45 points, and the optical pentaprism viewfinder gives a clear, immediate view of the scene. With no in-body stabilisation, steady handheld work depends on technique or stabilised lenses. An Optics score of 60 reflects good sensor and shutter fundamentals against a limited ISO ceiling, placing it around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

The EOS 1Ds Mark III does not record video of any kind. There are no movie modes to configure, no frame rates to choose and no recording limits to weigh, because motion capture sits entirely outside this camera's design brief, which was stills photography.

There is no built-in intervalometer either, so timelapse sequences cannot be programmed from the camera's own menus. Live view is available for framing stills on the LCD, but it does not extend into movie recording.

Anyone who wants moving images alongside their stills work will need a separate recording device. For photographers whose output is entirely stills, though, the absence of video costs them nothing they would otherwise use.

Weather sealing lets you keep shooting when conditions turn dusty or damp, though it is protection rather than a waterproof guarantee. There is no built-in flash, but external flash units are supported when you need added light.

The 3in LCD is fixed, and its 230,000 dots look coarse when you check critical focus. Live view helps when the camera is on a tripod, where the fixed screen matters less.

Wireless options stop at Wi-Fi, with no Bluetooth and no GPS for automatic location tagging. The features score of 49 reflects full marks for weather sealing and live view, with the non-touch screen holding it back.

Two card slots accept SD and CompactFlash (Type I or II) media, so you can keep using the cards you already own rather than being locked to a single system.

The LP-E4 battery is rated at 1800 shots per charge. Real-world endurance always depends on how you shoot, but a rating at that level reduces the need to swap batteries mid-assignment.

There is no USB charging, so carrying a spare LP-E4 makes sense for long shooting days away from a power outlet. Storage and battery score 84, an exceptional result built on the twin card slots and that long battery rating.