Nikon D1 vs Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II

This is a full comparison between the cameras Nikon D1 and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Nikon D1 is manufacturered by Nikon but Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II is from Canon. Both Nikon and Canon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Nikon D1 has a "Nikon DX"-sensor while Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II has a "Canon Full Frame"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Nikon D1 has a 2,7 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II has 16,6 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II has a 533 % larger resolution than Nikon D1. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II has a larger ISO-range than Nikon D1. Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II has an ISO range that stretches from 50 to 3200 while Nikon D1 has 200 to 1600.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D1
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Nikon D1 can shoot up to 4,5 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II can shoot up to 4 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

Though, neither Nikon D1 or Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II weighs 1565 gr (equal to 3.45 lb) which is 30% heavier than Nikon D1 and its 1200 gr (or 2.65 lb).

Nikon D1 vs Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Nikon D1 and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Name	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Manufacturer	Nikon	Canon
Release Date and Price	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Release Year	1999	2004
Release Date	1999-06-15	2004-09-21
MSRP	4999 USD	7999 USD
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Camera Type	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX"	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)
Sensor Type	CCD	CMOS
Resolution	2000 x 1312 pixels	4992 x 3328 pixels
Megapixels	2,7 MP	16,6 MP
Image Processor	Nikon LSI (Large Scale Integration)	DIGIC 2
Image	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
ISO Range	200 - 1600	50 - 3200
White Balance Presets	6	8
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	5	45
Lens Mount	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses	Canon EF See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	DX / APS-C (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	2”	2”
Screen dots	130000	230000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	N/A	N/A
Live view	No	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentaprism)	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	96%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.)	0.7×
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Frames per second	4,5 fps	4 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/16000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	No
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Spot Partial
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Memory Card	Compact Flash	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
HDMI Output	No	No
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Supported	Yes (N3 connector)
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Nikon D1	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
Enviromentally sealed	No	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Rechargeable EN-4 Ni-MH battery	Ni-MH Pack NP-E3
Battery Life (CIPA)	N/A	1200 shots
Width	157 mm	156 mm
Height	153 mm	158 mm
Depth	85 mm	80 mm
Weight	1200 gram	1565 gram