Nikon D3100 vs Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
This is a full comparison between the cameras Nikon D3100 and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.
Manufacturing
Nikon D3100 is manufacturered by Nikon but Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is from Canon. Both Nikon and Canon are well known brands though.
Nikon D3100 were released 2010 and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III was released 2007. That is a 3 years difference. In tech, this period can be of interest since technology is always improving, etc.| Camera | Released |
| Nikon D3100 | 2010 |
| Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III | 2007 |
Type of camera
Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.
Sensors / crop factor
These cameras have different sensors. Nikon D3100 has a "Nikon DX"-sensor while Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 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.
| Camera | Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 ** |
| Nikon D3100 | 75 mm Nikon DX sensor Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.5 |
| Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III | 50 mm Full-frame sensor No crop factor/focal length multiplier |
** 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 D3100 has a 14,2 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III has 21,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:
| Camera | Megapixels |
| Nikon D3100 |
14,2 MP
14155776 pixels 4608 x 3072 |
| Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
21,1 MP
21026304 pixels 5616 x 3744 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III has a 49 % larger resolution than Nikon D3100. 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
Nikon D3100 has a larger ISO-range than Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. Nikon D3100 has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 12800 while Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III has 50 to 3200.
| Camera | ISO Range |
| Nikon D3100 | 100-12800 |
| Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III | 50-3200 |
Autofocus and lens compatibility
There is a big difference between these two cameras. Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III has a built-in autofocus motor but Nikon D3100 does not. If you want to be able to use autofocus on Nikon D3100 there is a need for having an autofocus motor inside the lens. We really encourage you to look closely at our lens compatibility charts at the links below.
Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D3100
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
Pictures per second
Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Nikon D3100 can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds.
| Camera | FPS (Frames per second) |
| Nikon D3100 | 3 |
| Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III | 5 |
Ability to record movies
It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.
When comparing these two cameras there is only one of them that can shoot movies and that is Nikon D3100. Unfortunately Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III does not support recording movies and movie clips.
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 III weighs 1385 gr (equal to 3.05 lb) which is 174% heavier than Nikon D3100 and its 505 gr (or 1.11 lb).
| Camera | Weight |
| Nikon D3100 | 505 gr 1.11 lb |
| Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III | 1385 gr 3.05 lb |
Nikon D3100 vs Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Specs
Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Nikon D3100 and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 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 D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Name | Nikon D3100 | Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Manufacturer | Nikon | Canon |
Release Date and Price |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Release Year | 2010 | 2007 |
| Release Date | 2010-08-19 | 2007-08-20 |
| MSRP | 699 USD | 6999 USD |
| Buy it today |
|
|
Camera Type |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Camera Type | DSLR | DSLR |
Sensor |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Sensor Size |
APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX" |
Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Resolution | 4608 x 3072 pixels | 5616 x 3744 pixels |
| Megapixels | 14,2 MP | 21,1 MP |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 2 | DUAL DIGIC 3 |
Image |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| ISO Range | 100 - 12800 | 50 - 3200 |
| White Balance Presets | 12 | 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 D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Autofocus Motor | No | Yes |
| Autofocus |
Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView |
Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous |
| Focus Points | 11 | 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 D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3” | 3” |
| Screen dots | 230000 | 230000 |
| Touch screen | No | No |
| Screen type | TFT LCD monitor | N/A |
| Live view | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 95% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.) | 0.76× |
| Viewfinder Resolution | N/A | N/A |
Photography features |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Frames per second | 3 fps | 5 fps |
| Minimum Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
| Built-in Flash | Yes | No |
| Built-in Flash Range | 12 meters | N/A |
| External Flash | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Timer | Yes | Yes |
| Time-lapse | No | Yes |
| Metering modes |
Multi Center Weighted Average |
Multi Center Weighted Spot Partial |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV steps) | +/- 3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
Videography features |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Video recording | Yes | No |
| Video format |
MPEG4 |
N/A |
| Video resolution |
1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 |
N/A |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Built-in Speakers | No | No |
Storage |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Memory Card |
SD/SDHC |
Compact Flash SD/SDHC |
Connectivity |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| HDMI Output | Yes | No |
| Microphone Port | No | No |
| Headphone Port | No | No |
| Wireless |
Yes Eye-Fi Connected |
Yes Optional with WFT-E2 II
|
| Remote Control |
Optional
|
Yes (N3 connector) |
| GPS |
Yes Optional
|
No |
Body & Dimensions |
Nikon D3100 |
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III |
| Enviromentally sealed | No | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery Details |
Lithium-Ion EN-EL14 rechargeable battery & charger
|
Canon LP-E4N Battery Pack
|
| Battery Life (CIPA) | N/A | 1800 shots |
| Width | 124 mm | 150 mm |
| Height | 96 mm | 160 mm |
| Depth | 75 mm | 80 mm |
| Weight | 505 gram | 1385 gram |