Canon's EOS-1Ds Mark III is the most sophisticated professional camera yet to emerge from the company's stable. Replacing the EOS-1Ds Mark II, which was released towards the end of 2004, it is the fourth in the line that began in 2002 with the EOS-1Ds and includes the EOS 5D.

Canon's 1Ds series of cameras exists in a class of its own. With pixel counts well above anything else offered in a 35mm-format digital SLR, an attention to detail that addresses the needs of high-end professionals, and a price tag that's thousands of dollars more than the nearest competition, it...

Very low noise, high quality images; 21.1 megapixels; live view shooting; pro-level build-quality and performance

High price tag; heavy body; no AF in live view mode

Like other professional DSLRs, notably previous EOS 1Ds models and Nikon's D2x/D3, the EOS 1Ds Mk III is much taller than the average digital SLR. A big, fat battery housing sits in the base of the body, and this also allows space for an additional, vertical shutter release.

When a digital SLR camera has a price tag of $11,999 - and that's just for the body - you know it's not something that everyday folk will appreciate. Instead it's likely it will only appeal to professionals who make a living from photography.

Excellent low-light performance; huge resolution; dual memory slot types (CF and SD); built-in dust reduction

Manual aperture control is not intuitive; autofocusing results did not show during Live View mode

Stock photographers will be excited to know that the file sizes that the MkIII produces are accepted by agencies without need for resizing.

Full frame; High resolution; Dual processors; New layout works better; Excellent ISO results; Not as heavy as MkII

Pricey; Massive memory requirements; Screen not as bright as expected

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR review : Since Kodak's disappearance from the market, Canon held the luxurious position of being the only manufacturer with a full-frame digital SLR in their program for a long time.

Excelent camera is expensive, but is a great heavy duty camera !!

Long-time Canon fans will love the 1Ds because it handles like other Canons and has the colour and tonal reproduction they're used to. Impressive as it is, though, the 1Ds has shortcomings that Nikon's D3 has illuminated very clearly.

There has never been any question that the Canon EOS 1Ds produces the best quality images of any handheld digital camera on the market. The only question has been whether or not you wanted to pay $8000 and crush your shoulders under the weight of this monster.

What does it take to be the best? In comparing DSLRs, the answer is incredible image quality and performance. Especially for pros, it also takes a nearly unbreakable camera body, long-lasting battery, and a wide range of accessories to ensure that you don't miss the critical shot.