Canon EOS-1D Mark III

asic Specifications
Resolution:	10.10 Megapixels
Kit Lens:	n/a
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD
LCD Size:	3.0 inch
ISO:	50-6400
Shutter:	30-1/8000
Max Aperture:	n/a
Mem Type:	CF1 / CF2 / SDHC / SD
Battery:	Custom LiIon
Dimensions:	6.1x6.2x3.1in (156x157x80mm)
Weight:	40.7 oz (1,155 g)
MSRP:	$4,500
Availability:	04/2007

The big story with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III is that it's a better, more universally appealing professional camera for more types of professional photographers. I think a lot of intermediate photographers may want to make the jump as well, given its more friendly interface and astonishing high ISO performance. With past Canon EOS 1D announcements, the big story was the incredibly high capture speed at reasonably high resolutions. The amazing technology required to dump high res images at high speed tended to dominate our coverage of these sport-tuned professional SLRs. But the scene has changed. The additional 1.5 frames per second isn't the most important improvement with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III, it's just a nice enhancement. The same goes for the jump from 8 megapixels to 10.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark III isn't just for sports anymore. It's a more universal camera for the vast majority of pro photographers. With the multiple improvements in the new camera, photographers will no longer need to trade off resolution, image quality, and speed against each other. The 1D Mark III now has enough of all three to satisfy a huge slice of the market in a single camera body.

The EOS 1D Mark III has several improvements that illustrate its greater versatility:

• Fast performance, high resolution, and improved image quality across the board
• Resolution sufficient for double-truck spreads and general commercial photography
• Even faster capture, processing, and write speeds, and faster AF tracking for sports shooters
• Super low-light capability for photojournalists (High ISO)

In addition, the EOS 1D Mark III has a few new features that will expand the camera's versatility and convenience, including a new Live View mode for image composition on the camera's LCD or via a remote computer; compatibility with a faster optional WiFi transmission system; several AF improvements; a stack of custom functions; and Canon's new dust reduction technology, which first appeared in the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.

There's a lot to cover, so stick with us over the next few days as we build on our preview coverage of the Canon EOS 1D Mark III.