For 2025, we’re starting our Fall Color Series photography season using one of Canon’s greatest hits, the legendary EOS 1Ds Mark III.
When Canon announced this camera back in 2007, it said this in its press release:
While Canon's EOS-1D series has dominated the 35mm-based professional Digital SLR market for the past six years, the new EOS-1Ds Mark III Digital SLR takes Canon's pro-digital prowess into and the realm of high-fashion and commercial photo studios where bulkier, medium-format cameras previously reigned.
The 1Ds Mark III did, in fact, make a significant impression on the fashion and commercial photography market. Other full-frame cameras at the time did not offer the same level of resolution that the 1Ds Mark III brought to the market, and the medium-format market that Canon was targeting offered only cameras that cost significantly more.
Not that the 1Ds Mark III was cheap -- it was anything but. Nonetheless, it offered new capabilities at an attractive price. In the full-frame market, it was the only thing like it available, at least for a while.
Still A Great DSLR in 2025
Resolution isn't everything, of course, but that is not the same thing as saying that it doesn't matter at all. For today’s use many digital cameras from 2007 and earlier might not offer enough resolution for certain jobs. The 1Ds Mark III, however, was introduced with a then revolutionary 21 megapixel sensor. That's plenty of resolution even today for most photography work.
On introduction, the camera also brought a refined auto-focus capability and an ability to capture a great range of color than previous generations of cameras. These features are still relevant today and after nearly 20 years, the Canon 1Ds Mark III remains a relevant camera for working photographers and hobbyists alike.
For our 2025 Fall Photography Series, we packed up the 1Ds Mark III along with the vintage EF 135 F/2 L lens and traveled down a single-lane gravel road deep in the woods of Northern Wisconsin to very peaceful and secluded lake to photograph the first emergence of fall color.
Normally, we would not use a telephoto lens for this work, but we wanted to see if we could challenge ourselves to find good compositions with this lens and we wanted to see how well the lens would perform on the 1Ds Mark III.
Moody Landscape Photography On a Cloudy Afternoon
The weather was threatening rain at the shoot location, but we weren't too worried about the camera. In 2007, Canon promised that the 1Ds Mark III offered “Comprehensive weatherproofing at 76 locations on the camera body” along with “exceptional strength and rigidity” so that it could "truly withstand even the most severe shooting conditions.”
Our weather conditions weren’t that severe, so we carried on.
As for the lens combination with the camera, Denise felt the focal length was too limiting for her style of shooting in the landscape. I agreed, but I think we were able to come away from the session with some great photos anyway.
Equipment Used and Affiliated Links
The Canon 1Ds Mark III is only available on the used market. At the time of writing, we found prices for the camera to range from around $300 to $500 (U.S.) at MPB.com. To support us and get your own copy, you can use our affiliate link to shop at MPB.
We also strongly recommend the Canon EF 135 F/2.0 L lens. While a bit limiting at 135mm as a lens in certain landscape situations, this lens is legendary for a reason. It is perfectly sharp wide open, has great color rendition, and thoroughly blows out backgrounds. For us, it is our go-to lens for headshot portraits, weddings and senior photos. Used, it offers great value. Again, we recommend buying used gear at our affiliate, MPB.com
In our video you might notice that we have the 1Ds Mark III on a Slik tripod. We’ve actually used this same tripod, mainly for video but also for photography, for over a decade. It is still solid even after much use and abuse. We'd love to have a fancier tripod, but this one just works, and you get still get it at Amazon (legs only) for just $119.
