The Canon EOS 1D Mark III is Canon’s latest DSLR, using the most advanced 10.1 megapixels CMOS sensor and DIGIC III image processing chip. The 12.7 megapixels Canon EOS 5D uses Canon’s last year technology coupled with last year’s DIGIC II image processor. It will be interesting to compare the two, especially as the EOS 5D has been considered one of the highest image quality camera of all times.

Test Notes – Field of view

The EOS 5D uses a full frame 35 mm sensor where the EOS 1D Mark III uses a sensor with a 1.3 crop factor. To achieve the same field of view with our 50 mm lens, we had to move the EOS 5D slightly forward. This is the most common act the photographer would do in real life. The full frame advantage is fully utilized in this comparison.

Noise Reduction

The new DIGIC III chip inside the EOS 1D Mark III has two Noise Reduction modes. With C. Fn II-2 set to OFF the EOS 1D Mark III reduces noise in a similar way to DIGIC II. However, when C. Fn II-2 is set to ON the new noise reduction produces a very different result. You can read more about the new noise reduction here.

C. Fn II-2 is set to OFF

Canon EOS 1D Mark III: JPEG large, Picture Style: Standard, AutoWB, ISO,
1600, 1/160, Canon 50mm@f8, NR OFF

Canon EOS 5D: JPEG Large, Picture Style: Standard, AutoWB, ISO
1600, 1/160, Canon 50mm@f8

• RGB View
• Luma View
• Chroma View

Canon EOS 1D Mark III @ 1600ISO	Canon EOS 5D @ 1600ISO

Canon EOS 1D Mark III @ 1600ISO	Canon EOS 5D @ 1600ISO

Canon EOS 1D Mark III @ 1600ISO	Canon EOS 5D @ 1600ISO

Evaluation results

Sharpening

Canon seems to significantly reduce the sharpening amount with higher ISO settings of the EOS 1D Mark III. With the EOS 5D sharpening levels appear to be higher, strong edges look crisp and noise free.

Details

As with 100ISO, the Canon EOS 5D is able to capture more detail, being closer to the scene. Even so we are quite happy with the amount of detail the EOS 1D Mark III is showing at 1600ISO.

demosaicing and false colors

Once again we see a very slight advantage for the EOS 1D Mark III, showing less demosaicing errors. False colors are still very much apparent.

Colors and contrast

With picture style color and contrast is very much the same with both cameras. There are small differences between two cameras, which is to be expected.

Noise reduction

Noise levels from both cameras are very similar, but not the same. Luma noise seems to be a bit finer with the EOS 1D Mark III at midtones but slightly more filtered at the shadows. With chroma noise there is a bigger difference: the EOS 1D Mark III shows slightly less chroma noise. By looking at Chroma View you could see that Chroma data was being filtered slightly more aggressively (as a function of luminance). Overall, both cameras have very good signal levels and the differences are very small after noise reduction.

Final Notes

Both Cameras give excellent results, for 2005. At the time the EOS 5D was released this type of noise reduction was very common. Today, advanced chroma noise reduction systems are the new standard. This means that with C. Fn II-2 set to OFF the EOS 1D Mark III is producing old fashioned results, even with excellent signal levels that match the “noise famous” EOS 5D.

C. Fn II-2 is set to ON

• RGB View
• Luma View
• Choma View

Canon EOS 1D Mark III @ 1600ISO	Canon EOS 5D @ 1600ISO

Canon EOS 1D Mark III @ 1600ISO	Canon EOS 5D @ 1600ISO

Canon EOS 1D Mark III @ 1600ISO	Canon EOS 5D @ 1600ISO

Setting C. Fn II-2 to ON really upgrades things considerably. Chroma noise is almost completely eliminated with very little side affects, a few of which are a slight chroma loss at the shadows and vague but large color stains. Switch to Chroma View to view the chroma filtering differences between the two cameras.
Monochromatic grain is very pleasing, not too large but not to flat. Many camera makers have not got this part right (including Adobe and Nikon).

You can read more about noise and noise reduction here.

We have evaluated many noise reduction algorithms in the past, from many different camera makers. We must say that the EOS 1D Mark III is as good as it gets. We have never seen an high ISO result that is so well balanced and tuned as this. We’d like to declare the EOS 1D Mark III as the new king of high ISO, for now (with C. Fn II-2 set to ON). Well done Canon.

It will be interesting to compare these two cameras at 1600 ISO and see if Nikon has set the noise reduction algorithms different according to the camera’s predicted audience.

Nikon D80: Jpeg Fine, Optimize Image: Normal, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/125,
Nikkor 50mm@f9
Nikon D200: Jpeg Fine, Optimize Image: Normal, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/125,
Nikkor 50mm@f9

Nikon D80	Nikon D200

Sharpening

As one can see, the sharpening level has been reduced in both cameras. In a similar way to the low level test, the Nikon D80 shows a little bit stronger sharpening than the Nikon D200.

Details

In most areas of the image the detail level is pretty much the same. In the dark zones we can say that the Nikon D200 shows a little bit more detail.

demosaicing, false colors

The aggressive noise reduction system helps preventing demosaicing and false colors problems. Thats the reason we didn’t see any of these problems in both cameras.

Contrast and color

Nikon maps the D80 colors further than the D200, making them more saturated, more vivid. This can affect the noise either way; in cut 1 and 9 the noise in the hair gets a stronger color and shows that the noise reduction algorithms didn’t work properly in this area of the image. A similar affect can be seen on the left cheek of the girl in cut 5 – the noise that was not removed gets a stronger color and is easily noticed. On other the hand, the strong red in cut 10 helps to conceal the graininess.

Nikon D80 uses a more contrasted curve that creates a less grainy image especially in the dark zones.

Noise reduction

It seems that Nikon is using the same noise reduction algorithms in both cameras. The algorithm has a hard time removing noise from the edges. This can be easily seen in cut 1 and 9. Even with these problems this is still the most progressed noise reduction system in the market today that can remove completely (in specific brightness levels) color noise.

Nikon has increased the level of the algorithm working on the luma layer in the D80. In the dark zones of the D80 there is a stronger noise reduction and therefore less grain.

Notes

The basic principles of the noise reduction are the same in both cameras but the D80 usually benefits from the more “aggressive” processing of color and creates a better result. One of the only complaints we have about the D200 is the graininess in the dark zones. If there is any noise left in the D80 it is sometimes emphasized by the color processing of this camera.

Although these two cameras are far a part one from another, both price wise and market share wise, it’s the first time in a long time that there is a possibility to compare between Nikon and Canon under the same resolution.

Canon EOS 400D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/100,
Canon 50mm@f9
Nikon D80: Jpeg Fine, Optimize Image: Normal, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/125,
Nikkor 50mm@f9

Canon EOS 400D	Nikon D80

Sharpening

As you can see, the sharpening level in the Canon EOS 400D is a little bit higher, this might also be due to the strength level of the edges after the noise reduction.

Details

Nikon D80’s noise reduction system leaves less detail compared to the Canon’s.

demosaicing, false colors

Nikon D80’s output is smoother and has less false color and demosaicing problems, as can be expected from the most advanced noise reduction system.

Contrast and color

Nikon’s noise reduction system removes some saturation from the dark zones. Correspondingly we can see that the EOS 400D leaves more color and details in the dark zones.

Noise reduction

Nikon D80’s noise reduction system is more advanced than the one implemented in the EOS 400D. The Nikon D80 removes color noise almost absolutely and leaves very little edge problems. On the other hand, the Canon EOS 400D leaves more color noise bit delivers more details. We would choose less details and less color noise than the opposite under high ISO, but that is a matter of personal taste.

Notes

Canon is definitely stretching the DIGIC II’s limits with the 10MP resolution. We hope to see cleaner and better results in Canon’s future cameras. In the mean while we are happier with Nikon D80’s results in high ISO.

The pixel size of the Canon EOS 400D is 5.7µm, small as all other 10 MP DSLRs. The Canon EOS 30D has a 8MP sensor so its pixel size is bigger, 6.4µm. Keeping in mind those two cameras are using the same DIGIC II image pipeline, an high ISO scene should be really interesting. Can the old DIGIC II cope with the extra pixel-size weight?

Canon EOS 400D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/100,
Canon 50mm@f9
Canon EOS 30D: Jpeg Fine, PS: Standard, AutoWB, ISO1600, 1/125,
Canon 50mm@f9

Canon EOS 400D	Canon EOS 30D

Sharpening

Due to the picture style system, the sharpening levels are equal in both cameras. If we compare it to 100 ISO, that sharpening levels were somewhat lowered.

Details

The 10MP sensor of the Canon EOS 400D has a small advantage. If we watch carefully we can find a few details that are softer in the Canon EOS 30D.

demosaicing, false colors

These symptoms are reduced when shooting in high ISO. Although the Canon EOS 30D has a little bit more problems at cut 13.

Contrast and color

Again, due to the picture style system the shadows and contrast are pretty similar.

Noise reduction

We didn’t expect to see much difference in the noise reduction area considering that these are the same algorithms of the DIGIC II that are doing the job. There is little differences in the dark areas of the image, where signal to noise ratio is low. In these areas we can see a tiny bit of an advantage to the EOS 30D due to it’s lower MP, having lower pixel density. As all Canon cameras based on the DIGIC II there is a small amount of chroma noise.

Notes

It seems that Canon has stretched the limits of the DIGIC II with the EOS 400D. We would say that 8MP is the acceptable limit of the DIGIC II. The EOS 30D has less noise and an almost similar amount of detail. It’s hard to say if the price of some noise is worth the addition of some detail.