With the Canon 21 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR Canon continues to go after medium format digital cameras

For the past several years it has been clear that Canon has been aiming squarely for medium format digital cameras. It is embarrassing to have such quality available to professional photographers. It reminds the cognoscenti that a mere 35mm digital SLR is just not the high end.

Over and over again press releases encouraged by Canon have mentioned medium format cameras specifically, trying to claim that 35mm is as good as medium format.

Yet half of the photos in the Canon brochures from 2005-2007 are of poor quality. Simply not good photographs: grainy, poorly focused, digital noise in shadow areas.

I bought a Canon EOS 5D and was so dissatisfied that I gave it to my assistant and went and bought a Nikon D200. It is better than the Canon, but the wide-angle Nikon lens is made in Thailand, and it’s lens-shade fits poorly (at first I thought it was made in China, it was that bad). Although I still prefer the Nikon D200 over the Canon EOS 5D, when I want to do serious photography I use a Phase One P25: 22-megapixels of pure quality.

And, the Phase One medium format camera is easy to use. I don’t even have a manual.

You can use any 6 megapixel camera to do professional photography if you are good. I have shots with my Nikon D100 that are outstanding. But when I want to do serious photography for publication, I would prefer to use a medium format back.

Obviously the lure of creating a 21.1 megapixel digital sensor is crucial for Canon. With a price point of $7,999, and with Mamiya’s medium format 645ZD camera a continued question, this price will obviously influence photographers who don’t have $15,000 to $20,000 to spend on a real 22-megapixel medium format back from Phase One, Leaf, etc.

I look forward to testing and evaluating the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III digital camera and comparing it directly with medium format cameras. So far, most of the comments from Canon have been from Canon PR or photographers that use only Canon. The advantage of a review from FLAAR is that we routinely use Nikon and medium format cameras, so we can provide a complete perspective.

Otherwise, most of the “reviews” are sham reviews, pseudo reviews, or simply PR releases packaged as supposed reviews. There are, fortunately, a few web sites where actual photographers use the camera, but too many are beholden to commissions paid by Canon camera dealers.

Sure helps to be an independent institute. Yes, FLAAR has sponsors, but we do not accept commissions. And so far, sponsors have found that money does not buy a review that skips the glitches, issues, and weak points of a camera.

After all, what counts is what camera do we actually use? What camera does Nicholas Hellmuth carry with him on assignment? But so far no Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III has been available, but we have plenty of medium format cameras for evaluation, so this is what we use at present. Once a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is in our hands, we will be glad to review it.

Medium Format cameras also improve: Leaf AFi, Sinar Hy6 and Hasselblad H3DII

Although the Hasselblad H1, H2, H3, H3DII is stalled with no actually new camera (only slight tweaks), Rollei now offers two greatly improved models, the Leaf AFi and Sinar Hy6.

Summary comments on the Canon 21 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark III 35mm digital SLR

If specs impress you more than substance, the Canon 21 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark III 35mm digital SLR is superficially close to medium format specs: but not for a photographer with experience in both.

If price comparisons and low price are more important than having the real thing (an actual medium format digital camera), then again, Canon 21 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark III 35mm digital SLR is one to look at.

Once, when flying to Hawaii on a consulting job for a new giclee atelier there, the person sitting next to me in the airport had a nice camera, so I started chatting with him. I mentioned my Canon EOS 5D.

He smiled, said nothing, opened his case. He had a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II and a 39 megapixel Phase One P45.

I had “only” a 22 or 30-something megapixel Phase One, and only a Canon EOS 5D and a Nikon D200.

So, size does matter, in some instances. Obviously, both he and I could get outstanding shots with either equipment. I can get museum quality with a 6 Megapixel Nikon D100 too. But many clients want to see you with serious equipment. The photographer in the seat next to me definitely had serious equipment.

Most recently updated November 19, 2007.

First posted August 24, 2007.

Available by May 2008 Available by May 2008 Available by May 2008 Available by May 2008 Available by May 2008

Medium Format Digital Camera Initiative For over 30 years Nicholas Hellmuth has used Rolleiflex and Hasselblad cameras to record the flora, fauna, and Maya archaeology of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Now, for the last six years, he is extending his medium format experience to digital photography. Since FLAAR works both in a studio as well as out on location, we are an ideal focus for judging portability. We have experience with large format digital scan backs (the excellent BetterLight) and we also use Nikon (D300) and Canon (EOS 5D) digital cameras. A full-service digital pro should have at least one medium format digital system and should consider large format digital options as well. FLAAR also has an 80-megapixel large format camera (yes, they do exist, we have a Cruse). Although we started with a Leaf Valeo 22 coupled with a Mamiya 645 AFD body and lenses, we are open to showcasing all bodies as well as other digital backs. Indeed we tested an Imacon 4-shot back on a Hasselblad H1 body. For a month (February 2006) it was possible to evaluate a MegaVision black-and-white dedicated back for fine art photography. We are also considering the Rolleiflex 6008 AF, one of the outstanding medium format cameras that still offers European precision. However in the last 40 years we have not received any Rollei (or Franke & Heidecke) equipment for evaluation, so we can comment only on the Hasselblad and Mamiya (loaned briefly two years ago by Mamiya America). Camera resellers or manufacturers who wish to have their cameras, lenses, and backs included in the digital photography evaluation initiative are welcome to send their equipment for evaluation. Curently all the medium format backs are coming from Global Imaging Inc, Greg Lamb, CEO (contact 800 787-9802, press 4, fax 212 722-0988). This is one of the few camera stores in the entire US or Canada that offers ALL major brands of medium format (so they have no incentive to push one brand over the other). However we are also open to receiving medium format backs directly from the manufacturer. Over 381,154 visitors came to this www.digital-photography.org web site to learn which cameras, lighting, tripods, and accessories have proven themselves during evaluation by FLAAR. Since we deliberately do not review low-end cameras, our reviews attract a sophisticated audience. The total "visit" count is 791.562 during 2007, but we prefer to use the visitor count, 381.154 as being more realistic. FLAAR is the de facto source of information on medium format digital cameras because we are university based, independent, blunt, and we are one of the few review sources that dares to review advertising specs, advertising claims, and advertising hype. We can afford to reveal all the pros and cons because FLAAR is a research institute. Photographers feel they can trust a university research professor who has devoted years to understanding the pros and cons of each aspect of a digital camera system and workflow. You can download our colorful FLAAR Reports on our medium format digital camera initiative.