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| Click photo to see images of all the Editor's Choice 2007 products. |
Our choice for pro camera of the year shows why megapixels have become a secondary issue for serious D-SLR photographers. It's one of ten models that have ten-megapixel image sensors. But Canon's Mark III shoots two to three times as fast, produces unmatched high-ISO images, works in any weather -- and offers unique wireless live-view capture.
Camera of the Year: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Canon's EOS-1D digital SLRs are prized for their raw power. It has been two years since the last new model, though, and they've ceded ground to Nikon in ergonomics and other areas. The radically revamped EOS-1D Mark III retakes this category. It is hands-down the world's fastest digital SLR, firing ten frames-per-second at its full 10.1-megapixel resolution -- and capturing bursts of up to 110 continuous full-size JPEGs or 30 RAW frames at that amazing speed.
The Mark III's image sensor is roughly 50 percent larger than those in competing D-SLRs, so it accommodates bigger pixels that have greater sensitivity to light. Together with Canon's DIGIC III image processing, this gives the Mark III an unprecedented ISO range of 50 to 6400, superior noise control, and image quality comparable to what you'd get from other D-SLRs set two to three stops lower. Also unique is the ability to capture 14 bits of brightness information per color.
A more dramatic enhancement is the Mark III's "Live View" system. It's the first in a professional D-SLR to give you real-time, full-color, unlimited-duration previewing of the subject. You can see exactly what the sensor sees, including exposure changes, on the camera's huge three-inch LCD -- though we doubt pros will abandon the traditional viewfinder for onscreen, point-and-shoot-style composition. Likewise, the camera's self-cleaning image sensor is another consumer D-SLR technology making its first appearance in a pro model.
Although the new model retains its family's sculpted looks and tight weathersealing, major improvements include a faster, more precise AF system; redesigned controls and menus for easier operation; and a special silent mode for stealthier shooting. The EOS-1D Mark III even offers a new format, sRAW, aimed at wedding and event photographers. It produces a 2.5-megapixel RAW file, proving once again that resolution isn't everything.
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Canon EOS-1D Mark III Key Specs
• 10.1 Megapixels/CMOS Sensor
• 1.3X FOV crop
• 3-inch LCD Screen
• About $4,500
• The Mark III's image sensor is smaller than those in Canon's full-frame D-SLRs but bigger than the chips in EOS models with a 1.6X FOV crop, making it incompatible with the EF-S lenses designed for the latter. But its modest 1.3X crop still keeps EF wide-angles pretty wide.
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American PHOTO Editor's Choice 2007
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