What happened to Canon's perfect 1.3x crop factor pro camera line? I miss the APS-H Canon EOS-1D Mark III

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APS-H sensor, 10MP, 10fps and built like a brick. Simply brilliant for sports, and I still miss the Canon EOS-1D III pro DSLR today

Canon EOS-1D Mark III being held by Canon employee at the camera's launch in Japan 2007
(Image credit: Getty Images)

I can still remember the first time I shot a superbike racing event with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. Just to clarify, that’s not a typo. I do mean EOS-1D Mark III. Not EOS-1D X Mark III.

While the original Canon EOS-1D launched in 2001 – 4MP sensor, anyone? – it was the Canon EOS-1D Mark III (released in May 2007) that really left its mark on me.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark III may’ve been seen as the tricky middle child of sensor sizes, it still boasted a newly-developed APS-H-size (28.1 x 18.7mm) 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor. This CMOS sensor was unique as it produced a 1.3x crop factor.

This meant the camera was the perfect middle ground between Canon's APS-C 1.6x crop sensor cameras and full-frame cameras. Giving you an edge over both versions; as you had the image quality over the smaller sensor 1.6x crop cameras, but more reach with telephoto lenses over the 1Ds and 5D full-framers.

The Mark III offered superb image quality with incredible speed, enabling continuous shooting at 10 frames per second for over 100 consecutive JPEGs or 30 RAW files.

Plus a high-speed, high-precision Area AF with 19 cross points, and a viewfinder offering 100% coverage contributed to the Canon EOS-1D Mark III’s outstanding performance.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It was a joy to shoot any fast-moving sports, but particularly awesome for motorsports. The hair-trigger AF and super-fast 10fps was so impressive back then, just listening to the rapid-fire click-clack of the shutter bursts when pressing the button!

The Canon EOS-1D Mark III had an ISO range from 100 up to the heady heights of 3200 ( expandable to 6400), and a new-at-the-time Dual DIGIC III high-speed image-processor enabled it to handle the large bursts of high-res images. I captured some of my favorite motorsports images with this camera.

It was a beast of a camera body, and felt bullet proof to shoot with – it was 156 x 156.6 x 79.9mm and weighed 1155g (a bit stockier but similar weight to today’s Canon EOS R1 which is 157.6 x 149.5 x 87.3mm at 1115g).

Designed to meet the demands of professional news, sports and studio photographers, the EOS-1D Mark III could handle 300,000 shutter cycles. Other nifty Canon specs included a then-innovative EOS Integrated Cleaning System, to prevent dust inside the camera.

Sadly, the EOS-1D series wasn’t to last, and we never saw a 1.3x crop sensor EOS camera again after the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. RIP, you big beautiful brute.

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Peter Travers
Peter Travers

The former editor of PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Peter has 18 years of experience as both a journalist and professional photographer. He is a hands-on photographer with a passion and expertise for sharing his practical shooting skills. Equally adept at turning his hand to portraits, landscapes, sports and wildlife, he has a fantastic knowledge of camera technique and principles. 


He is the author of several published photography books including Portrait Photographer's Style Guide, and The Complete Guide to Organising and Styling Professional Photo Shoots with fellow portrait pro Brett Harkness.


Peter remains a devout Canon user and can often be found reeling off shots with his Canon EOS DSLR and EOS R mirrorless gear. He runs Peter Travers Photography, and contributes to Digital Camera magazine. 

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