Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II

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Canon maintains its industry-leading position with the 16.7-megapixel EOS 1Ds Mark II, the highest-resolution small-format digital SLR. Intended for studio and landscape photographers who prefer the size and flexibility of 35mm-style cameras, the 1Ds Mark II sets a new benchmark for performance and image quality. With a wealth of upgrades, this camera succeeds and surpasses Canon's original EOS 1Ds, introduced two years earlier.

As a Washington, D.C. correspondent for News.com, CNET Reviews' sister site, I used the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II to shoot everything from press conferences and studio portraits to evening cityscapes. With the exception of one major glitch, I came away impressed with the camera's craftsmanship and design. The downside: Its price will keep it out of the reach of everyone but professionals and a handful of amateur photographers.

Design

	On the lower-right corner of the camera, you'll find a second set of controls to facilitate vertically oriented shooting. The switch on the left turns them off to prevent accidents.

Canon's 1-series cameras tend to feel like they're carved from a solid block of meteoric iron, and the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II is no exception. In terms of handling and ruggedness, there's no comparison with consumer-level digital SLR cameras. A 1-series model has to be used to be appreciated.

The no-compromise body design of the 1Ds Mark II hews closely to that of the original 1Ds. Controls on top of the camera are identical, as are its shape and weatherproofing elements. The Mark II is well suited to professional use, and anyone familiar with other 1-series cameras will encounter few surprises. Newcomers to Canon's professional line, though, might be taken aback by its heft. At 1.5kg with battery, the 1Ds Mark II is no featherweight.

	Two status LCDs--one on the camera's top and another on the back below the main LCD--show current settings, most of which are changed via button and dial combinations.

On the back of the camera, you'll find two displays. The smaller shows shooting-related settings that photographers tend to access less frequently, including white balance, resolution, and file type (RAW, JPEG, or both). You can use a custom function to swap those readouts with the ones that normally appear on top of the camera: ISO setting, file number, and shots remaining.

The larger display offers the same type of menu options and image review that any digital SLR owner should be familiar with. Scrolling through menu options is faster than on the original 1Ds, a zoom button has been added, and the LCD is noticeably brighter, as is the blue backlight for night photography.

	Buttons on the left side of the 1Ds Mark II's top activate settings that can then be changed using one of the dials on the camera.

Anyone used to the layout of Canon's EOS 10D or EOS 20D will encounter a brief period of adjustment when switching to the 1Ds Mark II. There's a vertical grip that's integrated into the camera rather than being available as an optional attachment. And menu items are divided horizontally rather than vertically. Altering a menu item requires holding down a button and spinning the rear wheel. This is a highly customizable camera, however, so you'll be able to reprogram many controls to operate just the way you like.

	The control dial on the camera's back allows you to scroll through LCD menus and change settings by pushing buttons; you can deactivate it to prevent accidents.

The only design choice that I found irksome was the dual use of the Delete button for erasing files and for canceling that process. I also encountered one minor problem when using the 1Ds Mark II for studio photography: Two different PC cords repeatedly fell out of the connector on the camera's side and had to be taped in place. I never had that problem with the original 1Ds.

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