Brett Harkness Canon Photography Review: The Canon EOS 1DS Mark III DSLR Camera
As one of the most sought-after social/wedding photographers in the UK and across the globe, Brett Harkness knows Canon cameras and lens very well, since they are the only equipment he uses. PhotographyTalk is pleased to share Brett’s insights and honest appraisals of Canon products.
Brett scores the Canon EOS 1DS Mark III DSLR camera 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10.
I believe that the camera body is only as good as the person using it and the lenses attached to it. Having said that, Canon has a wide array of digital bodies to match every budget, hand size and style. Having used Leica full- frame bodies during my early years, I wanted to wait until a full-frame digital body came on the market before investing my money. My first digital body was Canon’s EOS 1DS, purchased during 2004. This camera and its 11.4-MP sensor become my favorite overnight, and was a joy to hold!
Switching to a digital camera from a film camera was a major step for me, but I discovered it was quite easy, due to the 1DS’s relationship with its predecessors. For me, a camera is a box through which I see the world. Whereas, years ago it was all about the film we used, today it’s about the body and how it handles high ISO, color rendition, etc.
I had used Canon’s 1V bodies previously and, apart from the film/CF card slots, the feel of the EOS 1DS Mark III was very similar. Preferring not to look at the back of the camera for a number of months, I treated it the same as I had the older Canon bodies, which is the way I shoot today. I refer to the LCD screen only to check white balance. I moved onto the 6.7-MP Mark II body, and then finally the Mark III body, which became my primary DSLR for a couple of years.
There are many more DSLR choices today. If a camera feels right in your hands and if it helps you to create your vision, then it’s probably your best choice.
The Canon 1DS Mark III body is an extension of my eyes. I have become very comfortable with the way it exposes (or the way that I expose through it), the way it handles in the rain and how it feels in my hands. Not only do Canon EOS DSLRs produce the images I expect, but also they work for me, ergonomically.
True, camera technology is constantly changing. The newer Canon 1DX body has a much greater ISO range and produces sharper images, which the older 1DS Mark III has trouble matching. I find myself limiting my ISO to 800 or sometimes 1,600 if need be. The 1D family of Canon cameras are quite large, which is difficult for many photographers, but the 5D Mark II and Mark III are great solutions for these photographers. I know many female photographers who choose the 5D over the 1D because of the size and weight difference. For me, however, the Mark III is the perfect body for my shooting style.
It is weather sealed and I’ve used it on rooftops, the beach, fashion shoots and at weddings around the globe. In these and countless other shooting situations, the EOS 1DS Mark III has always performed to my high standards.
All in all, the Canon EOS 1DS Mark III DSLR is an important photographic tool. It is highly reliable, so it allows me to exceed my clients’ expectations…and often mine.
These are my opinions on how I use this lens every day of my life. If it feels good in my hands, then I use it! This equipment is an extension of my eye and how I see my world and the social world within which I work. That was why I started to use Canon products more than 20 years ago. If a piece of equipment allows you to capture your vision, then use it. It is only when a piece of equipment is a hindrance that you should change it.
If you would like to see more examples of my work please go to
www.brettharknessphotography.com.
You can also join me on Facebook, Twitter (@brettharkness), Instagram and Flikr. You’re also invited to visit our wonderful training site with a host of information to watch, read and download: www.brettharknessphotography.com/training
The opinions in this article are those of Brett Harkness and are not necessarily endorsed by PhotographyTalk.
About Brett Harkness: Brett Harkness is a highly regarded UK photographer, who, with Kristie, his wife and business partner, specialize in in all forms of social photography, both studio and outdoors, in the UK and overseas. Brett was born during 1972, and was graduated from Nottingham Trent University, where he studied photography. He spent the next 5 years working on board cruise ships in America and the Caribbean, where he learned the basics of working with a great diversity of people, as he photographed their vacation activities as guests. Couples around the globe seek Brett’s signature style for their wedding photography. He and his wife operate a studio and training facility in a converted wood mill outside of Manchester, England. They offer courses in lighting, lifestyle, and wedding photography.