Reasons to choose EOS-1Ds Mark II
Released in 2004, EOS-1Ds Mark II has about 864 mm² of sensor area, 16.7 MP effective resolution, and a 1,565 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
vs Nikon D80
VS
Sensor area
864 mm²
EOS-1Ds Mark II373 mm²
D80- Area ratio
- 2.32:1
- Absolute difference
- 491 mm²
- Relative difference
- 131.7%
The EOS-1Ds Mark II has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
EOS-1Ds Mark IIMetricD80
16.7 MPEffective pixels10.2 MP
36 × 24Sensor23.6 × 15.8
7.19 µmPixel pitch6.05 µm
51.74 µm²Pixel area36.56 µm²
1.93 MP/cm²Pixel density2.74 MP/cm²
1Crop factor1.52
—Maximum video—
1,565 gWeight668 g
Compact Flash (Type I or II), SD cardStorageSecure Digital
Lithium-Ion NB-4L battery Li-ion batteryBatteryNikon EN-EL3e Lithium-Ion battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The EOS-1Ds Mark II has the larger sensor area. The D80 has the lighter body. The EOS-1Ds Mark II has the higher effective resolution. The D80 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D80
Released in 2006, D80 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 10.2 MP effective resolution, and a 668 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.