The Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3X have interfaces very similar to their predecessors, and are more or less identical to their lower-resolution counterparts, the 1D Mark III and D3. The similarities are a convenience for most users, who will likely use the 1Ds or D3X in combination with other bodies. On the other hand, consistency means that there are few interface improvements in the new models.

The user can adjust a huge range of image and interface parameters on the Canon 1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3X. With a limited number of dials and buttons, only a portion of the controls are immediately accessible. Canon and Nikon make distinctive choices for their most convenient controls. The differences are significant, and make each camera better suited to particular shooting styles.

The D3X requires fewer steps to change AF points and white balance, and the 1Ds offers faster access to Live View, and a more flexible white balance system.

 

Canon 1Ds Mk III	Nikon D3x

Canon 1Ds Mk III	Nikon D3x

Canon 1Ds Mk III	Nikon D3x

The Nikon D3X front and rear dials fall under the users right thumb and forefinger, and rotate on vertical axes. There's also a pretty big 4-way controller – actually 8-way, because it can detect diagonals – flat on the back of the camera, within reach of the user's right thumb. The dials default to controlling aperture and shutter speed, but handle other stuff when the user presses buttons for scalar adjustments including exposure compensation, ISO, flash exposure compensation, and white balance. The 4-way controller navigates between AF points in regular shooting mode, through menus, and around images in review mode. It also navigates the screen in live view mode if the image is magnified.

The D3X retains a big round dial to the left of the viewfinder on the top deck. It's a black layer-cake of controls in a shape that recalls the rewind crank on 35mm SLRs. Three large buttons on top access flash mode, bracketing, and a lock for aperture or shutter speed. The user presses a button and turns the control dials to set each control. A ring around the cake selects the burst/single shot, self-timer and live view settings. Buttons below the LCD screen on the back of the D3X activate controls for file size and compression, ISO, and white balance.

Canon 1Ds Mk III	Nikon D3x

The Canon 1Ds Mark III's primary controls are the Main Dial behind the shutter release on the grip, and the Quick Control Dial which lies flat on the back of the camera. Both are set on horizontal axes, and fall nicely under the right index finger and thumb, respectively. The two default to control shutter speed and aperture. Canon uses sticky buttons to switch the dials to select a range of other controls. A button near the shutter release controls a multi-point spot metering feature. Exposure lock and ISO are also on the top right. AF sensor selection, AF activation and exposure lock are on the back right. The top left has three buttons, for AF mode, burst mode, exposure mode, metering pattern, flash exposure compensation, and bracketing. AF and burst share a button – the Main Dial controls AF and the Quick Control switches between burst modes. Another button sets up the Quick Control to set flash exposure compensation and the Main Dial sets meter pattern. Exposure mode has its own button – kindof. To set up bracketing, the user presses the Mode button and the AF/burst button simultaneously. Some previous Canons had more than one of these chord arrangements.

Canon 1Ds Mk III	Nikon D3x

Nikon varies the size and shape of its buttons more than Canon, and uses more levers and dials. The Nikon approach shares more with the company's old film cameras. The various control mechanisms may help users distinguish functions by feel. The Canon approach feels more like a software interface, where a default button design is used consistently throughout a UI. We suspect that the approaches are equally efficient for users who have gotten past the learning curve.