1DMkIV or 5DII

[Ed Vatza]

What do I current have? 50D and 30D. Lenses like the 24-70 2.8; 70-200 2.8; 300 2.8; 400 5.6; Macros; Lensbaby

What do I shoot? Mostly (99%) outdoor, nature, flowers, macros, landscapes, some birds, stuff like. I like to do artsy stuff like blurs, multiple exposures, etc. Check my website for examples of what I like to do.

I want to upgrade my body to a pro-quality body.

I have been really thinking about the 1DMkIV but to be totally honest, money is an object. At $5K, I'm not sure if and when I can swing it. Then as I did more and more reading and thinking, I started to wonder whether the 5DII would actually be a better choice? Full frame; 21.1 Megapixels. You know the drill. And at half the price, much more doable.

Or should I look for a good 1DMkIII as a lower cost option?

I not going to run out and buy based on what is recommended here but, that said, I am looking for your suggestions/thoughts/recommendations. Any and all will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Ed

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I want to upgrade my body to a pro-quality body.

Thanks for the smile! :)

Kidding aside, since you don't photograph birds in flight often, the 5D2 sounds like a good choice. Used 1Ds3 go for $4k now and might drop even more once the 1Ds4 will be announced.

[Jay Gould]

If you are doing significantly more than 50% static subjects I would go with the 5D2 - amazing image quality - and you do not need the high frame rate.

Ed, this review - http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ra-Review.aspx - while being a very positive review of the 1D4 ends with the following:

The upgrade from any of Canon's APS-C/1.6x bodies to the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is a big one - and of course, the cost to trade up is reflected in this. Those not needing the fast performance, impressive AI Servo AF and rugged, sealed build of the 1D Mark IV may find the Canon EOS 5D Mark II to be a better option - especially better from a cost perspective. The 5D II's image quality is at least as good as the 1D IV's (with higher resolution) and the full frame sensor is a big feature for me personally.The upgrade from any of Canon's APS-C/1.6x bodies to the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is a big one - and of course, the cost to trade up is reflected in this. Those not needing the fast performance, impressive AI Servo AF and rugged, sealed build of the 1D Mark IV may find the Canon EOS 5D Mark II to be a better option - especially better from a cost perspective. The 5D II's image quality is at least as good as the 1D IV's (with higher resolution) and the full frame sensor is a big feature for me personally.

There are several 5D2s for sale in the $2K range; I am selling mine in May because I want two fast frame bodies when I travel (7D and 1D4).

[Roger Clark]

Ed.
While I don't have a 1D4, I do have a 1D2 and 5D2, so I understand the 1D quality. I will buy a 1D4 this year, but I will keep the 5D2. You can look at my web pages; I find the 5DII superior for wildlife and birds than the 1D2 regardless of the frame rate. Check out the 5d2 for birding thread:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=55802

When I have the 1D4, I'll still use the 5D2 for a lot of photography, including wildlife, but for low light work and focal length limited work, the higher sensitivity and smaller pixels of the 1D4 will help. Plus I really like the 45 AF points and AF at f/8.

Roger

[Jay Gould]

Roger you always give good advice - not that I also follow that advice (sometimes to my detriment :o).

Knowing all about me by now including my interest in moving subjects and traveling as much as I do, if I had to choose 1 additional body to backup the 1D4 which will be my primary body, would you recommend the 7D or the 5D2 - both of which I have/one of which is going to be sold.

I have initially opted to sell the 5D2 because of the frame rate issue if the 1D4 crashed in the middle of no where.

[Roger Clark]

Roger you always give good advice - not that I also follow that advice (sometimes to my detriment :o).

Knowing all about me by now including my interest in moving subjects and traveling as much as I do, if I had to choose 1 additional body to backup the 1D4 which will be my primary body, would you recommend the 7D or the 5D2 - both of which I have/one of which is going to be sold.

I have initially opted to sell the 5D2 because of the frame rate issue if the 1D4 crashed in the middle of no where.

Thanks jay. But I'm not always right either, and sometimes there are equivalent but different ways to solve a problem that give equally good results. And personal tastes differ.

For me I don't see frame rate as a deciding factor. For me image quality trumps frame rate. So given two of three cameras: 1D4, 7D and 5D2, I would choose the 1D4 and 5D2. But then I'm intrigued by the small pixels of the 7D for focal length limited situations (not frame rate), so I would rather keep all three! I actually have only sold one camera, ever. I usually give my old cameras to my sons. In general, frame rate is low on my list of deciding factors. Higher is sensor performance, AF performance and overall image quality. But a complication is image quality for full sensor images and for focal length limited images.

Roger

[Ed Vatza]

Hey everybody,

Your thoughts about this decision are very much appreciated. I was thinking 1DMkIV since it came out. Then when I started to look at the 5DMk2, I found myself starting to move in that direction because it seemed to be the better choice for my type of shooting. (And these days I'd bet that 80% of my shooting is in single shot mode; I rarely go burst mode.)

But then I also would start to think that maybe I was just trying to convince myself that the less expensive route was the way to go. It is sounding like my 5DMk2 think was indeed sound.

So again thanks. I'm not going to run out and buy it right away (unless, of course, someone wants to send me $2500; PayPal would be fine! :D) so I continue to be open to what you and others have to say on this topic.

Ed

[Fabs Forns]

Ed, knowing your style of photography, I'd go for the 5d2. It is my main camera body noe while I wait for the 1d4 and will be keeping both.

[William Malacarne]

Ed

From all you are saying I would think the 5D...I have a 5D, 7D and a 1D mkII. Before you buy, have you considered renting each one for a few days and giving them a road test.

Bill

[arash_hazeghi]

Ed I would recommend 5D2, excellent camera very good IQ, If after using it for a while you found its speed to be inadequate for your work you can sell it and move to a MKIV.

[Jay Gould]

Thanks jay. But I'm not always right either, and sometimes there are equivalent but different ways to solve a problem that give equally good results. And personal tastes differ.

For me I don't see frame rate as a deciding factor. For me image quality trumps frame rate. So given two of three cameras: 1D4, 7D and 5D2, I would choose the 1D4 and 5D2. But then I'm intrigued by the small pixels of the 7D for focal length limited situations (not frame rate), so I would rather keep all three! I actually have only sold one camera, ever. I usually give my old cameras to my sons. In general, frame rate is low on my list of deciding factors. Higher is sensor performance, AF performance and overall image quality. But a complication is image quality for full sensor images and for focal length limited images.

Roger

Mate I was with you - at least understanding what you were saying - until the very last sentence.

You appeared to be 5D2 all the way until you raised a complication 1) image quality for full sensor images 5D2) and 2) image quality for focal length limited images (7D).

Why is it a complication?

[Alan Stankevitz]

I've had a 5DM2 since it came out and although I love the camera, I wish that it had a more responsive, accurate autofocus for BIF along with a slightly fast fps. If bird photography is your main objective (doesn't seem to be) then I would look elsewhere (7D is the best bang for the buck), otherwise it is an outstanding camera.

At 21MP, there's plenty of resolution there and it is still my camera of choice for non-focal-length-limited situations.

BTW, there is something to be said for a full-frame sensor...you are less likely to clip a wing out of frame than with a 1.3x or 1.6x sensor body when photographing BIFs.

Alan

[Ed Vatza]

Appreciate the comment, Alan.

While i do bird photography, it is not my primary focus. So I do think the 5DMk2 is the right choice for me. I haven't really ever looked at the 7D. I have been using the 50D with a 300 2.8 + 2x TC for birds and it has been good enough for my purposes.

Ed

[John Chardine]

Ed- I know a pro photographer who is out in all weather conditions and regularly kills his 5D2s (he has three so I understand). They have to go back to Canon and are fixed so resurrection apparently occurs. I take from this that although weatherproofed, they are not at the same level as the 1D line. Perhaps this is a consideration for your style of photography.

Re sensor size, I have a 5DI and the experience with FF has been fantastic. I love the fact that my wide-angle lenses work the way they are supposed to, and I love the IQ out of the camera. Upshot is I will always have a full frame body to complement a crop body (currently a 1D4).

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Ed,
I think for your style of photography, the 5D II should be a good bet. The full frame will come in handy for your image blurs and landscapes etc. The large image size and nice files should help.

I actually have only sold one camera, ever. I usually give my old cameras to my sons.

Roger

Roger,
Are you looking for adoptions? ;)
A waiting list can be created.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi