1D MKIV or 1Dx

[Gavin Slabbert]

Artie and the rest of you guys I was wondering if you can offer some assistance.
I currently have a Canon 1D MKIV and need to purchase in the next 6 months either an additional 1D MKIV or the 1Dx for my photography workshops and safaris that I lead in Namibia and Southern Africa.
My biggest lens is a 400 2.8 and I too will have to buy either a 500 f4 or a 600 f4 (800 5.6 is just too big for this old body )
Anyway after reading the specs on the 1Dx I see that it will not auto focus on any lens that has an aperture larger than f5.6 ruling out the 500 f4 or the 600 f4 lenses fitted with a 2x extender whereas the 1D MKIV will still AF on the center AF point at f8 and will quite happily handle that.
The concern I have is not only will I loose my AF ability with the 2x extender but I also end up with a larger FOV on the 1Dx vs the 1D MKIV at a 1.3x crop and unfortunately I do not understand crop vs full frame well enough to figure out if cropping a 1Dx image to the FOV of the 1D MKIV will render the same quality image. I guess one of the advantages of the 1Dx is the faster fps of up 14 in ideal conditions but the 10 fps of the 1D MKIV is fast enough for what I need it for. But then 3 fps was enough, then 7 fps was enough then 10fps was enough and so on, so who the **** knows

Is the 1Dx with its full frame that much better that I can shoot with either of those lenses and a 1.4x extender and get at least as good quality or should I bite the bullet and buy another 1D MKIV while they are still available?

Next question, with already owning a Canon 400 2.8 which of these lenses would you recommend I purchase, the Canon 500 f4 or the Canon 600 f4, currently I am leaning towards the 600 f4 as the 500 f4 is too close to the 400 2.8 and a 1.4x, but again, having not carried either in the field for 10 days at a time I may just not have a clue, which is why I am deferring to those that know better than I

Thanks for the help

[Humberto Ramos]

Hi Gavin,

IMO I would buy the 1DX, if you already have a 1D IV for me it makes no sense to buy another one, even without focusing at f/8, with a fullframe and a 1,3x crop camera you will have more focal lenghs to choose for, and a beter high ISO performance of the 1Dx. About lens, its not an easy choise, I have a 600mm and its a great lens...If you want to keep the 400mm 2.8, I would go to the 600 or 800, 800 its not a big lens, the 600mm and the 800mm are havier...
I never went to Africa on a Safary, but maybe with the new 200-400mm I bet would be a wonderfull lens for safary...

[Gavin Slabbert]

Thanks Humberto, after reading your post it triggered a thought and it goes something like this... The 400 2.8 could go on the 1dX and if I need more reach I could then put the 600 on the MKIV with the 2x extender which would cover both relatively close range and well as the long reach when I need it. I had not thought along those terms but that would probably cover all the ranges that I would need. For whatever reason I had in my mind that the MKIV would be the primary body, but in fact it should be the 1Dx. Again thanks

[Humberto Ramos]

Thats wath I mean, or you can use the one in a 70-200mm and other on the 400mm, with the 1D IV and 1Dx you have plenty solutions with different setups...
In the txt above about the 800mm weight, I mean that the 800mm is lighter than the 400mm 2.8 and 600mm...

[Roger Clark]

Gavin,
I personally would wait for reviews to see if the 1DX has banding issues. The 1DIV is very good in that regard (little banding-fixed pattern noise). The 1DX has larger pixels (see the pixel math thread: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...he-Simple-Math ) than the 1DIV so you will get less pixels on a subject, even with the same lens with the 1DX. If I had to choose now, I would get a second 1DIV because it gives more possibilities (e.g. f/8 AF). With the 1DX you lose pixels on subject and flexibility to get those pixels on subject. I currently have a 1DIV, 5D2 and 7D. I've taken the 1DIV and 5D2 on safari, but my next safari will be with the 1DIV and 7D.

Roger

[Morkel Erasmus]

Gavin - having made the move to FF (although I crossed brands too), I would recommend getting a FF 1DX for the same reasons Humberto mentioned. Another reason is if you'll be doing landscapes you will love the FF camera for that...and how can you do trips to Namibia and not be sucked into the landscapes?
That being said, I am concerned that this camera has not made it into mainstream user's hands and yet won the TIPA award for best professional DSLR...something's not right there...so Roger has a point, I love to see real-world results and reviews of new cameras and would wait till the 1DX is reviewed that way by photographers you trust and who have a similar shootings style/need as you.

[Geoff Newhouse]

I'll add a couple of my thoughts after reading your questions. First let me say, I currently don't own any 1 series body nor any super telephoto lenses. I shoot a 5D2, 5D3 and 7D with 100-400 as my birding/wildlife lens. I think that I would go with the 1DX as although we don't know yet what the true IQ will be, it will be a more flexible option to run a wide range of focal lengths and great for wide angle to fully use the imaging circle of the EF lenes. As far as lenses, if your current 400f/2.8 is the version 1 then any lens you get will be lighter. I have preordered the new 600 f/4 IS version 2 lens as it has shed a lot of weight and is now the same weight as the version 1 of the 500 f/4. Also the new 400 f/2.8 IS ver 2 is also about this same weight. If I was you I'd go for the new 600 f/4 if it ever sees the light of day. Current estimate based on Canon's press release is for May release. I think the new 500 would also be tempting as the weight is now down at the 7 lbs mark but too close to your 400 and with a 1.4 TC on your 400 you already have a 560 f/4 anyways with almost no loss in IQ.

For me I'd go 1DX and 600 f/4 IS ver2. If you would be looking at the 600 version 1 then I'd say go for the 800 f/5.6 instead.

[Alan Stankevitz]

Gavin,

You have 6 months. Wait until we can review raw images from the 1DX. Regardless of autofocus @ f/8, the 1DX has a lower pixel density (Similar to the 1D Mark III). My best guess is that it will have very low noise qualities but with lower resolution. If you primarily shoot from close distances and can fill the frame with the subject, it should be a great camera. However, if you find yourself moderately cropping images with your current Mark IV, it will require substantial cropping with the 1DX. The question is how well will the 1DX hold up to moderate cropping? Will the low noise trumph resolution? Until we can analyze/edit raw images, the verdict is out.

Alan
www.iwishicouldfly.com

[Gavin Slabbert]

Alan thanks, as I dig into this more and more is is clear that there is little point in attempting to make this decision now, though it was / is driven by the imminent end of the 1DmkIV. With that being said I do not see the pipeline for excellent and lightly used versions of the mkiv drying up soon.

As for shooting distances, they vary greatly, when I shoot in the Sabi Sands / Thornybush area I can shoot at really close distances for the most part, however when I shoot in Namibia the distances can be quite a bit further. [Never a simple answer right :-) ]

Again thanks for your input and I will wait for some testing results from you guys