1Ds mk2 or 5D mk2 for portraits

Cris_L

Cris_L

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Just want to get opinions please, I'm considering upgrading to full frame and from what I have seen i can pick up a second hand 1ds mk2 for roughly the same price as a second hand 5d mk2.

My main use by far is portraits..though not exclusively. Whilst i appreciate the
5d mk 2 is higher mega pixel I know thats not the be all and end all.

Another consideration i had was to try and get a cheaper 5dmk1 to use for 6 or so months until the 5dmk3 comes out, in the hope this would cause the mk2's prices to plummet.

Opinions greaty appreciated.
 
Just buy a 5DII. ;)

I sold my 1DsII and 5D MkI in Feb, one of the guys I shoot with regularly uses the 5DII so I'm used to processing his files too.

For portraits you don't need the rugged build quality and dual card slots of the 1Ds, you would be using a much bigger body than you need to for that kind of work. OK the built in vertical shutter release in the 1 series would be good for portraits.

The 5DII is a perfect portrait camera, you don't need fast AF for that, has oodles of MP for fine detail and paired with some decent glass is all you would ever need.

Plus the price for the likes of the 5DII and D700 never really plummets! They are so highly sought after that they keep their price really well. You might save £100 and you are as likely to lose that on buying and selling a 5D.
 
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TBH for shooting portraits you don't need a lot of the features in a modern DSLR. I could still shoot those with my 30 odd year old Hassy and it doesn't even have a meter in it.

All you need is a good body in terms of resolution and a quality optic in front of it.

The ergonomics of the 1 series would be an advantage but you can always pop a grip on a 5DII.

It's the lighting and posing/styling of a portrait shoot that makes or breaks it rather than the camera it was shot on.

Have a look at the work of Trevor Yerbury. Has one camera and one lens on just about every shoot. (It's a D700 and 85mm f1.4 but the 5DII and equivalent lens would get the same results)
 
Thanks Ali, I'm only on a 500d at the minute but have the 24 - 105L...guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and spend the cash when the time comes.
 
To be honest both should do the job well. 1DsII will have the advantage at 1/250s sync and 100% VF, but worse batteries and a bit awkward controls. There is not much more between the two for portraits.
 
Cris_L said:
Cant goi wrong either way then i guess! winner!
Click to expand...

I think that's the way to look at it. Both of these are top quality cameras. My old 1Ds (mk I) produced lovely pictures, it was just a bit too slow in writing and I found I missed shots of my kids as a result. I am sure the mk II resolved that issue. And I am really happy with my 5DII. I am 100% convinced my skills limit my photography, not my gear.

Only thing with the 1 series is the weight. They are a big lump while the 5D is a lot less obtrusive. Upside, of course, is that you can bang the 1 series cameras around without worrying too much.
 
;)


You can try both out on sunday for as long as you like buddy. And see what you think.;)


MD:wave:
 
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