5D MkIII or 1D MkIV?

ST-PHILIP

ST-PHILIP

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PHILIP
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As the title suggests (and apologies if there is already a similar topic), I'm thinking of changing my 1D Mk3 and have narrowed down the options to either a 5D MK3 or 1DMk4.

I photograph mostly motorsport, rallies/sprints/hillclimbs etc.

I'm interested in advice from members who either own both, or have owned both, and can make a direct comparison, especially in relation to autofocus/tracking.

I've heard the 5D Mk3 has excellent focus/tracking (I heard it shares autofocus setup with 1DX?), and the full frame and low-light performance is tempting. 6fps would be no problem either.

However, the extra reach of the crop sensor of the MK4 would come in handy, and it has more robust build/weathersealing. Both seem to have good high ISO performance, with the 5D superior.

Hard to choose, but the deciding factor will be which has better autofocus/tracking.

Thanks in advance.
 
Hi Philip

I have both bodies, the MkIV ive owned for 2 1/2 years and the 5D MkIII for approx 8 months.

When I first bought my 5D i was so impressed with it that I put my MkIV up for sale. I thought that as an allround camera the 5D was without equal (1DX excepted). I still consider the 5 the best value for money camera that Canon has made for a long time.

5D MkIII

PROS.

AF is better than the MkIV
High ISO performance is better than MkIV.
More options for customising various buttons to get the camera how you want it.
Much easier access to Live View. (I use it a lot for landscape)
AF to f8
Better screen to review images.

CONS

Only 6FPS.
Not as good build quality.
No crop factor.

1D MkIV

PROS.

Slightly more reach with the crop factor.
AF still very capable.
Superb build quality.
Faster frame rate has its uses.
AF to f8.

CONS.

Review screen too small.
ISO performance not as good as 5D
Not quite as user friendly in its customisation.

I didnt sell my MkIV and I'm now glad of that fact. Its still a very capable camera and produces superb images. I tend to use it when i want a bit more reach or the faster frame rate.

Dropping from the 1.3 crop to FF of the 5D isnt such a big jump. Cropping the 5d image to the same viewpoint still leaves you with plenty. 13 MP against the 16MP of the MkIV.

The MkIV is faster to initially acquire focus but it doesnt hang onto it as well as the 5D.

The MkIV ISO performance isnt quite as good as the 5D. The difference starts to become noticable above ISO 2000 and I wont use the MkIV above 2500. On the 5D i have A3 prints taken at ISO 2000 and they are superb. I also have A4 prints from ISO 5000 files that are very good also. What I do like about the 5D files is that they seem very easy to process. Even high ISO files in LR4 come good very easily.

The AF on the 5D isnt quite as good as the 1DX but theres not a lot in it.

If I had to sell one of the bodies then I would sell the MKIV. The 5D is the better all round camera.

Hope that helps. Guess I could have just written the line above and left it at that.

Gaz
 
Having owned the 1d mkiii mkiv and a 1dx as well as the 5d mki mkii then mkiii I would say get the 5d mkiii. Hth.
 
Good comprehensive insight from someone wiht both.. thanks gaz j
 
ST-PHILIP said:
As the title suggests (and apologies if there is already a similar topic), I'm thinking of changing my 1D Mk3 and have narrowed down the options to either a 5D MK3 or 1DMk4.

I photograph mostly motorsport, rallies/sprints/hillclimbs etc.

I'm interested in advice from members who either own both, or have owned both, and can make a direct comparison, especially in relation to autofocus/tracking.

I've heard the 5D Mk3 has excellent focus/tracking (I heard it shares autofocus setup with 1DX?), and the full frame and low-light performance is tempting. 6fps would be no problem either.

However, the extra reach of the crop sensor of the MK4 would come in handy, and it has more robust build/weathersealing. Both seem to have good high ISO performance, with the 5D superior.

Hard to choose, but the deciding factor will be which has better autofocus/tracking.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...




Hi Philip


Like Gary, I too was on the verge of ditching my 1D4 for another 5D3 but haven't done so. It's a great body to have especially on a day like this - been raining since around 11am. The 1D4 renders colours very faithfully, perhaps even more so than my 5D3 initially. If I did motorsport as you do I would probably place the 1D4 ahead of the 5D3. Its' frame rate, build quality and that it's also built to tighter tolerances means you get the shot. In shooting sport with the 5D3 I think it may be a case of having to get more shots overall and I'm not entirely certain I would like to take it out in all weathers. That may just be me of course. The AI servo settings on the 5D3 is wonderful and straight out of the 1Dx. But I think that you'll be just as successful with what the 1D4 offers. I shot a fair amount of sport with my 1D4 a couple of years back ( mainly cricket, some net ball and bad weather rugby ) and have delighted in its' performance and ease of use. I do events and a lot of indoor work so the 5D3 is my first choice but the 1D4 is an excellent second body. As you know, it is also Mr Reliable.
 
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Not long after I got my 5D3 a friend who has the 1D4 offered me a straight swap. I was in two minds, mainly as the 1D4 was more expensive than the 5D3 at the time, but after using the 1D4 for a day I decided to keep the 5D3. I've had the 5D3 since about a month after it was released and I can't see me changing it for a long time if ever. I doubt anyone would offer a 1Dx as a straight swap but that's the only change I would consider, and I can't afford to buy one in the forseeable future, but I certainly rate the 5D3 as the best Canon camera I've ever used. The 5D3 and the 70D I have currently are the 9th and 10th bodies I've owned and I rate both of them very highly, the 70D is IMO the best crop body I've had and the 5D3 the best full frame.
 
Thanks for all the replies, guys. They reinforce what I was already thinking. I'm leaning towards the 5D Mk3. I reckon it wins the day. I have a 7D, which I may well trade in against a MK4 sometime in the near-ish future, and end up with both! They seem to make an excellent combination. As for the weather sealing, if the 5D Mk3 on a par with the 7D, it''ll do me.....many's the time I and the 7D have been soaked and both have survived intact! :)
 
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