Canon 1D Mk I - worth getting?

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rssmrry

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Ross
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I've been offered first refusal on a 1D MkI. I'm wondering if it's still a good camera (bearing in mind I'm using a 20D which isn't exactly cutting edge). I'm quite interested in BIF photography and I don't know that my 20D's AF is entirely up to the job. Of course I'd be keeping the 20D as it's got the edge on resolution!

Is the 1D that much better for what I'm after (I know the crop factor is less, but besides that).

I don't have any EF-S lenses so I'm hoping my lenses will be fine.

I gather the 1D can print well up to A4 with no problems and I tend to print up to about 9 by 6" and don't print that much anyway.

Any thoughts?
 
How much is it? If its really cheap then yea go for it? Personally I'd be looking at a 7D.

Guess it all depends on your budget. 7D you'll get a higher pixel density as well with the crop factor. More 'apparent' zoom.
 
£300 with 25k actuations, boxed too which is a big plus for me!

Also, got the option of getting the Sigma 400mm f/5.6 HSM Telemacro for £150 with it which would be reasonably good for BIF stuff? From what I can find (and there's not much to find on this) this is a very good lens even wide open so I'm thinking I might go for it.
 
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I'd go for a 40D at that money. The 1D Mk I is a bit long in the tooth now and it devours batteries which you might have to buy, it's an absolute brute to carry and the two hand menu operating system tires you out after a while. If it was a 1D Mk II I'd go for it albeit the price might be outside your budget. Saying that £300 is a good price for the Mk I, but if it was me I'd pass, sell the 20D, buy a 40D and use the rest on lenses.
 
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Laudrup said:
I'd go for a 40D at that money. The 1D Mk I is a bit long in the tooth now and it devours batteries which you might have to buy, it's an absolute brute to carry and the two hand menu operating system tires you out after a while. If it was a 1D Mk II I'd go for it albeit the price might be outside your budget. Saying that £300 is a good price for the Mk I, but if it was me I'd pass, sell the 20D, buy a 40D and use the rest on lenses.
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Thing is, my lens collection is about as full as I want it. I've got the range from 15-200 well covered so I'm not sure what lens I'd buy. Is the AF performance of the 40D much better than the 20D? Stupid question I'm sure!
 
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Not a stupid question. The 40D I'd assume might be better in regards to AF, but I'm not 100% as I don't own a 20D/40D to compare. I did own a 1D Mk I and to be honest wished I had bought the 40D. If you can get the 1D for £300 then you could use it and if you didn't like it I doubt you'd make a loss selling it again.
 
The 1D autofocus is much better than the 20D.
 
a lot of pro's claim that the 1d was the best that canon made a first rate body but a small file sze af first class but like other post drains the battery quickly
 
rssmrry - have a look here: MPB is a pretty good guide to shop used prices.... £300 seem very good but then you need to look at what's available for the same money...
 
Thanks for all the advice, I've had a look at what's about and I can't find a 1DmkII cheaply enough. What Laudrup said makes sense, if I get it and don't like it, I'll probably be able to sell it easily without losing money so my figuring is that I'll get it and if I like it - happy days! If not I'll put it up for sale and make the money back. There's not a better camera (AF wise) that I'm aware of in my limited price range so the 1Dc it is. I've looked at some shots from 1Dc's and even the noisy ones aren't bad, the noise isn't as off-putting as it is in my 20D's which is odd.
 
i will never sell my classic.

if you can adjust to its limitations its a wonderful camera and has a wonderful retro feel.

is it for you......of that i wouldn't want to say:thinking:;)

however i love mine to bits......the colours from it are nice and seem different from my mkii.

dont arf drain the batts though:shake::D
 
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imustbedreamin said:
i will never sell my classic.

if you can adjust to its limitations its a wonderful camera and has a wonderful retro feel.

is it for you......of that i wouldn't want to say:thinking:;)

however i love mine to bits......the colours from it are nice and seem different from my mkii.

dont arf drain the batts though:shake::D
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Well I've agreed to buy both the lens and body (both seem to hold their value so chance of making a loss is low) so I'll be swinging round to pick it up tomorrow or Saturday. If it's just the thing for me then I'll probably pick up one of the 7dayshop batteries that seem to have good reviews!

Presumably there's a way to set it so the camera doesn't put the last capture on the LCD after every shot, like on most other cameras. That ought to save the battery!
 
I have an old 1D that I use mainly for motorsport pictures, I like the sheer size and feel of it, I have four batteries for it that I can kill in a long day so two more on order from 7dayshop(out of stock atm), I will change at some point but while it does what I want/need I'll stick with it. (and keep charging the batteries.)
 
I had a 1D1 for a week or so last summer and was nicely surprised by it.
I got it for £200 and sold it for £400, that same £400 would now buy you a 1D2 or get hella close to a 5D1 but if you can get a bargain like I did...
 
yes i beleive there is.

rssmrry said:
Well I've agreed to buy both the lens and body (both seem to hold their value so chance of making a loss is low) so I'll be swinging round to pick it up tomorrow or Saturday. If it's just the thing for me then I'll probably pick up one of the 7dayshop batteries that seem to have good reviews!

Presumably there's a way to set it so the camera doesn't put the last capture on the LCD after every shot, like on most other cameras. That ought to save the battery!
Click to expand...
 
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