Canon 40D vs 1D mk2 vs 5D mk1

shabba

shabba

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So......thoughts? At a guess....


40D

Positives = decent IQ for the money, generally a good all rounder. Sensor cleaning, screen is ok.

Negatives = ISO not so great past 800. Focusing could be better.

1D Mk2(N?)

Positives = better IQ than 40D (?). Better focusing. Probably better ISO handling?

Negatives = Screen not so good? Also I personally feel maybe it's getting a little old and therefore harder to sell on?

5d Mk1

Positives = great IQ at reasonable ISO. Decent ISO performance.

Negatives = Bit old now, no sensor cleaning etc. Focusing probably not the best? Screen not that good?


This is me guessing at the above, only used/owned a 40D so hard to compare, feel free to comment :)
 
I have only used the 40D but I find it an excellent camera that I think will keep me going for a good few years,re the ISO I have found that 1600 with the high ISO noise reduction switched on is great
 
Only thing that lets the 1d mark ii down is the screen..But everything else is awesome. Focus is spot on, better than the 40d, more fps, 1600iso i dont find is a problem either, built like a tank, weather sealed..wouldnt change mine for the world!

If you are really bothered by the screen the mk2 N has a slightly better one which is larger also.
 
I'd agree with what you have written having owned all three cameras. I sold my 40D quickly for a 1DmkII and used that in parallel with a 5dmkI for a while. The 1DmkII is just so much more reliable in terms of focussing than the 40D and I thought the iso was better too. The 5D is lovely but I upgraded to a mkII version. I also upgraded to a 1DmkIII but have sold that and gone back to a mkII now - they are cheap and plentiful and the files are lovely.

The choice between 5D and 1D comes down to full frame versus a 1.3 crop, pixel count, weight/handling differences and AF abilities for me. I don't think one is better than the other, they are just different.
 
Thanks Ian - good comments.

What are they like at ISO3200? The 40D is TERRIBLE at this level, but ok enough at 1600. I tried a 1D mIII and at 3200 I was VERY impressed, however that is another ball-game in terms of price.
 
I wouldn't push the 1DmkII past 1600 but at that level it is ahead of the 40D. The 1 and 5 series cameras take post processing a lot better than the others, I find. So raw files might not look great but you can ramp up noise reduction without too many problems. The mkIII was noticeably better at high iso so you won't get quite that good with a mkII, I am afraid.
 
I had a 40D, still have a 1D MkIIn and a 5D Mk1. The MkIIn I'd say is around a stop better than the 40D, and the 5D around a stop and a half better than the 40D in the ISO department.

Of the three the 5D has the best IQ, followed by the MkIIn. The IQ of the 5D is still up there with the latest generation of cameras at ISO 800 (possibly 1600) and below.

The autofocus on the 1D is miles better than the other two, in every single way. The 5D is better than the 40D, mainly because you can turn on some assist points around the centre point which can help, but overall not massively better.

If you're used to the 40D the nicest thing about the 1D and even more the 5D is the size of the viewfinder, and how much brighter they are.
 
Thanks guys.

Just trying to think about my next upgrade as I cannot yet afford a 5D mkII or 1D mkIII, but plan to make that jump in the summer. I just want better ISO performance mainly, but increased IQ wouldn't be bad.
 
I have had a 1Dmk2 and now have 5Dmk1, the reason for the change is that I went from shooting mainly sport to shooting landscapes.

The AF on the 1D was much better, but the overall IQ on the 5D is better. I haven't noticed any difference in ISO performance in real shooting and I haven't tested pushing it.

With regards to ergonomics, I liked having the vertical shutter button on the 1D, but not enough to loose the weight advantage of the 5D by fitting a grip. The eyepiece cover on the 1D is a nice touch for long exposures, but the controls are different to your 40D (5D would have same controls as 40D AFAIK).
 
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