canon 5dmk2 versus 1ds mk3 ?

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stevewestern

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What does the 1ds 3 have to make It worth so much more ?
I know it is more weather sealed, built better etc, but is the focusing so much better for things like wide aperture portraits ? Is the image quality way better ? Anything else that might make me wonder about selling my body ?
I read a review which compared it to a 5d but have not seen one that put it against the 5d2
 
I've never used a 1Ds3 (although I do have a 1D3), but as I understand it the IQ is very close up till maybe 3200 ISO, with the 1Ds3 just having the edge in the lower ranges. Once you go beyond 3200 (I'm not sure you can with the 1Ds3) then the 5D2 pulls ahead. Since the IQ of both is so good at low ISOs, unless you push your files hard to extract lots of shadow details in scenes of high dynamic range (where the 5D2 can exhibit banding) I doubt you'd see a meaningful difference in IQ.

As far as focusing goes the centre point on the 5D2 is a solid performer. The peripheral points can be a let down and that can be annoying when you are trying to track and frame a moving subject or just want to shoot quickly without focus/recompose all the time. The 1Ds3 gives you superior AF performance on all AF points and, of course, far more of them, better placed, to make focusing and firing a more reliable and speedy exercise. If all you use is the centre point for AF then there is little to be gained.

On the 1Ds3 you get not only the build and the AF but a faster frame rate, better metering, better meter, better viewfinder, longer lasting battery, greater durability, more customisation options, dual card slots. Of course, Live View is not as well featured and, if the 1Ds3 is the same as the 1D3 in this regard, a rather poor quality preview image which will make it harder to judge focus accuracy as easily as with the 5D2.

As for the price aspect. Personally I think the 1Ds3 is overpriced. It is (was) Canon's flagship camera and they put a price tag on it to fit. Given that you could buy a 1D3 and a 5D2 together (mine cost me £3800 the pair, brand new) for less money than a single 1Ds3 (I've never seen it for less than £4300), in my opinion the pricing logic does not stack up. For many people the price is secondary to the performance/features. If you must have a full frame Canon camera that can handle the worst shooting conditions then there is no option. That's what you pay for. For my money it is long in the tooth and still very expensive, even second hand.
 
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What an excellent and balanced sounding reply - many thanks tdodd !
The cost is a MAJOR factor, and from what you are saying, it would seem hard to justify for ME and MY uses - I do not stand out in the rain, dropping my camera while shooting 5fps - I use single shot most of the time, rarely am out in the wet for long periods. I also mainly use the centre point for focusing.
Looks like I can breathe a sigh of relief !

Out of curiosity, how do you find your 5D2 compares to your 7D - I do like to have 2 bodies, and used to use a 30D along with my 5D, partly as both had the same layout, but also as the crop factor made my lenses go a lot further, so to speak.
Do they make for a good pair to have ?
As I said, speed of shooting is rarely needed, and the crop factor of the 7D appeals, but only if the high ISO is in the same sort of area - any thoughts ?

Again, many thanks for the clear answer !
 
Having used both the 5D2 and 1Ds3 (and 7D) I would endorse most of what Tim says, however if I was going for a 5D2 now, I would seriously consider a 2nd hand 1Ds 3 as the autofocus system alone makes a significant difference (the 5D2 is the same as the 5D original).
I like the feel of the mk3 ....I tend to get battery packs for the smaller bodies as I use back button focusing and the full size is easier in that respect, regarding high iso performance I'd say there's nothing significant between the 5D2 and the 1Ds3, however the one criticism of the 7D is that it has, in my opinion, too many pixels which means that you may have to use noise reduction software at higher iso.

It really depends on your usage requirements, for wildlife which is what I mainly shoot I use the 1Ds 3 with a 70-200 2.8 and a 7D with a 300 2.8, this is a fairly portable setup and covers my requirements.
George
 
if your salary depends on it the 1DsIII.

it's the same with the 5D and 1DsII

no real benefit's


except with the 5D your £££££££ in pocket


Merc
 
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I love my 5D2 for the IQ. In all other respects the 7D beats it hands down.

I also like to use two cameras when the need presents itself. I used to regularly shoot a 30D and 40D side by side, one going wide, one going long. Now the 5D2 and 7D make great team mates performing similar roles.

Regarding IQ I do find I get mixed results from the 7D and there appears to be no obvious explanation for the variance. What I would say is that if you pay more attention to IMAGE quality than PIXEL quality then the 7D should not disappoint, but if you insist on examining individual pixels from the 7D then you may need to up your game as a photographer and possibly improve your glass and refine your processing skills too. Those tightly packed pixels are very unforgiving of poor glass and poor technique.

Having owned the 1D3 for two years and the 7D and 5D2 for a little over a year each I am finding that the 7D AF actually works better for my subjects than the 1D3 and in great light there is more detail to be extracted too. However, as the light levels fall and/or the rate of action increases then it becomes more difficult to make each and every pixel count, as noise and blur/shake are more easily revealed. In such conditions I prefer the 1D3 because I'd rather deal with 10 million clean pixels than 18 million dirty ones. Of course, the 7D can still turn in awesome images in skilled hands but the pixels can get a bit ragged. Then again, stick it on a tripod at 100 ISO and expose correctly and "Wow!".

My basic philosophy when choosing which camera to use is to pick the camera with the largest sensor that I can fill with my subject and that will be able to focus and fire quickly and accurately enough for the circumstances.

Here's one 7D example which has me particularly impressed. It's at 1600 ISO and has minor editing in Lightroom....

20100919_125351_2051_LR.jpg


100% crop....
20100919_125351_2051_LR-2.jpg



EDIT : Here's a 7d example at 6400 ISO, no edits except white balance....

20100115_210037_2333_LR.jpg
20100115_210037_2333_LR-2.jpg
 
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I have the 5D2 and also the 1Ds3, the 5D2 I used exclusively for landscapes, achitectural and engineering photos. I wanted a body that would give me a bit more resilience, one which I did not need to keep worrying about, I bought it S/H from MPB who advertise on here for £3095 in mint condition, I rang Canon and gave them the serial number and they told me the total actuations a few months earlier when it had a new shutter fitted at 6000 actuations under warranty.

Since I have had the Ds3 I have only used the 5D2 when I have travelled and needed to keep the weight down. The photos I have taken with it do seem to have a depth and clarity to them that did not strike me with any other camera. It may be in the mind of course, I would certainly buy another one if I needed to replace it; I would not pay the new price though, it is definitely overpriced. It certainly helped buying it through my business and makes it easier to justify.

The benefits other posters have stated are important to me, the dual card slots give me the confidence when configured as back up. The other feature unique to the 1D series I think is the ability to save different configurations to a card and load them back when required - absolute magic.

Has it payed for itself over the 5D2? - NO, but the the ability to take it anywhere is worth it and the confidence it will just keep going.
 
I don't give a monkeys about pixel quality - the picture matters more, however noisy.
My subjects are often children in low light, so a fleeting expression needs to be caught, and ultimate quality is less important - hence me wanting a camera that will focus fast.
My lenses are all L lenses, bar the 85mm 1.8 but my processing skills are basic...
 
Well, I am saving for something, but doubt I could raise the money for a new one unless they drop right down - as likely as me winning the lottery given my current run of financial success......
 
stevewestern said:
George - you sound like you might have one to sell soon...!
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol:no way,even when the new 5d3 comes out with 28MP and the 7D af system, I won't be tempted.

My temptation will be when they bring out the 1D5, then I'd change my 7D for that provided it has spot af as the 7D has (before someone says it, I know it has it on the superteles), but why not on everything?
Also the 7D's method of changing af point selection is, for my money, better than the 1D4 and I've used both quite a bit.
 
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