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calthrop Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #1 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Hi all, Am hoping people can share their experience when upgrading from a 1DMkII to either 1DMkIII or 1DSMkII - or least point me in the right direction to find out more about this, particularly moving to the 1DMkIII. I currently have a 1DMkII, which I've been really happy with so far. However, I am wanting more pixels to play with so that I can up-res my images a lot (minimum 30x20 inches @ 300dpi). I can currently do this using Genuine Fractals (v.5, using CS2 on OSX Leopard), but the although the images are not pixelated, they're not that sharp either. Most of the work I am doing will be portrait work using my portable infrared-controlled flash system, using one or more of: 24-70/2.8, 85/1.2II & 70-200/2.8IS. I also want the flexibility to shoot without flash in lower light. So if I want more pixels, I can pick up a used 1DSMkII for around £3,000-3,200 (can't reclaim tax on 2nd hand goods in most cases). There's also the 1DMkIII, which goes new for about £2,600 (from which I can reclaim the tax, making it about £2,200). It's got a lot less pixels, but is going to have much better performance at higher ISO levels. And there is a huge amount of information on the net about problems people have had with it - which, from what I understand, is largely due to it being a significantly different beast from its predecessors. So it would seem that this would make the learning curve to the 1DMkIII much greater than the 1DSMkII. But the 1DMkIII is the foundation for all future Canon cameras, so it could seem (and the 1DSMkIII is out of my budget... argh). Many thanks in advance! Matt Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 13, 2007 at 08:27 PM

davekone Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #2 · 1DII - upgrade to what? I went from a 1D MKII to a 1D MKIII. The MKIII interface was so intuitive when I pick up my MKII I'm lost after 3 years of of using the MKII. This told me right off the bat that the new interface was well worth it. Your move and acceptance may vary. High ISO on the MKIII is better hands down in most cases. On occasion I get high ISO shots from the MKII that are right up there with the MKIII, it depends on the photo. First day out with the MKIII at the zoo I took several photos with the MKII and MKIII, the extra 2mp is noticeable on screen. I could see the individual pours on the rhino with the MKIII clearly, the MKII they was smudgy and not nearly as well defined. I large photo is needed to get that knock you over impression that 10mp is better than 8mp. I would say 11x14 is becomes apparent. The learning curve for me was nothing, the custom My menu on the MKIII is worth the upgrade alone and has nothing to do with image quality. I love that the MKIII does not require you to hold a button or combo of buttons while you turn the control dials!! If you have specific questions just ask. Edited by davekone on Nov 13, 2007 at 05:24 PM GMT Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 13, 2007 at 09:00 PM

calthrop Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #3 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Hey Dave, thanks for your reply. What lenses have you used with both of them? And I have another dilemma... I definitely need a backup camera - at the moment, I have a 1D (Mk I). So if I go for an upgrade, am not sure whether to sell the 1D, or the 1DMkII... Matt Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 13, 2007 at 09:05 PM

calthrop Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #4 · 1DII - upgrade to what? One of the focusing issues with the MkIII I have seen crop up often can be summed up by this quote from one of the FM reviews: "Very complicated setup for custom functions that make the focus system hard to setup." Dave - or anyone else - do you have anything you can add to this? I suppose I need to know if it's something that is possible to overcome, or if it just plain sucks. Matt Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 13, 2007 at 09:32 PM

davekone Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #5 · 1DII - upgrade to what? calthrop wrote: Hey Dave, thanks for your reply. What lenses have you used with both of them? And I have another dilemma... I definitely need a backup camera - at the moment, I have a 1D (Mk I). So if I go for an upgrade, am not sure whether to sell the 1D, or the 1DMkII... Matt Lenses used with both: Sigma 50-500 Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS Canon 17-40 f2.8 L Canon 24-70 f4 L My MKII became my backup camera or second body with wider lens. Sell the 1D especially due to low light performance.. This should be a no brainer. Edited by davekone on Nov 13, 2007 at 05:23 PM GMT Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 13, 2007 at 09:56 PM

davekone Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #6 · 1DII - upgrade to what? calthrop wrote: One of the focusing issues with the MkIII I have seen crop up often can be summed up by this quote from one of the FM reviews: "Very complicated setup for custom functions that make the focus system hard to setup." Dave - or anyone else - do you have anything you can add to this? I suppose I need to know if it's something that is possible to overcome, or if it just plain sucks. Matt Everyone shoots differently. I have only shot with the MKIII using a selected single focus point. Auto Expansion on the MKII 2 always got me in trouble because it would grab something I did not want. I have never been a fan of letting the camera select focus points using all 45 on the MKII so I have never done it on the MKIII. I set my custom functions after reading the manual and have been satisfied. One custom function you should turn on the day you get the camera is under Fn III group called Focus/Drive #5, change custom function #5 to zero or on. Without doing this longer lenses when way out of focus the camera would not even attempt to drive the lens into focus. Chuck Westfall said this is useful for making the camera not throw the lens severely out of focus when hunting. BUT if you start out with the lens way out of focus it will not do a thing. After changing this one function things have been perfect. Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 13, 2007 at 10:03 PM

SouthFla Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #7 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Hey Matt, I went from a 1DMKII to a 1DsMKII. I used to shoot a lot of portraits, some weddings, blah blah, but now shoot mostly fine art landscape w/the occasional wedding or portrait to fill in down times. My glass is 16-35 2.8, 24-70 2.8, and 70-200 2.8 IS. I haven't regretted the switch for a second (especially because I got a great deal for the 1Ds on ebay for $2K under retail w/few actuations). The biggest benefit for me is the added pixels and cropping room. I can't always get close enough and frequently don't have enough reach, and sometimes I don't compose a tight enough shot. I can crop the absolute h*ll out of the 1DsMKII, and still make incredible 18x24+ enlargements. Non-cropped or lightly cropped shots go 40+ inches easily. Another factor which I think is overlooked, is I routinely shoot at 1600 ISO on the 1DsMKII. I do take care to make proper exposures (I'm a fan of the "expose to the right"). While the resulting high ISO image make look a little grainy on my monitor, a print out without any noise reduction looks amazing even at these higher ISO's. I used to do a fair bit of noise reduction due to what I perceived as a "high" noise at 1600, but after printing out virtually straight from the camera, I rarely go through that trouble much anymore at these ISO's... I haven't shot a MKIII, but I absolutely love the older 1DsMKII...Best of luck, John Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 14, 2007 at 02:49 AM

calthrop Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #8 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Many thanks for all your replies. I'm leaning towards the 1DsMkII (have found a really good one for £2,400+tax - that's about USD5,000 without tax). Given that I'm focusing on portrait work, I think it's better to start a move over to full-frame. Good point re. 1D at low light - will sell it, so then I'll have the MkII as a backup. Also: just heard that Canon are recalling all their 1DMkIII bodies - apparently there was a limited range of serial numbers that had focusing problems, but they are recalling them all anyway (in the UK, at least): here It's all about compromise, and working within my limitations - but I'm told that it produces greater creativity than having no limitations at all... ! thanks again, Matt Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 14, 2007 at 01:01 PM

davekone Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #9 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Also: just heard that Canon are recalling all their 1DMkIII bodies - apparently there was a limited range of serial numbers that had focusing problems, but they are recalling them all anyway (in the UK, at least): This is true everywhere even in the US. They had a problem and I feel sorry for th efew people who had one that was affected. We see a lot of people complain about focusing and who would think it was actually the camera this time!! Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 14, 2007 at 06:50 PM

calthrop Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #10 · 1DII - upgrade to what? There's something else I heard from a photog I know who has used the 1DsMkII for a few years now: he said that the buffer takes ages to write to his card, and fills up quickly - so he has to wait for it to write before continuing. Anyone had that kind of experience? I'd be surprised if the bottleneck is his card - he's not limited by budget. Matt Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 15, 2007 at 01:06 PM

nathanlake Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #11 · 1DII - upgrade to what? If this is purely about pixels, the functional difference between 8 and 10 is minimal. It might be visible under extreme conditions, but not normally. This is not saying that pixels is the only difference between the MII and MIII. Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 15, 2007 at 06:33 PM

nathanlake Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #12 · 1DII - upgrade to what? calthrop wrote: One of the focusing issues with the MkIII I have seen crop up often can be summed up by this quote from one of the FM reviews: "Very complicated setup for custom functions that make the focus system hard to setup." Dave - or anyone else - do you have anything you can add to this? I suppose I need to know if it's something that is possible to overcome, or if it just plain sucks. Matt It definitely does not suck, but it can be very complex. There are a huge number of AF-related custom functions in the MIII. Figuring them out will take a while. I spend the first few days just trying to figure out how they might interrelate. Considering how many options there are, I am not surprised that there was a focusing issue with this camera. If they now have it working (and it appears they do), this will be amazing. Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 15, 2007 at 06:36 PM

calthrop Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #13 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Well, I've decided to go for the 1DMkIII. Of course there's a bit of a wait for stock while Canon do their stuff on all the recalled body, but that won't hurt! again, many thanks for the replies. Matt Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 19, 2007 at 12:59 PM

chris78cpr Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #14 · 1DII - upgrade to what? Matt just sent you a PM. Chris Edited on Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM Nov 19, 2007 at 01:36 PM

pixelman Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #15 · 1DII - upgrade to what? I believe the 'limited' number is something approaching 98% of units produced. It's more like how many got onto the ark versus tides up As you said ditch the oldest unit, front line becomes backup/spare/second body. Sounds like the nicely treated good performing 1dsm2 is a safe move. If that falls through sit on your hands for three months the current confusion will shake itself out by middle winter I think. Steve Nov 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM

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