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p.1 #6 · Camera best suited for Alternative glass | |
Any of them will work depending what does/doesn't annoy you, but some pros/cons (have owned them all unless noted - and will ignore things like iSO performance, etc):
5D - Mirror clearance, issue with some copies having to re-shim whenever you change focus screens (FS) between say stock and Ec-S, etc. Focus points are etched on screen above FS, making a 'clean' VF impossible which makes the VF of a 5D with a split/prism screen VERY crowded. Light. Good res. Can build up a notable a lot of dust/junk in pentaprism area over time. If 5DII is pending (big IF), value will take a big hit vs. current prices then stabilize. Better value come Photokina.
20/30D - NO mirror issues, can run damn near anything on it. Small dim VF makes running a screen like a Katzeye almost required - which runs into same etched focus points screen 'issue' as 5D. Good resolution, light. Spot metering in 30D. Crop will screw up alternate WA usage - wide needs to be real wide -- and primo real wide tends to get costly other than 14-24G. As 1-2 generation back bodies, very good value - have already taken hit from 40D. I'd pick 30D over 20D for spot metering alone.
40D - (used for some time but not owned) Has LV and replaceable focus screen, but have been some QC complaints of late and resolution tests vs the cheaper 30D (and even cheaper XSi) are under-whelming IMHO. Still a crop and still a small (vs. FF) VF. Unless you want LV, 30D better value.
1Ds 1-2 - Clean VF (no etched focus points), FF, lots focus screen options with no shimming issues, no notable dust issue in pentaprism, balances well with bigger lenses. Has multi-spot (up to 8) average metering (VERY handy for contrasty scenes), dual cards. Excellent resolution, price is decent. Heavy but comfortable. With 1Ds2 - lots of room to crop or get creative with say 14"x14" square prints. Printing large requires little up-rezzing, etc. Very good value for same reasons as 30D - has already taken it's big hit from the 1Ds3, will now just creep down like rest of pack.
1D2 - Crop allows more lens options but 1.3x doesn't kill ultra-wides. All benefits of 1 Series. That said, I found the AA filter on mine vs my 1Ds Mk1 and Mk2 far too robust for the fine detail capture I wanted. A high frame-rate (the 1d2 strong suit) isn't of much value with alternate manual focus glass. Good value - actually 1D2N seems to have retained more value - blame the 1D3 fiasco.
EDIT - Should also note that if you want to be able to use the same body with AF glass, the 1D/Ds Mk1-2 AF system is unreal in action.
1D3 (not owned) - All benefits of 1D2 but apparently thinner AA filter, nice sensor, LV, lighter batteries, etc. That said, it is a bit of a black sheep body and I'd only trust for MF work. Resale could be VERY tough unless bought cheap. Is also risk of a 1D3N or alike which would KILL resale. IMHO - lousy value, especially given modest price difference between it and a clean 1Ds2 - and the nasty premium vs a 5D+grip.
YMMV
Edited on Jun 03, 2008 at 11:38 AM
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