Man, the 1D3 is absolutely the best (or at least tied with the Nikon D3) wedding tool available. It can focus in a dungeon on any AF point, super low noise high ISO performance, 6400-ability, dual card slots for instant backup etc.. I also find the crop useful, as the 24-70 becomes an even more useful range (for my style), the 35 1.4 is essentially a 47mm 1.4 which is very cool, and the 16-35 has a little reach on the 1D3 as well making it the perfect range for shooting a tight wedding reception. Also, 10mp is the ideal file size for wedding photography. I had to shoot a couple weddings with my 1Ds3 while my 1D3 was in for repair, and my processor cursed me for 2 days after running that gig through Lightroom... I've also shot many weddings with many other bodies, and the 5D's AF just doesn't cut it. Well, the center point works well but that's the only focus point I don't use. The 1D3 is simply the perfect wedding camera.
ChrisDM wrote:
Man, the 1D3 is absolutely the best (or at least tied with the Nikon D3) wedding tool available. It can focus in a dungeon on any AF point, super low noise high ISO performance, 6400-ability, dual card slots for instant backup etc.. I also find the crop useful, as the 24-70 becomes an even more useful range (for my style), the 35 1.4 is essentially a 47mm 1.4 which is very cool, and the 16-35 has a little reach on the 1D3 as well making it the perfect range for shooting a tight wedding reception. Also, 10mp is the ideal file size for wedding photography. I had to shoot a couple weddings with my 1Ds3 while my 1D3 was in for repair, and my processor cursed me for 2 days after running that gig through Lightroom... I've also shot many weddings with many other bodies, and the 5D's AF just doesn't cut it. Well, the center point works well but that's the only focus point I don't use. The 1D3 is simply the perfect wedding camera.
I shoot the 5D and the Mark III every day of the week as a photojournalist. As a wedding photographer it is an absolute joy to have these two cameras on my shoulder. I probably find myself pulling the MKIII more often than the 5D for journalistic shots. The photos and files from both cams are truly amazing... just ask any number of my clients.
I shoot with the mk3 as main camera, the 5D for shots at the brides home if there nice rooms and need to get everything in the shot. Church I use the mk3 and a 40D with the 70-200mm 2.8L. Reception, 1Dmk3 with the 16-35mm, 580 with flipit and 1 off camera 580
on stand as main light. I have found at most receptions the 5D will not cut it.
I use the Mark III as my main Wedding camera its fast responsive has beautiful colors and focus is sharp as a tack..especially indoors. I double check its focus in harsh outdoor lighting though. I find the files to have plenty of resolution for my needs. the extra noise at higher iso's doesnt bug me as when im using the higher isos im usually shooting pj shots that will never be printed and framed huge on the wall. Prints at 8x10 at even iso 3200 look great.
That said I am very excited for the 5d2 , it will be my camera for whenever i have control of the situation and I am in a portrait setting the extra resolution and full frame is going to be killer with my current lenses, I am especially excited about using the 200 1.8 with it! Ill be keeping the mark III ready to go for photojournalism style photos.
Wow, such high praise for the 1D3! I am using a pair of 5Ds, but have been deliberating the idea of trading one of them for a 1D3. Just to have an option for more reach and better AF. The biggest fault of the 5D is the AF. I would love to be just that much more sure about landing my focus in the dark.
At the moment my gear 1ds MKIII and 1D MKII.down side is just the 1D MKII is battery life and weight... For me this is the best combination if you have the new 1D MKIII or MKIV
WIthout wishing to be controversial, but just to update the thread...
I tried out a (supposedly fixed) mk3 this week and found its ability to focus on stationary objects to be erratic (even with my known good prime lenses) and actually on a big monitor that the ancipated high iso advantage over my 1DsII wasn't that evident - I guess the extra 7mp makes a big difference here.
I'm prepared to accept that this wasn't a properly fixed body, so I may need to give it another shot with a newer body since the mk 3 seems on paper to have a lot going for it. But in the meantime I managed to bag a very battered and very cheap 1DsII off the 'bay so that will do me for now.
Lord Fluff wrote:
WIthout wishing to be controversial, but just to update the thread...
I tried out a (supposedly fixed) mk3 this week and found its ability to focus on stationary objects to be erratic (even with my known good prime lenses) and actually on a big monitor that the ancipated high iso advantage over my 1DsII wasn't that evident - I guess the extra 7mp makes a big difference here.
I'm prepared to accept that this wasn't a properly fixed body, so I may need to give it another shot with a newer body since the mk 3 seems on paper to have a lot going for it. But in the meantime I managed to bag a very battered and very cheap 1DsII off the 'bay so that will do me for now.
I bought an early 1D3 and it did exactly that. It wouldn't even stay fixed on a stationary subject at times. And it took 2 trips back to Canon but now works as advertised. A remarkable camera, I couldn't imagine a better tool for wedding/event work. Mount a fast prime, crank it up to 6400 and have some fun!
I also imagine you guys don't crop a lot? Another thing I love about the 1DsII is just how much you can crop a shot such that if you have a prime mounted you can grab a shot and compose later. Not ideal, but for those times it is nice to have 17mp to play with - I must admit to being a little wary of only having 10 to play with.....
Lord Fluff wrote:
I also imagine you guys don't crop a lot? Another thing I love about the 1DsII is just how much you can crop a shot such that if you have a prime mounted you can grab a shot and compose later. Not ideal, but for those times it is nice to have 17mp to play with - I must admit to being a little wary of only having 10 to play with.....
10 is ideal for me. If I'm shooting shots that are going to be printed big (the formals mostly) then I'm able to take time and compose and frame properly. But for those "grab shots" that I may need to crop heavily, those aren't the ones that are going to be framed above the fireplace right? They're going to just end up in the wedding album hopefully, or perhaps a 4x6 print etc... 10mp is simply ideal for wedding photography. It is "enough", while also being relatively efficient to process. I've had to shoot a wedding or two with my 1Ds3 while my 1D3 was in for repair, and that was just ridiculous. I've said before, shooting a wedding with 21mp is like hunting rabbits with an elephant gun. It gets the job done, but not the smartest or most efficient way to work... 10mp is simply ideal.
ChrisDM wrote:
10 is ideal for me. If I'm shooting shots that are going to be printed big (the formals mostly) then I'm able to take time and compose and frame properly. But for those "grab shots" that I may need to crop heavily, those aren't the ones that are going to be framed above the fireplace right? They're going to just end up in the wedding album hopefully, or perhaps a 4x6 print etc... 10mp is simply ideal for wedding photography. It is "enough", while also being relatively efficient to process. I've had to shoot a wedding or two with my 1Ds3 while my 1D3 was in for repair, and that was just ridiculous. I've said before, shooting a wedding with 21mp is like hunting rabbits with an elephant gun. It gets the job done, but not the smartest or most efficient way to work... 10mp is simply ideal.
The Mark III is perfect for shooting weddings. I love the color rendition, skin tones, the AF and most of all the speed of the Mark III. I almost shoot portraits always with AI-Servo. Nothing can replace a Mark III. Shooting weddings with a Mark III is pure pleasure.
tmiller wrote:
After owning and shooting with the 300D, XT, 20D, 30D, 40D, 5D, 1DMarkII, MarkIIN, and 1DMarkIII. I can wholeheartedly agree with Chris's post.
Perfect weddind body, if the autofocus is fixed! =o)
-tmiller
own and use 1d, 1ds, 1dsII, 20d, 30d, 40d, in the past, now I shot 5d, 1dIII and soon 5dII. I will continue to use the 1dIII as primary. I have had a 10 percent increase in success for my weddings, and relish the opportunity to shot this body !!!
