The title (metaphorically) says it all...
I am a biologist, teacher, and nature photographer. I live in MN where it is very cold during the winter and hot and humid during the summer. I travel extensively for photography and tend to travel rough. I have owned a 1DmkII (destroyed in Africa this summer) and 1Ds. I currently own/shoot w: 1D (original recipe) & 5D. I use a 300 f2.8ISL (plus converters), 70-200f4L, 17-40f4L, 20 f2.8 USM.. My wife has a full bag as well (she's a shooter... but not into the technological changes).
I have an opportunity to acquire a great looking 1DsMkII for $3000... I can't afford to shell out the dollars, but I think my dealer would negotiate a swap of gear...
I could trade my two bodies, 70-200 & 17-40 for the 1Ds II...
Questions...
1. I acknowledge the significant difference in AF speed and build between the 1DsmkII and my 5D.... but will I see an I.Q. difference? I shoot at base iso... and only stretch to iso 200.
2. Is this a body to take me into the future?... I don't want to buy another pro camera for the next three years... While I like the idea of the 21mp in the 5DII, I am not wild about the build (weather sealing) and af speed that the 5DII is predicted to have (even if it is as fast as the 50D).
advice and thoughts are welcome!
... oh, if lens availability is a concern, my wife has in her bag: 40D, 30D, 17-85EFS (not usable on 1-series), 70-200f4L (same as my lens), and Sigma 120-300 f2.8HSM
cheers,
bruce
If you are only shooting at 100-200 ISO, the 1Ds2 could very well be the camera to take you into the future. You really don't need more resolution even if doing large prints (i make 20x30" prints from a 20D) and the autofocus will be great as well as the build. I am waiting for the 1d mark 4 as I am hoping for great high ISO, HD video, 16MP, 1 series build and AF. Until then I'll stick with a 5D.
I can answer a couple of your questions; I bought a 1DsII earlier in the year, and just recently sold my 5D.
1 Yes, I think there is a perceivable IQ difference between the 1DsII and the 5D. The files include more detail, and hold up better to post. You did, however, note the one point I preferred on the 5D -- it's noise profile at high ISO (although, you can still do great things with the 1Ds2 in low light, here are some ISO 3200 examples from shooting in a club). You said that you're shooting low ISO, so I wouldn't worry about it. The other niceties (larger LCD, etc) are missed a little.
2 Hard to say, but more a personal opinion. It's the current choice I have made, and I think the 1Ds2 represents one of the better buys with current prices. That said, I will be keeping an eye on the 5D2 over the coming months, and might consider adding one at some point.
Last comment, check the B&S forum here also. There have been some exceptional deals (i.e. <$3K on 1Ds2 bodies recently). Hope that helps,
I did the 1Ds2 upgrade in Aug, and I am very happy with the choice. I had the 5D and having read lots of "should I" posts saw a 1Ds2 for sale locally & persued it. The moment I saw the files I was convinced I could see a difference, and still am. I have a downloadable full file sample that you are welcome to examine for your own evaluation. The minor details in the leather jacket look great, but the grain of the denim gives the shot away as being a scale model where the denim couldn't be scaled down. Look carefully at things like seat belts & buckles etc. http://picasaweb.google.com/cicopo/1DsmkllSample?authkey=XXjF_HzFcTI#
I'm not so sure that I would loose the 17-40 L though, and I have one and it's by no means my favorite but with FF you might really need it. For me the 1Ds2 has just about halted all use of my 1D2n, and it may soon by up for sale in anticipation of that hoped for 1D4.
Personally, I would keep the 5D and the lenses. You will be so much more significantly hampered by the reduced lens selection, that I can not see how the 1Ds2 would make up for that. I do like my 1Ds2 a lot, and have used my wife's 5D. They are both great cameras. To me the camera is just one part of the picture, and without great glass, how would you take the photo?
