I'll be upgrading from a 10D to either a 5D or 1dMII. This camera will mostly be used to events, weddings, portrait work. I'm a bit torn as to which one to get and I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

After seeing various 5D samples posted on the web and related reviews, I cannot see any good reason for me to upgrade my 20D to 5D. 1dMk2N will be my choice. The handling is significantly better and the AF is supposed to more accurate ( yet to see some scientific test results though ) .

Without owning either... it strikes me that the 5D is perhaps the best event, wedding and portrait camera out there as well as the best choice for landscapers who don't deal with serious weather conditions. For sports, wildlife and adverse weather conditions the 1DMII would be my choice.

I will be upgrading my 20D at some point in the near future and am also torn between the same two cameras but have decided to wait and see what the upgraded 20D brings as I suspect that it may bring a third option into play. From an ultimate quality perspective, I think Canon has hit the limits of what it can do with DIGIC II and any truly significant advances will have to have DIGIC III. Hopefully we will see that at PMA and if we do, we will have to see what benefits it brings.

Hrow wrote:
it strikes me that the 5D is perhaps the best event, wedding camera out there

thasts not true. it is not comparable to the 1D series! and shooting events and weddings means, catching moments without having a second chance.

i would rely much more on a pro body.

but it depends, if you are hobbyist and can live with inaccurate or missed shots or if you want to get money from customers and must act like a pro who tries to catch as much mpments as possible.

a hobbyist can surely get happy with a 5D, but if you get paid for your work, the markIIn is the right choice.

If your not shooting sports then go with the 5D..

I'll be upgrading from a 10D to either a 5D or 1dMII. This camera will mostly be used to events, weddings, portrait work. I'm a bit torn as to which one to get and I would appreciate any suggestions.

Unless there are specific features on the 1 series you need, I would recommend the 5D without hesitation. --c

I second what charlesk said.

Just finished a couple of banquet events with my 5D, high ISO performance and wide angle capability was great.

Focus was fast and accurate.

harvey

you know, this subject is obviously beat to death...do a seach and you'll find pages of answers.

But regardless, it always seems to be to be the wrong question! You just can't compare a consumer/pro-sumer level camera to a 1-series pro-level camera.

FWIW, here's my take;

The 20d is to the MKIIn what the 5D is to the MKIIs
crop body verses full-frame
limited feature set verses full feature set.
budget mode verses high cost
no single right or wrong answer
All are great cameras in their respective usage model. The 20d and the 5d provide trade-offs, or maybe better stated alternatives to the pro-level bodies albeit at a better price point. You just can't match the feature/performance set of a 1-series body with a lower level.

Off soap box now.

Michael

Own 1Dm2, tried 5D in store. 5D seems to be a decent camera. As far as a very limited test of a streetscape with same lens on both bodies I wouldn't buy the 5D expecting anything different for detail. Was pretty much the same thing. So other than a bigger viewfinder I'd say there are more advantages to the 1Dm2. If you have a wrist problem then consider the lighter body. If there was a real big price difference then maybe more room for the 5D but it's kinda pricy for what it is, which is not to say it's not a great travel camera etc. These bodies are like a new religion to some, they go on a crusade for a hunk of plastic and metal bits. Steve

Either will get the job done in fine fashion, you need to get your hands on each of them and see how you like the feel of each. The 1D is a beast of a camera, it does get very heavy after a few hours of hauling it around. On the other hand once you are used to the way it works, there is nothing like the feel of a one series.

The 5D I played around with felt much like my 20D and seemed like a good choice if you are worried about weight. While not a "Pro" body it is plenty well built and has a good feel, I'd be happy with it for the kind of use you are talking about.

Get thee to a camera store and try 'em out, but as far as practical reasons the 1D II doesn't do much that the 5D can't.

If it was my money, and I was a portrait/wedding shooter, I'd buy the 5D. They're two purpose built cameras, get the one that suits your purpose.

Joe:

I often hear people talk about how a camera is "purpose-built", and in the case of the 1DM2 I understand its applicability to sports. But what makes the 5D purpose-built for portraits & weddings?

Thx,
ALF

1dm2n.

I LOVE MINE

'But what makes the 5D purpose-built for portraits & weddings?'

It's less expensive. Wedding photographers outside of the star status big citys are price sensitive(aka cheap).

Thanks, Pixelman. This is surprising though, because if price was the issue I'd expect the RebelXT or 20D be better for them. It's not like the 5D has all that many "pro" features, afterall. Full-frame yes, but I was kinda hoping for the built-in eyepiece cover like the 1-series. I miss 5fps too. :-)

I guess I figured it was the FF that attracted wedding photographers, but the larger LCD could also be useful for them. Light weight is also a plus I suppose, but that's true for a number of applications. Anyhow, I was just curious.

ALF

No contest here, 1DMk2N.

5D without a doubt.

DADDYWORX wrote:a hobbyist can surely get happy with a 5D, but if you get paid for your work, the markIIn is the right choice.



Do you have a clue what you're talking about? What do you think we all did before AF? Do you think many wedding photogs use 8fps or high-speed motor drives at weddings? What about MF photogs shooting wedings on film today with no AF? Are they amatuerish compared to people like you who have 1d2's? Honestly, what do you think someone good enough to be a 'pro' would find limiting about a 5D? It strikes me that all these 'a pro needs to have 1-series features' comments are from complete amateurs.

As a wedding photographer I have used the 1DII and now also the 5D. I have found the 5D to have accurate focus, nice viewfinder, and it is a pleasure to use (although for me it was difficult to feel comfortable with until after I got the grip + E1 handstrap). Personally, I got it over a second 1DII mainly because I wanted a camera that would also double as a travel body without the grip. Additionally, I figured the extra resolution would come in handy. The user interface is easy, culling shots is a breeze compared to the 1DII, and I have the set up so that it is almost the same as the 1DII which is handy.

So which is best? Well after a month or so of use I personally prefer the 1DII, but both are good cameras. A bonus of the 5D is that at least now when a customer asks how many MP my camera has it still has a comfortable margin over their P&S or XT. However, as we all know, for this type of use either will do the job. For sports of course, the 1DII shines.

On the other hand, my business partner (female) loves the 5D without grip and would never use a 1DII due to the weight - she made do with a 20D until now and can't rave enough about the camera. She would not swap the 5D for a 1DsII if it were offered to her.

Cheers,

Antony

I almost never shoot sports or action shots, and after reading people's reviews I think I will get the 5d. Thanks everyone!

The weight of the one makes it a nice travel body like Anthony says. So to lean a little off topic of cameras to gear in general. It's funny that amateurs can't deduct the price and don't make money with the gear but they can buy what they'd like. Professionals gear up for jobs and don't always have what they'd prefer for vacations. Take me. I have the 70-200- f2.8. Fine for work. Do I want to take it to Europe nope. But it's hard to find something decent that's a step down in various qualities and to justify it's price for two weeks a year. You don't want to shoot with a junky lens but the size of things can be an issue. Have fun all Steve