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 p.2 #11 · 1Ds Mark III to 5D Mark III? | |
OntheRez wrote:
Since I have Ben's "old" 1DsIII (thanks Ben!) I see the camera's qualities a bit different than he does. There's no doubt the 5DIII has proved to be an excellent camera, kind of an "utility infield" sort of device. That's actually good for many people. My 5DIII experience is limited to a 4+ day period with a CPS loaner. It's higher resolution LCD was definitely a positive. It also did well at higher ISO. Much has been said about it's "partial 1Dx" AF. Definitely a massive improvement over the 5DII. As many have opined, "it's what the 5DII should have been."
I went with the 1DsIII for several reasons as I saw most of the 5DIII improvements as "generational" rather than fundamental.
(1) While the 5DIII does well at high ISO - it is perhaps 2 generation past the 1DsIII - I don't find extreme ISO (however defined) as important with the 1DsIII for my work. I have a 1DIV for that.
(2) Much is made of the new and improved AF in the 5DIII and while it is nice, bluntly I don't see it as any better than the 1DsIII/1DIV AF both of which remain among the best available. It seems the 1Dx is a substantial improvement, but I lack the price of admission to that club.
(3) No improvement in low or standard ISO. I had an intuitive sense of this but our host Fred Miranda's piece comparing it to the Nikon D800 was startling, to put it mildly. I'm sure I don't have to remind anyone how many "Canon sux! I'm off to Nikon" tirades we've all endured. I use the 1DsIII for landscape, "art", black and white, and the occasional portrait work I get conned in to. The utter lack of improvement in base IQ (particularly in the shadows) really does confound me.
(4) Price. Ben and I arrived at what, I hope, was a reasonable deal for both of us, but I know for a fact that he had to kick in a fair bit of coin to move to the 5DIII. Stated simply the current price of nice used 1DsIII is one of the all time great photographic bargains.
(5) The body. The feel of a tool in the hand is an intensely personal thing, and it's foolish for any of us to deride each other about which body is better. I've seen plenty of posts dismissing the whole 1D line up as "heavy," "boxy," "fat," well you've all read these critiques. For me they have the finest feel and hand and the greatest sense of durability and even survivability. I've handled the 5D series at each of its iterations and frankly always came away with the sense lighter, less durable, less capable. These are subjective feelings, but a camera is an intimate device. You work it with both hands and press it to your face. How it FEELS is crucial to the ability to work. The 1D series has always been a hunk of machined magnesium - a brick if you will. For my sins, I'm also the sports reporter/photographer for a small town newspaper. I take good care of my equipment, but bluntly the job is more important than the tool, though whenever faced with an out-of-bounds running back, my tuck and roll is designed first to protect the camera.  There is a reason that PJs of all flavors and particularly those in combat or danger zones using only Canikon's bulkiest and most durable cameras. On occasions I carry both the 1DsIII and the 1DIV. Being able to move seamlessly between them with essentially identical command structures is a definite positive.
To the OP, I think your decision criteria are in no particular order: (1) Which body feels better? (2) How important is durability, longevity, indeed survivability? (3) Do you need the higher ISO in your work? (4) Finally cost. You'll be paying at least a grand to make the move. That doesn't include batteries, L bracket, and if you need it: grip. You note that battery life is (minor). Even shooting 1500+ frames in a daylight track meet didn't put a real dent in battery life. I've never had to change a battery in the field. I doubt the same can be said about the 5DIII.
On the positive side, you can't go wrong with either camera. Both are good. Still the 1DsIII is the "dowager queen" of the Canon line. I suspect they will replace it with a massively megaed pix model that I won't be able to afford for at least 3 years. In the meantime, it is still one absolutely impressive bit of kit.
Robert
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Thanks for the nice post - to answer your questions:
1) I haven't tried the 5D3, but the feel of the 1Ds 3 is far superior to the 5D2 in regards to build quality, feel, responsiveness etc. I like the size of the 5D series better overall, hence the question whether the 5D3 feels more like the 1Ds series than the 5D2.
2) When thinking rationally, it is not very important for for me. The 5D2 (which I bought used) went to more than 175.000 frames before I sold it. If the 5D3 last that long, it will probably be enough for 5+ years of use for me. As said, weather sealing is nice, but there's a higher risk of my son killing it with his saliva, than me shooting in pouring rain, so it's not on top of my priority list :-)
3) No. Better higher ISO is always nice, but the 1Ds3 is good enough for my work. It's an added benefit, but not needed.
4) If I can get a grey import, the price difference won't be that big (given the prices in my country for a 1Ds 3).
The change would definately only be nice-to-have, not need-to-have - but it would only be worth it, if the 5D3 has more or less the same feel as the 1Ds3. Seems like that is the opinion of many people who've shot with both, so I might be looking for one now (and the many new functions of Magic Lantern, including RAW video and RAW histogram also looks very nice).
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