I picked up a 1Ds Mark II about a week ago. A camera I always wanted back when it was released, but one that quickly fell off my radar because of the $$$ price tag.
Anyway... I managed to find one in excellent condition (looks almost new!) for $300, so I figured, why not? And boy, am I glad I pulled the trigger!
But I'm also... sad. Not that modern Canons are bad in any way. But the files, the tones, and the colors from this oldie? Oh dear... this is NOT easy to replicate in post.
Now all my R8, R6, and R7 files look like garbage in comparison. Cleaner? Sure. More dynamic range? Absolutely! Technically superior in pretty much every way, but the files feel so restrained and lifeless in comparison. There's just no warm harmony whatsoever in the color rendering.
Yes, I'm talking about RAW files, processed in Lightroom. Not sure if other converters would tell a different story.
And don't get me wrong, the camera itself is a pain to work with by modern standards. It's slow, clunky, and those bizarre button combinations make even the simplest adjustments feel like solving a puzzle. But man... the files it produces! So beautifully rich, warm, and pleasing to the eye. Almost makes you forget what a dinosaur you're shooting with.
