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Archive 2009 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Mike Tuomey
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Jul 15, 2009 at 09:26 PM

Hersch
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Bruce, I have all three that you have listed - the 5D, 50D and MkIII. Keep in mind that your 300mm will be 390mm with the MkIII and 480mm with the 50D. I find myself using my 50D just about as much as the MkIII on wildlife for this reason. The MkIII has 10mp and the 50D 15mp. The fps and the AF on the MkIII are unquestionably faster and better but I'm not sure how much improvement you will see in your images. My 5D is still my Landscape camera and I would hate to give it up for that purpose.

To me the $$ amount seems very reasonable from a dealer, but the thought of having only one camera and knowing how well the 50D works for me it would be a tough decision.

I probably don't help you out much with my response but thought I would let you know my thoughts.

Grant

Jul 15, 2009 at 09:36 PM

freaklikeme
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

If I were you, I wouldn't do it. Not because the mark III isn't a great camera, but because I wouldn't give up a full frame without getting a new full frame in return. If all your work is telephoto, it might be a different story for you. But if you like the wide end of your lenses, then don't do it.

Jul 15, 2009 at 09:38 PM

phillipyan
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

I just moved from 5D to a Mark III. So far so good. Mine doesnt seem to have the AI-Servo problem shooting an intense track cycling race.

For wildlife, 1DmarkIII is a good choice.

Jul 15, 2009 at 09:40 PM

OwlsEyes
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Hersch wrote:
Bruce, I have all three that you have listed - the 5D, 50D and MkIII. Keep in mind that your 300mm will be 390mm with the MkIII and 480mm with the 50D. I find myself using my 50D just about as much as the MkIII on wildlife for this reason. The MkIII has 10mp and the 50D 15mp. The fps and the AF on the MkIII are unquestionably faster and better but I'm not sure how much improvement you will see in your images. My 5D is still my Landscape camera and I would hate to give it up for...Show more →

Grant,
Your input is very valuable to me on this issue as we do a similar type of photography. I really miss my 1DmkII, but hate the battery system with that camera. However, the 1DIII has so many advantages over the 1DII... when it works. I purchased the 50D as a stop-gap... high res, good frame rate, 14-bit files, and micro-focus adjustment... my problem is the build. If they slapped the 50D guts into a 5D body w/out the pop-up flash and some weather-sealing I would not be chasing the 1-series again.

thanks for your thoughts...
bruce

Jul 15, 2009 at 09:51 PM

pranic
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

I'm going to chime in and suggest that you go for the deal. $350 is insignificant, and as a 5D and a 1DmkIII owner (and previous owner of the 1D, 1DmkII), I don't think you'll regret the mkIII (assuming it's shooting great photos).

It sounds like a good deal to me.

Jul 15, 2009 at 09:56 PM

Lance Couture
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

SnapsterAU wrote:
Of course the OP is consumer, but we have to take into consideration the business dealer in this scenario. If you give him no profit then there won't be a trade at all. In other words advise on flat trade based on used market prices with no addition is useless in this scenario.

You might as well sell both your cameras first then go buy the 1D III. The dealer is just wasting their time doing a flat trade with no profit. This isn't a simple matter of a private transaction between a person and a person, where profit has no...Show more →

Ah, but I did not say to tell the deal to stuff it for the $350. I said, "...show him the math, then re-negotiate.".

If you take a dealer's word for what they offer, you'll get screwed every time.

Jul 15, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Hrow
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

The 53XXXXX SN puts it squarely in the group of cameras that had/has problems. I know, I had two between 52 and 57XXXXXXX that were just crap. I would absolutely want to make sure that all of the fixes were done and I would want to know what camera the other guy traded this one in for. Realistically, most people that have a well functioning 1DMkIII would rather sell their children than give up the camera so the question is why is this one on the market. If he traded it for a Nikon I would back out of the store quickly.

I would also want to know how many clicks are on the body as the camera is old enough for there to be a lot of them. I wouldn't worry too much from a shutter life perspective but it can tell you somethings about its prior life. You have to remember it is a pro body and may have used as such.

In terms of the body itself... when they are good they are very good. Since you won't have a warranty, if it is bad you are basically screwed as the costs to get it right are going to be extensive. After looking at your website I am not sure that the benefits of a 1D will override the benefits of the combo of a FF and crop camera. I don't think you'll see an IQ difference significant enough to sway the decision so it boils down whether the build and AF matter more than the flexibility of two bodies.

Good luck with a tough decision.

Jul 16, 2009 at 12:06 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

But Lance, your dreaming about an EX++ 50D being worth $1250 IMO. The math is wrong. The deal for a camera store is pretty decent if it's a low mileage, EX 1D III.

I'd say the 1D III would do a dam fine job at landscape and apart from losing the wide end of you widest lens, it's not a deal breaker. I have a 17-40 which is like a 21.25 on my 1D II and that's still plenty wide enough for most landscape work I do. Also I'm of the opinion UWA glass is not at it's best on cameras with this few MP anyway. The main thing would be if you shoot with a lot of very fast glass wide ope or nearly wide open, you'll lose a bit of DOF compared to the 5D. For wildlife you'll lose a lot of reach compared to the 50D, but only if you are FL limited and the vastly better (hopefully) Af of the 1D III would make it my go to camera in most cases if I had both.

So if the camera can be returned if AF issues arise, go for it.

Jul 16, 2009 at 12:13 AM

Lance Couture
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Pixel Perfect wrote:
But Lance, your dreaming about an EX++ 50D being worth $1250 IMO.

Hrm.

50D's can be had for $1200 new now, $950 used.

Unreal. I havent looked at 50D prices recently (no need to). In a way, its kind of disgusting how quickly prices fall on prosumer cameras these days. Thanks, Whayne.

I stand corrected on the math, not on my point though.

So, ya, this deal is actually not bad.

This almost piques my interest in trading in my 2x30D's/17-55/1D2 for a Mk III...

Jul 16, 2009 at 12:21 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Lance Couture wrote:
Hrm.

50D's can be had for $1200 new now, $950 used.

So, ya, this deal is actually not bad.

This almost piques my interest in trading in my 2x30D's/17-55/1D2 for a Mk III...

Yeah, unfortunately the depreciation is crazy. I am now starting to think of a 1Ds III and sell my 40D, 5D and 1D II as they mk III are under $5K now. The 1Ds III has more reach than my 1D II, is FF, and it's AF is infinitely better than my 40D's or 5D's.

Still it's more likely I'll get a 5D II. Got to sell my 5D first.

Jul 16, 2009 at 12:38 AM

Lance Couture
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Pixel Perfect wrote:
The 1Ds III has more reach than my 1D II, is FF, and it's AF is infinitely better than my 40D's or 5D's.

Still it's more likely I'll get a 5D II. Got to sell my 5D first.

Do you mean "reach" via cropping?

Jul 16, 2009 at 01:08 AM

Mike Tuomey
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

OP, I don't understand your thinking. You've got a very productive combo with the 50D and 5D. *Imagemaster* and other wildlife shooters manage gorgeous work out of the later xxD bodies, as you do now. With two cameras, you have backup. You won't if you trade them. Your concerns over a pop-up flash and build don't seem siginificant. Have you been shorting out bodies in the wet and wild? What significant deficiencies have you identified in your work that a 1D III will improve?

As Henry points out, that camera is on the shelf for a reason. You don't know the reason. Have you researched the considerable history of the III to attempt to minimize the risk of that dealer's body being a lemon? Henry has given you a good push in that direction. Follow through, learn the service and use history of that camera.

You're worried about a $350 cash issue? That's insignficant compared to the risk of getting a bad III, imho. Require the dealer to give you a 30-60 day return right so that you're safe if the III has a problem. Otherwise, walk away and go shooting with what you have.

Jul 16, 2009 at 06:03 AM

milmoejoe
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

I would go for it. I change bodies quite a bit, but have settled on the 1d3. I've had two "bad ones" (adorama refurb, used) but the problems had nothing to do with AF issues.

I shoot closeup shots of small/flighty frogs, venomous snakes and birds...The 1d3 takes some time to learn how to use, but is significantly better than the 50D at high ISO. I'd used the 50d since it's inception and thought the flight tracking was good. Having used both side by side for some time, the 50d servo is overly sensitive and drops focus quite a bit. I am quite happy with two 1d3's.

The only downside I see is the lack of a backup body. I use a 20D, which runs, what, $300 these days?

Double check the body (don't freak out about it), if it's not functional, you will know right away.

Best of luck.

Jul 16, 2009 at 06:52 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Lance Couture wrote:
Do you mean "reach" via cropping?

Yes, by cropping. A 1DS III shot cropped to 1D II FOV has 13MP vs 8MP, lots more pixel per duck as they say.

Edited on Jul 16, 2009 at 08:29 AM · View previous versions

Jul 16, 2009 at 06:55 AM

milmoejoe
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

p.s. I would immediately discard any "you know why it's on that shelf" rationale.

I saw a Jaguar XJ220 in the shop last week. Must be crap!

Jul 16, 2009 at 06:55 AM

OwlsEyes
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Thanks for all for all of the input....
I'll be making my decision shortly, as I don't want to screw the dealer by keeping the body on hold too long. For those who asked... the body was traded in by an event photographer... not sport, but social/corporate event photographer. She is a good egg, as I know her work. She is picky and would not have accepted a camera that was crapping out or unpredictable. The camera was replaced w/ a new 1DsMkIII... no system switch, but a move up in resolution. The camera has some miles and brassing on the back from scraping stuff in the bag...

As I indicated, bumps and bruises on the body are not a deal breaker. I took a well worn MkII to Tanzania, South Dakota, and Costa Rica and just added to the aging process... my 300mm 2.8 is dented and losing paint... this stuff happens if you use your gear a lot.

I'm bumbed to hear that the serial number is in the "hot zone," as I do not want to take on a liability... I'm heading off for a week in the Badlands (again!) on Saturday, and am a bit concerned about having only one body... I guess I'll update this post in about 3 hours and let you all know what transpired.

thanks and regards,
bruce

Jul 16, 2009 at 07:13 AM

Hrow
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

milmoejoe wrote:
p.s. I would immediately discard any "you know why it's on that shelf" rationale.

I saw a Jaguar XJ220 in the shop last week. Must be crap!

Normally I would agree. However, as a number of posts here have indicated, some people (many, a few, one or two - who knows) have given up on Canon trying to fix their AF and have switched to something else Given the timing of the latest recall, I would be cautious. Besides for that, anyone buying a used 1DMkIII who has is not cautious is just an idiot. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it but if you don't do a little research into the particular camera you may get value equal to the minimal effort expended.

Jul 16, 2009 at 07:16 AM

RDKirk
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

I'll be making my decision shortly, as I don't want to screw the dealer by keeping the body on hold too long. For those who asked... the body was traded in by an event photographer... not sport, but social/corporate event photographer. She is a good egg, as I know her work. She is picky and would not have accepted a camera that was crapping out or unpredictable. The camera was replaced w/ a new 1DsMkIII... no system switch, but a move up in resolution. The camera has some miles and brassing on the back from scraping stuff in the bag...

That makes the body a business tax amortization by this point. Time for replacement, and clearly the photographer was happy enough with it to have kept it until it was time for tax amortization and then replaced it with a new model of the same brand.

Jul 16, 2009 at 07:19 AM

leewoolery
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Paralyzed by MkIII Decision

Ty Holland wrote:
STOP.........

Get the S/N off the camera and call Canon to make sure all the fixes and patches have been applied to this camera before doing this trade.

Ty

www.thephotomafia.com

I have a Mark III with all of the latest fixes and I can't sell it because it still doesn't focus as it should.

I wouldn't stick another photographer with that problem.

I would keep the cameras that you have and your $350.00 and be very happy.

Much success,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Jul 16, 2009 at 07:30 AM

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