Your top 5 reasons... for Mark II owners.

[LazyPhotographer]

What were the top 5 reasons you chose to go for the Mark II?

OR

What are the top 5 reasons you like/dislike your new Mark II?

Simple and to the point answers puhleeze ... :)

[Belmondo]

My top five reasons:
1. 1.3X crop factor/8+ megapixels
2. Lower noise at higher ISO settings
3. Higher shutter speeds
4. 8.5 fps.
5. 'Cool' factor

One more....I had two 10Ds and needed something to break the tie.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Top five likes/reasons to buy; 8)

8) 1. BufferSpeeds: FPS, number of shots and card write speeds.
:D 2. AF: Faster AF, more precise AF, better tracking of a moving subject.
8) 3. Custom Functions: The ability to store a number of profiles.
8) 4. T-Con/Long lens Advantage: The ability to AF at f/8
:D 5. Image Quality: 8.2MP, lower noise, better color, better detail. ISO 50!

Top fives dislikes; :x

:x 1. Stupid Camera: Despite having dual memory cards, it will not switch automatically to the seond card when the first fills! This is STUPID! Christ the Olympus C2500 go this right about 5 years ago!

:evil: 2. Stupid Camera: Despite having programmable user settings and custom functions.. these settings do NOT include metering settings, AF settings, shooting modes in the "stored" personal functions. etc... And switching from one to the other is too time consuming. Canon should have put a dial on the camra just like the 10D and allowed US to program what each shotting position on the dial uses for presets.

:( 3. Stupid Camera: The Menu navigation is PATHETIC! There is no reason for it to contunue to be so difficult to navigate the menu! Canon.. YOU GOT IT RIGHT WHITH THE 10D! Why do you continue to perpetuate the mistakes of the 1V menu on your newest state of the art Digital cameras!

:x 4: Stupid Camera: The Battery! NIMH??? Are you nuts? What is this? 1998? This camera should have run on either BP511s or some other LI battery. Again.. why does Canon insist on carrying over outdated unimproved crap from earlier cameras? I understand wanting to maintain some form of backward/universal compatibility.. but at the expense of improvement? No way!

:? 5. ????????: I'll get back to you on #5.. for now.. consider how much this beast weighs!

[Mills]

1. Improved Buffer & Speed

2. Want a second camera with more capability than my 10D that will challenge my abilities in the creative zone.

3. Lower noise at higher ISO in addition to ETTL II will yield better results for night time shooting.

4. 8.2 megpaixels.

5. Seems to be "Best of Both Worlds" tool. The most logical combination of abilities between 1D & 1Ds.

I must agree with my distinguished friends CDS & Belmondo. Unfortunately, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get the F'N THING!!!

[KennyG]

My MK-II is due in a few weeks to replace my 10D second camera. My reasons for going down that route are:

1. Already have a 1D MK-I and can drive it in my sleep (some say my shots look as though I have).

2. Buffer speed

3. Buffer speed

4. Buffer speed

5. Buffer speed

Hope that helps.

[defordphoto]

Unfortunately, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get the F'N THING!!!

My MK-II is due in a few weeks to replace my 10D second camera.

We will get them soon. It has not even been out a month yet! Seems like a year doesn't it? Just look at it this way: We will get the new, improved, second-generation version!!!

[KennyG]

CDS, I'll address two of your points as a 1D user which has virtually the same set of buttons and the same battery.

I went from my spare 10D to 1D and for about three days I was like a clumsy ox wearing mittens. Now I find it quite logical and can change modes/settings without taking my eye off the viewfinder. I think the button design has a lot to do with the weather sealing and internal layout of the components. plus of course keeping the same format for users used to the 1 series body. Canon certainly thought most of the MK-II's were going to end up in the hands of the pros who already used the MK-I or were moving up from a 1 series film body. The 10D to MK-II migration seems to have come as a surprise.

The battery is suprisingly good, although very heavy, and must have the longest life of any battery in a DSLR with the MK-II. My MK-I lasts for 600-800 shots, not too far away from a pair of batteries in my 10D. A comment I got from someone in Canon about the battery was - if it isn't broken, don't fix it. For me it is a plus as I have a couple of spares anyway for the MK-I, although some of the shot counts I am hearing about from MK-II owners it looks like 1 battery will last way beyond a full day shoot for me. The only downside is battery memory and having to do a full refresh every month.

[defordphoto]

As for the battery issue, lithiums can have problems. They don't like being fully discharged and it can shorten their lifespan somewhat. Lithium batteries prefer to be topped-off. As for the 1D-series batteries, as long as you follow the (what I consider minor) battery maintenance schedule, you will get very long life from these batteries, not to mention that you'll get more shots from the 1D-series battery than the two-battery setup that the 10D uses.

[scottbergerphoto]

1. I've take over 600 shots and my battery still shows full, even using IS.
2. Supert Fast AF in most lighting.
3. Incredible detail in 50% crops blown up to 8x10.
4. Color smooth as butter. Natural tones.
5. AI Servo that is awesome, as I found out on Saturday.
6. Shutter snap sounds like music.
7. Evaluative metering that is accurate and isn't easily fooled by shadows.
Scott

[Andy_T]

Top fives dislikes; :x

:? 5. ????????: I'll get back to you on #5.. for now.. consider how much this beast weighs!

According to B&H, it weighs exactly $ 4,495.95 :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[topeju]

Top fives dislikes; :x

:? 5. ????????: I'll get back to you on #5.. for now.. consider how much this beast weighs!

According to B&H, it weighs exactly $ 4,495.95 :lol:


Plus S&H and taxes, where applicable. :-)

One more for the plus side, hopefully (I don't have the 1DmkII nor can I afford one): better viewfinder image? I was surprised to see the difference between the viewfinder images of my EOS 5 and 10D, even when the 10D was equipped with the 50/1.8 and the EOS 5 with the 70-200/2.8.

[NILOLIGIST]

1-Buffer Speed...WOOOHOOOO!!!

2- Vertical grip & controls

3- AF

4- Less Noise (great ISO)

5- Battery life and the charger is great, lets you refresh battery.

Last...The cool factor

[CyberDyneSystems]

I agree with all the positive things being said,. .. but asked for dislikes as well,.. I offer them. :wink: Well we can make apologies for the short comings all we want.

Bottom line.. NIMH is old tech.. this is the latest camera. LI would be an improvement. The existing battery is a large (very large) contributor to the 1D bulk and weight. Now.. I know that someone will say something about it's "feeling" right.. and "balancing" like we allways here about the Big-Ed on a 10D... but this is beyond extra grip space. The 1D's are the heaviest DSLRs on the planet! They coud stand a slimming diet in the power source dept. :D :wink:

As far as menu. yes.. you can get used to it.. and I allready am.

But.. operations that take one push of a button and a turn of a dial.. or just a turn of a dial and no button on the 10D interface can be as many as our or five different operations on the 1 series..

One or two operations Vs. four or five. :roll:

I read one "apologist" on RG forum state "you can switch from CF to SD card in under a second"

Now why would anyone insist on such a farce? The truth is I can switch out the CFcard with a fresh one FAAAAAR faster than I can switch to the SD card in the menu.. :? (this is assuming I have a second CF handy.. I'll grant you that) And I defy anyone on the planet to put this to a race with cash on the line! :mrgreen:

The amount of twiddling (regards to MR :shock: ) it takes to switch cards in menu makes the advantage of dual cards nearly moot in many situations.


So old battery or old menu design. In both cases there is plenty of room for improvement.

Don't get me wrong. The MkII is definately the best digital I have ever used. It may be the best Digital ever made! 8)

But these are drawbacks in my opinion.. it didn't/wouldn't stop me from getting the camera.

But when asked for our input of likes AND dislikes.. I didn't hold back. :mrgreen:

[CoolToolGuy]

Is it possible that the battery is the same so that pros that have both the original 1D and the MkII won't have to carry two kinds of spare batteries with them in the field? If they are as big and heavy as y'all say they are, that might be an issue.

[defordphoto]

Is it possible that the battery is the same so that pros that have both the original 1D and the MkII won't have to carry two kinds of spare batteries with them in the field? If they are as big and heavy as y'all say they are, that might be an issue.

There ya go! Hit that freaking nail on the head!! :D

[CyberDyneSystems]

Oh well.. I guess it doesn't matter how I try to make my point.. :roll: but I mention the concession for backwards compatibility in the first post ... :wink:

[defordphoto]

Oh well.. I guess it doesn't matter how I try to make my point.. :roll: but I mention the concession for backwards compatibility in the first post ... :wink:

You slammed both the camera and Canon pretty hard. I think we were all taken back a bit by that. Considering the power these batteries put out, dealing with minor refreshing seems quite worth it to me. Lithiums are not bullet-proof. They too can have slight memory issues and cannot be refreshed.

At least Canon gives us a charger that does refreshing.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Sorry,. really it was not ment to be a slam at all. :oops:

I absolutely love this camera.. and I thought I made that clear.. (the smillies were supposed to indicate.. like in kindergarten when you get a smile or a frown for a grade?) :lol:

Again.. I was asked (or rather the question was asked) ... so I answered honestly.. no slam meant.

Maybe the camera is too new for me to air any "wish lists" but really.. in six months the 'net will be filled with them.. just as there was for every other DSLR before it.. we've done it for the 10D 1D D60 and D30 before it..

There is ALLWAYS room for improvement.. well almost allways, but I have only held perfection in my hands on a very few occasions in my life.. and a Camera has yet to be one of them.

For the record.. the Three times I can recall holding perfection... In the order in which they occured;.....

1. I had been an avid blade collector.. knives, swords,.. well I was in a freinds house. a producer and writer,.. and beside the fireplace was a Katana... I asked if I might handle.. "yes... my father brought it back from Okinawa.. "

I had allways known that these were the best history had to offer.. had handled a few more averadge specimens in the past,. but I was not prepared for the rush I got.. this was a "Family Sword".. no Idea of the date.. but it was magnifcent. Not overly ornate.. but the most lethal device I had ever held. The weight .. balance and feel of it literally sent chills down my spine.. I drew the blade to expose only about 12" from the scabbard.. recalling the tradition that they are only to be drawn when needed (to draw blod).. I could feel the power.. and somewhere deeeeeeeep in the back of my mind.. I was aware of how easy it would be to split the producer down the middle.. :?

It was perfection.

2. An Icecream scoop... I kid you not.. this one was in a flea market.. made of solid brass.. the handles squeeze together to send a ring across the inside of the sccop and eject the ice.. This one I could afford and still own

3. Her name was Paulette.... :oops: 8) 8) 8)

[defordphoto]

LOL! Good response CDS! :)

There has never been, and I doubt—at least in our lifetimes—ever will be a perfect camera. There will always be something missing, or some button in the wrong place. Not to mention that people's opinions of perfection differ quite a bit. That blade you find to be perfect might be too heavy for me, or too light for CoolToolGuy or too long for Tom and/or too short for Nil. It's all very subjective.

As for your dissertation on the likes and dislikes you were quite colorful... and called the camera stupid... and didn't have any smilies in what you consider the negative aspects of the camera... and used words like "crap" and "pathetic" to describe it. IMO that was quite a slam on both Canon and the MKII. Maybe you didn't mean it that way but it sure came across that way to me.

[LazyPhotographer]

Thanks everyone... this is helpful to all of us.

[LazyPhotographer]

Bump to the top ... in case there's more you guys want to add.

[defordphoto]

1. Pure unadulterated speed. I have to speed up to the camera, not the other way around. There is no waiting for anything with the MKII.

2. AWB. Auto white balance is phenomenal.

3. AI Servo. See #1. Focusing is super fast; super accurate.

4. 8.5fps. Again see #1.

5. Battery life. Wow! Amazing. Over 1500 shots, camera was ON for over 8 hours straight and meter still read full.

I'm sure I could come up with 5 more...:)

[CyberDyneSystems]

5. Battery life. Wow! Amazing. Over 1500 shots, camera was ON for over for over 8 hours straight and meter still read full.


O-kay.. here's wher I need to admit my mistakes... despite my feelings of the size and weight of this cameras battery.. I was NOT expecting the battery life it offers! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Having owned a 1D and knwoing that this battery three times the size and weight of a 10D battery and yet does not last any longer in the 1D than a Bp511 does in a 10D.. I was not prepared for how much longer this SAME beast lasts in the MkiI

Easily three times as long.. easily!

[defordphoto]

Amazing isn't it what a power-hog a CCD is. The one thing I don't like about the batteries is that they are large and heavy and carrying an extra in the vest is quite a bit different than a couple of little BP-511's. But, I'll pay the price...

[LazyPhotographer]

No new gripes or raves?

[rodbunn]

I just want to say, I far more appreciate someone telling me what
"they" feel is bad about a camera then someone raving about what
it can do. I can read Canon's info about what it CAN do. I want to
hear from USERS what they don't like and then I can make my own
decisions as to if it's "petty" or "important" to ME.

Thanks for all the feedback either way everyone !

Rod

[MDJAK]

3. Her name was Paulette.... :oops: 8) 8) 8)

And where, prey tell, is she now?

[TheSportsGuy]

IT.....IS.... ALIVE!!!!

:cool:

[Persephone]

K, why are we bumping up five year old threads...

I thought this thread was new (meaning it referred to the 5D Mark II) and was going to make a crack at listing five reasons to own a 1D II...only to be thwarted by the fact that it was ALREADY a 1D II thread.

[CyberDyneSystems]

And where, prey tell, is she now?

Sadly no Idea, but I'm up to #4 in the perfection dept now...

[maxloxton]

So, what do you guys who owned it 5 years back say about this camera?
is this still worth buying with likes of Mark IIIs and Mark IIs in market

[Colorblinded]

I still love my Mark II although it's going to need a new shutter. I'm also struggling with whether to sell it so I can hurry up and get a 5D Mark II.

[maxloxton]

What is the price of New 1d Mark II?
I am deciding to replace my 20D with a 1d Mark ii, Any thougts.

[Colorblinded]

I would be surprised if you found a new one on sale anywhere.

[TooManyShots]

You are talking about 1dmarkII?

Why I had it:
Superior AF systems.
Fast burst speed.
Weather sealed (been out in pouring rain and snow storm and had no ill effects).
1.3 crop factor.
Good high ISO noise up to 1600.

Why I sold it for a markIII:
Stupid user interface. 2 buttons operation. I actually lust for my father 30D because it has a better user interface.
The battery life isn't so great. Is just fine.
No picture profiles and somewhat inaccurate white balance.
ISO 3200 shots are barely usable comparing to the markIII.

The size of the LCD isn't a factor since you can't check for sharpness in either one.

[tstowe]

Used Mark II is going for about $1,000.

[René Damkot]

Stupid user interface. 2 buttons operation. I actually lust for my father 30D because it has a better user interface.

Depends. I'd used an Eos 1n for years, and to me the 1D2 felt like coming home after the 10D.

I prefer the UI of the Mk2 to that of the Mk3 in some respects.

[Persephone]

No picture profiles and somewhat inaccurate white balance.

I thought the "N" version added Picture Styles?

[CyberDyneSystems]

So, what do you guys who owned it 5 years back say about this camera?
is this still worth buying with likes of Mark IIIs and Mark IIs in market

I still have mine and would be reluctant to part with it.
I was a 1D MkIII "early adopter" as well, and suffered with a malfunctioning camera for over a year before finally getting a replacement from Canon.
During that time, my faithful MkII still soldiered on.

I was considering selling it recently, but with prices now half what I expected for a good used one, I doubt I ever will sell it.

[Colorblinded]

The prices were a real cringe for me too when I first started thinking about selling my Mark II a year ago or so. Unfortunately now it's the most realistic thing I can do to get the 5D Mark II sooner. That and I have no real justification for keeping mine. They sure have plummeted in value though :(

[Apollo11]

Depends. I'd used an Eos 1n for years, and to me the 1D2 felt like coming home after the 10D.



Same with me. I had a 1N-RS for 8 or so years, bought new. In '07 I bought a 30d and loved it for the images it produced, but never was kicked on the ergonomics, build quality, speed, etc.

A few months ago I bought a used Mark IIn and sold the 30d. It does, indeed, feel like I'm home. The feeling of shooting with the 1N came back in an instant. I have the added bonus of spectacular AF to go along with digital images.

[M3Rocket]

Unfortunately, I think the 1D III will take an even bigger hit once the IV or V is out. The 1D II series was just outstanding for it's time.

[zincozinco]

Lol lol im like why is everybody talking about the 1 model the OP must mean the 5d.... Im following the thread and realize its old but very old :)

[zincozinco]

Id say that the mark 2 series whether an s or n are the best valu for money out there now. Still hard to beat the 16 mp for studio and for sports are you gonna notice 8fps vs 10 fps... All relative to the cost of course...

[sheawyatt]

Id say that the mark 2 series whether an s or n are the best valu for money out there now. Still hard to beat the 16 mp for studio and for sports are you gonna notice 8fps vs 10 fps... All relative to the cost of course...

Yep, my next upgrade will almost definitely be to the 1dsII. Hopefully by the time I decide to do that the IV will have come out, and prices will hit rock bottom. The II series' only drawback is the battery, and even then if you refresh it regularly and don't go out on a shoot after letting it sit for 3 weeks, it performs superbly.

And in the spirit of the original post from 5 years ago, in no particular order:

-AF
-weathersealing & build & handling
-1.3x crop w/8.2 MP
-customizability
-8.5 fps

[malla1962]

Right now I think the mk2 is a lot of camera for the money.

[zincozinco]

Yep, my next upgrade will almost definitely be to the 1dsII. Hopefully by the time I decide to do that the IV will have come out, and prices will hit rock bottom. The II series' only drawback is the battery, and even then if you refresh it regularly and don't go out on a shoot after letting it sit for 3 weeks, it performs superbly.

And in the spirit of the original post from 5 years ago, in no particular order:

-AF
-weathersealing & build & handling
-1.3x crop w/8.2 MP
-customizability
-8.5 fps

Drawback?? Im getting about a 1000+ on mine its hard to tell which but in the past 2 weeks Ive done over 4000 shots and I still have 2 batteries in the cameras, 2 other has been charged, im amazed on the durabillity, but i come from 5d.....

[zincozinco]

AND DONT forget 2 batteries on ebay for 32 dollars..... its a steal!!!!

[deb0]

Jealous....!

[smorter]

A 5D Mark II?

[midnight_rider]

A 5D Mark II?

This thread was started before the 5D classic came out.
About a year and a half before it came out.



Good to see some if the people who have this camera still like it long after they purchased it.

[mastertech01]

I think maybe by the time the IV comes out MAYBE the econony will start stabilizing and you may not see as dramatic a drop in price on the III as some are hoping for. I think we are very lucky to see the II as cheap as it is (if you are buying) and there may be hope for a rebound in values down the road for those whom own one from years ago and want to recover more value than they are getting right now simply because the economy is in the tank.

[CyberDyneSystems]

The amazing thing is, the used price on the MkII is really revolutionary IMHO.
Never before has it been possible to get such a great professional camera, so competitive with the the current state of the art, at such a good price.

Yes the MkI 1D eventually got down to this price, but it was not until much later, and it was a lot less competitive with the current crop it competed with.
4.5 vs 8.5 mp is a lot, 8.5 vs. 10 mp is .. well not much at all.

The MkII series is right now the best deal on a Canon pro DSLR body ever.