1Ds vs. Mark II image quality

[Jay Todd]

Which is better overall?

[scottbergerphoto]

Which is better overall?
I don't have a 1Ds :( , but I do have a Mark II :D . The 1Ds at 11MP and full frame sensor should give somewhat better images then the Mark II. The real issue is at what size print will you see it and the fact that the Mark II at 8.5fps will get you shots that the 1Ds can't. I love the quality of the images coming from the Mark II. Jim Deford's recent post of a boat crash sequence is a good example of image quality and acquisition possible with the Mark II:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34329
These are some of mine:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/rc_flying_52904
Regards,
Scott

[SnJPhoto]

It depends on use. In a studio role, the 1Ds is my choice. Anything outside, especially sports, I use athe MkII. The dynamics of shooting just about anything outside makes me like the speed of the camera more (slightly more). If I had to only keep one, I would probably go with the MkII.

I've got both cameras and love both. But I am finding my 1Ds getting less use lately. Perhaps its novelty, but I don't think so.

Scott


[edit] Looking at the subject line again, I have to say the overall image quality of the 2 cameras is near equal. under the same "ideal" situation I would probably give the head nod to the 1Ds. But when are you ever in the ideal situation?

[defordphoto]

It'd be nice to see some exact, unprocessed, side-by-side comparisons and 100% crops with the MKII having DigicII and the 1Ds using DigicI. They might be closer than we think.

[ron chappel]

Yeah,i'd like to see that too!
Allthough i think they are allmost identical,i'm interested in relative gamma and saturation levels,etc

[SnJPhoto]

I'll try and grab a couple shots with each tomorrow....

[defordphoto]

Exact same static photo with exact same lens. Nice, high contrast, detailed subject. 100% crop, of course.

[sGu]

i'd love to see the comparison shots, can't wait!

[pradeep1]

I've got both cameras and love both. But I am finding my 1Ds getting less use lately. Perhaps its novelty, but I don't think so.


If you would like to donate your used equipment to a budding photographer, then I can be reached at ..... :P :P

[SnJPhoto]

I went and got some comparison shots for you all.

For all but one, I mounted the body/lens on a tripod, set the camera manually to the cameras meter recommendation and used the same settings on both bodies. I used a 17-40L, 70-200L and 24-70L for comparison. The day was a bright sunny morning at the beach, 3 shots of the Newport Beach Pier, 2 of the Dory fish shacks and 1 of the BSA docks.

The shots were shot in RAW format, and converted to JPG without any manipulation.

Here's the first 2 shots.... (big files)

http://members.cox.net/snjphoto5/1dm2bsa1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/snjphoto5/1dsbsa1.jpg


And....yes I know the sensors have dust....... :) I'll post more as I get them loaded

[SnJPhoto]

2nd set of full size pics....


http://members.cox.net/snjphoto4/1dsdory1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/snjphoto4/1dm2dory1.jpg

[Haifidelity]

...depends on the lens..! :lol:

[Pekka]

http://members.cox.net/snjphoto5/1dm2bsa1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/snjphoto5/1dsbsa1.jpg


These are good comparison files because the objects are about the same size. It seems that the actual acutance difference is not significant between cameras. MkII has slightly better shadow detail.

[SnJPhoto]

Set number 3


http://members.cox.net/snjphoto3/1dm2wall1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/snjphoto3/1dswall1.jpg

Scott

[SnJPhoto]

Set number four

http://members.cox.net/snjphoto2/1dm2hpier1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/snjphoto2/1dshpier1.jpg

I'v run out of space for now. I will leave these shot up for a couple days for any who want them.



And for those that didn't figure it already the files naming convention is:


"1dm2" or "1ds" - camera body
"hpier" - horizontal shot of pier etc

Scott


FWIW - Having looked at the picks again, the 1Ds seems to better represent the actual color of the shots.

Now I'm off to clean the sensors.....argh....

[SnJPhoto]

oops....found a bit more space for one more set.....


http://members.cox.net/doffek1/1dm2pier1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/doffek1/1dspier1.jpg

[Mthorpe_Davies]

Maybe you should have given the lens a clean in the first series.

This really illustrates the difference in file size between the two. I have to wonder is the 1ds is really worth the extra money the shots are very close in color and resolution on my monitor.

[ShootTechPan]

SnJ, thanks so much for taking and posting these. Very very helpful.

[msnow]

Contrast, saturation seems equal to me. I can't see the color difference that Scott see's but I wasn't there. What surprises me is the 1DM2 seems to have more detail...am I seeing things?

The crop factor is interesting too...I'm not missing as much as I thought with the 1.3.

Thanks Scott, this was a VERY interesting experiment.

[Pekka]

Yes Scott deserves a BIG thanks for doing these shots. If you want to keep them "alive" in 'net I have space and bandwith to host them if you like.

[SnJPhoto]

No problems guys. I'm as curious about the differences as anyone else. I bought the 1Ds because I had to get something before the 1DMkII was out. Now I'm almost (key is almost) wondering why i should keep it.

Mthorpe - Like I mentioned, I know the sensor needs a cleaning. It wasn't the lens. All the lenses had a fresh cleaning before shooting.

Cheers

Maybe tomorrow I'll find a model or 2 and get you some flesh tones to compare.....

Pekka....fel free to store them and use them as needed.....

[Mthorpe_Davies]

It's can't be the sensor because in the boat scene the same spots were in both photos from 2 different cameras.

[outoffocus]

Very cool comparison. Thanks for the effort. My quick take on the first shot comparison (harbor)..

MKII nailed the white balance better. MKII has more detail in shadow and highlights (better dymanic range in the sensor?). D1 looks a bit washed in comparison to the perfect MKII shot. D1 shot can be compensated to get close the the MKII shot, but at the expense of blowing out the highlights and shadows a bit. The details in either shot are to close to call. Unlike others to post a reply I see the 1.3 crop factor as a big deal and very noticable. I love sweeping shots..!

thanks again.

[defordphoto]

Awesome, Scott! Thanks for taking the time to do this. The samples are very close, even at high magnification and difficult to discern between the two. Color balance is very close and you can definitely see the dynamic range of the MKII. Interesting to see the 1.3 vs FF sensor comparison all-in-one here too.

In one shot the teal boat looks more saturated in the 1Ds shot and in another the sky and water are more saturated in the MKII shot.

If I was on the fence whether to get a 1Ds or MKII, this test would definitely topple me over to the MKII.

[SnJPhoto]

Mthorpe - I'm not seeing the spot. Which shots and approx. where is it?

Thanks.

Scott

[defordphoto]

Mthorpe - I'm not seeing the spot. Which shots and approx. where is it?

Thanks.

Scott

On photo 1dm2dory1.jpg about 1 inch about the Welcome sign above the W. The same dust booger appears in your other MKII shots. Canon also shipped my MKII with a dirty sensor. I didn't notice it until my second shoot.

[SnJPhoto]

Thanks RFM - But I think Thorpe was saying I had some lens dust. I went over the lenses several times and couldn't find it, so I wanted to see if he could tell me where he saw it. Ya, the old dirty sensor thing is pretty old to me. I've been doing a lot of lens changes in less than favorable conditions and will have to do a cleaning pretty soon.

[defordphoto]

It'd have to be a pretty big chunk of dust on the lens for it to show up in a photo.

[RDKirk]

If I was on the fence whether to get a 1Ds or MKII, this test would definitely topple me over to the MKII.

I would not be surprised if Canon dropped the 1Ds. I would not have thought so if they hadn't put out such a nice Mark II of the 1D. I don't think they're going to continue three sensor sizes--and the 15x23mm size is their big moneymaker, so they're not going to drop that one.

The 1D size is so very close in quality to the 1Ds.
It's difficult--perhaps too difficult--to produce lenses that meet the high requirements of the 1Ds (especially wide angles).
Nikon isn't even attempting to compete with a 24x36mm sensor (Kodak hardly counts as competition).

[danphoto1]

Great feedback. I still use two 1Ds for now and hope to get a MKII some time soon. I am heard so many pros and cons about equiptment that it is difficult to make a decison. I shoot sports action for RI Commumnity Collge and do a bunch of other things as well. Is th MK sharpness a little softer than the 1D or 1Ds. I have heard rumors. I am aware that the shots can be tweked afterwards. People have been saying the softness is due in part to the low signal to noise ratio????? any thoughts.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Check out the DPReview of the MkII... it has some side by side comparisons of the MkII Vs. 1Ds.. with siome full size downloads available.

[Pekka]

Check out the DPReview of the MkII... it has some side by side comparisons of the MkII Vs. 1Ds.. with siome full size downloads available.

If you test sensor acutance the subjects need to be exactly same size and angle, that is why that test is not valid.

[toddb]

2nd set of full size pics....


http://members.cox.net/snjphoto4/1dsdory1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/snjphoto4/1dm2dory1.jpg

Are these two switched? Seems like the samples consistently show the Mark2 with the extra crop factor but this one, the 1dsdory2.jpg is more cropped? And seems like the color is more accurate with the 1ds but not this set.