1D Mark II - now I know why!

[psk4363]

Today, I discovered why people rave about the 1D MkII - the feel, the looks, the operation of my newly acquired 1D (can't afford the MkII yet) must be very similar to the MkII - with obvious exceptions of course! It's quite superb :D !

To be able to have two mini-chips for the focussing etc in the MkII, with an increased buffer, and an 8 megapixel chip in this 1D body must be, well, orgasmic!

Can't wait for the battery to charge and put it through its paces. You MkII owners are lucky sods ;) .

Cheers,
Barry

[chris.bailey]

It is indeed a thing of imense beauty.

I like the quote from one of the early MarkII reviews "...the body shell is cast in pure Unobtanium"

[Deckyon]

Or, from another on the forums - "The framerate on the 1D MkII is a sexual experience"

[Vita Rara]

I'll second Barry's view on the 1D bodies. I got my Mark II on Tuesday. I didn't have a chance to go shoot anything until yesterday! Uggh! It's amazing. The feel. The sound of the shutter. The ergonomics. I picked up my dRebel after having the 1D for a few days and tried to do the two finger delete and had to remember to revert to the 300D way of doing things. I adapted much faster than I expected. The focusing is just amazing. Truly incredible. I can't wait to do some action stuff with it. The biggest thing for me though is no waiting. The camera is just ready to go. I was always waiting for my dRebel.

Later,

Mark

[MDJAK]

Not meaning to sound simplistic, I lusted after a 1 series camera for years.


Finally got the 1Ds MII a couple of weeks ago. One thing that caused me to hesitate was its size. I thought it would be just too heavy to carry around.

That is not at all the case, at least not in my short experience. It is so well balanced and smooth in operation, with its rubber coating, along with the E1 strap which I highly recommend, that it fits me like a glove.

[AcuraFan]

when my friend loaned me his mk2 for one day...i knew it was love

[Cadwell]

Whilst I agree a 1 series is nice, I still reckon you lot need to get out more :p ;)

[roanjohn]

I still don't know what all the hoopla is about (shakes head).........:-)

Ro1

[MDJAK]

Whilst I agree a 1 series is nice, I still reckon you lot need to get out more :p ;)

You see, we do get out, quite often. Just so happens that when I do go out, my 1DsMKII is with me.:)

[MDJAK]

I still don't know what all the hoopla is about (shakes head).........:-)

Ro1
Roanjohn, you will never know what the hoopla is until you've held one and taken pictures with it. When you look in the viewfinder, it's like looking into the chasm of the grand canyon instead of the holland tunnel entrance.

When it snaps to focus, when you select one of 45 focus points and have the meter read that point, when you feel the silky smooth operation, yep, that's when you'll understand.

;)

[pradeep1]

You guys should be hired by Canon to write advertising copy for their 1 series cameras. Unfortunately, I probably won't experience 1 series nirvana anytime soon. I am on the bottom end of the EOS line. :cry: :o :(

[Persian-Rice]

Or, from another on the forums - "The framerate on the 1D MkII is a sexual experience"

Yes it is ;)

Even the old 1D is fast as hell.

[roanjohn]

Roanjohn, you will never know what the hoopla is until you've held one and taken pictures with it. When you look in the viewfinder, it's like looking into the chasm of the grand canyon instead of the holland tunnel entrance.

When it snaps to focus, when you select one of 45 focus points and have the meter read that point, when you feel the silky smooth operation, yep, that's when you'll understand.

;)

:lol: I don't believe you!!! My XT will blow your 1 series out of the water!!!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::rolleyes:

Ro1

[timmyquest]

I still don't know what all the hoopla is about (shakes head).........:-)

Ro1

I question if you'd aprecaite the sealed buttons :-P

[JK]

I still don't know what all the hoopla is about (shakes head).........:)

Well, for now, it's about the 1D MkII.

Soon, it will be about the 1D MkIII, then MkIV etc.

Prepare yourselves, for the neverending cycle of hoopla has begun... ;)

[johneric8]

I went to arlington Camera here in texas and took some test shots with the 20D and the Mark ll .. Me and the owner store came to the conclusion unless you are shooting sports for a living it's not worth the extra money. It's an incredible camera but, the image quality between the Mark ll and the 20D were indistiguisable. I had 4 guys who take pictures everyday scrathing their heads at which one was the picture from the Mark ll . In the end, I got the 20D because I dont shoot sports for a living or a hobby. If you want to shoot action for a living or have a taste for a very expensive hobby then by all means get the Mark ll . But, if you dont shoot sports for a living and like to take pictures of everything else then you can save a bunch of money and get the 20D. Like I said, for everyday picture taking the quality is very similar. I'm not bashing the Mark ll at all. In fact, That was what I was going to buy until Found out that the image quality was the same. I know people get the Mark ll for the ultra fast focus and frame rate. But, dont waste your money if you dont care about shooting action or sporting events.

[TammieO]

I don't shoot sporting events, but I did opt for the 1D Mark II because it is built like a tank and weather sealed. Gives me peace of mind when I take it on campouts and hikes.

[dpp]

i HAVE BEEN READING COMMENTS ABOUT THE 1d mK11 for a while now.

I shoot weddings at the moment, I use L Lenses and 2 10D bodies, what are the advantages of the 1D MkII, something better than its great will be helpful.

The extra cost over the 10D is huge, I have L Lenses which i believe make a difference, and are my customers really going to notice the difference.

[johneric8]

i HAVE BEEN READING COMMENTS ABOUT THE 1d mK11 for a while now.

I shoot weddings at the moment, I use L Lenses and 2 10D bodies, what are the advantages of the 1D MkII, something better than its great will be helpful.

The extra cost over the 10D is huge, I have L Lenses which i believe make a difference, and are my customers really going to notice the difference.


Absolutly not! thats a guarentee. We did the test on a plasma screen at a pro camera store and the test revealed no difference period. I know some people want a more durable camera, waterproof, etc, so thats a good reason to go for the mk ll ...
However, You could buy several 20D's at the cost of 1 MK ll .. So, if your 20D stopped working because of the elements, get another one!! You have still spent less then the MK ll I am not trying to talk down on this amazing camera! Like I said before, if you shoot action and you have Thousands of hobbie dollars to blow then go for it get the MK ll ... It's the best choice for sports hands down because of it's focus and burst rate and buffer. I opted not to get it because I dont shoot sports and I dont shoot in the rain. So, I'm happy for sure...

[tannoy]

To say "absolutely not" to a wedding photgrapher misses some key points about the 1DMK2.I just sold my 20D in favor of the Mark2 and I have no regrets. While I would agree for the most part about the limited difference in absolute resolution, the cameras focus abilities are considerably more accurate (a plus in the high pressure world of wedding photography me thinks) and incredibly agile (read fast). I also appreciate the wider field of view the 1.3 crop offers vs. the 1.6 crop. My wide angle lenses are far more usefull now and offer much greater creative options on the wide end.

As for the choice of getting a MK2 I would temper it by saying that a 20D is an AMAZING camera for the money but it is far from a professional camera. The 1D is an AMAZING camera regardless of price and an incredible tool for the professional.

Best to go try one out at the local shop before making that decision, wish I had before buying my 20D. Bottom line is now I am taking better photographs and I give much credit to the speed and design of this camera.

Cheers,

Darrin

[Persian-Rice]

johneric you are wrong in so many ways. The 1D is also superior when compared to any consumer grade SLR in terms of landscape as well. Not only do you get better use out of you WA, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, the better DR in the 1D MKII has an effect as well.

The focusing on the 1D is also superior, which makes it a much more versatile journalistic, street photography camera. If you need to shoot something spontaneously and get one shot at it, the 1D again wins. The focus point flexibility and AI servo tracking dont hurt either.

The there is that reliability, but its not only reliability in terms of daily use, but also in overall life. The 1D is pretty much suggested to work four times as long as any D series.

There is a difference in image quality, not massive, but there is. To say the 1D is a sports camera is quite a narrow view of things. As you say, the 1D is great but it is not a sports only camera, its a camera that will absolutely rock the socks off any camera, even the 1Ds MKII. You say it is a sports camera, but it will outperform a 20D in every other style of photography as well, not only sports.

I think people forget that the little things the 1D provides that also make it even more superior, like the interchangeable focus screens and the absolutely beautiful viewfinder. Some may say its not that important, but try shooting with a 1D and see if you can stand a 10D or 20D after that. It even gets better when you shoot MF.

[johneric8]

To say "absolutely not" to a wedding photgrapher misses some key points about the 1DMK2.I just sold my 20D in favor of the Mark2 and I have no regrets. While I would agree for the most part about the limited difference in absolute resolution, the cameras focus abilities are considerably more accurate (a plus in the high pressure world of wedding photography me thinks) and incredibly agile (read fast). I also appreciate the wider field of view the 1.3 crop offers vs. the 1.6 crop. My wide angle lenses are far more usefull now and offer much greater creative options on the wide end.

As for the choice of getting a MK2 I would temper it by saying that a 20D is an AMAZING camera for the money but it is far from a professional camera. The 1D is an AMAZING camera regardless of price and an incredible tool for the professional.

Best to go try one out at the local shop before making that decision, wish I had before buying my 20D. Bottom line is now I am taking better photographs and I give much credit to the speed and design of this camera.

Cheers,

Darrin

The best and most sought after wedding photographer in dallas uses 10d's exclusively. I would'nt want to tell him that he doesnt have a proffesional camera. He shoots many famous wedding as well with an unproffesional 10D ...........
This forum makes me laugh sometimes... Also, Most of the photographers for NBC channel five here in Fort worth use 10D's as well for most of their photo stories. Are they not proffesionals?

[Dooglla]

This forum makes me laugh sometimes... Also, Most of the photographers for NBC channel five here in Fort worth use 10D's as well for most of their photo stories. Are they not proffesionals?

Question is...do they use it on their own free will...or they use it because that is all they have to use with the company? Also wonder how many of those at the company wished they had another camera to shoot with. :)

[johneric8]

Question is...do they use it on their own free will...or they use it because that is all they have to use with the company? Also wonder how many of those at the company wished they had another camera to shoot with. :)



I already know the answer to that. the people I'm in contact with do not think it's worth the investment. they put the money into better lenses instead of a camera body that will cost $1500 a couple of years from now. The lens will hold their value but the beloved $6000 cameras will be worth what the rebel is in a couple. You know that and so do I... The rational is, if the camera is really all that then it will still be around in a few years for a very good value. I'm not saying it isnt worth the money for some people. I'm just telling you that there are people out there that think about things like a budget and is it really worth spending all that money on a body that in the end isnt going to take a better pictures then a cheaper body with the same lens?
I wont debate this anymore because you are 100% right about one thing, the 1 series cameras are better period... But, are they thousands of dollars better? That will be a matter of opinion. I passed on spending that kind of money because I like to be frugal with my money and I dont plan on making a living off of photography. I would love to have one to be honest but I feel I will wait and see what comes out in the coming years before I lay down the price of a car for a camera.

[chris.bailey]

The poster and the first few replies to this thread did not try to compare a 1d or a MkII to anything else (10D, Rebel,XT or a jar of jam), or make a comment on how much it cost, they just comment on how great a camera it is to own and to use. Lets not spoil it by turning it into yet another mine is better than yours debate.

[tannoy]

"The best and most sought after wedding photographer in dallas uses 10d's exclusively. I would'nt want to tell him that he doesnt have a proffesional camera. He shoots many famous wedding as well with an unproffesional 10D ...........
This forum makes me laugh sometimes... Also, Most of the photographers for NBC channel five here in Fort worth use 10D's as well for most of their photo stories. Are they not proffesionals?"

Johneric,

I am certain that these people you speak of are fine photogs, that misses the point of what I posted to your response. You stated with absolute certainty that there was no reason for anyone but a sports shooter to bother upgrading to a 1DMK2. While I appreciate your point of view and the cost issue is a real one, to make statements like:

"Absolutly not! thats a guarentee. We did the test on a plasma screen at a pro camera store and the test revealed no difference period."

is misleading to say the least. I was attempting to answer DPP in a real world way that the cameras ARE different and that it is worth checking one out. Unless you have owned both and used both in real world situations yourself, making statements like this is of little service to anyone else. The 10D and 20D are fine machines but are not professional grade cameras by Canon's own definitions, but of course they can be used by professionals with great results and are everyday.

As cost is an issue to most everyone your point is valid in raising the question of is it worth the EXTRA $? For you and many superb photographers the answer was no. You stated quite clearly that you would prefer spending the $ on glass, a fine choice. I love great glass as well and for what I shoot the 1DMK2 improved not only the functionality of my wider lenses it did offer an improved resolution and dynamic range in real world conditions, however this is far less of the reason I love this camera, the main reason is the focus mechanism. Focus speed and accuracy is usefull in capturing fleeting moments not just sports events and I personally had felt let down on occasion with my 20D, I have yet to experience the same issues with the 1DMk2.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that giving advice on camera gear you don't own is not as effective as telling the positive points of what you like about your gear and why YOU made those choices.

Cheers,
Darrin