7d to the 1d MK III - Upgrade or Sidegrade

Just wondering about this. After using a 1d MK IV from a buddy, I love love love the AF system on that camera, and the 10fps is nice for shooting sports.

Now, the question being - is the 1d MK III and upgrade in terms of ISO performance, AF performance, and mainly Image Quality?

It's a 1.3 crop so it should handle ISO a little better.
But I consider it a side grade with the research I have done.
I have not used a 1d3 though. I have used a 7d and it was nice.

When I was looking for a second camera, these are the 2 I was researching. IMO, it would be 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Too close for any meaningful difference.

Maybe the IDsIII for landscape/still life, not the 1DIII. If you want a better body for landscape, portraits..etc....cons​ider adding a 5DII and keeping the 7D. Then you have a backup body is one dies, and you are prepared to capture the best of action or stills.

MCAsan wrote in post #13389742
Maybe the IDsIII for landscape/still life, not the 1DIII. If you want a better body for landscape, portraits..etc....cons​ider adding a 5DII and keeping the 7D. Then you have a backup body is one dies, and you are prepared to capture the best of action or stills.

I have a 5d MK II Looking on the sports side of things. I find my keeper rate went up significantly when I used my buddies 1d MK IV. Right now I cant justify 5k for a body, but ~2k for the 1d MK III, I can.

fiveohmike wrote in post #13389855
I have a 5d MK II Looking on the sports side of things. I find my keeper rate went up significantly when I used my buddies 1d MK IV. Right now I cant justify 5k for a body, but ~2k for the 1d MK III, I can.

I swapped a 7d for a 1d3 - no regrets. IQ higher, ISO handling better, better AF and more keepers. I had a 1D2 previously, so going back to a 1 series was part of it for me. Having said that a 5D and a 1D3 would be a great combo....

jhayesvw wrote in post #13389661
It's a 1.3 crop so it should handle ISO a little better.
But I consider it a side grade with the research I have done.
I have not used a 1d3 though. I have used a 7d and it was nice.

Depends on your use. I own both and the AF on the MkIII is definitely better, and faster.

Build, reliability, overall handling to me is just better with the 1D series body. The 7D is an awesome camera, for sure but I still find myself picking up the MkIII more often.

If you need or want video then the 7D is obviously your only choice, unless you have the $$$ for a MkIV

BTW, to the OP, I'm selling one of my MkIII bodies if you decide to go that route. PM me if interested.

I have both as well... and shoot much more often with the 1D mkIII. While the 7D is a great camera, I like the 1D better and love the results.

Regards,
Jim

From what I've found in looking into the 1D bodies, the 1D3 is mostly a lateral move from the 7D; the 1D4 would be a slight upgrade in most ways.

The 1Dmk3 would be my choice between the two, images are beautiful, built like a tank, great camera!

as mentioned, 1Dmk3 plus 5Dmk2 would be a winning combo!

If you are focal length limited, it would be a downgrade. if you can frame the images the same, the high iso would be a slight upgrade with 1d3, but you are loosing resolution, esp at lower iso. autofocus, I have heard all sorts of things, I would say it would be close between the two, with 7d offering the spot focus as the major advantage.
Again, If you think you can get closer with your current lens line up to fame your images the same, go for it. If not, and you end up cropping, anyway you look at it, it will be a downgrade in image quality.

exposure metering is better on your 7d when shooting available light. I find the 1dmk3 to bloom alot more than my 50D I owned. If you over expose skin turns yellow tones with a loss of skin texture.

1dmk3 will have cleaner files that are easier to manipulate in raw. Tack sharp images sooc. 7D needs alot more "intelligent" post processing to get similar clean images. ISO 1600 is useable just like the 7D but nothing to rave about.

Not sure how to approach this. 7D you have much more cropping abilities but post processing is needed alot more for clean files in challenging light. 1dmk3 is only 10mp so your very limited in cropping if your spoiled with the higher MP of the 7d. Files are sharper and easier to manipulate compared to the rigid raw files of the 7d. Shooting with a 24L in available light with both bodies and looking at the files on my IPS panel I can feel/see a soft haze fine noise on the 7D but the 1dmk3 is crispy sharp sooc.

Give or take ...its a lateral move. Now if you spend the beans on the 1dmk4 you'll have cleaner high ISO photos but look at the well discussed issues of hunting in AV mode in low contrast low light situations.

Nothing is perfect. I deal with the adequate primitive AF of the 5d series but dont miss the IQ I got with my 1dmk3 and temper "mental" sketchy exposure.

I would say I'd go for the 1d series for shear sexy ownership of a 1d series. I wasn't pleased with the 1dmk3's IQ though. I had a love/hate relationship with my dead on accurate focusing 1dmk3.

At this point in time (nov 2011) this is what canon has on the market / used market. 1dmk4 is still alot of beans!! Once a 5dmk3 hits the market people will complain about full frame with less reach (1.3, 1.6 factor) But i doubt anyone will complain about fantastic IQ and new improved AF.

Both 1dmk3 and 7D are quite close in IQ after all said and done with post processing. I dislike the rigid RAW files of the 7d. I disliked the files falling apart at Iso 1250 on the 1dmk3.

Just remember that when you see online photos MOST people will show you a phoot with a high percentage of a subject in the frame (close face shot) Lotsa MP are concentrated in the frame. These types of photos will look better if your analyzing high ISO photos. If you crop a 10mp file of the 1dmk3 you have alot less MP to play with and for printing purposes you can get limited in the size of print you'll be making.

I'd say going from 7d to 1dmk3 is a lateral move.

Here's my thoughts on the 1dmkIII :

Need high MP and detail. Downgrade
Need robust body. Upgrade
AF performance. . Sidegrade No convincing result which is better signifcantly
HDSLR. Definitely Downgrade
Wider FOV. Upgrade (might as well get FF)
Reach. Downgrade
Crop-ability. Downgrade
Flash Commander. Downgrade as 1d-has no such capability. Go Nikon.
High ISO. Sidegrade, mkIII will have less noise at same ISO because of lower pixel density. But 7d can go higher ISO.
Memory card redundancy. Upgrade
Overall modern features. Downgrade
Ergonomics. Sidegrade. With the plethora of button customizations, the 7d is unlike other compact EOS dslr for field ergonomic use.

I think the fact that a compact dslr such as the 7D stacks up so well against a 1dIII speaks volume. It is often part of a comparison against not just a 1dIII but even with 1dIV too. Why? Because it delivers 90% of what a modern 1d can for 98% of the enthusiast to semi-pro photography community at 30% of the price.

Unless you can't afford the right lens for the job then the 7D is inferior in almost every way.

delhi wrote in post #13390490
Here's my thoughts on the 1dmkIII :

Need high MP and detail. Downgrade
Need robust body. Upgrade
AF performance. . Sidegrade No convincing result which is better signifcantly
HDSLR. Definitely Downgrade
Wider FOV. Upgrade (might as well get FF)
Reach. Downgrade
Crop-ability. Downgrade
Flash Commander. Downgrade as 1d-has no such capability. Go Nikon.
High ISO. Sidegrade, mkIII will have less noise at same ISO because of lower pixel density. But 7d can go higher ISO.
Memory card redundancy. Upgrade
Overall modern features. Downgrade
Ergonomics. Sidegrade. With the plethora of button customizations, the 7d is unlike other compact EOS dslr for field ergonomic use.

I think the fact that a compact dslr such as the 7D stacks up so well against a 1dIII speaks volume. It is often part of a comparison against not just a 1dIII but even with 1dIV too. Why? Because it delivers 90% of what a modern 1d for 98% of the enthusiast to semi-pro photography community at 30% of the price.

Some good points here. I'm going through the same decision process.

Let me guess. You are a 7D owner?