Ran my 1D4 head to head with my 5D3

I shot a pair of softball games today and used my 5D3 for the first game and my 1D4 for the second. For both, I mostly used the 100-400L. Pictures are here:
http://girbach.zenfoli​o.com/p1044097221

Overall, I wound up with about the same number of shots from each game. The field was a little unfriendly as far as fences go, so I wound up with too high of a representation of batters vs. defense.

As for the cameras, the 5D3 was fine for this sport against the 1D4. In general, the vertical grip was missed (though I could buy a grip for the 5D3). The 10 fps and the bigger buffer on the 1D4 were not critical, but I didn't expect them to be in softball.

The AF systems were a bit different. I felt that the 5D3 was actually a bit better at tracking and staying with a subject once focus was achieved. The 1D4 was better at jumping onto the target in the first place. But note that the difference was pretty subtle, and didn't really affect keepers too much.

One quirk with the 5D3 was that it would occasionally refuse to attempt to focus at all when shooting through the fence. I'd have to twist the focus ring a ways and re-try and then all would be fine. I never had this issue with the 1D4.

I'm going to shoot some more sports with both, but I do indeed think one could replace a 1D4 with a 5D3 and have a very capable sports body.

Cool. I am thinking of getting 5dmk3 for the football season. Would have to sell lot of stuff to fund it though.

My preliminary comparison of the two bodies is pretty much the same as yours Jeffrey. I'm waiting for the 5d3 grip and L bracket to come soon so I can do some better comparisons.

I've shot plenty of Track and Volleyball with the 5D3 now and it's just fun to use it. Especially in the low light of my high school's gym, at ISO 3200 the JPEGs that the 5D3 create are just great!

ditto. 1div got sold.

Higgs Boson wrote in post #14306566
ditto. 1div got sold.

I don't know the jury is still out for me. I am still trying to get used to the new view finder and electronic points. Maybe I am the oddball, but I kind of like the mkiv's focusing screen a little better. It could be I am just not used to the 5d yet and the shutter almost makes me laugh compared to the 1d almost sounds tinny if that makes sense. But don't get me wrong I really like the camera, just need to shoot with it more.

The 1D Mk IV with its built in grip LOOKS so much COOLER!

The 1D Mk IV with its 10 FPS rate SOUNDS so much COOLER!

The 1D Mk IV ...............IS so much COOLER!!!

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #14306950
The 1D Mk IV with its built in grip LOOKS so much COOLER!

The 1D Mk IV with its 10 FPS rate SOUNDS so much COOLER!

The 1D Mk IV ...............IS so much COOLER!!!

Well that is all that matters then

Let's wait about 5 months, then get these 1D4 bodies on the market! I think that it would be a great accomplice to a 5D3 but I can't afford one right now!

Jeffrey - thanks for the comparison.

I would give the MKIV a huge edge in build quality. Its got a 300k shutter life. 5D3 has a 150k shutter life. By the time you get a grip on a 5D3 your getting close to even Steven territory especially with low count MKIV's at the 4K price points. F/8 issue goes to MKIV and ability to spot focus at 19 Points goes to MKIV, plus you can see the focus points in a dark room. I was a tough decision because I really like everything about the 5D2 except the AF system on it. I almost got another MKIV, but went 5D3 instead,,the upgrade AF System is worth the upgrade to me,,i need good full frame cameras,,,figure i have best of both worlds with 5D2,5D3,MKIV bodies that we have. They meet all of our needs and then some. We are thrilled.

Everything else is pretty much a draw B/t these 2 camera bodies but the MKIV does appear to have better saturation and sharper files at the higher isos....but its not by much. I think Nick is right, 5D3 will be a must for low light venues and for full frame needs. I have used my MKIV exclusivly since i got it in November and just experienced some of slow low light AF locking weakness that people have complained about. Wasnt something that i could not get around otherwise i think the MKIV is the best way to go. Im blow away at how clean the MKIV files are at 100-400 iso. Amazing how good they are

I think the 5D3 has an edge indoors in very very low light situations. Anytime you can get more light on a larger sensor, my opinion is you get a better file so full frame always wins in that regard. But your going to have show me very convincing information before i would consider that the 5D3 is a better camera than an MKIV------its just not----- but the 5D3 is gonna do a great job

umphotography wrote in post #14307453
I would give the MKIV a huge edge in build quality. Its got a 300k shutter life. 5D3 has a 150k shutter life. By the time you get a grip on a 5D3 your getting close to even Steven territory especially with low count MKIV's at the 4K price points. F/8 issue goes to MKIV and ability to spot focus at 19 Points goes to MKIV, plus you can see the focus points in a dark room. I was a tough decision because I really like everything about the 5D2 except the AF system on it. I almost got another MKIV, but went 5D3 instead,,the upgrade AF System is worth the upgrade to me,,i need good full frame cameras,,,figure i have best of both worlds with 5D2,5D3,MKIV bodies that we have. They meet all of our needs and then some. We are thrilled.

Everything else is pretty much a draw B/t these 2 camera bodies but the MKIV does appear to have better saturation and sharper files at the higher isos....but its not by much. I think Nick is right, 5D3 will be a must for low light venues and for full frame needs. I have used my MKIV exclusivly since i got it in November and just experienced some of slow low light AF locking weakness that people have complained about. Wasnt something that i could not get around otherwise i think the MKIV is the best way to go. Im blow away at how clean the MKIV files are at 100-400 iso. Amazing how good they are

I think the 5D3 has an edge indoors in very very low light situations. Anytime you can get more light on a larger sensor, my opinion is you get a better file so full frame always wins in that regard. But your going to have show me very convincing information before i would consider that the 5D3 is a better camera than an MKIV------its just not----- but the 5D3 is gonna do a great job

This is the dilemna I have at the moment. I was set on getting a 1DIV (mainly for bird and wildlife shots, often low light) and then the 5D111 came out and the shots I've seen at low light/ high ISO are really impressive. If the 5D111 had a crop sensor and 8-10 fps I'd have signed up for one already, but it doesn't.
What you say about the 1DIV is quite correct and, on balance, I'd likely still go that route. Problem is, at this moment, there aren't any new physical stocks available in the UK and depending on whom you speak to, the 1DIV is either still going to be produced for the next 6 months or it's already out of production.

I think Mark's referring to the increased pixel density that the 1D4 offers over the 5D3. Of course, the 7D trumps them both in that respect but at the cost of higher noise.

Tom W wrote in post #14307584
I think Mark's referring to the increased pixel density that the 1D4 offers over the 5D3. Of course, the 7D trumps them both in that respect but at the cost of higher noise.

Precisely, thank you. To take that a step further, I'd like a 5D111 for the reduced noise/ retained detail improvements it's capable of compared to my 7D, but I'm put off by the loss of reach, slower fps and lack of f/8 AF which the 1DIV offers. I don't see that that's asking too much to expect those things either, especially the latter two, as the 5D111 retails for not much less than the 1DIV when you factor in the grip cost for the 5.

Pixel density between the two is pretty close. Cropped to the FOV of the 1D4, the 5D3 retains 13MP.

For me, if I have one camera it is going to be a FF body with a normal (no built in grip) sized body. I want this first and foremost for my family / travel / events etc.

Then I have also used a 1D body for the past few years for sports and things where I need / want the better AF and frame rate. So the question for me now that I have the 5D3 is, is this camera good enough at what the 1D4 does to make the 1D4 unneccesary? And so far I think it is very close.

I can afford to keep both, and having two bodies can be really convenient sometimes. But I have to say in use that the 5D3 closes the gap on what the 1D bodies offer by a lot.