5D Quandry

For my landscape (and similar work) I currently us a 5d Mk1 but am thinking of upgrading - is the mk3 worth the extra?
Obviously the 5D iii is a far more capable camera than the Mk2 but I suspect the extra features will be of little/no use to me.
Basically my main gripe with the 5D Mk1 is the lack of live view and I would prefer more resolution. I prefer to use manual focus most of the time (though I find the af on my 5D Mk1 very good - especially in low light) and I rarely go above 200 iso, in fact I would love a native iso of 25 or lower if only Canon made it!
So what it boils down to (I think!) is the new (Mk iii) sensor much better at low iso than than the Mk2, and is there any real functional advantage in the Mk3?
I am not worried about the wizzbang factors of the Mk3 (as I have a 1D4 for action/wildlife) it's a case of is the IQ any different and is the screen/functioality much better?
Anybody out there who has used both please let me know what you think.

I say the 5D2, but why?

- The 5D3 has almost the same resolution, so no advantage there
- You don't seem to need the AF of the 5D3, the 5D2 has basically the same AF as the 5D1, and if it is enough for you, then the 5D3 is overkill
- You don't need any additional ISO performance over what the 5D2 will give you, which is better already than the 5Dc
- There would be little to no difference in low ISO, and the 5D3 would fall just as much a victim of underexposure pushed noise as the 5D2
- Take the price difference and invest in some other toys, like glass, etc.

If the 5Dc does most of what you need, but you just need liveview and more resolution, the logical choice is the 5D2.

I agree with this 100% based on what you have described you need.

Not to change the topic, How is the 5D II for macro or Birds in flight compared to the III?

II has a slower focus capability correct?

BufordFZ1 wrote in post #14837575
Not to change the topic, How is the 5D II for macro or Birds in flight compared to the III?

II has a slower focus capability correct?

The 5D2 with AF expansion on can keep up with most birds in flight shots. When you are dealing with birds that dive and sweep through the air, the 5D2 could be a bit problematic from time to time.

Thanks folks - pretty much what I thought.
To Teamspeed - luckily I have most (if not all) the glass I need! I have used my 5Dc on Red Kites with my 70-200 F2.8IS and 300 F4IS with very good results - but it's a bit slow for this sort of work!
Thanks again for your replies.

I have a 5D and a 5D3. I haven't taken the 5D out of the bag since receiving the 5D3. Everything seems much better to me. I was a low ISO shooter also, but not anymore. I can get hand held shots now that I couldn't dream of before. Much better AF and better ISO performance has made me interested in taking shots other than just landscape and portraits. I am not as tripod dependent as I used to be either. I was afraid if I didn't go with the 5D3, I would wonder what if?

jmharrison wrote in post #14837716
I have a 5D and a 5D3. I haven't taken the 5D out of the bag since receiving the 5D3. Everything seems much better to me. I was a low ISO shooter also, but not anymore. I can get hand held shots now that I couldn't dream of before. Much better AF and better ISO performance has made me interested in taking shots other than just landscape and portraits. I am not as tripod dependent as I used to be either. I was afraid if I didn't go with the 5D3, I would wonder what if?

The issue isn't 5Dc vs 5D3, but rather 5D2 vs 5D3. AF with expansion on when shooting with the 5D2 handles quite a bit of situational shooting.

jmharrison wrote in post #14837716
I have a 5D and a 5D3. I haven't taken the 5D out of the bag since receiving the 5D3. Everything seems much better to me. I was a low ISO shooter also, but not anymore. I can get hand held shots now that I couldn't dream of before. Much better AF and better ISO performance has made me interested in taking shots other than just landscape and portraits. I am not as tripod dependent as I used to be either. I was afraid if I didn't go with the 5D3, I would wonder what if?

Thanks for you comments - I realise the 5D3 is a far better camera for general use. However I rarely use my 5Dc above 100 ISO (I wish it went to 25 ISO or even lower!) and it lives on a tripod.
What I was after was the difference in IQ between the 5D2 and 5D3. From what I read there is nothing in it at low ISO which is what I need - any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I find that shadow banding is less prominent and is mainly in the vertical direction with the 5D3 as opposed to cross-hatching on the 5D2 (though the direction isn't all that important--banding is banding is banding).

In terms of the screen, yes it's better outdoors. I don't really think that it's anything to--on its own--justify the purchase over the 5D2, but readability in sunlight is much improved.

Functionality-wise, there are minor little improvements that, when added together, make for a mildly more pleasant experience. Spring loaded doors for the battery and card slots, DOF preview button location, QCD lock/power switch separation, etc. Oh, and that QCD is one HECK of a dial. As fas as dials go, the 5D3 QCD is pretty primo in my opinion. But do these things warrant the pricier purchase?

If you're on a constrained budget, then get the 5DII. The 5DIII's advantages do not seem to be necessities for you. They are, however, nice things to have.

I too think a 5DII would fit your shooting very well and there's little to be gained by going to the extra expense for a Mark III.

The AF on the Mark II is virtually identical to that on your Mark I. You'll enjoy a big bump in resolution, and if ever needed higher ISO ability (your camera maxes out at 3200... IMO opinion the 5DII is usable at ISO 6400 and for black and white images or by using noise reduction post processing, at 12800 and possibly even 25600, which it offers).

You'll get Live View with the Mark II. Plus you'll get an improved viewfinder (tho not quite as nice as the 100% VF on the Mark III). Plus with Mk II you'll get a self-cleaning sensor, Micro Adjust and a few other nice improvements.

The way I use my 5D Mk II, I'm not going to be upgrading to a Mk III anytime soon. (I use a pair of 7Ds for action shooting.)

It's possible to make BIF shots with 5D/5DII... it's not easy and wouldn't be my recommended camera for the purpose, though.

I'd say keep shooting 5D and wait for the rumored entry full frame. Quite possible that one will have the AF system of 7D and sensor of 5D II

BTW. The eagle shoot is fantastic. I'll try the AF expansion on my 5D

This is slightly off topic, but I heard that on the 5dc, the "L" setting (ISO 50) is not a real ISO stop. Rather, if I understand correctly, the camera simply shoots at ISO 100 and then underexposes the image by a stop in the camera. Can anyone confirm this?

ISO 50 is not native. I only use it if I need to get the shutter as low as possible.