Upgrade from 1DMkIII ?

So I'm starting to think about upgrading to perhaps a MkIV.

Is the MkIII still a pretty usable body ? What print sizes are you able to pull off with the MkIII ?

Maybe its the way I shoot but I'm starting to feel limitations unless I pretty much fill the frame when I goto crop I'm ending up with REALLY small file sizes, even in jpeg L.

Shooting in RAW will give you larger files but yes you need to consider that the 1D3 dates back to 2007 when 10MP was king. That and limited low light apart and the latter will happen as new bodies are announced, it's a very good body. The AF when sorted was actually very good. The 1D3 is at bargain prices now but looking at a 1D4 would make a lot more sense. I had thought perhaps of dumping mine in favor of a second 5D3 body but really I'd like to hang on to it for as long as I can. It's a great camera with impeccable build and renders colours faithfully.

alexxn wrote in post #15574659
So I'm starting to think about upgrading to perhaps a MkIV.

Is the MkIII still a pretty usable body ? What print sizes are you able to pull off with the MkIII ?

Maybe its the way I shoot but I'm starting to feel limitations unless I pretty much fill the frame when I goto crop I'm ending up with REALLY small file sizes, even in jpeg L.

It sounds to me like you might need a longer focal length. Are you cropping images from the 100-400mm@400mm? What type of subjects are you photographing?

frugivore wrote in post #15575000
It sounds to me like you might need a longer focal length. Are you cropping images from the 100-400mm@400mm? What type of subjects are you photographing?

I photograph quite a variety - from portraits, studio, and also sports action.

Rarely do I find myself at 400mm, perhaps I just need to start filling the frame more but for some sports (freestyle jetskiing) you want the height from the water but still need to do some cropping.

alexxn wrote in post #15574659
So I'm starting to think about upgrading to perhaps a MkIV.

Is the MkIII still a pretty usable body ? What print sizes are you able to pull off with the MkIII ?

Maybe its the way I shoot but I'm starting to feel limitations unless I pretty much fill the frame when I goto crop I'm ending up with REALLY small file sizes, even in jpeg L.

I shoot HS soccer mostly, but have done football and volleyball. I use the MkIII with 100-400 and 70-200 w/1.4x & 2x. The only time I have problems cropping is when the subject is at the far end of the field (80+ yards away). I normally print 16x20's & 20x30's and most of the time, I'm very pleased with the results (95% of the time or more).
I just upgraded last year from the MkIIn, and couldn't be happier. At first, I was a little worried due to all of the bad remarks people had about focusing and exposure, I don't seem to be experiencing the problems of what some others are having. The battery of the MkIII seems to last forever and even though I have 4 batteries, I rarely need to change one out, even on a whole weekend of shooting soccer games.
I still use the MkIIn bodies too, just not as much.

The MkIII a very usable body to me, but if you are starting to feel limited, you might need to upgrade. Try renting a MkIV or a 1DX before buying one just to see if that's it.

If you are a CPS member, you can get a loaner body for a couple of weeks for the cost of return shipping to Canon.

vince_ross wrote in post #15575203
I shoot HS soccer mostly, but have done football and volleyball. I use the MkIII with 100-400 and 70-200 w/1.4x & 2x. The only time I have problems cropping is when the subject is at the far end of the field (80+ yards away). I normally print 16x20's & 20x30's and most of the time, I'm very pleased with the results (95% of the time or more).
I just upgraded last year from the MkIIn, and couldn't be happier. At first, I was a little worried due to all of the bad remarks people had about focusing and exposure, I don't seem to be experiencing the problems of what some others are having. The battery of the MkIII seems to last forever and even though I have 4 batteries, I rarely need to change one out, even on a whole weekend of shooting soccer games.
I still use the MkIIn bodies too, just not as much.

The MkIII a very usable body to me, but if you are starting to feel limited, you might need to upgrade. Try renting a MkIV or a 1DX before buying one just to see if that's it.

If you are a CPS member, you can get a loaner body for a couple of weeks for the cost of return shipping to Canon.

Wow 16x20 and 20x30 ?

I agree on the battery, I've never even come close to running out, the camera has served me well in alot of aspects.

Mine had the AF fix also.

I am a CPS Member that's something I'm looking into doing although a 1Dx is out of my price range.

I've done several prints in the 24" range, and they look great off my 1D3. I did have to learn to start framing tighter when I got the 1D3, after being used to the T2i's 18MP. The 1D3s files produce images so much sharper though.

If I was going to upgrade from the 1D3, I don't think I could go anywhere but more 1D bodies. I've not yet started bouncing my head off the ceiling on the 1D3's capabilities, so upgrading the body is a long way off for me.

The 1D3 limitations that impact my shooting would be sensor resolution, ISO capability, and LCD quality. I was able to get over the LCD thing on the first day -- I thought it was taking horrible photos, but looked on my PC and was floored with the high quality. LCD is now for checking histogram, composition, and changing all the wonderful settings.

Sensor resolution is in the back of my mind, but it so rarely bins a photo. I have SO many more keepers on my 1D3 than I did on my T2i.

ISO performance, isn't really a problem, but I know the newer high-end bodies can do a lot more. As it is, the ISO performance of the 1D3 is still better than my T2i at the same settings, so it's still an improvement for me.

I also agree on the 1D3 battery life. I shot 3K photos for a swim team, and went home with a 40% charge. On a 5-year-old battery. Insane.

So, for me, I'm happy right now with how much money I have tied up in bodies, and what that money has bought me. I'm ready to start working on glass again.

waterrockets wrote in post #15575474
I was able to get over the LCD thing on the first day -- I thought it was taking horrible photos, but looked on my PC and was floored with the high quality. LCD is now for checking histogram, composition, and changing all the wonderful settings.

I thought the same thing the first day after I got mine!

Looking at your website I'd say go for the 5D mkiii. The 1D mkIV was not the greatest 1 series that canon ever came out with, some would say when it comes to focusing in low light or just autofocusing in general it's a pretty big fail. The 1Dx is amazing and you have a full frame with 18mp (almost twice as much) but it's silly expensive.

ChuckingFluff wrote in post #15576690
some would say when it comes to focusing in low light or just autofocusing in general it's a pretty big fail

I'm interested. Linky?

ChuckingFluff wrote in post #15576690
The 1D mkIV was not the greatest 1 series that canon ever came out with, some would say when it comes to focusing in low light or just autofocusing in general it's a pretty big fail.

No disputing that the 1Dx is probably superior overall, but to say that anything about the 1DIV was any sort of fail is just rubbish. If you can't take good photos with a properly functioning 1DIV, a 1Dx isn't going to do much for you either.

Mine is absolutely stunning, in every way possible, and I can't imagine the 1Dx being superior in too many situations, with the exception of flash metering- which is significantly improved on the 1Dx.

Enough resolution for bigger prints than most of us will ever print, an excellent display, fantastic JPEG engine, terrific AF lock and tracking- even in dim light, etc.

alexxn wrote in post #15574659
Maybe its the way I shoot but I'm starting to feel limitations unless I pretty much fill the frame when I goto crop I'm ending up with REALLY small file sizes, even in jpeg L.

Stop relying on cropping, and shoot in camera what you want as a print. The 1D3 is very capable, just don't hamstring it.

1D3 is, and likely always will be, a better camera than I will ever be a photographer.

Thanks for all the advice / suggestions guys. I'm going to start trying to shoot a little tighter so I won't need to crop.

I think I'll tease myself with a 1Dx CPS loan while my camera is out for cleaning

alexxn wrote in post #15575329
Wow 16x20 and 20x30 ?

I agree on the battery, I've never even come close to running out, the camera has served me well in alot of aspects.

Mine had the AF fix also.

I am a CPS Member that's something I'm looking into doing although a 1Dx is out of my price range.

The native file size on the 1D3 is around 11x14 so 16x20 is no real problem. I print 20x24's from my 1D3 with just a little bit of resizing in Lightroom and they look great.