older used 1-d series cameras

alot of us are hobbyists, if it fits your needs and you can afford it, then go for it.

If I find a bargain on a 1DIV, I'm jumping on it. I think it would be the perfect compliment to my 5DIII.

ceriltheblade wrote in post #16362171
do you have a preference when you use one body vs the other?

can you elaborate on the nuances that you see with that pair?

thanks a lot.

I thought the 1DMk3 superior to the 7D for my purposes, and of course, the 5DMk3 is superior to the 5DMk2.
It was an almost a no brainer for me to keep the 1DMk3 over the 7D. I like the less severe crop factor, and I think in general this makes your lenses more useful. The f/8 focusing limit is great too, as i often use a 1.4X on my 100-400 and the combination focuses easily with the 1DMk3 in most instances.
The images I get from the 1D at higher ISOs (say 800 through 3200) are much easier for me to "clean up" than images taken the 7D at the same ISOs. The 1DMk3 also focuses at least as quickly and reliably and it is easier to "taylor" the AF system to what I am using it for.
I also like the ability to save entire sets of settings and quickly load them via a SD card.
There is a feel to the 1D series that just wasn't there with the 7D for me. It can be hard to explain, but sometimes an individual just fits in with a specific body better than another ... and that is the case with my 1DMk3 as compared to the 7D. I guess that doesn't help you though ...
Of course, the 5DMk3 is superb, and if pressed I guess I would keep it over the 1DMk3, but I wouldn't be totally happy. I often take both bodies along, but I guess I tend to use the 5DMk3 for what I know will be difficult, very low light situations, if I know i will want to produce large prints (need all the pixels I can get), and for shots of people that are more "formal" ... if they expect to be photographed and essentially are posing. It is also so much more compact, and lighter. The screen is so much better than the 1DMk3 (that it the weakest point for that body as compared to the 7D, too). You have no idea with the 1DMk3 if the shot is tack sharp or not without resorting to extensive looking, while you can tell quite well by just looking at the 5dMk3 screen (or, for that matter, the 7D screen). Using the 1DMkIII, I find myself just assuming it is OK, because it seems like so often the shots look so much sharper on the computer monitor than on the camera screen ... I don't seem to miss many shots with the 1DMk3.
I use the 1DMk3 when stuff is moving, or the opportunities to get a shot will be fleeting. If the conditions look dodgy, the 1DMk3 is my choice too. I even like it for some landscapes as long as I will not need huge prints, as the smaller crop factor allows me to still get fairly wide with a 17-40 (I have also found it works with my 8-16 if I keep it longer than the 11mm setting) while the longer lenses are just that bit longer. It can also be a plus when the 1.3X crop sensor leaves out the corners as compared to the FF sensor on the 5DMk3.
I shoot for a number of web sites, and when I do, the small size of the 1DMk3 files is not a handicap and really a plus when processing, such small files!
Finally, I love the built in grip on the 1DMk3 for handling, it seems to be so easy to hold and reach the controls in either orientation.

Maxdave

Stone 13 wrote in post #16362322
alot of us are hobbyists, if it fits your needs and you can afford it, then go for it.

If I find a bargain on a 1DIV, I'm jumping on it. I think it would be the perfect compliment to my 5DIII.

Totally agree ... if i find a cheap enough 1DMk4 I will move up from by 1DMk3. Great pair, will cover most anything!

Stone 13 wrote in post #16362322
alot of us are hobbyists, if it fits your needs and you can afford it, then go for it.

If I find a bargain on a 1DIV, I'm jumping on it. I think it would be the perfect compliment to my 5DIII.

Maxdave wrote in post #16362715
Totally agree ... if i find a cheap enough 1DMk4 I will move up from by 1DMk3. Great pair, will cover most anything!

That's what my plan was, just get the cheapest deal I could find even if it was a bit beat up. I ended up picking up a hardly used perfect condition one that priced toward the middle. At first I thought yeah I'm glad I spent a bit more because assuming I keep it clean I'll get more when I decide upgrade later. Now after using it for awhile, I don't think there will be anything anytime soon good enough to take it's place(I doubt the 7DII will have the sensor or what ever the high MP FF will be will have the speed to make want to jump over to them).

I can also say w/o a doubt that they pair and compliment each other quite well for my varied shooting genres.

Maxdave wrote in post #16362617
I thought the 1DMk3 superior to the 7D for my purposes, and of course, the 5DMk3 is superior to the 5DMk2.
It was an almost a no brainer for me to keep the 1DMk3 over the 7D. I like the less severe crop factor, and I think in general this makes your lenses more useful. The f/8 focusing limit is great too, as i often use a 1.4X on my 100-400 and the combination focuses easily with the 1DMk3 in most instances.
The images I get from the 1D at higher ISOs (say 800 through 3200) are much easier for me to "clean up" than images taken the 7D at the same ISOs. The 1DMk3 also focuses at least as quickly and reliably and it is easier to "taylor" the AF system to what I am using it for.
I also like the ability to save entire sets of settings and quickly load them via a SD card.
There is a feel to the 1D series that just wasn't there with the 7D for me. It can be hard to explain, but sometimes an individual just fits in with a specific body better than another ... and that is the case with my 1DMk3 as compared to the 7D. I guess that doesn't help you though ...
Of course, the 5DMk3 is superb, and if pressed I guess I would keep it over the 1DMk3, but I wouldn't be totally happy. I often take both bodies along, but I guess I tend to use the 5DMk3 for what I know will be difficult, very low light situations, if I know i will want to produce large prints (need all the pixels I can get), and for shots of people that are more "formal" ... if they expect to be photographed and essentially are posing. It is also so much more compact, and lighter. The screen is so much better than the 1DMk3 (that it the weakest point for that body as compared to the 7D, too). You have no idea with the 1DMk3 if the shot is tack sharp or not without resorting to extensive looking, while you can tell quite well by just looking at the 5dMk3 screen (or, for that matter, the 7D screen). Using the 1DMkIII, I find myself just assuming it is OK, because it seems like so often the shots look so much sharper on the computer monitor than on the camera screen ... I don't seem to miss many shots with the 1DMk3.
I use the 1DMk3 when stuff is moving, or the opportunities to get a shot will be fleeting. If the conditions look dodgy, the 1DMk3 is my choice too. I even like it for some landscapes as long as I will not need huge prints, as the smaller crop factor allows me to still get fairly wide with a 17-40 (I have also found it works with my 8-16 if I keep it longer than the 11mm setting) while the longer lenses are just that bit longer. It can also be a plus when the 1.3X crop sensor leaves out the corners as compared to the FF sensor on the 5DMk3.
I shoot for a number of web sites, and when I do, the small size of the 1DMk3 files is not a handicap and really a plus when processing, such small files!
Finally, I love the built in grip on the 1DMk3 for handling, it seems to be so easy to hold and reach the controls in either orientation.

Maxdave

thanks for the really detailed explanation. some of that i can relate to - some, less so. but it helps for sure.
now i have to keep an eye out for the used cameras in my area....

either the 5d3 (used), 1d series, or 1dx! (yeah...right )

Old batteries are troublesome.

Third-party batteries for 1D bodies have more problems that third-party batteries for 7d/5d2.

The jpeg making in older bodies isn't as good as in newer ones, keeping raw becomes more important.

Some camera bags don't fit the body, especially messenger bags.

Chargers for the batteries are more expensive, try getting a $10 car charger.

I have a 1d mkiii and a 6d. I use my 100L Macro on both. (note i did have to do a lens adjustment on the MkIII)

I cannot tell you which one is better I am comfortable on either camera.

Overall i have the 1dmkIII for wildlife and the dog. I have the 6d for Landscape and Macro. For a my Budget these two give me what some have in a 1d mkIV but i have two cameras to have lenses on so i can landscape and wildlife or landscape and macro or wildife and macro.