7D or 1D Mark III?

I'm in a limbo here. I love my 7D, however, I just feel noise-wise it's a little annoying. Sure, the ability to shoot at ISO12800 is kind of nice--and the fact that I get *mildly* useable images out of it is nice as well.

I played around with a used 1D Mark III at a store. I don't really care for the AF system on it all that much, however, I really like the images that came from it compared to my 7D. Beyond that, I really, really liked it. I do a lot of weather shooting (I don't use a condo-I mean raincoat) and very seldom do video (as much as I'd like to get into it more). For now, I just need a beater camera that can handle professional shoots as well, and something that gets great images. The 1D3 seems great, and I love my 7D, but I can't keep both. I need some help guys. What do?

I do mainly portrait and just... I don't really know. Shooting I guess. Candid stuff. Going full frame is a bit out of my price range right now, but the bigger sensor is nice.

Help?

If you careless about the AF, the most logical upgrade is 6D, not 1D3.

It can be had for $1300 brand new.

I'd likely only take an offer for a 6D if they'd trade a used 7D for a used 6D. The other concern is my all-weather shooting habit...

Had both for ages. Sold both. Loved the 1d3, never really used the 7d. It was just too noisy, autofocus kinda iffy, and I hate crop sensors. Go for the 1d3. The newer tech and LCD of the 7d is nice but the older 1d produces nicer images.

1D3 has better ISO performance than 7D?

EDIT - I looked at the Studio comparison tool @ dpreview and it seems @ ISO1600 1D3 is slightly cleaner. Either way I don't think you'll gain anything.

That's kinda how I felt about the 7D. I also like the shallower DOF due to the bigger sensor on the 1D3. The LCD thing really bugged me on my impressions with 1D3, but in the end, I observed the same thing. The images are the same. I don't really need 18MPs anyway. 10 is enough. At the same time, a little bummed due to loss in the video feature--I don't use it often--seldom, but it's cool to have I guess.

I'll just have to work to make enough for a brand new body at some point. Haha. Maybe a 5D3. :P

Any other opinions guys?

I'm actually currently in the same boat as you. I have been thinking about the very same switch. Sure 10fps is handy, and the AF seems to be a talking point. 10mp would count for the cleaner files in the noise dept, and cleaner still when the 7D files are downsized to 10mp.

The shutter lag is quicker on the 1diii and looks like it could take a pounding off a Pacific Rim monster. I don't know how much weight DXo marks scores hold in the world, but apparently my 70-200 performs better on the 7D than it does on the 1Diii. With that said, it might just be a case that I can miss 2fps, cope with quirkier AF of the 7D and get a battery grip and all will be well.

If I was to take it more seriously, I'd borrow one first.

Thanks Paul! Any additional opinions please?

I had to make a similar decision back in 2012, and chose the 1D3. I have no regrets at all, and if I had to replace it, I'd get another 1D3 or maybe reach a bit and see if I could swing a 1D4 yet.

Here's the thread that helped me with my decision: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1200639

I was debating the same thing not too long ago.
I pulled the trigger on 1D III and i'll be testing it out this week.

For me, i'm using it purely for sports. The AF and FPS were 2 big selling points for me, not to mention the superb build quality.
The 6D covers just about everything else well enough for me.

I don't do sports really, it's mainly the build quality and IQ and bigger sensor that's drawing me toward it. I'm not sure. So mostly 1D3 advocates. Anyone else willing to play devil's advocate?

You cannot can get a feel for a 1d AF system just playing with it in the store. There are so many AF customizations, it took me weeks just to figure out what was what and how to set it for my needs. 2000+ shots on a single battery is amazing, no need to worry about spares and I really like the 24-70 focal range on the 1.3 crop.

It is big, but you know that. Also a potential con is that your 70-300 wont take full advantage of the non center cross type focusing points, which need f/2.8, so you might end up getting more glass and spend more money, to take full advantage.

lilkngster wrote in post #16464153
You cannot can get a feel for a 1d AF system just playing with it in the store. There are so many AF customizations, it took me weeks just to figure out what was what and how to set it for my needs. 2000+ shots on a single battery is amazing, no need to worry about spares and I really like the 24-70 focal range on the 1.3 crop.

It is big, but you know that. Also a potential con is that your 70-300 wont take full advantage of the non center cross type focusing points, which need f/2.8, so you might end up getting more glass and spend more money, to take full advantage.

I'm already planning on picking up a 70-200 this holiday so that's on my to-do list.

quadwing wrote in post #16464076
I don't do sports really, it's mainly the build quality and IQ and bigger sensor that's drawing me toward it. I'm not sure. So mostly 1D3 advocates. Anyone else willing to play devil's advocate?

I did a review between these two (check my signature).

The one thing that I clearly show is that not only do you lose the APS-C reach vs the APS-H reach (1.6 vs 1.3), you lose out doubly so with the resolution.

If you are focal-length challenged, and will be cropping and resizing your crops up, the 1D3 is not a good option. If you have the glass to get the view you want, and 10mpx is enough for what you need output-wise, the 1D3 is a great option.

The 1D3 has the edge in,provided you have long enough glass and resolution is fine:
- low light AF
- pushing underexposures up
- slightly sharper images due to differences in AA filter
- FPS with no handicap for exposure/metering
- longer battery life
- decreasingly better ISO performance as you reach 6400

TeamSpeed wrote in post #16464241
I did a review between these two (check my signature).

The one thing that I clearly show is that not only do you lose the APS-C reach vs the APS-H reach (1.6 vs 1.3), you lose out doubly so with the resolution.

If you are focal-length challenged, and will be cropping and resizing your crops up, the 1D3 is not a good option. If you have the glass to get the view you want, and 10mpx is enough for what you need output-wise, the 1D3 is a great option.

The 1D3 has the edge in,provided you have long enough glass and resolution is fine:
- low light AF
- pushing underexposures up
- slightly sharper images due to differences in AA filter
- FPS with no handicap for exposure/metering
- longer battery life
- decreasingly better ISO performance as you reach 6400

What do you mean by "decreasingly better ISO performance"?