1d4 v 5d3

i know the 1d4 was the pro level top dog camera from Canon when it was released but it was before the 5d3...

ive got a 5d3 and its pretty good for what i need but i want to add another body. very easy to duplicate the 5d3 since everything will be exact between the two bodies...

im liking the 1d4 because its got just a little bump in reach to help with my 70-200 f2.8 (theoretical with crop factor, i dont need any dissertations on this) but how does it compare function and performance wise to the 5d3?

i cant swing the coin for a 1dx2, let alone a first gen 1dx so unfortunately thats out of the question...

i know those with the 1d4 love them. im certain i too would love it but i dont want a step down in techonlogy/capability and i dont want a lot of relearning or confusing controls...

should i get a 2nd 5d3, look for a cheap 1dx or wait for a 5d4 to be conjured up?

Thought about the 7D2? Smaller sensor, but more pixels on target in a newer sensor design. Controls are close to those of your 5D3, so less re-learning.

I've been having the exact same thoughts recently. Just sold my 5D2 because I needed a little better performance in AF and fps for sports.

I'm choosing between the 1D4 and a second 5D3. Right now, I'm leaning towards the 1D4 because it will add more versatility than a second 5D3. Having two identical bodies has its own conveniences, too, though. I will then have a sports camera when I need one and the 5D3 for most other purposes. At the same time, both will give me comparable performance shooting weddings and events. I've read that low light AF on the 1D4 loses a tiny bit to the 5D3 and high ISO is also almost there. I'm not even interested in a 5D4.

I'm in no rush. The prices of both are falling. It'll probably be summer before I pick one or the other up.

Following this thread to hear what people have to say, however I'm pretty sure I'll go with a 1D4.

There's no right answer to your question without knowing why you want the second body. Is is a backup body? Are you trying to get functionality you don't have? Is it a need-based want (i.e. there is something you want to shoot where the 5d3 is not up to the task) or you just want something new to play with (nothing wrong with this, btw)?

Check out his gallery and you'll see he shoots concerts. A 1D4 will give him a little more reach with the 70-200 (as he stated in his post). He says that he wants a second body, so it's apparent that it's not merely a backup. Based on that limited information, I can see why he's hung up on the 1D4 versus 5D3 question.

Jon raises a really good point about the 7D2. In my scenario, I want more fps for sports so I think I'll go with the 1D4. I'm less concerned about "a step down in technology." For the OP, I don't see a clear reason why not opt for the 7D2, instead - especially since he is concerned about obtaining technology that is older. The 7D2 gives him much more reach and I expect its sensor to perform quite nicely.

Nathan wrote in post #17902128
Check out his gallery and you'll see he shoots concerts.

But if I looked at your gallery, and assumed you only shot kids and pet portraits, and a few landscapes, I would never come to the conclusion that a 1D4 would be your best second body option. But you note above in post #3 that you would like a 1D4 to have new capabilities and a "sports camera". This is exactly why I'd rather ask for a little clarification than write a lengthy recommendation based on assumptions that could easily be wrong.

seems i always forget a few small details lol....

while i HAVE shot a couple of concerts, seems sports is most often my subject other than general photography...

i would use this for shooting football and my daughter's marching performances so theres 3 more years of use for it, and having a second body so i dont have to swap back and forth between the 70-200 and the 24-70 when shooting different events (the actual sport and the crowd) would make things much easier...

i used to run an F-1n and an AE-1 with different lenses back in the film days which just makes things so much more convenient...

Jon wrote in post #17902105
Thought about the 7D2? Smaller sensor, but more pixels on target in a newer sensor design. Controls are close to those of your 5D3, so less re-learning.

im gun-shy of the 7d2. i had a 7d and a) the IQ was downright horrid with the AA filter on it and b) even after sending it back to Canon, and spending more than an hour with the the MFA, i never got it to focus with my 70-200...

Ltdave wrote in post #17902263
im gun-shy of the 7d2. i had a 7d and a) the IQ was downright horrid with the AA filter on it and b) even after sending it back to Canon, and spending more than an hour with the the MFA, i never got it to focus with my 70-200...

I would prefer a 1D IV to a 7D mkII personally, but with the understanding that it will serve you best if you have the right focal-length glass to frame the intended subjects without having to rely on cropping. The 1D IV is going to have a bit better image quality, but the 7D2 has more reach and crop-ability due to more and denser pixels.

I wouldn't discount the 7D2 based on experiences with a 7D, there are too many years between these releases such that they are different beasts. The 7D2 likely has more technical similarities to the 5D3.

If you are keeping the 5d3 (and can't swing a 1dx in a bit when prices may come down some), then I definitely recommend a 1d4 for shooting sports stuff. IQ is not quite up to 5d3 standards, but is much better than any 7D.

rdalrt wrote in post #17902407
...(and can't swing a 1dx in a bit when prices may come down some), ...

depends on how long i wait before purchasing i suppose!

i just seem to have some cash burning a hole in my pocket i guess. its really nothing i even NEED, but...

i guess ill keep looking and stashing away more shekels every week....

Ltdave wrote in post #17902263
im gun-shy of the 7d2. i had a 7d and a) the IQ was downright horrid with the AA filter on it and b) even after sending it back to Canon, and spending more than an hour with the the MFA, i never got it to focus with my 70-200...

The 7D2 is a different animal, and is easily in the same playing field as the 1D4. I had a 1D4 and traded it out for a 5D3 and 7D2. The 1D4 would be a good match to the 5D3 and will pretty closely match it for IQ. However so does the 7D2.

AF is spot on and tracks very well. High ISO is pretty good too.

ISO 12800

Ltdave wrote in post #17902413
depends on how long i wait before purchasing i suppose!

i just seem to have some cash burning a hole in my pocket i guess. its really nothing i even NEED, but...

i guess ill keep looking and stashing away more shekels every week....

There's a pretty clean 1D IV for sale here for $1125.... it has about half its shutter life used up but they are only between 3 and 4 hundred dollars to replace. Still... it has over 150k shutter actuations left based on Canon's projections.

I loved my 7D2 until it stopped working well after 10 months of spectacular fun. Canon ended up replacing it but I had purchased a 1D IV in the mean time... I still have it and no longer have a 7D2. That doesn't mean I hate the 7D2, but the 1D IV is so easy to use, the colors are truer to me and it's ultra dependable.

Possibly look at the newly announced 80d now?

absplastic wrote in post #17902181
But if I looked at your gallery, and assumed you only shot kids and pet portraits, and a few landscapes

Lol... fair enough. I also have martial arts photos up on my site, but you are right.

Hey. I didn't realize that the 7d2 also does 10fps and I'm not sure if there are limitations to that based on Gary Fong's tests. I don't see much from other people that they hit a limit before reaching 10 fps in less than ideal lighting conditions.

I think I'm also partial to the 1D4 because I've wanted one for so long. I don't need the weather sealing for what I shoot and I don't have a great reason not to go back to 1.6 crop.