Musings on my new (to me) 1D Mark IV

Regarding pricing, I was looking in to purchasing a 1DIV and was watching pricing for several months. (plus over the last year or two as well) the 1D4 kept it's value relatively high because it was only a generation old body. A new 1Dx for a long time was still well over $5k, so $2,500-$3k for a 1D4 was't considered out of line. Then people found out when the 1DxII was coming out and so rather than wait and take a huge hit on selling, they sold early for less, but not as much less. So most of the cameras were a tad bit above $2k. Now that the 1DxII is out, the 1D4 is two generations old and it's value has dropped further since the 1Dx is now lower in value as a used body. (and the 7DII suits the bill for many people)

Lately, I've watched the prices for a good condition 1D4 run in the $1,600 neighborhood, some being more, some less depending on the desire to sell and condition and shutter count. The 1Dx can now be had used pretty much any day of the week for between $2800 and $3400 depending on age, condition, and shutter count with the high end being reserved for cameras that are still in warranty. Anything out of warranty is generally at $3200 or less.

Anyway, I was looking at grabbing a new camera for sports and was going to pass over the 1D4 for a 7D2. That all went out the window as I have a new to me 1Dx on it's way to me via the UPS system.

Anyway, congrats on the new camera, and glad you got it at a price you were happy with.

mikeinctown wrote in post #18037855
Anyway, I was looking at grabbing a new camera for sports and was going to pass over the 1D4 for a 7D2. That all went out the window as I have a new to me 1Dx on it's way to me via the UPS system.

Anyway, congrats on the new camera, and glad you got it at a price you were happy with.

You are going to be sorry having spent that on a 1DX when you could have had a 7D2!

signed,
Jealous

Thanks TS & Levina. I will reconsider selling the 1D3. First order of business is to get the 1DIV through a 'real' shoot. I want to see how the 1DIV stands up under real conditions, just to make sure everything is OK. Shooting cats/dogs in the backyard is a bit different than catching a play at the plate or a 3rd-home rundown. One thing I am hoping for is less 'stuttering' from the 1DIV. I have my 1st and 2nd image priority set all the way to 'focus' (as opposed to release), and the 1D3 will sometimes stutter in a burst. Most likely my fault, but I think the faster processors of the IV will handle that better. I could stop the stuttering by setting the slider more toward release, but why? I really don't need the OOF frames.

I saw Talley's notice of the 15% refurb sale. I am primarily interested in the 300 f/4L. It is always out of stock. Any ideas how I compare output from the 100-400Lc/1.4X II to the Levina's exquisite work with the 300L/2X TC? Not that it matters much, I've already spent my first nursing paycheck on the 1DIV.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18037903
You are going to be sorry having spent that on a 1DX when you could have had a 7D2!

signed,
Jealous

For everything I've spent on camera in the last year, I probably could have gotten 1DX for less. Let's see. Refurbed 70D - $800. 1D & 1D2 - $300. 1D3 - $600. 1D4 - $1300. That is $3,000. Add a few bucks for the ef-s lenses I bought for the 70D, and yep, I could have gotten close to a 1DX, used anyway. Selling the 6D I would no longer need if I had a 1DX puts me into the refurbished units!

I have often considered selling the 5D3 and 7D2, which would put me within $1K or so of a used 1DX. However, I am more set on the 1DX2 due to the sensor changes they made. Or perhaps in a 5D4/5DX once they make that announcement.

Bassat wrote in post #18037947
For everything I've spent on camera in the last year, I probably could have gotten 1DX for less. Let's see. Refurbed 70D - $800. 1D & 1D2 - $300. 1D3 - $600. 1D4 - $1300. That is $3,000. Add a few bucks for the ef-s lenses I bought for the 70D, and yep, I could have gotten close to a 1DX, used anyway. Selling the 6D I would no longer need if I had a 1DX puts me into the refurbished units!

It is my personal belief that each camera step up helps you in ways that just taking a massive step may not. I went from a rebel series to a 5D2 and felt like I had to completely relearn everything. The camera was so different. But I figured out things that I hadn't tried before due to available settings or the appearance of my final image. Now with a 1 series I feel like I am going to learn everything all over yet again. (which is most likely true given the advanced nature) i guess what I'm trying to get at is that each step you take, you learn what you like or don't like about any specific camera and function. You learn to adapt to many more situations than you may if you just went with a single camera for 8 years. For me going from crop to FF made me realize I really like the look of FF, but I was always disappointed with the AF on the 5D2.

When I got the 1D4 I did sell my 1D3, I knew I'd never pick it up, and at the time I was able to get about $1K for it.
That said, I had been using my old 1D2 as back up to 1D3 (no longer relevant as 5D3 became my 1D4's partner in crime) and by the time I realized I would no longer shoot the 1D2, it's resale price was down around $300.00. I paid $,4500.00 for it new!

So it's in my glass front cabinet, awaiting a friend/relative that might have interest, and kept for both history and reference when someone asks a question on the forum and I want to be able to answer correctly. (although likewise, questions about the 1D2 are also growing scarce!)

I still may sell it someday, price has frozen at least.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18038221
... and reference when someone asks a question on the forum and I want to be able to answer correctly. (although likewise, questions about the 1D2 are also growing scarce!)

Not sure if you've ever given a correct answer to anyone on the forum. I think I asked for the time once and you even got that wrong.

Chet wrote in post #18038227
Not sure if you've ever given a correct answer to anyone on the forum. I think I asked for the time once and you even got that wrong.

YOUR MEDS, CHET! Don't forget your meds!

Bassat wrote in post #18038303
YOUR MEDS, CHET! Don't forget your meds!

My dawg ate them. He be tripp'n fo real yo.

Another outing with the 1DIV. This time I took the 100-400Lc and 1.4X II. The results were less than stellar. First off, I need 1/1000 to have any hope with that combination at more than flower-shooting distance. The setup performed poorly enough (in my hands ) to call it useless. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but 50% keeper rate was not it. I also found the AF slow, even in bright sunshine, and it hunted frequently, even on high-contrast targets that were more than about 200 feet away. I am sure my shakiness contributed to that. Oh, all of this was hand-held. I am sure that matters, too. Hand-holding 700mm+ (35mm eq.) is obviously a developed skill.

Some BG. I shot the 1DIII/100-400 combination to good effect at a baseball game. I expect the 1DIV to perform at least as well as the 1DIII did with the bare lens. I also tried my 70-200 f/4L IS and 135L on the 1DIV, with the 1.4X II. Both performed well wrt focus speed and accuracy. I was a bit taken aback by the poor performance of the 1DIV/100-400/1.4X. Then I realized it was most likely not the camera, but my lack of skill/ability with that kind of focal length, hand-held. It seems a bit harsh to have an inanimate object point out the fact that I am getting old.

I learned two things today. I am too old and shaky to shoot 500mm+ handheld. I don't really have any use for a lens longer than my 100-400L. Oh, and I have an all new respect for Levina's bird photos with the 300L/2X combination!

EDIT:
Forty years ago, I shot (M16A1 & 1911A1) competitively as part of a US Army team. I made the team. I must not have been so shaky back then!

I would debate some of the conclusions you have drawn from this experience.

The original 100-400mm was well known to be a bad player with a teleconverter. I would not put any stock in it's failure to perform well. The surprise to me is that you once were able to get results that you felt were good (with 1D3) Or am I reading this wrong? Are you comparing 1D4 with 1.4x to 1D3 with bare lens?

If it WAS with the 1D3 and 1.4x, any chance your appreciation for those results are colored? Perhaps by the fact that it worked at all first time out?

If your comparing bare lens to 1.4x, then it's no comparison, the 100-400mm should not be mounted to a 1.4x for any action related shooting, and IQ and AF performance will be seriously compromised. My recommendation has always been it is not worth the sacrifice. Better results will be had from cropping.
I shot with that lens (various copies) for about 15 years and never mounted a 1.4x beyond experimentation.

Now, the MkII lens does pretty well with a 1.4x, and it's IS and superior AF IQ make it a valid trade off, a useable combo.

The 100-400mm is f5.6 at the long end, with added 1.4X TC it will be f8. Even though the 1DIV will allow AF at f8 I would still expect lack of speed and hunting because f8 is just too small for good PDAF.

The lack of good AF with a 100-400L and TC is purely due to the lens and TC combination and not the body. There simply isn't enough light with that combo to allow the 1D4 to reliably lock AF all the time. The more bright it is outside, where you have sharp contrasts (ie. a sunny day), the results should be better.

Yes, the longer you go with a focal length, the more involved your breathing and stance while handholding. I have shot enough of the moon at 1400mm handheld to really try to lock down my physical stance and holding.

We had some sort of "contest" in the past. This was my entry for standing there without leaning on anything, just camera in hand, deep breath, take shot and slowly exhale...