Relationship advice - What after 1DS Mark II?

frugivore wrote in post #18555162
I call shenanigans. You say that your not satisfied with the noise in your high ISO images. I say that the noise won't impact the message in the image. I have an ISO 12800 shot taken with the 5D3 and it is really noisy when zoomed in at 100% and has reduced dynamic range. But I printed it and I'm happy because I captured a great moment.

High ISO images are usually in situations where you can't quite control the lighting anyhow. And if you know you'll be shooting in those conditions, bring a flash or a wide, fast prime.

I say stick with your 1DS Mark II. I shot with a 1D3 and it isn't more complicated them my 5D3.

I also have a 1DS2. I'm not satisfied with ISO800 performance, let alone the ISO1600 the OP is unhappy with. In fact I even noticed recently that even ISO400 results have very little room for lifting shadows. These are my opinions. Therefore they are 100% correct! That's what opinions are. If I needed to use ISO800 to get a shot I would do it and be glad to get the shot. I'd still wish I had my 1D4 instead.

To the OP, I have 1DS2, had a 1D2n, have a 1D4 and recently got a 5D4. I consider the 1DS2 good to ISO400. The 1D4 good to ISO1600. The 5D4 good to 3200 (still new to the3 5D4, I may change that rating with more use). I realise some would rate the 5D4 good to 12,800 and they are 100% correct in their opinion as I am with my opinion. It does give you an idea though of what you may be happy with. I have never used a 1DS3 and never looked for any opinions or comparisons with other bodies.

I think, restricting choices to 1 series, the 1D4 should be top of your list.

frugivore wrote in post #18555162
High ISO images are usually in situations where you can't quite control the lighting anyhow. And if you know you'll be shooting in those conditions, bring a flash or a wide, fast prime.

and failing being allowed to use flash, or get close enough to the subject, that only leaves being able to bring a camera with better technology.

Yes, I would like to stay FF, but then again, I feel a strong attraction towards the Fuji X-T1. I think it looks awesome, and the only thing I'm worried is the performance.

The only thing driving me away from the xxD series is that after having a play around with a 60D and a 70D, I think the noise performance is pretty much the same as on the 1DS Mark II, sometimes even worse. But then again, these are newer cameras.

I haven't thought about Pentax, but I will take a look at it nevertheless. Could you offer me your personal view of the X-T1? Are you satisfied with autofocus, does the one card slot pose a limitation and in addition to that is there a reason I should be worried about the reliability of the camera? Have you had a chance to take it out in adverse conditions and tell me a bit how the camera behaves in such conditions?

I know it won't, some of the Pullitzer prize winning photographs were not perfectly focused, but were compelling enough on their own in telling a story. But, as far as I'm concerned, this applies to everyday situations, where I simply don't want to hassle too much in low light conditions and rely on fixing the image in post processing.