For those that upgraded to 1DMK2 from 20D/30D...

...and it's your only camera, do you feel the size is big when taking it out on family trip, vacation and casual events?

I'm thinking of making the jump but afraid the 1Kmk2 is too big for casual family outings. I have the grip with the 20D and I take off the grip when I take it on vacation or such outtings with my kids.

I upgraded from 10D with grip, and yes, Mark II is heavier and bigger. To me the added sweat of carrying it around is worth it.

IMO it is.

I just picked up a 30D a couple EFS's to travel / vacation with. You can see all my stuff in my sig.......just got to be too much. Plus that's the kit I always keep in the car. Works out great.

Pekka wrote in post #3086205
I upgraded from 10D with grip, and yes, Mark II is heavier and bigger. To me the added sweat of carrying it around is worth it.

Pekka, I love everything about the 1Dmk2, the feel, the faster and more accurate AF, weather seal, etc... and I'm sure I'll love it but I just need to see if my family will tolerate me carrying the beast around them when we go somewhere

SeanH wrote in post #3086218
IMO it is.

I just picked up a 30D a couple EFS's to travel / vacation with. You can see all my stuff in my sig.......just got to be too much. Plus that's the kit I always keep in the car. Works out great.

Sean, I have some similar lenses as you and they are heavy if I put them all in one bag. A couple of days ago I handed the 20D+grip and the 24-70 to my wife to take a pic and she said it was way too heavy for her (she's not really into cameras and such). I can't afford 2 cameras now and have to sell the 20D if I'm to get the 1Dmk2.

not to disparage your wife, but mightn't she be happier with a fairly inexpensive P&S anyway? And she'd probably take more photos with her own camera. I lugged the old Kodak 520 around Ireland a few years back and thought the photos worth any amount of back strain, and the grip on my current 30D balances the camera so nicely that i wouldn't leave home without it.

regards
John

John, we do have a P&S, a G2 and a S410. When I'm out for a walk in the park with the kids I usually take the camera with me, once in a while I handed it to her to snap a few pics of me and the kids. Normally she has no interest in my camera or photography for that matter.

I think I may just go for it and wait for the reaction

A 1 series, plus a couple of FF style lenses, an extra battery, a flash, and the larger bag is a lot more to carry all day while on vacation. A 20D or 30D, no grip, a spare battery, and 2 or 3 APS-C lenses are an awful lot lighter & take a much smaller bag. Unless the vacation is directly aimed as a photo op all day I tend to go light. LowePro Off Road bag, 2 external pouches (they come with it) 20D, Sigma 18-200 (soon to be the OS version) 70-300 DO IS, spare battery, water bottle, set to go. (That bag has both a waist belt & shoulder strap, allowing different loading to my old & tired body when walking all day.)

Yesterday I was shooting a March Of Dimes Walk at White Rock Lake (Dallas) and wore a backpack with three lenses - one was a 70-200 IS, water, and some snacks for nearly 4 hours. This is the first time I have actually worn a pack while taking pictures and I was amazed at how much easier it was on my weak back. The backpack seemed to counter balance the camera/lens weight. I will probably using a small backpack more often on trips, outings etc.

Papaw wrote in post #3087050
Yesterday I was shooting a March Of Dimes Walk at White Rock Lake (Dallas) and wore a backpack with three lenses - one was a 70-200 IS, water, and some snacks for nearly 4 hours. This is the first time I have actually worn a pack while taking pictures and I was amazed at how much easier it was on my weak back. The backpack seemed to counter balance the camera/lens weight. I will probably using a small backpack more often on trips, outings etc.

I agree. That's the bag I also use for the Mk2, and when I'm going out to shoot the SX races I normally have a 15 2.8, 17-40, 24-70, 70-200 2.8 & 580 in the backpack......and of course the Mk2N (with one of those lenses) around my neck. It's not that bad but you sure feel it at the end & the next day.

But if I am actually going to shoot something I'll take the backpack......and all 40 pounds of crap. But for casual shooting or vacations it's the 30D, 10-22, 17-55 2.8IS & 580. I picked up a little bag that fits all that stuff perfect......tight, but perfect.

Size has never been an issue for me. I used to have a grip on my 30D anyway, and the size difference to me is negligible. There may be situations where I'd take a P&S instead of an SLR, but none where I'd choose to take a 30D or an XTi over my 1D Mark II

just upgraded from the 30D to the 1DMk2 and yes (as everyone else has confirmed) it is heavier, but the IQ has certainly shown itself to be much better...i know that in my experience I was more concerned with being able to get the shot with the best I can get my hands on, so I knew almost immediately that the 30D would see very little use after purchasing the 1D body. However, if you are willing and able to keep an extra $1k+ wrapped up in a seldom-used camera, then by all means keep it around.

I'd say go for it. The size/weight difference is negligible compared to a 20/30D w/grip. Sure, I tried to tell myself years ago when I got my 20D that I would take the grip off to make it smaller/lighter for casual occasions - never happened at all, so it might as well have been built right in.

You'll definitely get some comments, even some ridicule about the size of your equipment (the camera...) the next time you bring it to a casual gathering of friends or family, but you'll get used to it.

Your family will get used to it. Mine did.

Greg

4x4rock wrote in post #3086257
Pekka, I love everything about the 1Dmk2, the feel, the faster and more accurate AF, weather seal, etc... and I'm sure I'll love it but I just need to see if my family will tolerate me carrying the beast around them when we go somewhere

As long as you don't ask them to hold it for you, I'm sure they couldn't care less what camera you are using. Asking your wife to hold your 1DMkII+24-70 lens is asking for it to be dropped. I hope your insurance is in order...

I just went from a 1DmII to a 5D for this reason. The 1DmII was way too big and heavy for what I needed and I don't need the AF, or FPS. I'm very happy with the 5D and it's a much better size IMHO. I'll be getting a 1D here for the times when I really need 8fps, but that's like maybe 5 times a year. The 5D is much easier to carry around because of it's size and weight (no grip) and it's a much better camera for what I do (landscapes mostly, with some skiing in the winter). I don't regret the switch at all, I just wish I'd done it sooner.

Ben