1D Mark II mini review and C1 (beta) full size images

https://photography-on-the.net/1DmarkII

All comments and questions are welcome. If people like to read and view a review like this I'll most likely continue it later as I use Mark II more in various situations.

If you see spelling and grammar errors please PM me

Looks good. Thumbs up

In Focus, paragraph 4 line 4 the word "withing". I assume you mean with. That's the only thing that caught my eye, but I quick-read the article. I had my first shoot with my MKII yesterday and pretty much agree with everything you said in your review.

The MKII is simply the best camera I have ever touched. (period)

Very well done.

I would be interested in hearing your observations on what setting may work for you on some sporting events that are a bit more intricate (smaller subjects)/faster paced. We shot at a mountain bike race/event this weekend and loved how the camera performed. I am interested in anyones comments on the AI servo speed settings that people have experimented with so far.

Scott

AI Servo is flawless.

Very good review. I had my first go with the MArk II and would concur with you. I need a few days with this baby until we can become one.

I have had the oportunity to mate up to some big glass with the Mark II. I will echo Pekka's comments on the lenses making a difference.
I was shooting an older 500 f4.5 non-IS lens with a 1.4TC. The image is the sharpest and most stunning I have made with the camera to date.
I have it posted on my SportsShooter page: http://www.sportsshoot​er.com/members.html?id​=2474

I was amazed at the jpeg. At 10,000% a square pixel was hard to see. This copy is made from the jpeg. I have not post-processed the RAW file yet.

My wife, however, does not see the need for me to buy a 500 f4 IS.
I just can't figure out why?

Great review Pekka..

And I agree totally.

Focus is insanely accurate.. and auto WB is better than my custom WB some times (found that out last night)

One trick I picked up from Kenny G.. With the 10D I always had it set to 3fps Burst..


Well after you spend a week with the MkII pick your 10D and check out the shutter lag... hoo hum.. seems forever..

Anyway.. Kenny recomended not bothering with the high speed burst on the 1D.. He uses single shot,.. and I have to say it works really well.. with the total lack of shutter lag and the amazing response.. you can trigger the shutter faster than 3 fps easily.. and have complete control of when those fps occur..

Another alternative is to leave it in the MkII on 3fps. This nearly eliminates the accidental "double tap" and yet I can trigger individual shots faster than 3 fps just by tapping the shutter faster... and you get that precise control.

Another thing.. the buffer is HUGE.. even in RAW I HAVE NEVER run out of buffer space on this camera once. With the 10D I did it all the time.

I love this thing!

CDS: Re: high speed shutter; I could not agree more. Especially when it comes to the vertical shutter button. Man that thing is wicked sensitive and 8.5fps is hella-fast. I'll get used to the standard shutter button, but will leave it on single shot unless I am major sports mode.

I think we were "used to" the 10D shutter-lag and now we're shooting with an Uzi.

Jim, I had alot of trouble with the AI Servo on Saturday. It was a very overcast day and I was shooting planes against the sky. The AI Servo had a very hard time, even with Center Point only. When the clouds lifted it was dead on as it was the week before. I guess even the Mark II has its limitations.
Regards,
Scott

ScottB - I have to agree with you on the AI Servo, it does have some limitations. I was hoping one of these guys had a handle on the fine tuning CFs. Doesn't sound like it so far.
I have found on things that are faster and smaller in scale to the frame, that the AI tends to "wander". So I went and shot a softbal game tonight trying different modes. I had very good luck tonight, so maybe its just operator error this wekend. As an FYI, I used 2 seperate MkIIs throughout the weekend and both performed the same, so I am confident it is not the individual body.
I'll have to wait until the next downhill MTB race to get a true sense of the differences in the modes though.
I think the AI Servo works great for shots where the moving objects take up large portions of the frame. That proved very effective this weekend. Over all I am still extremely pleased on the performance of the cameres.

I haven't picked up my 1Ds much since I got hold of the MkII's ......


FYI - here are some of the pics from the races...

http://www.pbase.com/s​nj/norba_races

Pekka,

As always you do a wonderful job. That review is not mini by any means. It is consice, detailed and very informative.

Thank you so much.

NiL,

SnJ/ScottRe: AI Servo - Yes, my boats filled up the frame, but previously with the 10D, even with a full frame it would wander from time to time like it got confused. Could also (maybe) be a lens issue too or a small combination of both. And with the 10D I found the smaller the object the tougher it was to focus.

We'll have to experiment more on this one...But, with the boats I found the AI Servo significantly better, faster and more accurate than the 10D.

A tad off topic but seriously

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It's a bit of everything. You forgot "photographer" on your short list there. On another forum someone gave a link to some good MKII photos. Someone then mentioned: "Can't a 10D do that too? Show me a shot that only the MKII can shoot." What a weird comment.

The MKII will not produce some magical photo that others cameras cannot shoot. It might get there faster and we might be able to blow it up larger, but it's not going to perform circus acts.

We've reached a point where features will now mean more than megapixels.