Decision buying a camera... 1D II N vs 40D

I shoot weddings and portraits mostly, but I do enjoy landscape, sports, and architecture.
One thing I do use a LOT is ISO 3200.

I would get the 5D but 3FPS is just too slow.

Can anyone help me make up my mind?

i would honestly go with a 5D + 40D combo for your needs. the 5D will really shine in the landscape, portraits department with its great IQ and high ISO noise and the 30D will do just fine for sports.

I never seem to understand people who need the high FPS. I have 8.5 FPS and never used it.

If you have to chose between 40D and MkIIn, I would personnaly go with 1D MarkIIn. You just cannot compare a pro body versus an enthusiast body.

sebmour wrote in post #4096729
I never seem to understand people who need the high FPS. I have 8.5 FPS and never used it.

If you have to chose between 40D and MkIIn, I would personnaly go with 1D MarkIIn. You just cannot compare a pro body versus an enthusiast body.

I need the FPS for weddings and sports. 6.5 is fine but 8.5 is better

microman23 wrote in post #4096737
I need the FPS for weddings and sports. 6.5 is fine but 8.5 is better

Uh... why would you need to shoot a wedding at 8.5 fps? There are literally hundreds if not thousands of wedding photographers shooting with "slow" frame rate cameras. I shot two weddings with a 1D Mark II N and NEVER even thought about shooting at 8.5 fps. Just curious.

Oh and I now use a 5D + 40D, which works great.

I'm in the same quandry, since I shoot weddings for part time for cash but enjoy sports and wildlife. I have a 20D and also am considering the 5d + 20d in the mix. The way I see it right now, I think the 5D would give me more complementary capability over the 1dm2 or 40d, rather than improving on what the 20D already does well. The 1dm2 would just overshadow the 20D that I wouldn't use it much except as a backup during weddings, but my high ISO and IQ wouldn't really change. I think the 40D also improves on what the 20D already does, but again the IQ and high ISO doesn't really change much from what I've seen.

At least this is what I am thinking after taking a CF card to the camera shop today and shooting the 40D and 5D side by side at 1600 and 3200. The 5D at 3200 easily matches and probably exceeds the 40D at 1600. I also like the idea of having a small collection of lenses that have dual purposes. I especially want an affordable "normal" prime and don't really like anything below 50mm for less than $1000. I had the 50/1.4 for a while and really liked it, but on a crop camera it was a little too long for my taste. It occurred to me that if I paired a 50/1.4 and 135/2 with a 5d/20d combo I would effectively have an excellent 50/1.4, 80/1.4, 135/2, and 216/2 for $1000. That's a great portrait and event kit in only 2 lenses, and I am really drooling over the 135/2. Add in the 70-200/2.8IS and 28-70/2.8, and viola!

And please nobody rain on my parade and point out the 50/85/135 on a 1dm2/20d combo would effectively be a 62.5, 80, 106, 135, 168, and 216. I think I finally made up my mind, and am just waiting till I have the cash.

Oh, and following LM's route I plan to get a 40D in 2009 when they are a little cheaper. I don't mind buying 2 or 3 year old technology at discount prices; I am basically a cheapskate who's stuck in the past.

Lord_Malone wrote in post #4097068
Uh... why would you need to shoot a wedding at 8.5 fps? There are literally hundreds if not thousands of wedding photographers shooting with "slow" frame rate cameras. I shot two weddings with a 1D Mark II N and NEVER even thought about shooting at 8.5 fps. Just curious.

Oh and I now use a 5D + 40D, which works great.

I use fast FPS for three things:

Jump shots
bouquet toss
guarder toss


I find that brides and grooms really like the multiple shot in motion montage.

timbop wrote in post #4097090
I'm in the same quandry, since I shoot weddings for part time for cash but enjoy sports and wildlife. I have a 20D and also am considering the 5d + 20d in the mix. The way I see it right now, I think the 5D would give me more complementary capability over the 1dm2 or 40d, rather than improving on what the 20D already does well. The 1dm2 would just overshadow the 20D that I wouldn't use it much except as a backup during weddings, but my high ISO and IQ wouldn't really change. I think the 40D also improves on what the 20D already does, but again the IQ and high ISO doesn't really change much from what I've seen.

At least this is what I am thinking after taking a CF card to the camera shop today and shooting the 40D and 5D side by side at 1600 and 3200. The 5D at 3200 easily matches and probably exceeds the 40D at 1600. I also like the idea of having a small collection of lenses that have dual purposes. I especially want an affordable "normal" prime and don't really like anything below 50mm for less than $1000. I had the 50/1.4 for a while and really liked it, but on a crop camera it was a little too long for my taste. It occurred to me that if I paired a 50/1.4 and 135/2 with a 5d/20d combo I would effectively have an excellent 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 135/2, and 200/2 for $1000. That's a great portrait and event kit in only 2 lenses, and I am really drooling over the 135/2. Add in the 70-200/2.8IS and 28-70/2.8, and viola!

And please nobody rain on my parade and point out the 50/85/135 on a 1dm2/20d combo would effectively be a 62.5, 80, 106, 135, 168, and 216. I think I finally made up my mind, and am just waiting till I have the cash.

Either way you slice it you can't go wrong with a 5D. It is and shall always be a great camera.

microman23 wrote in post #4097097
I use fast FPS for three things:

Jump shots
bouquet toss
guarder toss


I find that brides and grooms really like the multiple shot in motion montage.

I see.

microman23 wrote in post #4097097
I use fast FPS for three things:

Jump shots
bouquet toss
guarder toss


I find that brides and grooms really like the multiple shot in motion montage.

Just like they like music on websites.

blackshadow wrote in post #4097166
Just like they like music on websites.

Your right! But only in galleries, not the whole page.

I have a 5D and a 30D and I have more action shots with the 5D printed than the 30D for one reason, the 5D will focus in low light (night football games) better that the 30D. I have the 70-200 f/2.8IS on the 30D for the 5fps, but the camera will hit the mark fewer times than the 5D. I played with the 40D today and it seemed to focus better than the 30D. The future: 5D and 40D. Win the lotto: Mark III's all around!!

I have decided to buy a 40D now and a 5D later.