Body switch: what do you think?

I have my dream camera, 1DMkII, a jack-of-all trades! Not 4MP of the 1Dino, nor 12MP of a 5D. Not 1.6 crop factor, nor full-frame. Excellent AF system, weather-sealing, and excellent burst mode.

I can easily swap this baby for a good condition 1Dino *and* a 5D! (I can eBay it here in Brazil for $3,200)

This is how I would use them:

Walkaround: 5D + 24-105/4L IS
Landscape: 5D + 24-105/4L IS
Travel: 5D + 24-105/4L IS
Low-light: 5D + 85/1.8
Ballet: 5D + 70-200/2.8L IS
Macro: 5D + 50/2.8 EX Macro
Outdoors (wet or rainy): 1D + 24-105/4L IS
Basketball: 1D + 85/1.8 (or 5D and practice timing)
Baseball: 1D + 70-200/2.8L IS
PJ: 1D + 24-105/4L IS

Reasons being:

1) Traveling with a 1DMk2 is very heavy and cumbersome in amusement parks.
2) Landscape would need a wider lens, e.g. 16-35/2.8L, and would add cost.
3) Walkaround would be a lot lighter using a 5D and get wider shots as well.
4) Can't beat a 5D in low-light (compared to the 1DMk2).
5) I can get better shutter speeds for ballet with 5D's better high ISO performance.
6) 1Dino is perfect for baseball because of decent lighting.
7) The only place where a 1DMk2 would be great is basketball... but is seasonal and not what I do mostly. I could use either 1Dino or 5D and then compensate.
8.) PJ work means taking it out to the streets (dangerous here in São Paulo), less worth if stolen
9) I actually would have a backup!

Best of both worlds and a wise decision?

Anyone?

Tough call but I don't think I'd do it. Why not just pick up a used 20D or 30D on the cheap? You'd have pretty consistent IQ across the board that way, or at least close enough.

I think you about covered it yourself in the first five words of your post...

I have never used that camera but I have used the 30D, to be honest I havent missed the 30D one little bit since getting the 5D + 24-105L, the image quality is so much better & has much more pop, its also far nicer to use all day long doing landscapes & such.

With the 350D then the 30D I found I always had upgrading on my mind, since getting the 5D I can honestly say I havent thought about upgrading at all, why would I want to? I have such a high keeper rate with the only dud photos being my fault, NEVER the AF which amazes me! & large prints look superb, far better than what I was getting out of any 8mp camera, the difference is very noticeable!

cdifoto wrote in post #4169419
Tough call but I don't think I'd do it. Why not just pick up a used 20D or 30D on the cheap? You'd have pretty consistent IQ across the board that way, or at least close enough.

A used 20D/30D will set me back around $700-800 overall, no MP gain, nor higher ISO performance.

My proposal costs me $0 overall: new 5D for $2,250 and used 1D for $850. I get new, full-frame, more MP, and excellent high ISO performance.

Kennymc wrote in post #4169502
I think you about covered it yourself in the first five words of your post...

If it weren't for the fact that I wish it was just a little bit wider, a little better at higher ISO, and lighter for traveling.

I hope that the 5D MkII will be all that but for now...

Nick_C wrote in post #4169529
I have never used that camera but I have used the 30D, to be honest I havent missed the 30D one little bit since getting the 5D + 24-105L, the image quality is so much better & has much more pop, its also far nicer to use all day long doing landscapes & such.

With the 350D then the 30D I found I always had upgrading on my mind, since getting the 5D I can honestly say I havent thought about upgrading at all, why would I want to? I have such a high keeper rate with the only dud photos being my fault, NEVER the AF which amazes me! & large prints look superb, far better than what I was getting out of any 8mp camera, the difference is very noticeable!

Do you shoot any fast moving sport/activity with your 5D? How does it work? 3 fps can only be obtained under a very specific condition, so most likely one would have roughly 2 fps using AF tracking and any less than wide open.

ebann wrote in post #4169765
A used 20D/30D will set me back around $700-800 overall, no MP gain, nor higher ISO performance.

My proposal costs me $0 overall: new 5D for $2,250 and used 1D for $850. I get new, full-frame, more MP, and excellent high ISO performance.

OK in that case I'll tell you what you want to hear, instead of giving my personal opinion that you solicited in the opening post.

Yes yes yes that would be an AWESOME switch! Do it! Hurry! Fast!

Is that better?

cdifoto wrote in post #4169791
OK in that case I'll tell you what you want to hear, instead of giving my personal opinion that you solicited in the opening post.

Yes yes yes that would be an AWESOME switch! Do it! Hurry! Fast!

Is that better?

Well, thanks for your input and it was indeed much appreciated. I just wished I hadn't sold my 10D+grip...

ebann wrote in post #4169810
Well, thanks for your input and it was indeed much appreciated. I just wished I hadn't sold my 10D+grip...

Anytime!

I had mine up for sale a bit go. Kinda glad I didn't sell it after all. It was so cheap it makes a good who-cares backup.

ebann wrote in post #4169790
Do you shoot any fast moving sport/activity with your 5D? How does it work? 3 fps can only be obtained under a very specific condition, so most likely one would have roughly 2 fps using AF tracking and any less than wide open.

Well one of the largest improvements that ive noticed over the 30D is AF accuracy, its a lot better on the 5D, infact believe it or not but I can achieve a 100% keeper rate on a technically correct basis, what I mean by that is sure I get some duds that are composed poorly, or maybe I should have done this or that, but so far I have never found the AF to be off target, its always spot on!

As for the tracking ability, my main interest is in landscapes & architecture, something the 5D is superb at, however many will say that 3fps isnt fast enough, that all depends on the subject in question, but again I havent had any problems so far, sure with a Mark III you can almost use the camera like a camcorder, firing constantly at 10fps to capture the entire event, then sieving through a mountain of images afterwards, I guess it makes it easier to get the perfect shot, but for me 3fps is fine for capturing a bird in flight, or a cars on the track.

Its the accuracy of the AF which I love on the 5D, some say the body is outdated & the only good thing is its sensor, but all I can say to that is there is something vastly better with the 5D over any other camera ive used in the past, the final result is what matters & this is something that ive noticed the biggest difference over say the 30D, features come second to me.

If you can somehow swap a 1dmk2 for both a 5D AND a 1dmk1, I say go for it. How does that work? Here in the US, the 1dmk2 goes used for $2000, and both the 1dmk1 and 5D would set you back $3000 together.