Mark II or IIn or 1Ds

I recently looked at an almost new 1D and then declined picking it up due to its inability to AF past f/5.6 (according to the manual). I did see enough good stuff there though that I am wondering if I shouldn't give some thought to a Mark II of some variety or maybe even an original 1Ds. I had thought the controls too much different from the 20D and 5D I've been using, but they don't appear to be. Any thoughts on the best VALUE out there right now between the three: 1Ds, 1DII, 1DIIn? In three or four weeks?

Thanks

Stew

I bought a 1D NKIIn from Canon UK last month. A bit dissapointed that it doesnt have USB2 however being a mac user I can use Firewire.

Bar that Im absolutely in love with it.

Thanks! From other threads I've read, I think my 5D winds up with most of the benefits of the 1Ds except build quality and certainly beats it outright on high ISO performance. I think that one is off the list at the moment and it's back to just the 1DII vs 1DIIn.

Stew

squiress wrote in post #4175839
I recently looked at an almost new 1D and then declined picking it up due to its inability to AF past f/5.6 (according to the manual).

FYI, all 1 series can focus up to f/8 with the center point, even the 1D. See page 72 of that manual.

I've got the 1DIIN and the 1Ds and naturally love both.

In terms of best value, it may end up being the 1DII as the general consensus winner. But for me though, it's the two I've got as they suit me just fine.

LotsToLearn wrote in post #4176502
FYI, all 1 series can focus up to f/8 with the center point, even the 1D. See page 72 of that manual.

I've got the 1DIIN and the 1Ds and naturally love both.

In terms of best value, it may end up being the 1DII as the general consensus winner. But for me though, it's the two I've got as they suit me just fine.

Wow, thanks! The manual seems to read for systems faster than f/8, but it is the lenses faster than f/8 and then ADD the extenders. So f/8 it is.

Thanks!

Stew

squiress wrote in post #4175839
I recently looked at an almost new 1D and then declined picking it up due to its inability to AF past f/5.6

not sure what the manual said and why but all 1D series cameras can focus up to F8

squiress wrote in post #4176703
Wow, thanks! The manual seems to read for systems faster than f/8, but it is the lenses faster than f/8 and then ADD the extenders. So f/8 it is.

Thanks!

Stew

Yeah, I think they've re-worded those paragraphs over every 1 series manual and none reads entirely clear or at least could be open to different interpretations.

But bottom line from that and other source materials is that if the final reported aperture of the lens/tc combo is f/8 or larger then you've got at least center AF.

1DS!!!

I am lost. What do you meant it can't AF past f5.6 ? or up to f8 ?

silvex wrote in post #4185800
I am lost. What do you meant it can't AF past f5.6 ? or up to f8 ?

The autofocus mechanism on all cameras only works up to a certain max aperture - after that point there's not enough light entering the camera even at this max aperture (f/8 for 1D cameras - say, after putting a 2x tele on an f/4 lens) and the AF ceases to work. You can still use manual focus of course...

Based on pure assumption I would believe that the IIn is more expensive while the 1DII and 1Ds are more or less on the same price level.

It's hard to recommend one over the other, but as you can see, one camera has incredible speed and the other has incredible resolution. Pick the camera based on the type of photography you do. If you're into sports and need high FPS, better high ISO performance, fast write times and faster AF, go with the 1DII. For studio portraiture, landscape and macro work, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a contender for the 1Ds at this price level.

If you wish to see what difference in IQ exists between the 1DII and the 1Ds, just check out the comparison images in DPReview's review of the 1DII. Besides the obvious difference in resolution (ie. one camera being 8MP and the other being 11MP), take note of the difference in the clarity of details between these two cameras.

Both of them are incredible work horses. For most casual shooters, they're overwhelmingly capable. Often I tell myself that I could make do with the 400D, which is plastic-fantastic at its price and size, but human greed always takes over from there.

Thanks to all, but now that the f/8 AF issue is clearer I'm actually pursuing a 1D Classic.

Stew

The 1D Classic is a great workhorse. Gives you most of the benefits of using a 1-series camera at reasonable cost. It gives tremendously sharp images even from consumer lenses.

However do bear in mind that the 1D produces images that can exhibit noise banding at higher ISOs, especially in the shadow areas, or if you underexpose your image.

Long exposures are generally plagued by hot pixels and at the top left and right hand corners of the image, you may see an orange or magenta glow. If you're primarily shooting in good light and don't go beyond ISO 400 or so, then noise is less of an issue.

Depending on the cost of the 1D, I might be more inclined to go for a 40D, even if it's going to cost me a little more. In the past I did use the 1D Classic, but switched to the 1Ds for the reasons mentioned above.

Stew - in all honestly, spend the extra money and get a Mark II/n. Much better option imho. I own both a 1D and 1D Mark IIn btw.

Dave

I have read all the reviews I can find on the 1D. My expectations are to get a feel for a pro series body at reasonable cost (still trying to save for 500 f/4). I printed a full sized Jpeg last night from the camera I'm considering with a single pass of sharpening at 13x19 and was quite pleased with the results. I think the posts at various places out here to limit to 11x14 on enlargements, limit cropping if at all, stay at 400 or below ISO, and don't use the body for long exposure or low light situations are guidelines I would follow.

This would be an evaluation body for me, very low actuations, almost new in appearance, latest firmware. I don't have any plans to dump 5D or 20D with this add. I actually like the slightly larger pixels and have been okay with the dpreview comparisons between 1D, 1Ds, 1DII. The roughly 25% larger pixels may be a plus.

The goal in the end is to see if I'm willing to lug around the extra weight for the added benefits of the pro body. The 5D takes me totally off the 1Ds and the 20D will give me a good testing benchmark for 8MP versus the 4.3MP. No decision yet, but if I were to like the 1D, then I would feel much better about spending bucks on IIn or III. I would probably be paying a premium for the 1D, and would lose a bit when I sold it, but lots of value there to be able especially to evaluate the a 1D level camera where the AF actually works so that I can compare one day maybe to a 1DIII camera that may not.

Thanks again and I'll let you all know what transpires.

Stew