Time to upgrade: 5D vs 1dmk2

Hi guys,

A couple of months ago I made a post about an imminent upgrade, I now finally have the cash but slightly less than I was expecting which has stopped my plans of ultimately buying a 5Dmk2 within the next year.

At the minute I shoot a bit of everything (but virtually no sports). Until I leave uni I am most likely to seriously shoot gigs and I might also be doing random assignments for the university alumni magazine. Personally I like doing urban/landscape/people photography and so in my spare time and in the future (i'm going travelling within the next year or so... possible for quite a few years) I will be geared towards travel photography. My choice is basically between the following line ups:

#1
- 5D
- 17-40
- 24-70 / 24-105 (first would be perfect for gigs, perhaps swap before travel?)
- 50 1.4
- 70-200 2.8 (already have)

#2
- 1dmk2
- 10-20 (already have) / 17-40
- 24-70 / 24-105
- Sigma 30 1.4 / Canon 28 1.8
- 70-200 2.8 (already have)

I want to spend roughly £2300 and that may also include a few little extras like CF cards and a new bag, maybe a CPL. Warehouse express has the 5D+24-105 kit at £1779 or £1954 with the 24-70. Obviously if I was to buy a 1dmk2 it would have to be second hand and then i'd have to seperately buy a 24-**.

Also I would be selling my current lenses to help budget (i.e maybe sell the 10-20 and definately the Tamron 28-75).

I'm also a bit worried that the 5D might not be able to handle the rigours of extensive travelling BUT I would like an upgrade to the image quality of my 20D and the 1dmk2 probably wouldn't give it. However durability / ergonomics would be nice.

I'm up for any other suggestions working around that budget. I could do with some advice so go for it

Thanks,
Adam

p.s. I'll be keeping my 20D as a backup body.

if you want good IQ, low noise, easy to lug around, full frame and high megapixels, go the 5D route. if you want the 40+ focussing point, fast af, spot metering linked focussing point, 8fps get 1dmk2. it all goes down on how you'll be using the camera and type of shooting you do.

Keyword here: Travel
I think you'll appreciate the light weight of the 5D

Let me preface this by saying I have both bodies in question.

Unless you are traveling to some inhospitable weather conditions, I advise you to go the 5D route. My 5D has accompanied me to Alaska and Yosemite without a problem. The 1DII is lovely camera; however, given the parameters above, the 5D should be the better tool for the job.

Also, IIRC the 10-20 is an Ef-s mount lens, incompatible with the markII.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Incompatible with the 5D as well.

Cheers guys, swayed by the 5D really. Just wish it was in a 1D body! The Sigma 10-20 DOES fit the 1 series too.

It'll mount, but it won't cover the full sensor, especially at shorter focal lengths. The widest lens that will cover a 1D series, including a 1Ds, or the 5D, is their 12-24. And there's no crop lens that'll match it for UWA on the target body.

OK, think it's useable from 12mm upwards though.

On a 1Ds? Or a 1D? I can't find the thread, but someone posted sample shots and IIRC he had to go out to about 15-17 mm on the 1Ds to get rid of the vignetting. Nope - found it - vignetting all the way out to 20 mm.

1D, not s. Not too sure just know that Wazza from here used to have one and I never heard him complain?!

I was hoping the 5DII would be available for yourself - at least the 5D is at a cheap price

The Sigma 10-20 does work ok on the 1D Mk III, as long as you use 12/13mm upwards.
Still the 17-40 is the killer combination, noticeably sharper and better colours than the Sigma - something that wasn't as noticeable on my 20D. I sold my 10-20 to iKirst on POTN. Bag was already too heavy for travelling.

So 5D + 24-70L?

I vote for this choice

Cheers for the info guys, does anybody know roughly what the 5Dmk2 will retail at?

adam* wrote in post #4200207
Cheers for the info guys, does anybody know roughly what the 5Dmk2 will retail at?

Adam,
I shoot almost exclusively with a 1DMkII for my pro motorsports photography, and it is an excellent camera for that. I am also very impressed with the image quality I get from it. I had a 20D until very recently, and whlle both cameras were excellent with respect to image quality, I found I like the file quality from the MkII better....something intangible that was really nice.

But given that, I've also shot with a friend's 5D numerous times, and the file quality from the 5D is exceptional. There is just something about them that is very special. The 5D appears to have become the laboratory reference standard for image quality when you read how many professional web sites use it as a benchmark to compare other cameras to.

Given the needs you describe for your work, I think the 5D is really right choice for you. It might not have quite the build quality of the 1D, but it is no slouch in build quality, and it is the right size to travel with or for use as a "day out" camera. I was recently in the Eastern Sierra of California doing some landscape photography on vacation, and the 5D was the de facto standard for the landscape photographrs that I saw out thre. Now that I have sold my 20D, I really have to think about whether I want to haul the big MkII for a day trip out....it's a beast for those applications, I would much prefer something the size of the 5D (not to mention the image quality). Also, I don't know if you've shot with a 5D yet but once you get used to that big beautiful viewfinder, well, it is hard to go back to anything else, even a 1D MkII.

I've thought about getting a 5D now that the price is very reasonable, but I am going to wait and see what develops with it's successor (the 7D?). I would like to have the 5D's image quality with 14-bit files and ultrasonic dust removal.

Stephen Scharf wrote in post #4200280
Adam,
I shoot almost exclusively with a 1DMkII for my pro motorsports photography, and it is an excellent camera for that. I am also very impressed with the image quality I get from it. I had a 20D until very recently, and whlle both cameras were excellent with respect to image quality, I found I like the file quality from the MkII better....something intangible that was really nice.

But given that, I've also shot with a friend's 5D numerous times, and the file quality from the 5D is exceptional. There is just something about them that is very special. The 5D appears to have become the laboratory reference standard for image quality when you read how many professional web sites use it as a benchmark to compare other cameras to.

Given the needs you describe for your work, I think the 5D is really right choice for you. It might not have quite the build quality of the 1D, but it is no slouch in build quality, and it is the right size to travel with or for use as a "day out" camera. I was recently in the Eastern Sierra of California doing some landscape photography on vacation, and the 5D was the de facto standard for the landscape photographrs that I saw out thre. Now that I have sold my 20D, I really have to think about whether I want to haul the big MkII for a day trip out....it's a beast for those applications, I would much prefer something the size of the 5D (not to mention the image quality). Also, I don't know if you've shot with a 5D yet but once you get used to that big beautiful viewfinder, well, it is hard to go back to anything else, even a 1D MkII.

I've thought about getting a 5D now that the price is very reasonable, but I am going to wait and see what develops with it's successor (the 7D?). I would like to have the 5D's image quality with 14-bit files and ultrasonic dust removal.

Thanks for the info, pretty sure i'll be getting a 5D next week and then depending on the price of the 5Dmk2 will look at that later.