5d or 5dmark II to add to 1D Mark III - need your thoughts

have 1D Mark III. Recently parted with 30d. At times I miss having second more compact body for these times when carrying big one is just too much. Plus I always wanted full frame body. So, I am ready to get 5d or 5dII. I have been studying and studying and just cannot decide.

Since I will never take advantage of video capabilities and really do not care about Live View is it worth to spend 800 -1000 dol more and buy 5dmarkii?

any thoughts?

I say go with a 5D and use the extra money on other things.

Do you need the huge resolution? Will you use ISO6400? Do you need all the new features like the LCD and AF micro adjust? If so, get the 5DII, if not, the 5D is just as good.

For me, the 5DII offers me nothing meaningful over the 5D Classic, even though it's a great camera. I use the 1D3 + 5D combo and it's AWESOME - the 5D is just as good as the 1D3, the images are sharper too (and AFAIK sharper at the pixel level than the 5D2), and it's my favourite camera.

If that 800-1000 could be spent in a better way, get the 5D Classic, it's 90% of the camera that the 5D2 is, and the Classic is a legend .

Heh! Spend some time over at the "5D Classic Admirers (2)" thread and you will find a lot of us who have chosen to keep our great body rather than go for the 5D2. And a number of us are like you 1D3 owners as well.

That being said, there is nothing "wrong" with the 5D2. It's doubtlessly an upgrade to the Classic in features and has some real improvements image-wise -- the 21 MP resolution sensor also happens to deliver clean pixels so that right there is impressive, and it handles high ISOs a notch better.

Whether the extra expense is worth it to get the latest and greatest is up to you, but many of us are quite happy with the Classic, despite the older features, and many of us have found the 1D3/full frame combination to be great for what we do.

I think the 5D II and the 1D III make a good combo. Both are great at what they do and have all the features you would possible need.

one thing to consider is that the 5d2 and the 1d3 are the same generation and this might be something that makes switching between the 2 of them easier when rushed... but if your not pro then i guess this is a lesser consideration.

im pretty pro - microadjust so that would be my 'want' -

only thing is the 1d3 is a top end cam and youve already spent the big bucks there, the 5d is no slouch - a 5d and a lens might be just as nice as a 5d2 alone

Actually, the 5D2 is a generation ahead of the 1D3. Note the generations by the DIGIC chip: 5D2 and 50D have DIGIC IV, 1D3 has DIGIC III.

So we can expect the DIGIC IV generation of 1-series cameras to significantly surpass the 5D2 and 50D.

In deciding on a 5D2 over a 5D, the main factor for me was AF Microadjust and Liveview.

Surprisingly though, the biggest standout for me since getting the 5D2 is its amazing DIGIC IV Image Preview system, which gives you usable files for chimping on the excellent LCD.

The 5D is a proven performer though, and if I could guarantee I'd get one that didn't back or front focus with my lenses, I would get one

The chimpability is a GREAT point, but I wonder about all the people who say that microadjustment is a "NEED"...photographers were doing just fine before it, if anything they seem to obsess more now. I have yet to use it and all my lenses focus fine on my 1D3 and 5D....

I can understand under utilisation of AF microadjust. I still haven't bothered to sit down and work through my lenses (too lazy). I never had any AF problems prior to getting fast primes, but after getting frustrated with constant problems (e.g. coming back from an E-Session with 80% of the shots front focused) when I got them, I vowed never to get a non Microadjust camera ever again. In Australia, calibration service is very slow, and it never comes back right (e.g. comes back working on one camera but not the other) and lens stocks are next to zero (there was 1 new 35L in the entire country when I bought mine) so exchange is impossible, so for me AF microadjust is (was) very important.

Ironically all my lenses seem to be spot on on my 5D2...so it's ironical I guess that I finally get a AF microadjust camera and find I don't need it

Smorter brings up good points, and I'd just add that the Live View feature is a lot more valuable than many people expected, including raising the "chimping" level up a whole notch by enabling you to "chimp" both focus and exposure before taking the shot. I know that on the not-too-often occasions when I'm shooting my 1D3 on a tripod, I've used Live View and appreciated it (usually it gets used for wildlife and action shots).

Take that 800-1000, and put it towards an 85L.

I'd get the mk2..., there's a number of reasons why I prefer it....not just because it is the best IQ out right now, I just enjoy using it more than the classic, I don't worry about high ISO's as much and yes the chimping is way more usable....

I'm not a live view guy but I do use it in certain situations and they make it really easy to get used to with a dedicated one button implementation. Changing the ISO is nice, like the 1Dmk3 you can do it while viewing your subject.....

Micro adjust has helped me out quite a bit in my recent lens purchases too. I don't think too many folks "need" 21Mp's. But I'm glad I have them....the more the merrier, I can crop to my hearts content on certain shots.

The 5D classic is one of my favorite bodies, but the 5Dmk2 just makes shooting more enjoyable and gives me better, more flexible files. If I have all the lenses I want, I have a 1Dmk3 and I'm looking for a smaller FF body and my budget allows, I'm getting the mk2.
Good luck

Lazuka wrote in post #7428917
Take that 800-1000, and put it towards an 85L.

Heh! You are officially misbehaving, but nothing wrong with blaming Perry! Now, go check out his 50L object of his latest enthusiasm!

I just saw that, but i'm not caving in on that, i'll end up getting the 35L before that.

When did he get that?