1D Mark III used or 5D MARK II new?

I'm really getting ready go jump, and now found out I can get a 1D Mark III for 400 less than a new 5D II.

I'm not sure about the actuations etc on the Mark III yet, waiting for reply.

Primarily, weddings and portraits (location and soon to be converted home studio) will be my MAIN shooting requirements, but on the side I 'm a sports freak (I know the Mark III is the champ here)...and music live acts..

The video on the 5d doesn't interest me (yet), the FF and 21 do.

Main glass:

24-70 2.8 L
200 2.8 II L
50 mm 1.8
Sigma 10-20 (I know, no good for 5d)

I've had some hands on with a 5DII in store (OMG, the LCD on the back...!!!)

I will have to see about hands on with the Mark III...

Which way to go???

Prices (in CDN $$)??

New 5D II $3299 + 15%
Used Mark III $2900 (maybe wiggle room)

I had a similar dilmena, but from the get-go, the 5dmk2 had already had my heart. but i am more interested in the video than you are.

I went with the 5Dmk2 for a few reasons, mainly the full frame and the high mp count. I mainly shoot portraits and I wanted as buttery bokeh as I could get. The MP count wasn't a huge factor, but nice, since I had been shooting 10mp for the last couple bodies (xti and 40D). The LCD is definitely a winner. The couple times I picked my 40D back up after using my 5Dmk2, i thought the shots were out of focus. turns out i was so used to the new high-res screen on the 5dmk2, i had too high an expectation out of the 40D; the shots turned out to be in focus..they just looked out of focus because of the poor res on the 40D.

I have used the 1D series a few times, and I really appreciate the responsiveness. If I wanted to shoot action a decent amount, I think I would've been swayed a bit to the 1Dmk3. Even my 40D is more responsive than my 5dmk2, and I feel like sometimes I miss a certain action or a fleeting expression, just because the 5Dmk2 is abit mushy, responsiveness wise.

In my books:
if you like to shoot wide, if you want to be able to crop aggressively then get the 5Dmk2. To me, since i shoot portraits, i wanted the largest format possible because i like thin DOF

if you like responsiveness, high framerate and some of the pro features like dual memory stuff, then the 1Dmk3 is the obvious choice.

If there is a chance at all that you like video...5Dmk2! I already knew I'd love it and it really is nice to have it when you want it.

Sfordphoto wrote in post #8036555
I had a similar dilmena, but from the get-go, the 5dmk2 had already had my heart. but i am more interested in the video than you are.

Yeah, that's definitely something you have to consider. That is one of the big selling points of the 5D

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I can get it for $2500....this is hard to get a grasp of!

Especially with the new firmware, the video is really astounding now. I was playing around with it this morning, in very low light, and it was really stunning footage.

ONe detail I forgot...I have the 30D in the bag now....so this is a pruchase that must be "future friendly" as possible

It's a local pro selling, not an anonymous ad!

Thunderbird33 wrote in post #8036578
I can get it for $2500....this is hard to get a grasp of!

You can get d3 for that? Canadian Dollars
Check it out...if good get it.

Would anyone here have first hand experience on Image Quality comparisons?

I had a similar situation and went for the MK3. I shoot everything and sports being the most demanding on equipment. I also like the 7 shot AEB compared to 5D_mk2 3 shots.

I am in the same boat. I think however i am going to go the 5D Mark II way.