Help me pick a replacement body for my dead 5Dii:

If I were you Ben I might be tempted to try out the D700 for a while, just to give Nikon a spin, but I'm not sure I'd want to deal with the hassle of switching out all of my lenses; it would be tempting though.

Do you really think you'd be happy with a 1DsII? You'd have to deal with the size and weight of a 1 series again and you say you don't really need 1 series AF. That would mean the only advantage over another 5D mkII would be the weather sealing and for me that wouldn't be enough of a reason to give up the 5D ergonomics, high ISO performance, LCD, etc.

5D "classic" and 1dmkII - As you say, the weather sealing wouldn't do you much good as the 1d wouldn't even be your landscape camera. This option would only make sense to me if you shoot alot of sports/action.

A900 would be too much of a stretch for me.

I do think if I were you I'd wait until Sept 1 to see what Canon announces, but I'm doubtful that it will be a FF camera, unless the 1dmkIV goes FF.

You know my bias... but I'd say everything has been working so well for you already, that I wouldn't mess with it.

I think you've just got caught in a bad spot at a bad time... and I think some sort of water mitigation method would be better than jumping to the unknown.

I think even carrying a big ziplock bag or something, in the event you get caught, you might be able to pull it over in time? (waves come quick, I know) or explore an underwater housing... OR , maybe now is the time to come up with your own invention that would allow for filters, legs, AND be able to waterproof your stuff... and then sell it and retire on the profits. Ha!

versedmb wrote in post #8529040
If I were you Ben I might be tempted to try out the D700 for a while, just to give Nikon a spin, but I'm not sure I'd want to deal with the hassle of switching out all of my lenses; it would be tempting though.

Do you really think you'd be happy with a 1DsII?

yeah, the D700 is tempting. If it was a $100 rental I'd do it for sure, but at ~$250 it seems like a possible "waste". .
as for the 1DsII it's a mixed bag isn't it. I didn't like my 1Dii because of the size and the controls/menus were a PITA there as well. But the 1 series does have some pluses. It made the list because it's a happy MP medium between the 5D and 5Dii. I DO NOT NEED 21mp, but thinking about going back to "only" 12 seems like not many. Also, from what I'm seeing online, especially with it's 4mp advantage over the 5D, it's at least as good in terms of noise? So I'm thinking if I go back to a canon FF but it's not a 5Dii, then it might be the 1DsII just to add some features over the 5D.

but it's missing video, self cleaning sensors, good menus, my menus, a killer LCD, a small form factor, etc. Plus, all it's cross type AF points are also centered, so I'm not sure how much better the AF can be. Faster yes, but more accurate?

Todd Lambert wrote in post #8529102
OR , maybe now is the time to come up with your own invention that would allow for filters, legs, AND be able to waterproof your stuff... and then sell it and retire on the profits. Ha!

not a bad idea.... But the ziplock wouldn't have worked. I was looking through the viewfinder when I got hit.

I hate to see that this happened to you. I have checked out and admired your results several times since you got the 5D mk2.(And Before) I can't believe you did this. You knew what you were dealing with didn't you. I cant believe you did this without a underwater housing. Salt water spray alone can be bad on bodies that aren't sealed.

If I were you I think I would replace it with the same (with UWH) or wait to see what the 1D mk3 replacement looks like. Since you are so familiar with Canons system and menus I just couldn't see you leaving over this.

But also I think I would send a link to this thread to Chuck Westfall and Canon as just another reminder why a $2699 camera body should be weather sealed just as well as the 1D series. Its BS that a camera of this quality is not completely sealed with o-rings.

Good luck Ben

I honestly doubt that a weather sealed body even on the 1D series cameras means getting completely drowned by a wave. But Kudos to you for going for the shot.

Jannie wrote in post #8529380
I honestly doubt that a weather sealed body even on the 1D series cameras means getting completely drowned by a wave. But Kudos to you for going for the shot.

There is a video that floats around from time to time of a man dunking his 1-something Canon into a creek over and over to clean the mud off of it. Although that's not salt water, it must be pretty well sealed, unless he ruined the camera doing it.

la canon amateur wrote in post #8529355
I just couldn't see you leaving over this.

if I leave, it's not to be a FU to canon. A camera is a tool. Canon doesn't currently make the exact tool I want, neither does Nikon or sony. But they each offer cameras that are similar to what I want, so it's at least worth considering.

It's like if I wrecked my car right now. I wouldn't just go buy another, I'd go test drive my options to make sure it was the right decision since I'm doing it again.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #8527926
yeah, the 1DsII is on that list. And @ duct tape. If you can't duck it, **** it!

D700 would have it. And it'd have the clean high ISOs. It'd be missing the video which HAS been fun with my 18 month old son (but also not CRUCIAL and with the price difference we could get a flip).

I say wait for the 7D for a bit longer. That's what makes the most sense for you. If it doesn't happen it sounds like you should get the D700 because out of all the cameras now it's what best fits your needs. If you really want video get a D90 or D300s as a backup (when you work up the money of course, because switching can hurt the wallet).

Or wait for a D700s which will inevitably have video. And so the cycle continues! I think the 80-400 VR will be updated soon actually.

yeah, no purchases until next week for sure to wait out the 7D... But I'm thinking of renting a D700 this weekend so I can see how it works IRL.

and yeah, a D700s or D700x is another concern. Looking at Nikon's releases the D300 was 2 years old when it's s version came out. The D700 was a year after the D3, so that could mean a D700x is due this winter? And it'd likely have video too. The bummer there is it'd inevitably loose the 8fps advantage which is the whole reason I'm considering the dark side.....

but that's never ending. I could wait and wait forever which I won't do. I'm ordering something next week for sure. The other thing is a D700s won't ruin the used market for D700 used bodies too much IMHO. I might loose a few hundred on that, but as long as I make sure I bargain shop the body when I get it I should be OK if/when they add video to it.

I've been pouring over my own old 5D images as well as some 1DsII images and they're looking good right now. I like the sound of 16mp and it's higher ISO images are a bit grainy, but damn sharp. But the 1DsII would be a tank, have **** menus as well and a terrible screen. Basically everything bad with JUST the sealing added really. But the thing I like about an older 1 series like that is the resale isn't going to drop too much since It's already <$2500 from an original $8k. The 5D has a special place in my heart as well but the 5Dii had so many nice improvements.

ugh.

D700..........

70D, D700, 7D, D70

I'm getting confused lol.

drdiesel1 wrote in post #8530499
D700..........

could you please add some more insight on that for me?

I have been shooting Canon until recently when I bought a D700. So I had both systems for a while.

I don't know why you feel the menus are a pain in the *$&, I find them alot more customizable as well as easier to use than the Canon. They have shooting banks, lots of shortcuts. Mind you, I am coming from a 5D and not the 5D II.

I opted for the D700 over the 5D II because of weather sealing, a/f, build quality and CLS. They suited my needs. IF a new D700s was to come out, the pricing would be much more than the current D700. I paid $2100 US for my D700 as Nikon is having rebates here in Japan. It was a huge saving on compared to the 5D II. Having CLS thrown in for free, that was a bonus.

The Nikon 14-24 is a mighty fine piece of glass. Here is a review of it against the 24L. http://www.16-9.net …ikon1424_canon1​4l2_a.html

A few other differences for me were build quality, I preferred the feel of the Nikon over the 5D (personal preference). Small features like Virtual horizon, customizable menus, 3D tracking in continuous a/f mode, flash exposure lock, having external buttons for everything.

A few things I wasn't too happy about, no 100-400, not as many long primes, no 17-40 L (or similar lens in that range and that price bracket).

Don't get me wrong, Canon is a great system, but the Nikon seem to suit my needs a little better at this point in time. I sold all my L lenses and switched. Any questions, just send me a PM.

I think you're doing the right thing by renting a D700 for a weekend or so. It'll give you some personal time to work with it and see what it's like. I've only had a chance to use it in the store, but I really like the ergonomics and functionality that it offers.

But as far as your final decision is concerned, the best thing to do is wait. In a few months, maybe weeks, there will more than likely be updates and announcements made for both Canon and Nikon systems.

Until then, you should splurge on rentals

Hope you find the right camera soon.
-AC

I'd go ahead and find a 1Ds2 in your situation.