Help with Camera Choice...7D vs MKIII vs 1DSMKII

IIjI just sold my 50D and 5D and currently have a 1DMKII left.
Scenario is that I am just getting into the addictive hobby of Birding (curses to the person who started me....) and have purchased some long L glass to satisfy the beast within (not the wife...)
I also shoot sports which is my forte and while low light situations do present themselves, I survive with my 135 F2
NOW
I am sitting here (on the fence,,ouch) looking at some possibilities of what to get to compliment my current 1D MKII
1.) Canon 1DsMKII - Full frame, awesome for Birds but maybe not so good for sports (I need the second body to shoot sports but from a tripod (as opposed to being on a moving boat where I spend my days,,) but should be good for finish line shots and output is good for larger prints.
2.) Canon 7D - Great for sports and for birding but not weather sealed or robust as the 1D bodies and is more of a Consumer style camera? Added Video capabilities are new although I read the focusing abilities are very slow (Video). Not sure about IQ for large prints
3.) With the release of the 1D MKIV , the 1DMKIII price is dropping like crazy and has finally approached the "affordable" stage for me. I have read good recviews on the AF (when fixed) and ISO capabilities of this camera

3 great cameras, only one stack of $$.....I want to be able to blow up some of my bird photos on to canvas and was wondering if 10.1MP (MKIII) would be good enough (or the 7D for that matter)

thanks for reading

Sleepless in Canada.....

Judging on what you shoot, and what you want to shoot, I think the 7D would be the best jack-of-all-trades camera. You get the crop and pixels on target that will be great for birding, you get a great AF and FPS that would work well for sports too.
As far as print size, man that's going to vary. Depends on your shot and how much you've cropped it too. I've done 20x24's on my 1D Mark II for whatever it's worth.

It would be nice to add Full Frame body to your current setup. 1DsMKII is a good upgrade from 5D indeed.. And since you've got 1DMKII in your setup, don't buy 1DMKIII because its a redundant to have another 1D body.

You pose a really tough question. The 1dsmkII will give you a great full-frame body to use and your 135 and 24-105 will shine on it, however if what you shoot is mainly sports and birds, I would go with either a mark III or a 7d- probably the 7d.

An added benefit of the 1dsII is that it uses the same batteries as your markII.

I shoot birds which have engines (R/C events) with a 1D2n & 1Ds2. The extra pixels of the 1Ds2 was why I bought it & absolutely no regrets since then ( 1.25 years ago). The AF can track fast objects perfectly, and the files are excellent even as jpg's. The downfall, which I'm stilllearning to deal with is the small buffer. I most definately run up against it but partly because I shoot large fine jpg PLUS RAW. I rarely need the RAW because my photos are for web use to share with the clubs, but when I do need the RAW for something special I have it.
I expect to add a 7D in the spring, but it's not to replace anything I have but to give me a lighter travel / all day walk about camera. If you have any doubt about the AF of the 1Ds2 check 1/2 way down page 137 of the big 1Ds2 thread.

https://photography-on-the.net …ead.php?t=60907​8&page=137

As for the 1D3 I'vee had the opportunity to buy 2 locally at very fair prices but for my use it just isn't the right tool, plus there's always the risk it won't lock focus in certain conditions. You'll need pixels to crop for decent BIF shots based on what I've seen.

I say go with the 1Ds2 or the 7D. For what you shoot, both these cameras will serve you well. Great AF and room to crop. Especially since you already have a 1D2.

I don't get why people are comparing the 7D to the 1D/1Ds series... any look into the realities of the cameras would realize they are hardly in the same league.

To the OP I would suggest the 1Ds mkII - a proven track record, FF sensor, and the 1D autofocus. For reference I've made A1+ prints with my 1D mkIII with no problems, you have to remember that canvas is MUCH more forgiving for larger prints due to it's large 'pores'.

If you can grab a 1D3 at a good price, I would be inclined to suggest getting one. If you choose your lenses based on how they preform for the 1.3 format (like I did) then it makes sense to seriously consider staying with that format. It appears, with the introduction of the 1D4, Canon is committed to the APS-H format. And, there are enough differences/improvemen​ts to upgrade to the 1D3.

TeeTee wrote in post #8925056
I don't get why people are comparing the 7D to the 1D/1Ds series... any look into the realities of the cameras would realize they are hardly in the same league.

To the OP I would suggest the 1Ds mkII - a proven track record, FF sensor, and the 1D autofocus. For reference I've made A1+ prints with my 1D mkIII with no problems, you have to remember that canvas is MUCH more forgiving for larger prints due to it's large 'pores'.

I don't think we're comparing the 7D to the 1-series but recommending it to the OP for other reasons such as higher MP for cropping BIF.

bsaber wrote in post #8925406
I don't think we're comparing the 7D to the 1-series but recommending it to the OP for other reasons such as higher MP for cropping BIF.

Which, surely, is comparing them and giving the nod to the 7D? (Not saying it's right or wrong - I have a mkIII but haven't used a 7D - but that's a comparison, looking at three cameras and recommending one.)

For birding i'd go to the 7D...

More pixels on target for birding, and trust me, The crop factor NEVER gets old

Maybe swap the 1DII for a 1DsII?

mickeyjuice wrote in post #8925578
Which, surely, is comparing them and giving the nod to the 7D? (Not saying it's right or wrong - I have a mkIII but haven't used a 7D - but that's a comparison, looking at three cameras and recommending one.)

Since you put it that way then I guess you're right.

looks like the jury is swinging to the 1DsMKII but 7D is not far behind....I wish some one could compare the IQ of the 2 side by side. I guess the comparison for me now rests on features and performance as whether it could support the dual role that it will have to cover , mainly Birds and Sports (though FPS is not a complete neccessity as I will probably mount the camera on a tripod with the 500 for my sport use)
The 7D would give the extra reach but I am still concerned on the IQ (I had a 50D and was not impressed when I compared them with the ones taken with my 1DMKII, the images Popped more with the 1D) but reviews have it "miles ahead" in that department along with stellar AF......Well , at least the MKIII has been taken off the list!

In terms of IQ, I can't really say for the 7D. However, the 1Ds2's IQ is amazing for the time and it can still hold it's own very well today.

lethal_weapon wrote in post #8926906
looks like the jury is swinging to the 1DsMKII but 7D is not far behind....I wish some one could compare the IQ of the 2 side by side. I guess the comparison for me now rests on features and performance as whether it could support the dual role that it will have to cover , mainly Birds and Sports (though FPS is not a complete neccessity as I will probably mount the camera on a tripod with the 500 for my sport use)
The 7D would give the extra reach but I am still concerned on the IQ (I had a 50D and was not impressed when I compared them with the ones taken with my 1DMKII, the images Popped more with the 1D) but reviews have it "miles ahead" in that department along with stellar AF......Well , at least the MKIII has been taken off the list!

[GIFS ARE NOT RENDERED IN QUOTES]

I see you say birding and sports regularly in this thread (haven't read to the end to see if you've already made the purchase). For those two shooting styles, seems like the DIII or the 7D make the most sense. Not that the DsII is a bad choice and couldn't do those things...but... As for weather sealing...1D is your gold standard of course....but this seems to show that unless you're in the bathtub with your camera it might be ok in the elements (at least to a degree).
http://canonfieldrevie​ws.com/7d-1-weather-sealing/