Canon EOS-1DS...How rare?

[wolves_wanderer]

I work for a commercial aerial photography company and we have recently moved over from medium format to digital and use the EOS-1DS. Well, on monday we are over Leicester when the mirror locks up and "Error 99" flashes at me. Bugger. I decided to go back to Peterborough and get a new body, as when we purchased originally there were no availability problems-not so now!

So thanks very much to the poor lady at Jessops who chased round every branch in the country trying to find one for us, and eventually succeeding in Watford. The image of the day has to be me and the pilot standing in Newport Pagnell services looking through digital photography magazines calling about 50 companies looking in vain for one of the bloody things

[ehasler]

There is rumoured to be a replacement for the 1Ds announced in September/October, so I guess they're just running down stocks before the new one is shipped. I don't understand why they do this though, as there's going to be at least a 6 month gap from now to when the new one will be available in the shops, and exactly the same thing happened with the 1D and the 1D Mk II.

[EmmaP]

You could have borrowed mine for a very small fee!
(www.essencephotography.co.uk. - holding page only until end of July). I've not had any problems - yet.

Canon offer an insurance deal where they will whizz one out to you should you be let down on a shoot. I haven't got the info. on this myself but you could speak with Canon's Russ Kirk (Retail Development Executive -Pro Products), tel: [phone], mobile: [phone].

EmmaP

[simpo two]

If you're feeling rich you can have medium format *and* digital!!!
www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/p25-firstlook.shtml

[wolves_wanderer]

I wish I had known about the canon insurance thing a week ago, I could have saved a few quid with that. Still, now I've got 2 of the things I supppose I am my own insurance. Hey ho, live and learn

[murph7355]

Can I be a bit cheeky and ask what the street price of these cameras is in the UK?

I'm considering buying one, partly because I'm based out in the Far East for a while...

I think I'm also going to get the Sigma 12-24 lens as lack of proper wide angle is the only hassle digital SLRs IMO.

[wolves_wanderer]

I spent about £4700 +vat cos Jessops did a price match with KP Photographic, I always find it nice that they include absolutely nothing for free in that price-not even a poxy memory card, although I use 2 gig microdrives so a little CF card wouldn't be much use.

On another point I don't know if the firmware has been improved since January cos I can now download a whole card without having to "supervise" the process as before. I think that is worth pretty much the six grand not to have to sit over it for 3 hours at the end of a full day!

[Bacardi]

murph7355 said:

I think I'm also going to get the Sigma 12-24 lens as lack of proper wide angle is the only hassle digital SLRs IMO.

The 1ds is full frame so, no wide angle problem. Can recommend the EF17-40mm L for the money. Like some other wide angle lenses on the 1ds it can, occasionally, produce a little chromatic aberration on the edges of high contrast subjects at the edges of a frame but this can be dialled out using Adobe Camera raw converter if a necessary.

[simpo two]

Bacardi said:

a little chromatic aberration on the edges of high contrast subjects at the edges of a frame but this can be dialled out using Adobe Camera raw converter if a necessary.

Love it! So I can use a milk bottle for a lens and fix the pic in softawre

Next week: virtual hardware... where's my computer gone?

Edited to say: sorry Bacardi, you are entirely right, didn't mean to be flippant, I'm just suffering from Stilton OD :wibble:

>> Edited by simpo two on Sunday 18th July 23:01

[Bacardi]

simpo two said:

Love it! So I can use a milk bottle for a lens and fix the pic in softawre

Don't worry, if your D70 ever shows up, the lens will have 'Unigate' stamped on it somewhere..... standard on all Nikon glass.

Actually, if Nikon ever catch Canon up at the professional end of the market and produce a full frame chip they would have the same problem with aberration on very wide angle lenses, it exists with film but is not so obvious due to film grain.

I know how you like to bait Canon users with Nikons superiority and have resisted temptation but, while I have finger to keyboard, did you know that Nikon are so far behind they gave up developing their own image stabilisation lens technology and just bought Canons?

[EmmaP]

I've sworn by Nikon's superiority for many a long year, but I have to say fellas, Canon has definately got it when it comes to digital. I never believed I would go over to Canon, but here I am.

EmmaP

[murph7355]

Ooops. Getting my 1Ds and 1DmkII confused!

It's the latter that I'm considering, but thanks for the pricing info as it'll give me a good benchmark.

[simpo two]

EmmaP said:

I've sworn by Nikon's superiority for many a long year, but I have to say fellas, Canon has definately got it when it comes to digital. I never believed I would go over to Canon, but here I am. EmmaP

Oh please, his ego's big enough! Just don't mention Macs...
The reason I don't have Canon is they're so common! And of course, the D70 is hard to get because they offer such good performance for the money that Nikon can't make them or the 18-70 lens fast enough (apparently the glass takes several months to cool properly?).
At entry DSLR level I think you'll agree that that the D70 beats its price rival the 300D pretty comprehensively, and will give the 10D a scare too. When you're at the top, Mr Canon, the only way to go is down