switching to Canon

[dcw@pr]

hi,

i've managed to get hold of a 1DS MkII to use (long story, basically it's on permanent loan to me), so I'm going to make a full switch over to Canon. Just wanted to see what the Canon people here thought I should should do on a number of points.

1) Backup camera - I have the option of buying a 4 year old 1D for about £1000, maybe a bit less. alternatively I could get a 20D. The one BIG advantage to the 1Dis that it takes the same batteries as the 1DSII. But I would guess that the image quality is a lot better on the 20D? and probably a bit cheaper too, I'm not sure.

2) Lenses - I have a 16-35 f/2.8 already, I was planning on getting a 50mm f/1.4, 70-200 f/2.8 IS and a 1.4x teleconverter (so that I can feel at home and go back to my old DX focal length magnification). I think that should cover all my needs pretty well. We have the D2X with a 400mm lens for long stuff if needed too. Does that sound like a sensible selection?

looking forward to being able to do a proper comparison between the two cameras in a while.

any thoughts appreciated

[V6GTO]

As you know I've got a 20D, and it's great. But after playing with Nomoregravy's 1D I would opt for that. It may have less Mp's than the 20D, but it must do something different with them because the pictures that come straight from it are superb. There is also the thing about robustness, the 1D will survive a nuclear explosion. The other thing is the way a 1 feels in your hands. Whenever I pick up my EOS1n I wish my 20D felt like it. HTH.

Martin.

[Bacardi]

dcw@pr said:

But I would guess that the image quality is a lot better on the 20D? and probably a bit cheaper too, I'm not sure.

Can't say I have done any side by side testing, but I would have thought the gap between the 4mp 1D and the 16mp 1dsmkII to be a bit on the large side. A better back up (and better for action) would be the 1DmkII, but I guess you know that. More money I know, so you could put your prices up , or buy a 20D as a temporary measure until you can get the 1DmkII. (Does that that take the same batteries as the 1DsmII?)

The lens selection looks fine unless you wanted to add the 35-300, for flexibility. If you don't mid loss of AF, you can also buy adaptors to be able to use the Nikkors on the Canon.

If you use a flash gun, buy the 580EX. It works much better than the older models with the 1DsmkII.

Cheers
Paul

[dcw@pr]

Bacardi said:

Can't say I have done any side by side testing, but I would have thought the gap between the 4mp 1D and the 16mp 1dsmkII to be a bit on the large side. A better back up (and better for action) would be the 1DmkII, but I guess you know that. More money I know, so you could put your prices up , or buy a 20D as a temporary measure until you can get the 1DmkII. (Does that that take the same batteries as the 1DsmII?)

too much money unfortunately. will have to be either 20D or 1D. but you think a 20D would be a better stop gap than a 1D?

Bacardi said:

The lens selection looks fine unless you wanted to add the 35-300, for flexibility. If you don't mid loss of AF, you can also buy adaptors to be able to use the Nikkors on the Canon.

no thanks on both counts! not a huge fan of the large range zooms, I used to use the cheaper versions, which are good for messing around with, but if you want proper results I think you have to use slightly more specialised gear

Bacardi said:

If you use a flash gun, buy the 580EX. It works much better than the older models with the 1DsmkII. Cheers Paul

will definately be getting one of these. didn't mention it because it's a 100% certainty!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Having a 10D and a 1DmkII I think the 1D is the way to go. 1DsmkII for pixels, 1D for speed. I think (so could be wrong) that the 1D and 1DmkII are the same speed in all area's (FPS and shutter delay). If that's the case the 20D (which is about the same speed as the 10D) will feel a bit ponderous.

Crikey, that's a lot of model numbers in one paragraph!

Other things you'll find :- 1D and 1DsmkII's controls are the same (mostly). My 10D and 1DmkII's are just different enough for me to get it wrong every so often.

[dcw@pr]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Having a 10D and a 1DmkII I think the 1D is the way to go. 1DsmkII for pixels, 1D for speed. I think (so could be wrong) that the 1D and 1DmkII are the same speed in all area's (FPS and shutter delay). If that's the case the 20D (which is about the same speed as the 10D) will feel a bit ponderous. Crikey, that's a lot of model numbers in one paragraph! Other things you'll find :- 1D and 1DsmkII's controls are the same (mostly). My 10D and 1DmkII's are just different enough for me to get it wrong every so often.

ahh just got what you mean in the first paragraph, only took me three readings

one of my problems is that in the recent past I have been properly using two bodies ona job, interchangably. Normally a D1X and a 1D, or a D100. I very much like using the two bodies, saves arsing around swapping lenses. but now I think that I will be basically using the 1DSII the whole time, the other camera will just be a worst case scenario backup, in case i drop "the beast" in a river or something. So I'm not too concerned about handling etc. However, having said that I'm not too sure. If the image quality isn't too much less I would definately like to use a second camera for 35% of the time. So I thoink my question is, would a 20D or 1D be good enough for this application?

[dcw@pr]

V6GTO said:

As you know I've got a 20D, and it's great. But after playing with Nomoregravy's 1D I would opt for that. It may have less Mp's than the 20D, but it must do something different with them because the pictures that come straight from it are superb.

don't mind what they look like staight out of the camera, what about the final result?

[Bacardi]

dcw@pr said:

too much money unfortunately. will have to be either 20D or 1D. but you think a 20D would be a better stop gap than a 1D?

Only until you can afford the 1DmkII

What are you using the camera for. If it's sports then the 1dsII is the wrong camera anyway. if it's more varied, then using the slower 20D won't be much of an issue as an 'emergency' stop gap. I can't help feeling that once you get used to looking at 47.5mb sized files you are going to be a tad disappointed with the 11.6mb the 1D produces.

Anyway, this is only a short term stop gap, until you can afford a 1DII....... right?

When you do get around to shooting with the 1dsII and 1dII at the same time, as well as lugging a lot of L glass around, make sure you have a good Chiropractor on hand. Preferably a young attractive female who's good with the massage oils..... it's one of the perks of shooting with Canon .

[dcw@pr]

Bacardi said:

Only until you can afford the 1DmkII What are you using the camera for. If it's sports then the 1dsII is the wrong camera anyway. if it's more varied, then using the slower 20D won't be much of an issue as an 'emergency' stop gap. I can't help feeling that once you get used to looking at 47.5mb sized files you are going to be a tad disappointed with the 11.6mb the 1D produces. Anyway, this is only a short term stop gap, until you can afford a 1DII....... right?

speed is not an issue, which is why i would NEVER have considered a d2h over a d2x. for my second body i am more concerned about image quality than handling. anyone out there in london who wants to let me try out their 20d in comparison with a 1d?

Bacardi said:

When you do get around to shooting with the 1dsII and 1dII at the same time, as well as lugging a lot of L glass around, make sure you have a good Chiropractor on hand. Preferably a young attractive female who's good with the massage oils..... it's one of the perks of shooting with Canon .

[V6GTO]

dcw@pr said:

don't mind what they look like staight out of the camera, what about the final result?

www.mattwatkinson.com/