Toronto Photography Meetup Group

hi guys, as usual the advises on this forum is very helpful before I consider on purchasing anything with regards to photography. having said that, I want your opinion on my choices on acquiring a full frame CANON camera body ( I can only afford USED camera)....

I was initially looking on a USED Canon 5D mk II but I happened to get a glimpse of a USED Canon 1Ds MkII, they are about in the same USED price range and the reviews also of 1Ds is also good ( but i havent seen and feel the used of this physically yet so maybe its a factor also? ) ...OR a Canon 5D mk 1?

again any inputs are welcome and highly appreciated...

If you want video, then get the 5D mark 2. If you just need it for photo, 5D mark 1 is for low light photography, while the 1DsM2 is for studio photography.

batteries on the 1Ds are more expensive...

However 1Ds does have awesome AF and feels like a tank.

1Ds MKII
Pros - excellent viewfinder, awesome autofocus, perfect RAW file sizes, image quality is excellent, great body build quality (true weather proofing), 16mp still good even in today's market, even though it's heavy it just feels so good in your hands, love the shutter sound

Cons - early shutter failures (had to replace mine at 28,000 actuations by Canon for $450) - failure starting can be seen in photos at high shutter speeds across the top of the image (in landscape mode), heavy body, heavy batteries, user interface not as friendly as other Canon cameras, small LCD screen (although I didn't care about this - more than fine for exposure historgram)

If you can stretch for a 5D MKII, then I would take that over a 1Ds MKII body. If you do not need the high ISO, LiveView and 21mp, then I would highly recommend the first 5D, and spend the savings in $$ on used glass. 12mp really is still a lot. If you want to print bigger than 11x14, then upsizing through software works really well, and today's printers make it look even better.

I'm the first to stand by the EOS-1 series but that camera is a bit old. If your shooting studio or bright light photography it's a winner. The batteries are about $20 on eBay and can last 3k shots before a charge!

a big thanks again for the helpful inputs, I failed to mention that I am planning to use the intended camera body to be a second ( or main) body when I am shooting events....I've been getting quite a number of events to cover ( or 2nd shoot) and has noticed one time that it is very convenient to have another camera body for quick use of another lens attached to it...

I've tried already using the Canon 5D classic and I like it a lot, I just wanted to hear our inputs with regards to the 5D mk11 and the 1Ds mk11 as I havent use them at all yet...

seems like its between 5D mk1 and Mk11 .... ill start scouting for availability in the "used" market now...

thanks a lot guys.... if you still have some more inputs please feel free to chime in..

Hello Floro,
I used the 5D mark 1 for almost 2 years ...
Its a fantastic piece of machine loved it all the way ...
the only reason i hated it for is its slow autofocus .....
For landscapes its a king of a camera .....
If money is the not an issue the 5DII is a great camera ..
I havent used the 1ds mark II so...good luck with ur purchase
Yeshwanth