5D Mark II or 1D Mark III

[erda]

So I was in the local store today and was contemplating spending some money!
Am planning a trip through Yellowstone and Colorado by motorcycle this summer and was thinking that I'm missing an ultra-wide angle lens. Was thinking about either the Canon 10-22 or the Tokina 11-16. Then I got "squirrelled" by cameras. My simple logic was: spend money on a lens, but still have the 'old' camera, or buy a new camera that would allow my current glass to provide me the ultra-wide range. So looked at the new 5D mark ii and also a used 1D mark iii.
Any suggestions or advice?

Currently: 30D; 17-40L; 70-200L f4

[GoldenEagle]

First of all, your current gear will work pretty well for outdoor photos.
If you are intent on parting with some $$$, then I'm not sure the 10-22 or Tokina will get you the image quality you may want, if you're used to L lenses.
The 1D Mark iii offers weatherproofing but other than that isn't a perfect fit for your outdoor needs - you would be wasting the high shutter speed and focus points.
The 5D Mark ii would be an excellent choice, and the Full Frame with your existing 17-40 would be as wide as you'd ever need.
If storage space in the cycle is an issue, another route would be to go with a 7D + 18-200 zoom only, a great pair for travel/one lens configuration.
My 2 cents.

[Picsfor]

5D2 - no brainer, you'll never look back, honestly.
More suitable camera for travel photography, smaller and lighter to carry about, and as said, with those 2 lenses, why would you want anything else?

1D3? You expected to pay for it?

[erda]

Should have mentioned that the 1Dmiii (used-25000 actuations) and a new 5Dmii with grip are within $100 of each other.

[CowGummy]

I'm gonna throw in another vote for the 5DII! Fantastic camera - especially for landscapes!

[cpsico]

I would really ask yourself what is it you really need from a camera. The 1d has great battery life, two memory slots, weather sealing,multi spot metering , heck way better over all metering than the 5d mkII. Now the 5d the center point focus point is golden, has great resolution and color, high ISO beats the1d by a stop. If you know how to use a histogram you can easily over come the 5 d's metering btw. The 5d has a far superior LCD , the mkIII's doesn't come close.
I find myself carrying my 5 dII the most, but when the shooting pace is fast with little time for adjustments I like my mk III better.
It's all about your shooting needs

[briansquibb]

I would choose the 5DII as the single camera even though I have a 1D4.

I dont understand the mentioned metering problem - doesn't happen with mine, I do use AE lock (grass is a good reference point)

[cpsico]

I would choose the 5DII as the single camera even though I have a 1D4.

I dont understand the mentioned metering problem - doesn't happen with mine, I do use AE lock (grass is a good reference point)

It has a tendency to over expose out doors, using AE lock works great but requires you to understand exposure and mid tones. It is a fantastic camera, just auto metering requires some adjustments in some circumstances. When canon starts using metering systems that see color it will be a non issue.

[JR]

I would choose the 5DII as the single camera even though I have a 1D4.

I dont understand the mentioned metering problem - doesn't happen with mine, I do use AE lock (grass is a good reference point)

Interestingly when I first red this post I thought the question was comparing the 1Ds mkIII and not the 1D mkIII.  Brian I beleive you now have both the 5D mkII and the 1Ds mkIII correct?  I would be curious to know which of these two machine you would pick if you could only choose one?  I know the 1Ds is a bit older but you posted a few pictures that seem to suggest it beats the 5DmkII for ISO below 1600?

Really curious to know this one!  Thanks in advance!

Jacques

 

[Viggo]

The metering on mine 5d2, and three friends of mine, always underexpose by a full stop. Really annoying. You have to constantly take one image and check and adjust. But I have come to the conclusion that a FullFrame camera is the only SLR worth owning, yes and I am serious. My 24 L II, 50 L and 85 L have been 60% wasted on the mk4 compared when used on the 5d2, my god those lenses are so much better on fullframe.....

[briansquibb]

I have the 1d4, 1ds3 and a 5dII

The 1d4 (1.3 crop) is the best all round by a long way, particularly for fps, AF and high iso

The 1ds3 (ff) is the best for lower iso, more static items - but has good AF (about the same as the 7D). Gives better IQ and lower noise than the 5DII

The 5D2 is the best all round for landscapes and portraits

I bought the 1ds3 as a poor mans 1dx which I am glad it is doing at them moment

With the OP's requirements I would choose the 5DII which I find a good all rounder for me as I seem to be OK with the limitations of the AF

[cfargo]

5D MK II  and forget the grip as space on the bike is limited.

[JR]

I have the 1d4, 1ds3 and a 5dII

The 1d4 (1.3 crop) is the best all round by a long way, particularly for fps, AF and high iso

The 1ds3 (ff) is the best for lower iso, more static items - but has good AF (about the same as the 7D). Gives better IQ and lower noise than the 5DII

The 5D2 is the best all round for landscapes and portraits

I bought the 1ds3 as a poor mans 1dx which I am glad it is doing at them moment

With the OP's requirements I would choose the 5DII which I find a good all rounder for me as I seem to be OK with the limitations of the AF

So would you say the 1Ds mkIII is better then the 5D mkII for ISO below 1600?

[cpsico]

The metering on mine 5d2, and three friends of mine, always underexpose by a full stop. Really annoying. You have to constantly take one image and check and adjust. But I have come to the conclusion that a FullFrame camera is the only SLR worth owning, yes and I am serious. My 24 L II, 50 L and 85 L have been 60% wasted on the mk4 compared when used on the 5d2, my god those lenses are so much better on fullframe.....

It's funny outdoors the 5dII is over exposed by 2/3 of a stop, and high ISO (3200 and up') it is indeed about one stop under in dim lit conditions. Would it be fair to say its a superb sensor wrapped in a mediocre shell? Metering is a weak point of the camera but the LCD and histogram do let you know you are off on exposure.  The LCD on this camera is wonderful compareded to older models(I have never used a mark IV) I could never use my LCD on my mark III for much other than composition. I think the 5d II is a wonderful camera for landscapes and slow to non moving subjects, after all it's really designed as a studio/ landscape camera. Btw it is fantastic in regards to image quality. One thing no one has mentioned is the 5 d has auto iso, thats a great feature worth mentioning.

[tron]

Although the Canon 10-22 is an excellent lens I would suggest to invest on a 5DII instead.
As you have 17-40L you will not need a wider lens. The real cost will be the cost of the 5DII minus the
cost of the UW zoom you would buy instead. If you buy the UW zoom now and wish to upgrade to full frame later you will have paid more in the long term and you will have missed the full frame pictures too. Also you can sell your 30D and get some money back.