Out with my 7D....in with what..? 5D MkIII or 1D MkIV..?

[Subevent]

I have both the 5D iii, and 1D IV. I purchased the 2nd hand 1D IV after the 5D iii, in particular because I wished to practise bird photography, however for low-light shots or sunsets, I prefer the 5D iii, not so much because of iso performance (1D IV, although not as good as 5D iii is actually not too bad in my opinion) but due to the 1D IV has a problem with AF having difficulty locking focus in very low light.

If I had to limit myself to just one of these great cameras, 5D iii would be the choice by a narrow margin.

I notice that the 7D also have trouble locking focus at low light when I shoot landscapes. I haven´t thought so much about it but just gone MF...

Maybe that will be different if I choose a Canon-lens instead of the Tokina..?

 

[Subevent]

If you want Landscape camera go with the 5D MKIII.
If you want a Wildlife camera go with the 1D Mark IV.

But my suggestions is this;

Don't buy either one. Sell your 100-400mm. Take the 2 or 3K that you were going to apply to the new body, it will give you close to 4K. Then find a good used 300mm f/2.8L IS original version. You should be able to find one between 3.5 and 4.5K depending on condition. This lens will do more for you IQ than either of those bodies and put your photography at another level.

Sounds smart...
One thing I haven´t mentioned is that I often shoot handheld, but I would probably change style according to equipment too. I can say that firstly on my wishlist is of course the lens you describe. It´s almost the "standard" nowadays for sports and also birds/wildlife... Problem is I´m on a budget and the only way for me to get new gear is unfortunately to sell off old gear...

 

[Subevent]

I had the 7D. It is a great camera for the price. About 8 months ago I purchased a 1DM4 and then sold the 7D. The Mark4 is a superb camera and I have been extremely happy with it. I have 5 L series lenses and my favorite lens is my 100-400. I take pics of my kids playing sports, birds, college football games, and use a 16-35 2.8 for landscapes - when I want to get wide.

You are here asking a question about what you should do. Based upon your situation, and when I compare it to mine, I would say go with the Mark4 and don't get rid of that 100-400!

Interesting... and what´s more interesting is that I actually could get the Mark IV at such a low price. I looked at the camera - and although I´m as far away from a camera-technician as I could be - it really looked unused. It´s been swapped in from a company and the cameradealer, who has it on the shelf is the most wellknown pro-dealer we have...
So...if I look at the from a pure, cheapist and economical wiewpoint - going with the Mark IV will get me a camera thats "ready to go" while if I spend some more cash I´ll get the 5D which sounds more allround but which I need to equip a bit... but it would of course be brand new.

Oh well...

 

[Subevent]

I would say get rid of that dog the 7d. Its a rebel in a hardbody that has to be the most mismatched sensor with the rest of the cam. When you go to the ff body you will never look back at the 7d. I am amazed at those who try to be kind to the 7d through out these forums. Like the girl above who says that she still loves the 7d but is really impressed at how much better 5D3 is - jeez please be honest. BTW why would you want to wait for the 7dii its not like you existing lenses/equipment/compatibility are 7D series lenses. Consider even the 6D.

Well...I suppose youre vote is for the 5D then...cause the 1D isn´t FF.
The 6D I have already dismissed as being too small and too slow...but I see what you mean.
Hell...I thought the 40D was good until I tried the 7D...and now I´m off to something else.

 

[natureshots]

Just dealt with this decision. I got the 1d MkIV and I'm very glad I did. The biggest issue is f8 autofocus. If you really want to do bird photography f8 autofocus is EXTREMELY important. Will the 5dIII do better in very low light (6400+) and make prettier landscapes? Yes. Will the 1d MkIV make better bird pics? yes. I'd highly recommend you get a 1d MkIV and a kenko 1.4x or canon 1.4x MKII (2) to put on your 100-400. You will thank me, I take checks and paypal. Try it out at your shop or rent the 1d MkIV and a 1.4x. I'd be interested to hear how the 5d III does with a kenko and 100-400, I've heard its OK and I've heard its unusable. The 1d and that combo is tried and tested. PS-Sigma sucks, I'm 2/2 for crappy equipment that breaks in less than a year. Customer service sucks too. If you can wait for the the 7D update that's an even better idea but I can tell you have the new camera smell in your nostrils.

 

[Subevent]

Just dealt with this decision. I got the 1d MkIV and I'm very glad I did. The biggest issue is f8 autofocus. If you really want to do bird photography f8 autofocus is EXTREMELY important. Will the 5dIII do better in very low light (6400+) and make prettier landscapes? Yes. Will the 1d MkIV make better bird pics? yes. I'd highly recommend you get a 1d MkIV and a kenko 1.4x or canon 1.4x MKII (2) to put on your 100-400. You will thank me, I take checks and paypal. Try it out at your shop or rent the 1d MkIV and a 1.4x. I'd be interested to hear how the 5d III does with a kenko and 100-400, I've heard its OK and I've heard its unusable. The 1d and that combo is tried and tested. PS-Sigma sucks, I'm 2/2 for crappy equipment that breaks in less than a year. Customer service sucks too. If you can wait for the the 7D update that's an even better idea but I can tell you have the new camera smell in your nostrils.

Yeah well...you know how it is. All of a sudden theres an opportunity and I´m kinda fretting that it will slip out of reach if I don´t act on it. So...the 5D will probably make more of my landscapes...but I guess the 1D does it better than the 7D anyway...
The TC option is something I haven´t even thought was possible...but it sounds great!

 

[Rat]

Your decision just got a little harder: seems from April on, the 5D3 will officially support f/8 lenses and combo's, too. Obviously too early to say how the speed will be, but this does mean you can use Canon TC's as well.

Hope this helps

[edit]Whoops, forgot the link: http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/10/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-firmware-adds-hdmi-af-upgrades/

 

[RLPhoto]

Hi y´all!

My first post in this forum is a question you may have heard before...but I´ll try it out anyway.
I´ve been using the 7D since it was released and today my main lenses are a 100-400 L IS and a Tokina 11-16 2,8. I mainly shoot wildlife (birds), roadracing and recently I started to fiddle a bit with landscapes as well... (examles at www.subevent.se)

Now...firstly I wanted to look for a new lens which would be faster and give me a better "reach"...and I got stuck on the Sigma 120-300 2,8 OS EX...because I thought it would be nice with a 2x converter.
But on the way I´ve started to wonder if it wasn´t time for a new camera instead...

What I ultimately want is still speed for birds and roadracing...but also an improvement in image quality for my landscape shots. (well...to be honest I want a IQ-improvement across the board)
I talked to my local cameradealer who also happened to have a used Sigma-lens available - and asked him if I should go for a camera or the lens. (I almost always get the answer to go for the lens - but not this time)
His adwise was to get a used 1D Mark IV or the new 5D Mark III instead...and I could tell he was lobbying toward the 1D Mark IV.

So...what is the feel about this? If I am to change the camera - I want to see a real difference in IQ which is the main reason for me to let go of the 7D.
The cameradealer sat neatly on a used Mark IV as well - which looked really fine and would cost me less than the 5D...

...eh...help?

/Patrik
www.subevent.se

you've got excellent work.

If your doing more action, the 1D4 makes sense. If you do mild action and landscapes the 5D3 makes sense.

 

[Subevent]

Your decision just got a little harder: seems from April on, the 5D3 will officially support f/8 lenses and combo's, too. Obviously too early to say how the speed will be, but this does mean you can use Canon TC's as well.

Hope this helps

[edit]Whoops, forgot the link: http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/10/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-firmware-adds-hdmi-af-upgrades/

...yeah well...the problem is always that if one waits out just a bit more there will come something new. ...but then the new is already old... But you sure gave me pause for thoughts...again.

 

[Subevent]

www.subevent.se

you've got excellent work.

If your doing more action, the 1D4 makes sense. If you do mild action and landscapes the 5D3 makes sense.
[/quote]

Thank you so much...! I'm glad you liked the shots..!
I wonder if I wouldn't feel hampered by a slower camera...so you have come to the same conclusion as myself I think..
Eh...or the other way around I mean.
Anyway...time to decide has been postponed...probably until the end of the week.

 

[Subevent]

I want to thank you all for taking the time to answer my question...and rest assured it has been of great help! So...have I decided yet? Nope...I'll sleep on it. ...and come Thursday I'll pop in to the store again an fiddle with the two cameras again. Maybe I'll get some flash of insight then...

 

[dswatson83]

I've got both cameras. I'll try to put up some ISO comparison tests and DR tests for you to take a look at if you think that will help. I just put the 7D against the Nikon D600 and the 5D mkIII against the D600 and in dynamic range, the D600 beat the 7D by alot but only inched ahead of the 5D mk III. In low light, ,the 5D beat the D600 by half a stop and the D600 beat the 7D by half a stop (raw files with no NR). You can take a look at the tests here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/learningcameras

 

[natureshots]

Just dealt with this decision. I got the 1d MkIV and I'm very glad I did. The biggest issue is f8 autofocus. If you really want to do bird photography f8 autofocus is EXTREMELY important. Will the 5dIII do better in very low light (6400+) and make prettier landscapes? Yes. Will the 1d MkIV make better bird pics? yes. I'd highly recommend you get a 1d MkIV and a kenko 1.4x or canon 1.4x MKII (2) to put on your 100-400. You will thank me, I take checks and paypal. Try it out at your shop or rent the 1d MkIV and a 1.4x. I'd be interested to hear how the 5d III does with a kenko and 100-400, I've heard its OK and I've heard its unusable. The 1d and that combo is tried and tested. PS-Sigma sucks, I'm 2/2 for crappy equipment that breaks in less than a year. Customer service sucks too. If you can wait for the the 7D update that's an even better idea but I can tell you have the new camera smell in your nostrils.

Yeah well...you know how it is. All of a sudden theres an opportunity and I´m kinda fretting that it will slip out of reach if I don´t act on it. So...the 5D will probably make more of my landscapes...but I guess the 1D does it better than the 7D anyway...
The TC option is something I haven´t even thought was possible...but it sounds great!

Read the front page if you haven't already. I'm quite pissed at canon USA for making me buy the wrong goddamn camera based on something you can fix with a firmware update. I'm still accepting paypal and checks this time for my new 5d mkIII fund.

 

[natureshots]

Just dealt with this decision. I got the 1d MkIV and I'm very glad I did. The biggest issue is f8 autofocus. If you really want to do bird photography f8 autofocus is EXTREMELY important. Will the 5dIII do better in very low light (6400+) and make prettier landscapes? Yes. Will the 1d MkIV make better bird pics? yes. I'd highly recommend you get a 1d MkIV and a kenko 1.4x or canon 1.4x MKII (2) to put on your 100-400. You will thank me, I take checks and paypal. Try it out at your shop or rent the 1d MkIV and a 1.4x. I'd be interested to hear how the 5d III does with a kenko and 100-400, I've heard its OK and I've heard its unusable. The 1d and that combo is tried and tested. PS-Sigma sucks, I'm 2/2 for crappy equipment that breaks in less than a year. Customer service sucks too. If you can wait for the the 7D update that's an even better idea but I can tell you have the new camera smell in your nostrils.

Yeah well...you know how it is. All of a sudden theres an opportunity and I´m kinda fretting that it will slip out of reach if I don´t act on it. So...the 5D will probably make more of my landscapes...but I guess the 1D does it better than the 7D anyway...
The TC option is something I haven´t even thought was possible...but it sounds great!

Read the front page if you haven't already. I'm quite pissed at canon USA for making me buy the wrong goddamn camera based on something you can fix with a firmware update. I'm still accepting paypal and checks this time for my new 5d mkIII fund.

Learn from my mistakes. Buy glass.

 

[Rat]

Read the front page if you haven't already. I'm quite pissed at canon USA for making me buy the wrong goddamn camera based on something you can fix with a firmware update. I'm still accepting paypal and checks this time for my new 5d mkIII fund.

I need the money myself for my TS/E-fund but I seriously empathize. I hope you can offload it without too big a loss, but otherwise you still have a far superior burst rate, superior build quality and an extra 30% free reach. And a camera that will make 95% of CR visitors srsly jealous - including me, and I *have* a 5D3.

Of course, I'm pretty happy with the announcement, but I am also a little puzzled about it for just this reason - they could have forseen they would @!$$ people like you off. Until yesterday, you wanted f/8 AF, you should buy a 1D. I guess no more...

But I still think the 5D3 would be a pretty good move for the TS, even if it means getting a new UWA. After all, there's only so much glass you can put on a camera before it's just not worth it anymore. I'm still reeling from how much better my 70-200 is on that 5D3, moving up from a Rebel. And any future glass will immediately benefit from that IQ jump too.

 

[Subevent]

[/quote]
Read the front page if you haven't already. I'm quite pissed at canon USA for making me buy the wrong goddamn camera based on something you can fix with a firmware update. I'm still accepting paypal and checks this time for my new 5d mkIII fund.
[/quote]

Woah...! Talk about a quick revision then... I hope you can get it sorted, mate!

 

[Subevent]

Read the front page if you haven't already. I'm quite pissed at canon USA for making me buy the wrong goddamn camera based on something you can fix with a firmware update. I'm still accepting paypal and checks this time for my new 5d mkIII fund.

I need the money myself for my TS/E-fund but I seriously empathize. I hope you can offload it without too big a loss, but otherwise you still have a far superior burst rate, superior build quality and an extra 30% free reach. And a camera that will make 95% of CR visitors srsly jealous - including me, and I *have* a 5D3.

Of course, I'm pretty happy with the announcement, but I am also a little puzzled about it for just this reason - they could have forseen they would @!$$ people like you off. Until yesterday, you wanted f/8 AF, you should buy a 1D. I guess no more...

But I still think the 5D3 would be a pretty good move for the TS, even if it means getting a new UWA. After all, there's only so much glass you can put on a camera before it's just not worth it anymore. I'm still reeling from how much better my 70-200 is on that 5D3, moving up from a Rebel. And any future glass will immediately benefit from that IQ jump too.

Yeah...I´m kinda getting partial to the 5D as this discussion gets more and more narrow. Sad thing...if I want a batterygrip the want like 3k here in Sweden. Thats like d¤%/mned expensive...!
If I´m going after the 5D Mark III the price-hysteria will have to settle a bit first...
Right now:
1D Mark IV (used): 23.995,00 SEK (2664 Euro)
5D Mark III with batterygrip and one xtra battery: 27000 + 3000 + 800=30800 SEK (3331 Euro)

Well...I can always get the house only...but a grip is a must have!

 

[Rat]

Well...I can always get the house only...but a grip is a must have!

There are a lot of third party grips, if you search around you can probably find a few threads here. I think the one in highest regard is the Pixel, less than 100 usd on eBay and reasonably sturdy. Although I wouldn't want to depend on the tripod mount screw, which is why I bought the original, expensive Canon :-\