1dmk4 vs 5d3

[Chuck Alaimo]

So, after lots of thought regarding a second body/backup body (my 7d, I just don't trust it anymore after using the mk3 for a few months), I'm kind of feeling like I have 4 options:

buy a second mk3 (would have to wait a bit to do that)
buy a used 1dmk4 (seeing used prices of $4000-4400, so, like mk3 would have to wait a bit)
see what this entry FF is like/can do
see what the 7d2 may bring to the table

All of these options require waiting (I have considered a 5dmk2, but I kind of want something that can hold it's own up to ISO 6400 and not look like a joke compared to what the mk3 can do. Maybe if used prices go down...).

with the way the market is though, these new canon models probably won't be available for a while (possibly the entry FF, only because they may want that on the market for Christmas season, but I don't see the 7d2 being available till sometime in 2013)...

So yeah, this has me pondering things like...a 1dmk4? The only experience I have with 1 series bodies isn't even shooting with one. I recently shot a wedding and had a second shooter with me, he was using a 7d and a 1ds3 ---and wow, as I was going through his files, I could immediately know which came from the 7d and which came from the 1ds3---at ISO 1000 the 1ds3 file was a joy to work with, colors brighter and sharper, almost better than the mk3. I'd kind of love to rent one cause I am sure that would be fun to shoot art and portraits with, but the 1ds3 definitely isn't a low light monster, so while it would be fun, its not what I need. It is an eye opener though, and knowing that the 1dmk4 used is basically the cost of an mk3 with grip...yeah, that has me thinking...

So I am wondering from all ya'll that have used both camera's, how does the 1dmk4 hold up against the 5d3? How is the 1dmk4 at higher ISO's? It's a 1.3 crop, so that is kind of interesting and unique. My guess it would be a true 2nd body as opposed to merely a backup body (IE, I'm going to try running with both camera's this saturday, but, in a pinch, will I opt to switch lenses and not risk using the 7d or will I go for the 7d? I would have less hesitation if I had an mk2 as backup. And I'm guessing that with a 1dmk4 there'd be zero hesitation, and I'd go to that without fail (I have read that it's just an amazing camera!)

So from you, the people who use it, how is the 1dmk4?

And from those who own both, how do they compare?

 

[Viggo]

For IQ and af, I would get a 2nd mk3 then you can also have all settings the same and nothing is forgotten when things happen east. The1d4 is a 1d, way better to hold and use and way better batterylife. I like the fullframe look better, but your 85 L for example still looks fantastic, and it reaches longer.

I think lowlight both af and iq is way better on the 5d. Silent mode is actually silent.

Owning both and now gone from the 5d3 I say the 1d (x) is just something else to shoot with, but if it is between the 5d3 and the 1d4 with the X out of the question, my experience and your use says 5d3 all the way....

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

but your 85 L for example still looks fantastic, and it reaches longer.

wish i could say I had the L, but I only have the 1.8 (which I may still return? Still not sure, got till monday to decide on both the 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.8, and yeah, still taking a hard look at the 135L....)

agreed on same user interface making life easier....

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I've had the 1D MK III, the 1D MK IV, and the 5D MK III.
The user interface is very similar, and the battery is the same for both 1 series cameras. The MK IV can be used at ISO 12800 but only if you really have no options. I did not go over 3200 with my 1D MK III.
The 5D MK III has better AF and low light sensitivity, but not being able to see the tiny AF points in low light somewhat negates the advantage.
I'd say its a toss up, get the one whose features best match your needs. I had to sell my MK IV due to carpal tunnel, I just could not hold the weight. I am going in for surgery, so maybe next year, I'll be able to hold the heavier body.

 

[fotografnuntaiasi]

Except the sealing( witch is way better at the 1dmk4 ) I would say that the price difference is not worth it. But still the 1dmk series are for pro's(photojournalism, wildlife, bad conditions and tricky situations).

 

[bdunbar79]

Except the sealing( witch is way better at the 1dmk4 ) I would say that the price difference is not worth it. But still the 1dmk series are for pro's(photojournalism, wildlife, bad conditions and tricky situations).

The 5D Mark III will perform much better at night sports than the 1D Mark IV, whether the 1D4 is for pros or not. Regarding "tricky" situations, again, the 5D3 beats the 1D4. Shoot at ISO 8000 with each camera and you'll quickly see what I mean.

 

[pwp]

I have both, and work with them in tandem on a daily basis. They're both brilliant cameras, but with different strengths. It should be no surprise that the files delivered by the 5D3 are superior in most regards, but the handling, ergonomics, weather sealing, 300th flash sync, high frame rate, buffer depth, x1.3 crop and always visible red illuminated AF points are the items that set the 1D4 apart from the 5D3. If these factors are unimportant to you, then the 5D3 may be a better bet.

Just be aware that a gripped 5D3 is bulkier, heavier and bigger in all dimensions that the comparatively svelte 1D4. The black focus points on the 5D3 are a big irritation to plenty of photographers who lose shots as the selected focus point is frequently invisible. It's annoying, but unfortunately something we'll just have to get used to as the 1DX has the same GUI design fault.

-PW

 

[canon816]

I had a 5D Mark II and a 1D Mark IV.

I upgraded my 5DII to a 5DIII about a 6 weeks ago. After a few thousand shots with the 5DIII I became so amazed with how brilliant the images looked. The IQ is amazing. The detail through ISO 12800 really has blown me away. Of course there is still noise at higher ISO's but what amazed me the most was the detail at high iso. With minimal noise reduction the easy to manage white noise goes away leaving nice edge detail.

In fact... I was so amazed that I didn't even use my 1DIV at all hardly. I'm a wildlife photographer so going from 10FPS to 6 was quite a step down... but for me its not as much about camera performance but more about image quality.

At all ISO the 5DIII is better then the 1DIV. Even with a lack of noise at low iso there seems to be more detail and "crispness" to the images on the 5D. Even though I need to crop more with the 5D and there are only 90% of the pixels in the same field of view as the 1D... the images are better.

I ended up selling my 1DIV and bought another 5DIII. It wasn't an easy decision, but in the end the quality of the image is what pushed me over the edge.

The 1DIV is no slouch. Its an amazing camera in every way... but for what I do, the 5DIII is even better.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

interesting...was expecting to hear more praise for the 1d4... guess that's more of a testament to how good the 5d3 is. I may just have to rent a 1d4 just to see how it feels...

 

[noisejammer]

I have a 5D2, 1D4 and have used a 5D3 quite a bit.
On the whole, the per pixel noise is quite similar. Of course, the 5D3 produces higher resolution images but this is at the expense of image scale. If you compare like with like, the noise is similar.

The big thing that the 1D4 can do is shoot all day. I recently ran 2200 frames at an airshow and there was still plenty of juice in the battery. Weather sealing is good to have but I don't like getting rained on. 10 fps is good to have if you need it (and sometimes I do.) A deep buffer just means you need to time your button presses

It helps to be able to autofocus at f/8. I've only used it once but when I needed it I could do it.

From an economic point of view, I expect that the 1D4 is going to drop less in value than the 5D3. This may be significant when you decide to upgrade, be it 2 or 3 models down the road.

 

[verysimplejason]

I think you should wait for the 6D. a cheaper downgraded 5D3 hopefully.

 

[canon816]

I think you should wait for the 6D. a cheaper downgraded 5D3 hopefully.

Not a bad suggestion....

If the OP is comfortable with spending the $3500 for either a new 5DIII or used 1DIV, then there is no point in waiting. While the 6D might be a nice camera I doubt it will be in the same league as either of these bodies on performance, and If i'm not mistaken will not have a sensor upgrade from the 5DII.

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

I think you should wait for the 6D. a cheaper downgraded 5D3 hopefully.

Not a bad suggestion....

If the OP is comfortable with spending the $3500 for either a new 5DIII or used 1DIV, then there is no point in waiting. While the 6D might be a nice camera I doubt it will be in the same league as either of these bodies on performance, and If i'm not mistaken will not have a sensor upgrade from the 5DII.

I'm comfortable spending that much, but, would have some saving to do to buy it (so yeah, there will be some waiting). Which is good because it gives me time to weigh the options (mk3, 1d4, wait on the 6d or the 7d2)...I know in many ways the 6d will not hold its own next to the mk3 (I guess I shouldn't say that judging off of CR1 rumor). I am guessing the 6d will be announced and available relatively soon - I can't see canon releasing a fairly inexpensive FF camera after the christmas season - especially if nikon is ready to roll their d600 out in that time frame. All the rumors point towards the 6d being recycled tech and parts, so yeah, that should be a shorter time from official announcement to release. If it isn't too hobbled, then that may be the right choice.

Another valid reason to wait, wedding season is about to slow down, so the need for the 2nd/backup body isn't as immediate. Which is good in it's own way, again, it gives me time to weigh the options and add $$ to savings.

So basically, if i go with a 1d4, I won't be displeased, but it won't be as good in certain circumstances as the mk3 (may be better in some situations with the fps the 1d4 has - plus that little bit of extra reach from the 1.3 crop). And if I go 6d, similar but but it won't be as good in even more situations, but, it may be an upgrade over my 7d (should be at least). And 7d2? That's still so lost in rumorland that it's almost not worth bringing up as an option yet.

So, given that time is there, lets hear some more thoughts on this -- -5d3 vs 1dmk4

 

[verysimplejason]

+1. If you don't want to wait, just get a 5D3. I think 5D3 has fast enough FPS though without the 1.3X multiplier. If you're going for IQ and flexibility (high ISO perf), 5D3 is a much better alternative than 1D4. Better weather-sealing, toughness and FPS are the primary selling points of 1D4 against 5D3.

 

[Michael_pfh]

The 1D4 should be an adequate back-up. It got great build quality (survived a dive into the mud during my last expedition to Papua New Guinea) and gives you additional reach (1.3x crop) for wildlife and sports, fantastic speed of up to 10fps. Moreover you can use focusing screens (unlike with your 5D3) in order to enhance manual focusing with Zeiss lenses or architecture shooting where a grid in the viewfinder can be helpful. Pics at 12,400 ISO are still very usable comparable to those you get with your 5D3 at 25,600 (without pixel peeping I see a 1-stop difference between the 5D3 and 1D4).

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

well dang, if the rumors are correct I think I can scratch the entry level FF off the options list for a backup. Maybe I shouldn't scratch it off too soon, wait and see what the new sensor is like. until then though, there is nothing compelling on paper about it.

 

[ronderick]

I'd say if you already have a 5D3, you should get a second 5D3 instead of the 1D4.

1. Sharing batteries: having two 5D3 means you only have to carry one type of battery and charger.

2. Newer technology: While the 1D4 is an amazing camera, it's one generation older than the 5D3 (if nothing else, the different DIGIC already separates them).

Of course, if you have situations where you might face heavy rain or unfriendly shooting environment, than the 1D4 might make a better choice...

 

[Crapking]

I use both, and another advantage for the 1DIV is 'spot metering' linked to the AF point. Helpful in certain situations.
A different advantage for the 5D3 is the smaller form factor. It has become my 'compact p/s' when I want to more subtle and not have the 1-series bulk, especially with the 40/2.8 pancake and no grip.
Each body has its' own place, but until recently, using any 1 series as a backup/2nd body, would be a no brainer, and once you start using them, your next thread will be 1D-x vs 1D-IV
I'd start thinking about lenses-either body will be fine.

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

Leaning towards a second 5d3 at the moment. I won't be pulling the trigger on the purchase for a few more months though (maybe early 2013, earlier if income allows it). Which I guess is good because the 6d should be out there by then and we'll actually get to see if it's any good (just how crappy in the AF in that thing?

If I was shooting more sports, or challenging environments the 1d4 would be awesome, but it's the little things like batteries (batteries would be shared if I had a 5d2, 6d or a 5d3). I still may rent one though just out of plain curiosity.

 

[bdunbar79]

If you're going for IQ only, then a second 5D3 makes the most sense. The 5D3 also has more resolution and goes to ISO values you cannot use with a 1D4.