Should I buy a 5D3 or 1D4?

[Daniel Flather]

What's your input?
Money isn't an issue since I've been saving for some time.

Pffft, man-up and buy both.

 

[briansquibb]

but the AF of the 5d3 is way better than that on the mk4. IQ is much better, and also the goodness of fullframe. And a lot of the things of the 1-series is included in the 5d; MUCH less shutter lag, MUCH less blackout time, dual card slots, zoom in directly to 100% at the focuspoint used.customization of buttons, big bright 100% VF, better battery, I get 1000 shots. Setting auto-iso range and use it in m-mode. New advanced codecs for video, audio-feedback, audio-level control. A dedicated switch between Servo and One shot, spot-af with all lenses. Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable). Proper placement and size of the dof-button. And I'm sure others will think of a few other things.

Please define 'way better AF' than the current AF king?

Shutter lag - you must be joking

"Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable)" - it is on the 1D4 which combined with the other settings gives the equivalent of M with EC

1000 shots per battery - I would be horrified if the 1D4 didn't get 2000

In fact in nearly everything the 5DIII struggles to match the 1D4

I notice you have left out the areas where the 1D4 walks over the 5DIII, ie fps, f/8 focussing, af point metering, 8 point af selection metering

The only point that the 5DIII scores is the point AF for all lens - is that a major dealmaker? Not for many I think

 

[briansquibb]

I would go for ff. You simply shoot better images when considering the scene through the ff angle.

 

[Canon-F1]

What's your input?
Money isn't an issue since I've been saving for some time.

if you can´t figure that out yourself.. depending on your needs, then maybe a 60D or 7D is enough for you?!

 

[altenae]

but the AF of the 5d3 is way better than that on the mk4. IQ is much better, and also the goodness of fullframe. And a lot of the things of the 1-series is included in the 5d; MUCH less shutter lag, MUCH less blackout time, dual card slots, zoom in directly to 100% at the focuspoint used.customization of buttons, big bright 100% VF, better battery, I get 1000 shots. Setting auto-iso range and use it in m-mode. New advanced codecs for video, audio-feedback, audio-level control. A dedicated switch between Servo and One shot, spot-af with all lenses. Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable). Proper placement and size of the dof-button. And I'm sure others will think of a few other things.

Please define 'way better AF' than the current AF king?

Shutter lag - you must be joking

"Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable)" - it is on the 1D4 which combined with the other settings gives the equivalent of M with EC

1000 shots per battery - I would be horrified if the 1D4 didn't get 2000

In fact in nearly everything the 5DIII struggles to match the 1D4

I notice you have left out the areas where the 1D4 walks over the 5DIII, ie fps, f/8 focussing, af point metering, 8 point af selection metering

The only point that the 5DIII scores is the point AF for all lens - is that a major dealmaker? Not for many I think

Try the 5D mark iii.
I have the 1d mark iv. I use it for BIF.
With the 5D mark iii at 6 fps I have more keepers then with the mark IV at 10fps.

Edward van Altena
www.wildlife-photos.net

 

[briansquibb]

Try the 5D mark iii.
I have the 1d mark iv. I use it for BIF.
With the 5D mark iii at 6 fps I have more keepers then with the mark IV at 10fps.

Edward van Altena
www.wildlife-photos.net

With a large white that is to be expected as the human needs more time to lock on the focus point at the right plsce on the subject. Therefore at 10fps I would expect less time locked on than at 6fps.

So the question is really - if you do a 2 sec burst do you get more keepers from the 5DIII or the 1D4?

When it was with film I would get nearly 100% keepers on single shot because I would only be pressing the button when I was locked on.

 

[Viggo]

Well, have you tried the 5d3?

 

[Viggo]

but the AF of the 5d3 is way better than that on the mk4. IQ is much better, and also the goodness of fullframe. And a lot of the things of the 1-series is included in the 5d; MUCH less shutter lag, MUCH less blackout time, dual card slots, zoom in directly to 100% at the focuspoint used.customization of buttons, big bright 100% VF, better battery, I get 1000 shots. Setting auto-iso range and use it in m-mode. New advanced codecs for video, audio-feedback, audio-level control. A dedicated switch between Servo and One shot, spot-af with all lenses. Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable). Proper placement and size of the dof-button. And I'm sure others will think of a few other things.

Shutter lag - you must be joking

59ms vs 55ms, I guess you can tell 4ms of difference?

And really, the difference in AF is pretty obvious when reading the specs, and way more obvious when actually using them.

 

[briansquibb]

but the AF of the 5d3 is way better than that on the mk4. IQ is much better, and also the goodness of fullframe. And a lot of the things of the 1-series is included in the 5d; MUCH less shutter lag, MUCH less blackout time, dual card slots, zoom in directly to 100% at the focuspoint used.customization of buttons, big bright 100% VF, better battery, I get 1000 shots. Setting auto-iso range and use it in m-mode. New advanced codecs for video, audio-feedback, audio-level control. A dedicated switch between Servo and One shot, spot-af with all lenses. Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable). Proper placement and size of the dof-button. And I'm sure others will think of a few other things.

Shutter lag - you must be joking

59ms vs 55ms, I guess you can tell 4ms of difference?

And really, the difference in AF is pretty obvious when reading the specs, and way more obvious when actually using them.

I am not a spec peeper - I use the thing

It was you that brought up the reduced lag - "MUCH less shutter lag" - so I guess 4ms is critical to you

"Way more obvious" - in what way - I have been out shooting BIF today and not noticed issues even though I was handholding the 400 f/4 (which is a sure way of reducing keepers)

 

[Viggo]

but the AF of the 5d3 is way better than that on the mk4. IQ is much better, and also the goodness of fullframe. And a lot of the things of the 1-series is included in the 5d; MUCH less shutter lag, MUCH less blackout time, dual card slots, zoom in directly to 100% at the focuspoint used.customization of buttons, big bright 100% VF, better battery, I get 1000 shots. Setting auto-iso range and use it in m-mode. New advanced codecs for video, audio-feedback, audio-level control. A dedicated switch between Servo and One shot, spot-af with all lenses. Setting the lower shutter speed limit (although not fully customizeable). Proper placement and size of the dof-button. And I'm sure others will think of a few other things.

Shutter lag - you must be joking

59ms vs 55ms, I guess you can tell 4ms of difference?

And really, the difference in AF is pretty obvious when reading the specs, and way more obvious when actually using them.

I am not a spec peeper - I use the thing

It was you that brought up the reduced lag - "MUCH less shutter lag" - so I guess 4ms is critical to you

"Way more obvious" - in what way - I have been out shooting BIF today and not noticed issues even though I was handholding the 400 f/4 (which is a sure way of reducing keepers)

Ah, seems you misunderstood... I was referring to MUCH less than the 5d2, sorry bout that....

 

[altenae]

One of the best nature photographer in the Neterlands wrote:

-61 Point AF system is top notch, even blows my 1D Mark II and 1D Mark IV away... I don't know what voodoo magic Canon did, but it rocks

With two seconds burst (12) , 11 were sharp,, I mean tack sharp.
I use the 800mm 5.6.

Please understand the 1D mark IV is a beast, but the AF of the 5D mark iii is better.
Maybe a personal feeling,but for me " it rocks "

 

[briansquibb]

One of the best nature photographer in the Neterlands wrote:

-61 Point AF system is top notch, even blows my 1D Mark II and 1D Mark IV away... I don't know what voodoo magic Canon did, but it rocks

With two seconds burst (12) , 11 were sharp,, I mean tack sharp.
I use the 800mm 5.6.

Please understand the 1D mark IV is a beast, but the AF of the 5D mark iii is better.
Maybe a personal feeling,but for me " it rocks "

I get more than 50% of my 20 - so the same number of keepers then - obviously depends what the subject is doing, the size and the speed. In flight eagles and buzzards I would expect near 100% but blue tits maybe 10% on a good day.

I assume you are not handholding the 800 then - which makes it harder for small, quick BIF

 

[altenae]

One of the best nature photographer in the Neterlands wrote:

-61 Point AF system is top notch, even blows my 1D Mark II and 1D Mark IV away... I don't know what voodoo magic Canon did, but it rocks

With two seconds burst (12) , 11 were sharp,, I mean tack sharp.
I use the 800mm 5.6.

Please understand the 1D mark IV is a beast, but the AF of the 5D mark iii is better.
Maybe a personal feeling,but for me " it rocks "

I get more than 50% of my 20 - so the same number of keepers then - obviously depends what the subject is doing, the size and the speed. In flight eagles and buzzards I would expect near 100% but blue tits maybe 10% on a good day.

I assume you are not handholding the 800 then - which makes it harder for small, quick BIF

True. Blue Tits in flight is very difficult.
Same with Swallows.

Also some luck is needed

Another happy BIF photographer.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1032&thread=41154114

 

[thure1982]

What's your input?
Money isn't an issue since I've been saving for some time.

if you can´t figure that out yourself.. depending on your needs, then maybe a 60D or 7D is enough for you?!

Thanks for not being a condescending jerk...
If I said I'm looking for a larger and better sensor then why would I get a 60D when I now own a 40D?

 

[thure1982]

Thank everyone!
Awsome info and thoughts.
My train of thoughts were about as what everyone said.
I'm gonna stay on the 5D3 waiting-list still.


Happy easter!

 

[cwild]

Thank everyone!
Awsome info and thoughts.
My train of thoughts were about as what everyone said.
I'm gonna stay on the 5D3 waiting-list still.


Happy easter!

As a Mk iv owner who just took delivery of a 5D iii and spent yesterday shooting birds in flight I can confirm that you won't regret getting the 5D. the image quality blows away the Mk iv and I have A3 prints at 6400 iso that you would swear had been shot at 800. The only thing I really missed was the Mk iv's buffer debth, but the 5D focusing was more accurate and I can crop the images further, negating the APSH's crop sensor advantage.

The Mk iv is now up for sale - I'm buying a second 5D

 

[danski0224]

As a Mk iv owner who just took delivery of a 5D iii and spent yesterday shooting birds in flight I can confirm that you won't regret getting the 5D. the image quality blows away the Mk iv and I have A3 prints at 6400 iso that you would swear had been shot at 800. The only thing I really missed was the Mk iv's buffer debth, but the 5D focusing was more accurate and I can crop the images further, negating the APSH's crop sensor advantage.

The Mk iv is now up for sale - I'm buying a second 5D

Really....? That good?

 

[briansquibb]

As a Mk iv owner who just took delivery of a 5D iii and spent yesterday shooting birds in flight I can confirm that you won't regret getting the 5D. the image quality blows away the Mk iv and I have A3 prints at 6400 iso that you would swear had been shot at 800. The only thing I really missed was the Mk iv's buffer debth, but the 5D focusing was more accurate and I can crop the images further, negating the APSH's crop sensor advantage.

The Mk iv is now up for sale - I'm buying a second 5D

Really....? That good?

No I dont think so. The AF of the 1D4 is very accurate so it sounds like another street myth is starting - "1D4 AF is rubbish".

6400 like 800 - shame about the lack of dr then

 

[danski0224]

No I dont think so. The AF of the 1D4 is very accurate so it sounds like another street myth is starting - "1D4 AF is rubbish".

6400 like 800 - shame about the lack of dr then

I'll admit to picking up a used 1DIV with a claimed <10k actuations and all the stuff, plus (2) batteries (one of which was never used) for just a tick over the current 5DIII price.

That camera is worlds different than a 7D.

 

[briansquibb]

No I dont think so. The AF of the 1D4 is very accurate so it sounds like another street myth is starting - "1D4 AF is rubbish".

6400 like 800 - shame about the lack of dr then

I'll admit to picking up a used 1DIV with a claimed <10k actuations and all the stuff, plus (2) batteries (one of which was never used) for just a tick over the current 5DIII price.

That camera is worlds different than a 7D.

Good choice - as an all round camera the 1d4 is better than the 5DIII imho. Buying used means that if you sell it in the near future then you will find it will keep its price