which 'one' to buy...

[postcardcv]

I'm toying will selling off some of the gear that doesn't get a huge amount of use and buying a 1D for my bird photography. I'm just not sure which I'd go for... a used 1D mkii would be the most affordable, but I might be able to stretch to a 1Ds mkii or even a 1D mkiii. So what do others think, does the mkiii have a real advantage over the mkii? Is full frame an advantage for bird photography or not?

[petermallett]

Hi
For me it would have to be the 1D mk 2 or mk3, both of these are aimed at action photography ie sport and wildlife more than the 1Ds which is more a studio or landscape camera and does not have the frame rate of the 1D.
I bought a used 1D mk2 this year to run along side my 30D and it has proved to be a very good camera, to be honest I wish I'd bought a used 1D rather than the new 30D which I bought about 18 months ago. If you go full frame
(1Ds mk2) you will need some long glass to get birds to a decent size in the frame. A 100mm lens on a 30/40D will give the same field of view as a 130mm lens on a 1Dmk2 or mk3. with a 1Ds you would need 160mm to get the same field of view.

Hope this helps

[GYRob]

go for the Mk3 -the mk2 is fiddly to use has less pixcels, the back screen is to small too.
you also get the micro ajustment so can tune your lenses on the mk3 and it has a self cleaning sensor and it works very well .
Just check you get one that is above a certian serial Number to be sure the submirrow is fixed.
Rob.

[GYRob]

If the serial number on the bottom of the camera is between 501001 and 546561, it could be affected by the AF mirror adjustment problem, with the exception of cameras with the following serial numbers which were manufactured with an updated mirror mechanism. (Additionally, all EOS-1D Mark III cameras with serial numbers higher than 546561 have been manufactured with the updated mirror mechanism.)

[hollis_f]

I'm due a redundancy payment in April, which I hope might coincide with the release of a 1D MkIV. If such a beastie does arrive I'd expect to see a few MkIIIs for sale at reasonable prices.
As for the MkIII vs MkII, I've got to agree with Rob, especially regarding the fiddle factor.

[Malcolm Stewart]

Simple - go for at least the 1D MkIII.

You'll get AF Microadjust as well as the later interface; and in my case, it was S/H and came with a letter from Canon stating that the mirror repair had been done. I thought long and hard about the lower cost 1D MkII and IIn, but the lure of being able to optimise the focusing of my lenses at my leisure was the clincher.

[kevindurose]

Peter,
I wouldn't rule out the 1Ds Mk 2. I know the controls are fidley and the frame rate is a bit slower than the others but how often do you take a burst of 6 pictures anyway. The focus is proven to work with no question marks see here:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-8740-9068

and 17 mega pixels, just think of the damage you could do when you get up close. And you wont miss the wingtips when that next barn owl comes right past your car.

[postcardcv]

I've definity not ruled out the 1Ds mkII, in fact it would probably be my first choice. Cropping a shot from a 1DsmkII to the same size a 1.3 crop camera would give ~9.8mp, so 'reach' isn't an issue. The stunning AF and IQ of the 1DsmkII make it a very tempting option, but it would mean selling my 400 f5.6 as weLl as my 40D...

[gmax]

The stunning AF and IQ of the 1DsmkII make it a very tempting option, but it would mean selling my 400 f5.6 as weLl as my 40D...

.... my heart would be bleeding forever :-C ... just kidding, in your case you can part with this lens (the 500mm is already there o:)) and enjoy the great quality this camera may grant.
I'm not sure, but I think the same stunning AF performance is the same as the 1D MkII N, so perhaps buying this cheaper camera would allow you to keep the lens as well ;)

[mjmw]

I've definity not ruled out the 1Ds mkII, in fact it would probably be my first choice. Cropping a shot from a 1DsmkII to the same size a 1.3 crop camera would give ~9.8mp, so 'reach' isn't an issue. The stunning AF and IQ of the 1DsmkII make it a very tempting option, but it would mean selling my 400 f5.6 as weLl as my 40D...

You really do have a bad case of GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)!

If you are selling good glass to fund this, don't upgrade and keep the 40D. As you already know, camera bodies are a moving target whereas good glass stays good with a small amount of care.

[vkalia]

mmmeh... I tried the 1D3 and didnt find it a compelling enough upgrade to the 1D2, which I still have and which only now am I contemplating selling.

1Ds2 has slight edge in resolution, but 8.5fps really nails it when it comes to action and capturing the "decisive moment" (and with fast-paced action, you cannot always predict when it is going to happen). If you are using it just for wildlife, stick to the 1D2.. for general use, the 1Ds2 is probably a better camera (although I wouldnt sell glass to fund a body).

Vandit