1d Mark IV or 5d Mark III for wildlife shooting?

Zephyr

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Graeme
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So I currently own a 7D, and I am thinking of either getting a 5D Mark III or a 1D Mark IV for wildlife shooting. I will use the 7D for the reach for birds, while tamer subjects / safari shooting and wildlife workshops I'd use the Mark III / Mark IV - due to better ISO performance, image quality and AF speed/accuracy. I know if you crop the 5D Mark III images to the size of the 1D Mark IV you get an approx 13mpx image.

What I am wondering is, based on the overall camera, which would serve me better? Would I 'miss' the effective FOV provided by the Mark IV? the 5D3 ISO is far superior I understand, I've heard a few people I know saying they'd only consider the Mark IV usable up to ISO 1600 whereas from what I have looked at I'd say the Mark III is good until at least 12800. I only speak from what I have heard as I have tried neither.

the lenses I own on the telephoto end are the 70-200 f2.8 IS II, both extenders, and the 500 f4 IS

I'm not going to speculate on potential 7D Mark II info, as it has not been announced, although I suspect both would fare well against it, either way.

I want the camera to last a good few years to come, and for me to make good use out of it. I had the 5D Mark II but seldom used it for wildlife because of the mediocre AF in comaprison to the 7D.

could someone shed some insight on this?

Thanks in advance,

Graeme
 
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You really wouldn't be disappointed in the 5D3 :thumbs: I don't have any experience in the 1D4 but I can understand you dilemma in regards to the FoV e.g. the 1.3x crop factor :thumbs:

Matt
MWHCVT
 
You really wouldn't be disappointed in the 5D3 :thumbs: I don't have any experience in the 1D4 but I can understand you dilemma in regards to the FoV e.g. the 1.3x crop factor :thumbs:

Matt
MWHCVT

Thanks matt. I found this but i really wanted to see and hear from people who have used it in the field, e.g. for wildlife, rather than this static comparison.
It seems they don't fare too badly against one another but i think rather than taking the plunge i want to hear from other's experiences first.

Thanks again.

http://www.dougbrownphotography.com/2012/04/03/canon-5d-mark-iii-vs-1d-mark-iv-high-iso/
 
.. I've heard a few people I know saying they'd only consider the Mark IV usable up to ISO 1600

Depends on your use of course, but I was shooting for work this week at 12,800 on the Mk IV. It's pretty impressive, more than ok for press stuff, and I use 3200 all the time for work and sell the results for various uses. :thumbs:

That said, I'm seriously considering selling my 1D mk IV and 5D to switch to a pair of 5D mk IIIs.

Main thing that irks me with the 1D is low light focus, it's supposed to be the thing it knocks out the park, and for me, it just doesn't. Going to have a look at the 5D III and see how the new AF stacks up.

I expect image quality on the 5DIII is going to beat the 1DIV easily, so it's just a question of what reach you have/need.
 
Depends on your use of course, but I was shooting for work this week at 12,800 on the Mk IV. It's pretty impressive, more than ok for press stuff, and I use 3200 all the time for work and sell the results for various uses. :thumbs:

That said, I'm seriously considering selling my 1D mk IV and 5D to switch to a pair of 5D mk IIIs.

Main thing that irks me with the 1D is low light focus, it's supposed to be the thing it knocks out the park, and for me, it just doesn't. Going to have a look at the 5D III and see how the new AF stacks up.

I expect image quality on the 5DIII is going to beat the 1DIV easily, so it's just a question of what reach you have/need.

Thanks for the response. It's great to hear from someone that uses one day in day out, makes me think whichever i choose it will more than be up for the job.

The only thing with wildlife photography is, esp with birds, you have to retain even the finest of detail, e.g. feathers, so i don't know if that form is photography is comparable, which makes me go towards the 5DIII, but then again, the 1DIV's 'reach' and speed, are both good factors.

Anyone elses thoughts?

Thanks again
 
Bump, anyone else got thoughts on this ? the more the merrier!
 
Zephyr said:
Thanks for the response. It's great to hear from someone that uses one day in day out, makes me think whichever i choose it will more than be up for the job.

The only thing with wildlife photography is, esp with birds, you have to retain even the finest of detail, e.g. feathers, so i don't know if that form is photography is comparable, which makes me go towards the 5DIII, but then again, the 1DIV's 'reach' and speed, are both good factors.

Anyone elses thoughts?

Thanks again

I can retain the finest of feather detail on my 1DIV albeit with a lens that nearly bankrupted me to buy and nearly ruptures me to carry!
 
Depends on your use of course, but I was shooting for work this week at 12,800 on the Mk IV. It's pretty impressive, more than ok for press stuff, and I use 3200 all the time for work and sell the results for various uses. :thumbs:

That said, I'm seriously considering selling my 1D mk IV and 5D to switch to a pair of 5D mk IIIs.

Main thing that irks me with the 1D is low light focus, it's supposed to be the thing it knocks out the park, and for me, it just doesn't. Going to have a look at the 5D III and see how the new AF stacks up.

I expect image quality on the 5DIII is going to beat the 1DIV easily, so it's just a question of what reach you have/need.
:plusone:
 
Thank you both.

Well I currently own a 500 f4, and i also use a 70-200 with extenders, i can use the 1.4 to achieve 700 mm on a ff like the 5d3, what i am wondering is, for safari work, e.g. in kenya, or photographing larger creatures such as bears and the like, (basically anything but birds, as i'll use my 7D for that!) & travelling, would the 5D3 with those lenses yield me enough reach? Or should I play it safe and get a 1d4? Bearing in mind I also have a 7D (although only really OK up to ISO 800 on that thing)

Ahh decisions! lol.

Thanks again,

Graeme
 
TBH I don't think you'll notice any real world difference. If it comes down to carry weight then the 5DIII will be lighter to lug.

Ah ok, cheers! The other good thing is about the 1DIV is the f/8 autofocus.

The only problem is, trying to source one in the UK :/
 
I have a 1D iv and a 5DII. For virtually all my wildlife stuff I use the ID. The exception is macro in which case I use the 5D with a 100mm macro lens. The definition is awesome.
 
I have a 1D iv and a 5DII. For virtually all my wildlife stuff I use the ID. The exception is macro in which case I use the 5D with a 100mm macro lens. The definition is awesome.

Interesting that you prefer the 5DII for macro considering that the 1DIV has the intelligent macro tracking facility like the 7D.
I haven't yet started my insect macros this year but I hadn't considered using the 5D over the 1D.
Is it that the IQ of the 5D is so much better for macro?
 
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