50D vs secondhand 1Ds mk2

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robzoo

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I have a hard choice, I was ready to get a 50D and was looking forward to improved iso performance (on my much hated and over due for upgrade 400d), but I have been offered a secondhand 1Ds Mk2 for the same price as a 50D with battery grip (something I was going to buy with the camera). Now I'm not sure. I mainly shoot wildlife and I know the 50d is 2.5fps faster but I don't feel that this is all that important (would be nice ***). I find that I need decent high iso performance and the 50d says it has that, but is it better than an older full frame camera? I know that the iso goes higher but if it's noisy then its no use anyway. I have seen and used the 1ds mk2 and it feels great an all but I don't know if its better than the 50d. I know ones series are best with L lenses and I have sigma EX which look great, but maybe this would still be great on a 50d. The main things I think is new cropped sensor over and older full frame, which is best for IQ and iso noise (not bothered about losing 1.6 of zoom, makes my lenses and TC's more useable in my mind). I like the build of the 1dsmk2 but not sure if it's worth sacrificing other stuff for. Also the small screen of the 1dsmk2 is annoying and even my 400d has a better one, but is this worth not choosing it for? I don't even really look at my images on screen and opt for the histogram and thumnail instead.
Can't decide, need help and advice!!!:thinking:
 
50D every time imo :)

Digic 4 processor, fantastic screen on the back (and believe me, it's good), superb ISO performance, 6.3 fps, live view..........nothing else to say ;)
 
The biggest difference (IMO) between canon pro range (1 series) is the af speed, the non pro bodies come nowhere close.

I had a 40D , and while a great camera, with all the positives Grendel mentioned, I sold it and bought a 1D MKII, just to get a good af speed.

I have a 1Ds MKII, while it's an excellent landscape camera, it's not so good for wildlife, mainly because the frame rate can't match the 1D (or 50D or 40D for that matter)

The other issue, is that the 1 series weigh a ton, and heavy to cart around all day, but they are built like the proverbial outhouse, and will withstand a lot of punishment.
 
1D mark IIs for me .... if you get it and want to swap for a hardly used 40D .... let me know!

Alan
 
You might like to take a look at this thread over on POTN. Quite a few people have been picking up a second hand 1Ds2 in preference to the new 5D2. I know you're talking about the 50D but I think you'll find there's life in the old dog yet. If you need the reach that the high pixel density of the 50D gives you then your decision is made for you. However, if your glass is long enough that you don't need to perform heavy cropping I suspect the 1Ds2 will prove the better choice. Build, weatherproofing, AF performance, full frame "magic" for DOF control and IQ, and the huge 100% viewfinder should have the 50D beat.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=609078

I have the 30D, 40D, 50D and 1D3 and, while I like the 50D well enough, the 1 series body is a whole new experience. The 1Ds2 may have been replaced 15 months ago but as 1 series bodies go that does not exactly make it a dinosaur.

If you decide not to get the 1Ds2 perhaps you'd be kind enough too post the source of the camera so that someone here might take up the offer (like me :) ).
 
I'd say 1DsII everytime. I genuinely believe at the same print size, the 1Ds will offer better noise performance, it's images are sublime and its built to last a lifetime. I don't miss the frame rate either.

I've just come back from shooting 4000 images in a week in the Cairngorms in snow and shot over 3300 of them on my 1DsII with only 700 on the 1DII for the higher frame rate. Since I got mine, it is almost always my camera of choice.
 
Grendel said:
50D every time imo :)

Digic 4 processor, fantastic screen on the back (and believe me, it's good), superb ISO performance, 6.3 fps, live view..........nothing else to say ;)
Click to expand...
I guess you have never used a 1 series camera, a mk2 will blow your 50d out of the water when it comes to focusing.:D
 
This may help http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en...191|0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Canon/(brand2)/Canon

I recon with wildlife, especially if fast moving, then perhaps the focus speed would be more important? Although I can see the benefit of slightly faster fps what's the point having 6 shots in a second if they aren't in focus? lol

The ISO performance on the 1Ds Mark II is rated far higher, probably because it's full frame. I'd go for this also because the build quality will be better as stated. :)
 
Thanks for the quick replies, AF speed is important to me, I want to get those action shots! I'm not sure just how much better it is than the 50. I have thought about digic 4 processor but I am careful about buffer management anyway so maybe not too important. Frame rate is an issue, and perhaps one of the trade offs I might have to make, but 4fps isn't slow, just not as fast as others. I know the screen on the back of the 50 is great but thats not where I view my images after a shoot, I shoot raw and use the histogram more anyway. Not really too bothered about live view, maybe if i'd had it before i'd possibly miss it, but on non slr cameras I have used, I hate using the screen anyway. As for the source of the camera, its a collegue at work who is doing me a favour (or just confusing me!!)
 
Where are the AF speeds for the cameras specified ? It would be interesting to see how a 4 year old camera/cpu beats a new camera/cpu :)
 
Please can you point me in the direction of where I can get a 1Ds MkII for the same price as a 50D, I'll probably bite your bite hand off:D
 
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