Canon body upgrade- 5dmkii, 7d or 1d?

Twizzel

Twizzel

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Im currently using a 40d and have done for a couple of years now. I work at equestrian events and could really do with a pro body now as the 40d isnt fast enough and doesnt cope with low light overly well. The colours seem a bit bland too opposed to the nikon kit the other togs use :shrug:

My budget... Well there isnt one, going to have to sell my soul! But i want it to last me a good few years. So which do I choose? Need more fps than the 40D, needs to be weatherproof and cope in low light. Will probably have to buy second hand due to funds (but will ensure I know how much use the body has had before I buy it).

Any advice greatly appreciated :)
 
What lenses do you use?

I went from the 40D to the 7D and find it really good:thumbs:
 
presumably you mean the 1Dmk3 in that price range? i use one for equestrian, while i never use the FPS (keen believer in getting the shot timed right rather than spraying and praying) it will shoot what i would concider usable shots up to ISO3200, 6400 (expanded) at a push.

we've also got a 5Dmk2 but more for portrait work, wouldnt really concider it for sports as the 1D AF blows it out the water.

as above which lenses do you have as that will depend on whether the weather proofing works.
 
Twizzel said:
I mainly use a canon 70-200 2.8 for sports which is pretty much all i shoot, there is the odd occasion when i nick my dads 24-70 2.8 and i have a 10-20 but am considering selling that to fund the new body.
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is the 70-200 the IS? the IS models are the only ones that complete the weather sealing.
 
id concider a rain cover then, no point really getting a weather sealed body for that reason without a lens to complete the seals.

have a look in the sports speciality section there is a recent thread on rain covers.
 
1D - blows everything else away, its a pro camera built like a tank (weighs as much) does everything well (perhaps portraits less brilliantly than a 5D).
Battery lasts for ever, weatherproofing means you can forget rain/dust etc. (once you've bought a sealed lens :) ) Frame rate and Af nothing else matches - no question it will last for years and tough as old boots.

Matt
 
for sports it has to be the 1D. if youre shooting in really dark indoor arenas then the ISO performance of a newer body may be beneficial though. but like i say up to ISO3200 the mk3 is usable.
 
Yeah, the 1d is going to be best here. The additional weather sealing won't do any harm and the focus will be spot on for whatever you need.
 
If your soul is up for grabs, then 1D4 and the Mk2 70-200L 2.8 is current state of the art. Don't forget the lens plays a big part in the AF tracking department, as well as the body.

7D might do the job for a fraction of the cost.

If the 1D is pushing the budget, I would try and borrow/hire a 7D and see how you get on, with a Mk2 70-200. Maybe buy used 7D - you wouldn't lose much, if anything, if it didn't measure up in the most difficult situations.

From what I know about equestrian photography though, the conditions range from testing to downright impossible in poorly lit training places. There are one or two pros on here and I think they've spent a fortune on high end cameras and very fast lenses.
 
Twizzel said:
I mainly use a canon 70-200 2.8 for sports which is pretty much all i shoot, there is the odd occasion when i nick my dads 24-70 2.8 and i have a 10-20 but am considering selling that to fund the new body.
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slightly off topic but did you and your dad ever sort out which was better for equestrian photography, TV or AV? (apologies if you are the wrong member! :cuckoo:)
 
If image quality is paramount I don't think there is any competition for the 1D4, but if you are more concerned with getting the shot, a 7D is the best way to go, not to mention it makes a perfect partner for the 5D2 if you do need some quality shots that you can take a bit more time composing. Not to mention it is much cheaper!
 
Another vote for the 1D3. The 1D4 is probably better in absolute terms but for the price of a 1D4 you can get a 1D3 (used for about £1100) plus a 70-200f2.8IS mkII. The latter is a VERY nice combo. If this set-up does not work for you nothing (virtually) will.

Best of luck with your selection.
 
HoppyUK said:
From what I know about equestrian photography though, the conditions range from testing to downright impossible in poorly lit training places. There are one or two pros on here and I think they've spent a fortune on high end cameras and very fast lenses.
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borderline impossible - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=240938

when the sun comes out - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=238288

f2.8 glass is a must if youre going anywhere near indoors. IS not so as it wont help freeze action.
 
Cheers peeps, ive already got the canon 2.8 glass which i love, just got to sort the body out now. Leaning towards the 1dmk2 or 3... I now have a budget if about £1500 so will have to buy second hand... Which 1d is best for that kind of money?
 
Mk2's are getting a bit old now, although if you can find an "amateur" used one you'll have money in teh bank for if/when it goes wrong (although it might not). Mk3's were an improvement but they had some issues (I think most will have been fixed), a Mk2N would be worth looking at. Check CPS to see what body/lens you need to get a decent level of cover.
My old Mk2 is still going well, my son uses it quite heavily every now and again too (he shoots for the local paper).

Matt
 
neil_g said:
id concider a rain cover then, no point really getting a weather sealed body for that reason without a lens to complete the seals.

have a look in the sports speciality section there is a recent thread on rain covers.
Click to expand...

I am thinking about purchasing these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-OP-TECH-R...&itu=UCC&otn=6&ps=63&clkid=766315687858093808

If it's just the weather sealing you are worried about? Could be a cheaper alternative.

I got a mate who does equestrian events and he uses a 7D with a 24-70 f2.8 L most of the time. He is out in all weather and does not use anything to protect the camera or lens and it is always fine.
 
Id go for the 7d. A 5dii is going to be slower than your 40d anyway
 
slim said:
I am thinking about purchasing these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-OP-TECH-RAINSLEEVE-NEW-RAIN-COVER-SLRs-OPTECH-/120434559692?_trksid=p4340.m8&_trkparms=algo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D6%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D766315687858093808

If it's just the weather sealing you are worried about? Could be a cheaper alternative.

I got a mate who does equestrian events and he uses a 7D with a 24-70 f2.8 L most of the time. He is out in all weather and does not use anything to protect the camera or lens and it is always fine.
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Optechs suffer badly from fogging up in my experience. I use stormjackets at the moment but considering switching to think tank hydrophobia (see thread in sports speciality section).

Personally is say 24-70 would be too short for most arenas, on crop id use 70-200 but with the 1d where you lose some focal length on the different size sensor I always pick the 120-300. But i guess it depends on situation.
 
neil_g said:
Optechs suffer badly from fogging up in my experience. I use stormjackets at the moment but considering switching to think tank hydrophobia (see thread in sports speciality section).

Personally is say 24-70 would be too short for most arenas, on crop id use 70-200 but with the 1d where you lose some focal length on the different size sensor I always pick the 120-300. But i guess it depends on situation.
Click to expand...

My mate gets up close and personal, hence the short lens, the places where he goes actually allow him in the middle of the arena while the competitors are jumping.
 
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