Opinions for Camera upgrade from 1D MKiii

What would you have?

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Ady
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Hi folks
Been thinking of upgrading my current camera (Canon 1D mk3) and would like to stay with Canon as i now have a few lens and other kit that I've built up over the years.
I would love a 1DX but I'm really not sure the extra money over other models is worth it or even enough of a difference over the 5D to justify with them both being full frame?
I like the idea of a full frame so a 5d mk3 would fit, I’ve also been reading some reviews on the new 7D mk2 which i know isn’t full frame but looks very good for the money.
So question is what would you have and why?:thinking:
1D x
5D mk3
7D mk2
Cheers Ady
 
Maybe oversimplifying but if priority is image quality or video 5D III, if priority is framerate or reach 7D II if priority is image quality, framerate and robustness 1DX. If it was me choosing I'd have a D750 though ;)
 
What do you take images of?

Had a really good conversation with a couple of guys that own the 5D MKIII plus other body's for action photography
View attachment 27899
Well photographing things like this and all said that they would use the other bodies (1D MKIV) rather than the 5D because autofocus system was quicker to lock onto the subject and slightly better tracking in low light, which I thought was very strange, as that was one of the major improvements on that camera, because it had adopted the 1DX autofocus system, but having never used the camera, can't comment on what they said.

I can't really comment, still using the 1D MKII, but I think the 1D MKIV would be my next choice as a replacement, still love the 1.3x crop. The 1DX is the pinnacle, but can you justify the cost of the body. The 5D MKIII much improved, gives you full frame and very good ISO performance, but have heard issues with its performance in low light challenging conditions on moving subjects, but again, what others have mention on their experiences and then the vastly improved 7D MKII, which certainly nails the autofocus, improved ISO capabilities over the 7D.

Which would I choose, depends what I mainly took photos of, but if I had your choice, it would be between the 5D or 7D rather than the 1D because I would rather spend the money on lenses.
 
Thanks for the reply's guys, I should of said what I mostly use it for(y)
I mostly shoot Motorcross and track based motorsport but will have a go at anything if asked.

Is full frame the way to go for image quality though with the high pixel count of the 7D? I know full frame shortens the lens but if one day I win the Lotto a selection of L series lens's are on the shopping list!
I did think about the 1D mk4 but my only reservation is buying second hand, I like to know how the camera has been treated and they still fetch good money.(y)
 
I've been fortunate enough to own the cameras mentioned in this thread so for what its worth here are my thoughts on them.

1D MkIV. Great build quality and until the release of the 5D3 and 1DX the best Canon had. Doesn't have the customisation of the other bodies and the AF, whilst faster to lock on, doesnt track as well as the 5D3 and 1DX. ISO is really limited to 2000-2500. Noisy in use. Loud enough to scare birds away.

5D3. Probably the best value for money all round camera that Canon has made for a long time. Hard to think of any downsides to it except FPS. High ISO noise is good and I was quite happy to shoot at 3200 and expect excellent results. Quiet and silent shutter is very quiet. I think its a better all round camera than the MkIV. If you crop to the same size as the MkIII you will still have more pixels in the image. I think its about 15MP for a comparable crop.

7D MkII. Just recently bought this and has taken the basis of the AF system from the 5D3 and 1DX and added a few tweaks. Pretty quiet in high speed mode and silent shutter mode is also pretty decent. High degree of customisation which I like. In fact would like to see a firmware update for the 1DX with one or two of its functions. ISO tops out realistically at 2000-2500 and from my use of it that would be pushing it. Battery life is a bit heavy. Good weather sealing. Second only to the 1DX.

1DX. As you might expect given the price this is the one to have if you can afford it. I've shot at ISO 6400 on it and still been happy with the results. At lower ISO its stunning. Not as quiet as the 7D MkII or 5D3 but quieter than the 1D MkIV. Battery life is decent and for me nothing beats the feel of an integrated body and grip. Would like a firmware update for it to incorporate one or two bits from the 7D MkII but it really is a great camera.

The 7D MkII isn't a mini 1DX and it shouldn't be expected to be given the price difference.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
 
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I'd have 1dx if I could stretch to it. It is simply better than 5d3 in every way, including better IQ. But I am not surprised if you can't pay double and get the 5. It will be fine. AF on 5d is a bit weird after 1d3. It doesn't like very fast or erratic subjects until you tweak settings over the odds. 1dx has also far cleaner shadows.
 
Moving to 5D3, 1DX or 7D MkII is a learning curve with the AF. To get the very best out of it you need to read up on it and experiment. Its better in every way than anything Canon have produced before.
 
Check out the comments about AF on the 7D2 on the thread. It still has a few foibles... I would have the 1dx if it weren't for the money and the weight of it... But love my 5d3 and will wait to see what happens with the 7d2. Don't need the frame rate at the moment. Altho I hear IQ is also excellent on the 1Dx.
 
I'm mainly sports so need the fps, I came from a 1D3 to a 1DIV, liked the 1DIV so sold the 1DIII I kept as backup and bought another 1DIV. I then bought a 5DIII after hearing all the great reports about it being as good as the 1DX etc but sold it as it didn't have the fps and it's not a 1DX although I think it would be a great wedding camera.

I now have the 1DX and the 1DIV is backup. Taking images at ISO 25,000 and having them acceptable enough to be printed in the press is something I couldn't do with the 5DIII or the 1DIV. As Gary stated above the ISO on the 1DX is great and the image quality superb but it does take a bit of experimenting and handbook reading to get the best from it.

If your budget can go to the 1DX then go for it.
 
Thanks for the info guys, I really would love a 1DX and its what I've set my mind on really, I just wasn't really sure the extra money would be worth it over a 5D mk3 but from what I'm reading I think it is.
I don't have endless amounts money but its my only hobby, I'm not a drinker or a smoker so I kind of feel I deserve it.(y)

Now the next important question is will the 1DX be updated any time soon, I've had a look around a few forums but haven't seen any mention of one as yet, I would rather wait if the next model is on its way in the very near future.;)

Cheers Ady
 
There are rumours of a 1DX MkII being announced in early 2015 but the 7D MKII was being rumoured for two years.

My own take on it is this. You can wait for another six months and then decide to buy and three months later a MkII comes out or you can buy what you want now. Whatever comes out the 1DX is and still will be a fantastic camera. Canon are not going to bring out another game changer to their line up as they did when the 1DX was introduced. What Canon need to improve is their sensor low ISO dynamic range. Yes you might see improvements to the video and perhaps a modest increase in resolution, tweaks to the AF but unless they can better or match the noise control and image quality then resolution increases are pretty pointless. It would be nice to see a competitor to the D810 but that's unlikely to be capable of 12 FPS.

The 7D MkII image quality doesn't come close to the 1DX.
 
If considering the upgrade to a 1Dx then you'll need to factor in the loss of effective focal length and the glass line-up you currently have.
 
1DX / 5D3 / 7D2 offer different things (ish)

What are you wanting that your 1D3 doesn't do ?
 
Hi Dinners
I've had the 1D 3 from new, although its a great camera I would like something that will do Video also, I also think the MK3 struggles with noise at higher ISO so would like something better in that department also.
The extra crop could be an issue but I don't plan on selling the mk3 as they aren't worth much second hand so would keep it as a back up?

Ady
 
I own both a 5d3 and a 1dx and to be honest the 5d3 is a great camera up to a point, it simply cannot compare to the low light capabilities of the 1DX. I have tried all sorts and nothing so far has even come close. Image quality at high iso is outstanding. We photograph equestrian events and the arenas can be dark and dingy places at times. The DX copes with no hassle at all and always sharp. The auto focus system is brilliant.
 
Surrey Sam said:
If considering the upgrade to a 1Dx then you'll need to factor in the loss of effective focal length and the glass line-up you currently have.
Click to expand...

Coming from a 1.3 crop Sam isn't as big a step as coming from a 1.6. Ady will still have more pixels than his MkIII if he crops back to the same field of view. I much preferred to use my 5D3 and crop than the MkIV because the AF was better. I only kept the MkIV for when I needed the FPS. I don't have the 5D any more, changed it for a 7D MkII for the crop factor ironically. But its very much a second body to my 1DX.

If Ady can afford the 1DX then I would go for it. I really cannot see anything that won't be better over his MkIII and I would venture to say that his MkIII won't see the light of day very often after using the 1DX because the 1DX blows every other Canon body away in overall image quality, AF and noise control.
 
Thanks guys, some really useful info has been posted.(y)
 
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