To buy a Canon EOS 1D Mark II or not ?

Orange_crunch

Orange_crunch

Suspended / Banned
Messages
124
Edit My Images
No
Good morning all :)
I have a 40D ( which i love) and a 600D as a second camera, I have been offered a Canon EOS 1D Mark II which has been hardly used for £300, is it worth the upgrade ? or should I save up some more cash and buy a full frame camera ?
 
The 1D Mark II is an 8mp camera. With the amount I crop my images, I would probably consider this a downgrade from the 600D. It's about 10 years old now and although it will be very well built and still perform admirably, technology has moved on significantly in that time. Personally I would save up for something more recent, but not sure what you are wanting out of it. Seems a reasonable price though and it may hold that value a while longer...
 
I still use my 1D mk11, its a good camera if you don't need to crop much or print big. I use mine as a bad weather camera, it will take anything I can throw at it and keep going. The AF is top class.
 
Brick outhouse build quality, brilliant AF (still). I have one and as above its my bad weather/conditions camera, well worth buying. Remember its a 1.3 crop so your lenses will be a little wider than on your 1.6 bodies. The chargers on eBay are expensive so you won't lose !much money even if you don't get on with the odd button arrangement.
Matt
 
I have had one for over a year now. It's a great camera. Bulletproof , weatherproof and takes good pics with the right lens.

Good for sports and larger nature shots.
 
I have a 40D and a 1D (classic) 4mb as a second camera. Because ther're such good value for money these days I've just bought a mk2n.(bigger screen) The AF is better than the 40D and, as already mentioned, it's when the weather's a bit wet that it comes out.
There's something about the feel and build quality of the 1 series that make it a joy to handle. Incidentally, i dont know why, but all my 'togger pals agree that there's a bite and edge to the images that i get from the classic (4mb) that i can't reproduce on another camera. but i'm still on a learning curve with the mk2n. I keep the classic for the 500/sec flah sync.
I can only think it's the sensor.

HTH's
 
Last edited:
I had a MkIIN up until last year (one of the shutter blades came loose! Approx £300 to fix:() I loved it! Colours were accurate, especially blacks, and great autofocus. Built like a tank, well weather-proofed and easy to handle. Only downsides were fiddly controls and low-light performance. Anything over ISO 400 introduced noise, but easily rectified in PP!

I very nearly bought another, but went for a 1D MK3 instead. Dissapointed with Mk3, and recently traded it in against a nearly new 5D MkIII...superb!

I would thoroughly recommend an Mk2N, especially as they can be picked up relatively cheaply....providing you get one with a lower shutter-count.
 
Last edited:
i had one and it was a great camera.
Considering what they cost and what they'll do, pound for pound they're amazing!
Downsides? they need a firewire cable to connect to pc, so i had to use a card reader and i couldn't change the owner info incamera, but does that affect the quality of the pics? nope!
Also, considering their age the batteries aren't great compared to newer types.
Only reason i sold it was i had an 'urge' to get a Mk III.
 
Prior to a 1D3, I had a 1D2 at the same time as a 40D

AF on the 1D2 is in a different league to the 40D and unless you're cropping heavily or printing huge I wouldn't worry about the modest pixel count.

1.3 crop is a personal thing but worth remembering that for things like small birds you will find yourself cropping more than the 40D. That said I quite like the extra width you get when used for landscapes.

Build quality is top notch and I would say it has the edge over the 40D in terms of noise at higher ISO settings.

What I would say about the 1D2 is that the controls can be a fiddle unless you use it all the time.

You probably know that whilst it's not full frame you still have to stick with full frame canon EF lenses.

Also if you use a teleconverter it's able to retain focus at f8 which can be handy depending on your lenses.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the advice :) She does have a few lenses that she selling but is unsure on make and models price etc. So will know more today when I go for the camera :)
 
I honestly think the lens situation will be key (y)

As said already, the 1D2 is still a good camera and there are some good gains for the modest price if you already have the lenses.

If you have to factor in the cost of new lenses then it becomes less of a bargain however you will of course be setting yourself up for any possible future move to a newer 1D series or full frame.
 
Wow Gutted ! someone has paid her £1000 for the body and the 2 lenses (70-200 f4L and a 28-135) :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top