5D? - 1D - 1Ds

Can someone help me to but the best camera for my needs!! I have decided to upgrade my 20D, i would like more pixels and the opportunity for full frame, but my photography is mainly wildlife and action so i need a good fps burst, the three models i am looking all miss one thing or the other, i have read reviews on all these cameras and obviously the 1Ds Mkll is the ultimate camera but the 5D is said to have a bigger buffer than the 20D (which offers 5fps) and the 3fps the 5D offers has been quite sufficient in tests and this camera is half the price. The 1D MkllN has 8fps but doesnt have a full frame (i think thats right about the full frame) i am just looking for advice and some guidance on this before i make a final decision.

The 1DmkIIN has 1.3 crop factor, and a machine gun burst of speed !
The 1DS has the resolution and when using AI Servo seems not much slower than the 20D because the 20D doesn't seem to get up to full speed while autofocussing.

My 1DSmkII has a much noisier shutter than the 1DmkIIN, after the clunk and mirror slap there is a whirr as the whutter is re-cocked that's missing from the mkIIN.
If you are stalking your wildlife it might make a difference, or require some muffling.
Does the 5D sound the same ?.

I don't think you will appreciate 3fps after coming from 5fps. Don't get the 5D.

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Originally Posted by SmartWombat

The 1DmkIIN has 1.3 crop factor, and a machine gun burst of speed !
The 1DS has the resolution and when using AI Servo seems not much slower than the 20D because the 20D doesn't seem to get up to full speed while autofocussing.

My 1DSmkII has a much noisier shutter than the 1DmkIIN, after the clunk and mirror slap there is a whirr as the whutter is re-cocked that's missing from the mkIIN.
If you are stalking your wildlife it might make a difference, or require some muffling.
Does the 5D sound the same ?.

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Thanks Paul for your help it was in fact a 5D field report from Luminous Landscapes site that you gave me to look at last time i was checking this out, it says there that the shutter/mirror lock noise is more "Thunky" than the 20D,s "Clanky" sound? in otherwords more robust sounding. But il admit i have'nt tried this camera myself. Im beginning to be a little bias to the 1DmkllN for my photography preference (re the 8fps) but the resolution of the 1DS would be great.

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Originally Posted by manacsa

I don't think you will appreciate 3fps after coming from 5fps. Don't get the 5D.

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Thanks Manacsa appreciate feedback.

Bev, Arthur Morris(world renouned bird photog) has all but hung up ALL his 1DmkIIn's in favor of the 1DsMKII due to the fact that even cropped to the same perspective of a 1DmkII file, the 1DsMKII has more resolution.

Honestly, I hardly use the 8fps in the 1D and use 3fps usually.

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Originally Posted by paulnj

Honestly, I hardly use the 8fps in the 1D and use 3fps usually.

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Wow, then excuse my last post. I was using a Canon A2 that had 5fps. When I went to digital with a DREBEL, I only had 2.5 fps. I felt I was missing out on a lot of potential moments when shooting "photojournalistic" or shooting wild children :D

This is one of the reasons a picked up the 30D in less than 6 months after buying the DREBEL. I wanted 5fps again. Fortunately, I can choose between 3 or 5 fps on the 30D.

If Paul says 3fps is enough then that says a lot.

Well , If I had 5fps as I choice that would be PERFECT. Until you blow 35 frames in 4 seconds like a machinegun(which would be about 600mb on a 1DmkII Raw+jpeg fine), you won't understand why I personally don't use it much.

N

Well , If I had 5fps as I choice that would be PERFECT. Until you blow 35 frames in 5 seconds like a machinegun(which would be about 600mb on a 1DmkII Raw+jpeg fine), you won't understand why I personally don't use it much. Now that I just picked up a 2G card I may just use the 8FPS more . I was working with 2G total in the past.

Now on birds in flight or fast paced sports, 8FPS would be a plus at times :wink:, but neither are my main subjects. I shoot wildlife on the go mostly.

For Bev I personally wouldn't suggest a 5D because of the buffer. If she can swing it... get the 4FPS IDs MKII and for the times she wants a faster shutter/lighter camera use the 20D. But obviously a 1DmkIIn with give you the option to blast away at will on birds in flight and have a very impressive buffer ;)

Thanks Paulnj for all your advise i do like photographing fast moving subjects as you are aware, ie birds in flight and also i photograph peoples dogs at shows, over jumps, running free etc so i am more swayed to having more fps, how is the image quality on the 1DMkllN? will it be the same as my 20D having the same 8.2 pixels?

you guys have opened up another book on all the other technical advise going with these camera's and alot of this is important stuff, although quite baffling to me, but having to spend quite alot of money on my second camera i have got to get this choice right.

Well Bev, I am shooting an original 1D and get files that suit my needs fine. The MKII 's have a better sensor than the 20D , track better and give you far better control(45 AF sensors that can all be active at once). Once you get used to a 1D, you will never look back (unless weight is an issue). Also the 1D is weather proof and much more durable.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/1dm2n.html

Thanks for the link Paulnj but i have already read Steveforums reviews on these models, i dont think i can read anymore reviews!!! but joking aside, reviews, yourself, and others here have taught me lots, and after a lot of thought i have chosen the 1D MkllN,(im praying its the right choice) i think it will surpass my needs photographing wildlife, and looking at picture samples from it, i have no quibbles regarding quality, plus although i could just manage financially to get the 1Ds it would leave me nothing at all towards another L series telephoto lense i might want in the future, so i am rather excited as camera due on Monday!! so once again thanks for your guidance and advice.

I assure you the MKIIN will suit your needs and open up a door to flight shots you never imagined. The only place you will notice a difference is in the wider field of view the MKIIN will give you compared to the 20D. That can be solved with a 300f2.8 L IS though :wink: which BTW is one of the few lenses PROS use for flight shots.

Bev, glad you made a choice.
You'll like the bigger, brighter viewfinder too.
Even with my eyesight I can manual focus the 1DmkIIN

I disagree on the need for burst speed though.
Unless it's for the grab shots as the bird you absolutely must get flies away :)
Far better to get your timing right for that one perfect shot.

missed you making your decision...congratulations! the 1DmkIIN is a great camera and if I were forced to use Canon I would pick that one without question. the 1.3 crop is nice, has good AF and all that, plus its built very well. Speed rules :)

Thanks everyone for all your help and guidance, i have now got my new 1D MkllN and am slowly getting to grips with it ( I thought my 20D was scary).

I am thrilled with it so far, i only hope i can give it justice!