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  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    Dec 2003
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    New (20D) or Used (1D)???

    Hello, I'm trying to decide what would be the better choice. Used Canon 1D's (not 1Ds) are going for about the price of new 20D's. I don't know what would be the more practicle decision.
    I like action photography, so the 8fps of the 1D would be great and I feel that I would rarely make a print larger than 8x10", so the 4mp shouldn't be a problem. I really like the ruggedness and weather-resistance of the 1D. My main concern however, is that maybe this camera is becoming too "dated". For those of you really in the scene, do you feel this is the case with the 1D. Another thing that concerns me is it would be used. There are people out there that take real good care of their equipment and those who don't.
    The 20D's 5fps is still impressive, though. It is lacking to the 1D in regards to flash sync (1/500 vs 1/250, I think). It isn't weather-resistant like the 1D and the verticle grip would be an extra expense; however, it would be a new camera and definately is "dated" like the 1D may be.
    What do you guys think?

  2. #2
    Sitting in a Leaky Dingy Michael Fanelli's Avatar
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    Jan 2004
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    Re: New (20D) or Used (1D)???

    Quote Originally Posted by drifter136
    Hello, I'm trying to decide what would be the better choice. Used Canon 1D's (not 1Ds) are going for about the price of new 20D's. I don't know what would be the more practicle decision.
    I like action photography, so the 8fps of the 1D would be great and I feel that I would rarely make a print larger than 8x10", so the 4mp shouldn't be a problem. I really like the ruggedness and weather-resistance of the 1D. My main concern however, is that maybe this camera is becoming too "dated". For those of you really in the scene, do you feel this is the case with the 1D. Another thing that concerns me is it would be used. There are people out there that take real good care of their equipment and those who don't.
    The 20D's 5fps is still impressive, though. It is lacking to the 1D in regards to flash sync (1/500 vs 1/250, I think). It isn't weather-resistant like the 1D and the verticle grip would be an extra expense; however, it would be a new camera and definately is "dated" like the 1D may be.
    What do you guys think?
    I have always liked the "feel" of the Canon 1D. It's 4 MP is magnitudes better than any P&S camera as the pixels are huge. You'll do much more than a mere 8x10.

    On the other hand, the 20D has the latest whiz-bang features and it's image quality is also excellent. You will get the 1.6x factor, good for some, annoying for others.

    Both are excellent cameras. As for the condition of a used camera, no one can help you there. Some are almost new, some are used, some are abused. Do you feel lucky?
    "Every great decision creates ripples--like a huge boulder dropped in a lake. The ripples merge and rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.

  3. #3
    Erstwhile Vagabond armed with camera Lionheart's Avatar
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    Feb 2004
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    California
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    Cool Re: New (20D) or Used (1D)???

    Hi Drifter:
    I've had the 1D before, have the MkII now, and if speed is what you need, the 1D will not disappoint. It's a tank built from a chunk of magnesium alloy, can take a licking and keep on clicking. Image quality is better than other cameras in its range, but the 20D by all accounts that I've read will provide superior images. That being said, I've got a 20x30 inch poster print (it was my 9/11 tribute) from my 1D sitting in one of my dental ops that's as sharp or better than anything I've shot on 35mm from my old EOS 1V. Here it is:



    And this was cropped from a larger image

    The 5 fps on the 20D is plenty fast. My A2 and 630 both shot 5 fps, and it is more than adequate even for fast action sports (although I'd rather have 8 fps on the 1D-still don't have anything that touched my 1V's 10 fps with the dedicated NiMH pack). Just my 2 cents
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