Looking to buy a new 1d Mk2 or 1ds Mk2 but have concerns

[f1-fanatic]

I wanted to thank everyone for helping me out here.. It's a lot of money for the pro body and it's bending my brain a little. ;) I should have mentioned that I usually shoot with a 300mm f/2.8 AND a 2xTC all of this with the 10D and it's 1.6x for a total of 960mm of focal length and at times use a 400mm f/2.8. I guess I am going to have to step up to longer lenses just to get the same result if I am going to be outputting such large files. I can't be the only person doing this... I know the pros are shooting for magazine and newsprint which is very low res, but am I being unrealistic here with my expectations? I guess in the end, I need to do some renting but it's an expensive proposition.

[dogbert]

My guess is that there aren't to many poster size prints of sports being shot from this distance. You must be a long way away.

[beauh44]

I was gonna say - is getting any closer an option? Perhaps a bribe is in order to get better seats! ;-)

[beauh44]

<I>300mm f/2.8 AND a 2xTC</i><P>

 

Sorry - I should've mentioned this thought: Would it be an option to sell your 300mm f/2.8 and buy a 500mm f/4L IS? If used on a 1D2 with its 1.3x crop factor, you'd be at 650mm. Adding a 1.4x TC would give you 910mm and a 5.6 aperture. If you keep your 2x TC and use that, you'd be at 1300mm and f/8. I think you'd still have autofocus on the 1D2 and you'd also have Image Stabilization too. Even if you didn't sell your 300mm f/2.8, the 500mm f/4L IS is around $5,000 and the 1D2 is what? around $3500? About the same money as a 1Ds2 without the "Bazooka" lens. I know that 300mm f/2.8 is a great lens but so is the 500mm f/4L IS. And it sounds like it might be an option for you to have both. Good luck!

[bsd230]

I second what beau said 1dmkII with the 500mm that would be sweet.

[f1-fanatic]

Beau, I usually have media access so I am right on the track. Here is an example of what I am trying to get only with a larger file.

 

And with the 500 and a TC you loose the AF at least with the one I used a few months ago at this race I needed to manually focus.<div></div>

[f1-fanatic]

The above was shot with a 10D, a 300 f/2.8 and a 2xTC

[beauh44]

Nice shot Norman! I could be wrong but I think a 1D2 should retain autofocus up to F/8. Not all Canon bodies do though - just the expensive (Type 1) bodies like the 1V, 1D/1Ds & 1D2 & 1Ds2. So I *think* you'd still have AF using a 1D2 + 500mm f/4L IS + 2xTC. I don't own a 2X TC but I do have a 1Ds2 and the 500mm f/4L IS + 1.4x TC and I tell ya - that lens is *sharp* - even with the TC! Good luck!

[f1-fanatic]

Thanks Beau. It might be either my 10D or the older 500mm lens that I occasionally rent. But I found that I lost AF and even focus confirmation when using that lens. The photo shown below was taken with the 500mm f/4.5 (non-stabilized) lens and my 2xTC on the 10D. I had to manually focus and (because I am pretty much blind) guess if I was in focus or not. Do you know if it is possible to change the focusing screen on the 1D2 or 1Ds2?<div></div>

[beauh44]

Yes, you can change focusing screens on the 1D series cameras. I don't think that either the 10D or 20D are "1 series" cameras and thus will not autofocus past a minimum aperture of f/5.6 (I hope I'm right on that) The 1-series cameras, like the 1V, 1Dx/1Dx2's should retain AF all the way up to f/8. So it makes sense that you'd lose AF using a 10D + 2xTC + and F/4.5 lens. Also, the focusing screen on the 1Ds2 is *great*! I've only played with a 1D2 a little bit and it's a vast improvement - the focusing screen that is - over either the 10D or 20D. You can actually see what you're doing. I'm blind as a bat too!

[John Crowe]

Looks like you need two bodies, at least for now. Keep the 10D for sports until there is a 22 MP 1DsIII and in the meantime get a 5D (?) for wideangle photography and full bike side shots. Over the next 3 years you will lose a heck of a lot less money on a 5D than a 1DsII. These are tricky times.

 

 

Love the shots by the way, I have seen your folder before. The 500 with 2x defintely looks a little soft and with a loss of contrast. I got my first press pass this year for a motorcycle race and loved my new vantage points. Too bad the sun only came out for an hour!

 

 

Good luck in your decision.

[f1-fanatic]

Thanks for the advice.. I am going to do some shooting with the 1d2 & 1ds2 at the US Open. From what I hear the 5D will not have the same AF system which is what I really need here. As far as the shot above with the 500mm and softness/contrast. I had to manually focus the shot and I have really bad eyes... Not having focus confirmation I was guessing so I attribute the softness to my eyes rather than the hardware. Also, as with your first press pass, the weekend I was shooting the bikes in my folder, it pretty much rained all weekend long.

[buddro]

the 20d vrs 1ds mrk2 with the same lens with the pic cropped to meet the 1.6 zoom of the 20d the 20d image beats the 1ds i seen this in popular photography mag. i would love to have the 1ds but the speed & 1.6 factor i can't let go. i would just get the 20d and sell it later!