If you had a choice... 40D, 1D or 1Ds?

[stewart_randall]

It' time to upgrade my second camera but I can decide on which Canon will be the best replacement.

 

At weddings in the past I have carried a large camera bag which I have found to be too restrictive. The

plan for this year to gain a little more freedom when photographing weddings by carrying only the

essential equipment in the excellent Boda lens bag, whilst carrying my cameras on the shoulder.

 

I shot mainly with a Canon 5D but my second camera, the 20D is no showing it's age a little and with a

large number of shutter cycles it's time I replaced it. Question is with what.

 

My first thought was the 1D Mark III. It's a pro camera so is clearly built for the job - being tough and

durable. It has all the great features that I'm looking for which includes sensor cleaning and low noise at

high ISOs. But it's heavy - or is it?

 

Then I thought the 1Ds Mark III could be good as it's an investment in the future and will also give extra

detail for tight cropping if necessary. But it's very expensive and the large file sizes will increase my

storage requirements and will probably slow down the whole post production digital workflow.

 

My latest thought is with the Canon 40D. Sure, there will probably be guests at the wedding with the

same camera (which doesn't bother me), but it's light, fast and it also has many of the features included on

the bigger 1D brother - and it's much cheaper.

 

Does anyone have experience using either the 1D or 1Ds Mark III at weddings and can they comment on

the weight and suitability?

 

Does anyone use a 40D for wedding work and again can you comment on the weight and suitability?

[JosvanEekelen]

Why don't you consider a 2nd 5D or wait for the 5DII? If the 20D fails you can probably replace it at short notice. Since the 40D is an upgrade for the upgrade of the 20D you can answer your own question. If the 20D sufficed as a 2nd body the 40D will do so as well.

[candice]

The mark III has been recalled twice already. I would hold off on that one. I have a Mark II and I love it. But I use the 5d way more.

[tony_hoffer]

I'm assuming you want the reach from a body with a crop factor. If so, the 40D is a good

option for a second body. The image quality is good, may not match your 5D, but for the

price, its a good option.

[paul_sokal___dallas__tx]

I'm a Nikon shooter (D3 and D300 now) and really like having a FF camera for wide shots and a DX camera for long shots. I did own a Mark III and shot one wedding with it (trying to decide if I wanted to jump ship-this was before Nikon released their new bodies). It was nice but not enough to make me leave Nikon. I sold it and learned it died 2 weeks later. So I agree with Candie, I'd stay away from the Marl III until they really get the bugs out. I think the 40D is your answer. Looks like a great camera on paper (haven't handles one) and a good value.

 

Paul

[jmichaelc]

In reply to:

 

"the 20D is now showing it's age a little and with a large number of shutter cycles it's time I replaced it. Question is with what"

 

 

Really? Have you ever thought about just waiting for the shutter blades to fail and simply have them replaced? One of my 1DMIIN's failed last year and canon charged me $198 to replace them and had the system back to me withen 1.5 weeks.

 

These canon cameras last a lot longer than you think. I've got the D30, 10D, and two 1DMIIN's. The only camera i purchased used was the D30 and, at the time, it had approx 75K shutter releases on it. I still use the D30 and have, i know, put at least 75K photos with it myself. It's still going strong to this day. Don't let shutter count scare you. When they go bad, simply invest $200-300 to have them replaced.

 

For weddings, the system used will depend on the operator demands. Some folks use their equipment in a rugged fashion and some folks use their systems as if they are infant babies, taking care with every carry/hold. If you are the later, and IF you must have a replacement/backup, then i would suggest the 40D or 5D. If you are like I and want a system that you can absolutly touture in the field without all the worries and headaches then the 1D series is the choice.

 

I've almost eliminated bags altogeather. Nice pants with large hip and thigh pockets have become my best friend and is ideal for all those primes for quick draw shooting :)

 

All of them these days have plenty of speed in terms of bursts and proecessing (for weddings) so IMO that should not be the determining factor.

 

Are they heavy (1D series)? After a 10 hour day You bet....but i've seen tiny gals lug this machine around all day just fine.

[schnellimages]

Stewart,

I think Micheal may have a point about simply replacing the blades. However, you may also want the up to date features of the newer cameras. I have a 1D MkII and love it to death. I did just buy a 40D from a friend as an updated 2nd. I like many of the features (the huge screen on the back is nice), but doubt I would ever use it as my primary camera - at least at this point. I have played around a little with the MkIII and it is significantly lighter than the MkII, but the recalls would cause me some concern as well. The 5D has amazingly clean files, and is really my next choice.

 

Bob

[conraderb]

Stewart - I used to use 2 20D bodies, and now use 2 40D bodies, all with grips.

 

Weight with grip is fine, even better without.

 

The 40D handles noticeably faster than the 20D. Larger buffer, better autofocus, significantly quieter shutter, slightly brighter and bigger viewfinder all make it a good choice. Not to mention all the more 'consumer' features like 10mp sensor and 3" screen. When I bought my first 20D, I actually enjoyed shooting a wedding. When I bought the 40D bodies, I REALLY enjoyed shooting a wedding.

 

I personally haven't been able to achieve a clean ISO 3200 yet, but ISO 1600 is great with the noise reduction on. the 1600 files on my 20D were a bit too noisy for my taste.

 

I have used 1d Mark 2 bodies in the past, and they are wonderfully responsive. however, at 2x-4x the price, I don't think that it is worth it at this point. they focus quickly, yes, but the 20D and 40D are pretty fast too :-)

 

I agree with above posters re: mark 3. Wait for all issues to be resolved. buy a used mark 2 if you can - I don't think anyone every complained about those...

 

finally, remember that only the XXD line can accept a great workhorse lens like the 17-55 IS EF-S...there is no standard, 2.8 zoom IS lens in the full frame canon lens lineup.

[conraderb]

I also agree about replacing the shutter. after something like 100k cycles, both of my 20D bodies pooped out on me. it's not too expensive to just replace the shutter...

[picturesque]

My choice would be to keep the 20D. I still have mine as second camera to my 5D. It still works fine with over 100K cycles. Image quality is still great. I'm sure the 40D is nicer but so far not that much nicer to make me buy it when the 20D still works OK. If the shutter goes on my 20D, I plan to have it replaced.

[wedding-photography-denver]

Considering your situation, keep the 20d till it fall apart unless you just like new gear to play with. When the shutter fails replace it. Mean while get another as your backup body.

 

OTOH, the 40d is a great camera to get with the 5D.

[William Michael]

I equipped the studio kits with 5D + 30D, both with grips, (prior to 40D availability).

 

I now use my own 20D and 5D, both with grips and carry both on me: for me the weight is no issue.

 

I must assume that your undisclosed lens cache, at a minimum, fits a dual format kit: APS-C / 135.

 

Thus the all up better decision is to buy a 40D.

 

This opinion is based both in terms of Business (economics / cash flow) and the fit to the existing Camera Kit (maximum redundancy and flexibility).

 

However, whilst others have suggested keeping the 20D until necessary to upgrade, (i.e. until the 20 dies), IMO it would be better, if the finances are there to buy a 40D do it, and relegate the 20D (with a lens on it) to the camera bag.

 

IMO, three bodies (in total) is the answer: but I am belts and braces at a Wedding.

 

WW

[stewart_randall]

Thanks to everyone. Most helpful and interesting views.

 

Much appreciated.

[fotografz]

Stewart, assuming you have the funds to invest, that you could use more speed, and that

you are keeping the full frame 5D, my advice would be the 1DMKIII ... the new ones are

shipping with the adjustments already made (not that having an older one adjusted was a

big deal since Canon provided overnight shipping and fixed it in 3 days.) The Servo focus

issues that were happening had absolutely no effect on any shots I did at 20 weddings ...

but I had the fix done anyway.

 

Weight is considerably reduced from previous 1D cameras and the battery is 1.2 the size. I

use a hand strap rather than a shoulder strap and let the camera hang at my side when

not shooting. Also use a Boda lens bag with a couple of lenses and a spare flash.

 

The reason for the reco is the weather sealing, tough pro-level build quality, dual card

slot that now can shoot to two 8 gig cards simultaneously ... which means you can pretty

much confidently shoot a whole wedding without changing cards. The AF sensor array are

the more sensitive cross type which allows swift off center focusing in lower light. Live-

view feature allows overhead shots that used to be guess work.

 

This camera is the fastest Canon in every respect. It's a 14 bit, high ISO camera the equal

to the 12 bit 5D ... only much, much faster. Your 5D and 20D are a pair of turtles

compared to the 1DMKIII.

 

Waiting until the 20D dies is bad advice IMO ... depending, of course, on when it dies ... at

home in bed ... or just as you go to shoot the Bride being escorted down the aisle by her

dad : -)

[robbie_caswell]

I duplicate all bodies. For me, even minor control (dis)functions between different models trump any technical advancement. Makes life easier.

 

Sold both 5D bodies and replaced them with 40D bodies. Doubt I will ever need another camera.

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Get another 5D, a 40D would be a similar price anyway and you get a camera which works EXACTLY the same with your lenses. Let's say your 5D dies mid wedding and you need the focal length of your 16-35. You're screwed unless you bought the 10-22EFS by which time you might as well have bought the 5D!

 

Personally I think that having a backup with a different crop factor is not a good idea at all unless you have already have the lenses to entirely replicate the focal length and DOF that you know you need for your brand of wedding photography, on a crop camera. I could add image quality to that list but the 40D should be close enough to the 5D to not show a difference. I recently bought a 20D as a 3rd backup to my two 5D's but I know that once I'm that far down the backup line I'm desperately trying to get the job done at all under huge pressure and care less about getting everything 'just as good'! Evenso with my primes I'm lacking little in being able to replicate the DOF of FF even with the crop camera. Only problem is that now with a third backup camera and a third backup flash I've run out of space in my camera case!

[cjogo]

Although mainly still shooting film ...when digital calls ~~ the 20d is more than enough the tool. It never was the camera , that made the image ...for us. We still shoot weddings with a EOS A2.

[wedding-photography-denver]

"Waiting until the 20D dies is bad advice IMO ... depending, of course, on when it dies ... at home in bed ... or just as you go to shoot the Bride being escorted down the aisle by her dad : -)"

 

Oops, I didn't say what I meant too well did I?.

 

I mean for you to keep the current 20d as a backup body and get another to be a second.

 

Thinking about how I shoot, the 5d x2 would be a great choice.

 

I don't like the 1D series (had several) purely for reasons of weight (I just had the d3 for a while too, and ended up selling it for that reason), but YMMV. So, If you don't mind the weight, the 1d3 would be great for the dual card slots and focus abilities compared to the 5D. Iso is about the same, though I still like the 5d's files better.

 

Thanks for the catch Marc.