correct_exposure

Well, the 1DS Mk2 may be 4 years old, but it still has features the 5D Mk 2 lacks. This is an interesting question b/c dual card slots, full weather seals, excellent exposure system and 17 mp for 2 grand is a steal.

Have fun deciding. :)

Ilkka,

I thought that too, until I changed the focus screen (35 bucks) to the high precision model. Manual focus simply snaps into place. Not sure of D700's ability to change screens.

Lex,

You are correct about Nikon primes longer than 180mm having AF-S and the Micro's. However, Canon's line of primes with ultrasonic motors is superior to Nikon's mostly screw driven models. However, if zooms are his thing, then no big deal at all.

Depends on how you use the camera, and how heavily you are invested in lenses. The IQ of the 5D is excellent for the price. The D700 has higher ISO and weather seals. If you shoot higher than ISO 3200, then the choice is Nikon. If price is an issue, the 5D and 24-70L are better than a D700 body only.

If you use primes, Canon has ultrasonic motors and Nikon does not. In fact, that's the reason I shoot with the 5D and have not upgraded to the D3 or D700. The primes are to noisy for me to deal with. On the Canon, they are smooth as silk.

Or you can just wait and see what Canon brings out that competes with the D700. These are great times for consumers. And HD movie mode will be the norm by this time next summer on Dslr's.

Elliot, you mentioned dual card slots. My next body will need to have this feature.

I hope ISO 25600 looks like 1600. I'll take one in a heartbeat. :) As for the HD movie mode... of course it's coming.

But why does Hollywood still shoot film? When we go to the movies, it's a film projector.

Tough to beat the 50 1.4 prime or Tamron 28-75 zoom for the price on a full frame body for street.

Nice site. :)

1D3 + used 1DS2 with the lenses you mentioned plus 85 1.2L and 24L.

Put the 24L on the Rebel for street shooting or for just plain light weight setup. Use it on either 1 series and you'll

have a great low light combo.

Have fun deciding!

16-35, 50 1.4 prime , 70-200 plus 1.4 TC and ext. tubes.

Keep the other lenses for your family to use and practice with. :)

Yakim,

Fair enough, it does take time to adjust to fast primes even with HP screen. That's why I recommended he shot in continous mode, firing off 3 or so quick frames with his 24-105L before purchasing another lens. The 17-55 is a very special lens in the Canon line up. I've heard nothing but positives about it.

Yakim,

A high precision focus screen is needed for fast primes. The 40D accepts HP screens. The standard focus screen is worthless for primes. Invest the 35 bucks on a screen and your primes will be awesome.

I shoot my kids without flash with a 50 1.4 on a 5D. Kids hate flash and it slows me down. I have a HP screen and I can see focus right in the viewfinder perfectly. When AF hunts, I just grab the focus ring and focus 'snaps' into place. Therefore, the 28 f1.8 is the best choice for the money b/c it has a ring USM on a 40D (with HP screen) for this post.

Just something to try for free -

Try shooting in continous mode and ai-servo with your current 24-105 at iso 800 (or 1600). Fire off 3 or more frames quicky. You may have more pics to go through, but I'm sure you'll have some keepers in the bunch and 500 in your pocket. :)

The ef-s 17-55 IS is a great lens, but IS will not help with the random movement of children.

The 24L or 35L would be great choices, but expensive. The 28 1.8 has USM and the 35 /2 is the cheapest way with

2 stops faster speed than what you have currently (and you can buy 3 months of diapers with the change :) ).

Maybe shoot in TV mode with a min of 1/125 or 1/200 and increase iso until you can reach that level of speed.

A link that compares it to a 70-200L three years ago. No sharpening was used and one can see that the DO needs it to match the L. Resoultion was equal.

http://www.pbase.com/marco/70300_do_vs_70200l_is&page=1

The 70-300 DO is a very nice lens. So miss understood. Not sure if Canon has updated it in any way, but some have said the same about the 400 prime which I would love to own one day as well.

I use DxO Optics Pro that has a module for this lens, and the results are excellent. In general, the files just need a tad more sharpening with Photoshop to give them that L quality. The lens was designed for pros and very heeled amateurs that post process that need light weight and ring usm and 300mm in one package.

Great lens, just shoot Raw and sharpen or use DxO.

Lex,

A D40/D60 with 35/2 is a great setup. It's fast, excellent IQ, small, light weight, and cheap. What cheap and slow zoom lens (even with IS) can match that? So, how can there not be a market for primes on any Dslr when they provide all those benefits and one can use there feet for zoom? Nikon needs to update their primes with all the features you mention and provide HP screens to use them.

Even with high iso, I'd rather shoot at 1600 with say a 50 f1.4 than 6400 with a heavy 24-70 f2.8 in low light, not to mention having a brighter viewfinder to go long with it. And the 50mm cost 1400 less. :)

Just read on LL that his XSI has IQ basically on the same level (with good glass) in Lightroom 2.0 as his 1DSmk3.

Has anyone else compared the two? He had to read the exif to tell them apart.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/xsi-field.shtml

Look under Image Quality section.

Does Nikon make high precision focusing screens for the D300 or D3 or any Dslr's? If not, are there 3rd party ones?

Are they easy to install? How does one check DOF with the stock screen which I assume does not work wider than

f2.8 like the Canon's? However, Canon makes HP screens.

Also, it seems as though Nikon does not want to upgrade their primes with AF-S. And with some of their newer

bodies like the D40 and D60 being fully functional with AF-S lenses, primes can only be used manually (?) with

stock screen which is problematic when it comes to precision and dof. However, I do not see any HP screens for

any of their Dslr's. Seems Nikon is pushing people towards zooms.

Am I off base in my assumptions? Yes, I do realize live-view can check dof etc. but it's slow etc..

Christopher,

With lenses f2.8 or faster, the only way to check DOF is with a high precision screen. Also, manual focus "snaps" into place beautifully with AF confirmation in mf mode (or if af hunts, just grab the focus ring).

I've used the 'hp' screen for the past year and just this week changed it out for the standard screen. I will not be using the standard screen again. I'm lost as to what's in focus and it takes forever to manual focus. I agreed with Mike about the 'no effect' on AF performance until this week with the standard screen - my lenses were hunting far more than I could remember. In fact, I was shocked.

I took some fun pics at the local library of Thomas the Train at f1.4 with the 50mm on 5D without flash and it was truly a guessing game with the standard screen as to what was in focus. When I thought he was in focus he was not. Never had this problem with the 'hp' screen. I did get a couple ok eventually.

The screen gets darker with my f5.6 lens, but I do not use that lens in low light so it's not a problem.

Here is a discussion link:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/604435/0<div></div>

Daniel,

Thx for the enlightening thread. I think we must all remember that the 35mm format is one of convenience. Digital

medium format or large format is awesome for landscapes and portraits and for large prints but it's slow. The only

thing I see left for the 35mm format is higher iso ranges with good IQ in those ranges, and faster fps. DMF has

awesome dof, iso 50 and over 50mp sensors that gather much more light than any 35mm sensor.

Nevertheless, these are exciting times for consumers. That's a good price for the 40D. Enjoy.