Help Wanted -- 5D Mark II or 1D Mark IV?

[Brendan7]

but for me the upgrade was not worth the expense. I have the grip and extra batteries for the 50D. By the time I add those to a 7D it makes it more expensive in an apples-to-apples comparison. In my real world shooting, I do not feel that I would see enough of a difference to justify the cost of a minor upgrade to me.

I wouldn't call upgrading from a 50d to a 7d a minor upgrade. As peety3 said, "the 7d is light years ahead of the xxd bodies". Much better build, much better viewfinder, much better high ISO performance (1600 is actually USABLE!), much better AF, much better weather sealing, much better sharpness. Not a minor upgrade.

The 40D to 50D question some had when the 50D came out.

The 40D and 50D are almost the same camera. The 7D is nothing like the 40d or 50d. It's in a different class and costs $700 more for a reason.


However, I will notice you said it was a minor upgrade "for you" so I might think that you could sell your 50d and buy a 1D4. It might not be quite as good as a 5D2 at lowlight and high ISO photography, but it'll certainly handily outperform your 50d until a 5D2 (or 5D3) is a possible buy.


my 2¢

[mikehillman89]

Are you located in Canada?

[Chris White]

Are you located in Canada?
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No, close though, Buffalo, NY

[Brendan7]

And BTW, the 7D DOES do 95% of what the 1D4 does. It's all about how important that 5% is to you (are you going to dump your camera in frozen seawater, do you need 10fps instead of 8fps, etc).

[Chris White]

And BTW, the 7D DOES do 95% of what the 1D4 does. It's all about how important that 5% is to you (are you going to dump your camera in frozen seawater, do you need 10fps instead of 8fps, etc).
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Point taken Brendan. As nice as weather sealing is, I am either inside or out in good weather. In addition the 6+fps of my 50D was one of the things that was not worth the jump to the 7D, to me. I realize the difference to the 1D MkIV is $3000, and it is the 5% I am considering.


As it stands now I am always the father with the best camera. Sometimes, I have a better camera than the pro selling the photo package, like at my daughter's dance studio. I walked in to take some photos of the girls in their show costumes with my 50D/24-70 L and the hired-by-the-studio pro had a T1i/tamron. I realize good images can be made from this combination, but until I am using a 1 series I think the guy selling the photos should have gear at or better than mine. BTW, I made a quick photo shop image of my daughter and her friend with the group in between and printed a 8x10 for each of the girls and the quality of mine is better than his. And that is not just my opinion, it is my daughter's friends mother's.


Chris

[Brendan7]

I realize the difference to the 1D MkIV is $3000, and it is the 5% I am considering.

That's a heck of a lot of premium for 2fps and a bulkier body. Also remember, you could buy some serious glass for $3000!!!

As nice as weather sealing is, I am either inside or out in good weather. In addition the 6+fps of my 50D was one of the things that was not worth the jump to the 7D, to me.

I just mentioned weather sealing b/c many people buy 1D bodies for ruggedness. I just mentioned that the xD bodies share some of those qualities. If you want the 1D4, go for it! It's a superb camera and when you're debating between the 5D2, 1D4 and 7D you just can't go wrong. But I can tell you for a fact that the 7D is a major step up from the 50d. Nate upgraded his 40d to a 7D, maybe he could explain. Or peety3. Where are you??? (owns a 1D3, a 40d and several 7Ds).

walked in to take some photos of the girls in their show costumes with my 50D/24-70 L and the hired-by-the-studio pro had a T1i/tamron.

Wow. That's never happened to me. We hired a pro before I got a DSLR and he brought two Nikon D3X bodies with adjoining expensive nikkor lenses.

[crosbyharbison]

The quality of the 1D series isunsurpassed. The viewfinder, thecompact flashdoor, the battery, the grip, everything is amazing about it. I go for that. Besides, everyone has a 5d or 7d these days; don't you want to feel special?

[Chris White]

don't you want to feel special?

Who doesn't?


I know these are both great options, that is why I am looking for experienced advice. I doubt anyone with either body regrets having purchased it.


Chris

[Keith B]

I say get the 5DmkII and hang onto the 50D.


The 5DII will work really well, especially with that 24-70. It's AF isn't the greatest but once you are use to it's slight short comings you won't really notice them. The frames per second blow but that isn't what this camera is made for.


The upgrade from a 40D (probably the 50D too) to the 7D is huge. The AF system is way more sophisticated. If you shoot in Servo a lot I'd recommend the 7D even from the 50D. Even the jump from 6+ frames to 8 is huge. I didn't think it would be that big of a difference, but it is.

[Chris White]

That's a heck of a lot of premium for 2fps and a bulkier body. Also remember, you could buy some serious glass for $3000!!!

What can I say, I like bulk. My grip never leaves the 50D. I do have some nice glass, but we all always want more...

I just mentioned weather sealing b/c many people buy 1D bodies for ruggedness. I just mentioned that the xD bodies share some of those qualities. If you want the 1D4, go for it! It's a superb camera and when you're debating between the 5D2, 1D4 and 7D you just can't go wrong. But I can tell you for a fact that the 7D is a major step up from the 50d. Nate upgraded his 40d to a 7D, maybe he could explain. Or peety3. Where are you??? (owns a 1D3, a 40d and several 7Ds).

I must admit the ruggedness is one of the things that appeals to me. I further realize that I am sifting through some great camera bodies. I think that the 50D to the 7D is like the 40D to 50D upgrade, nice but not as great a step as the 40D to the 7D. The 7D takes the 50D and raises the bar still higher. I remember when I got my 50D there was question if the price justified the upgrade from the 40D. I am looking for their thoughts as well. It is a work day, I was just lucky enough to get off.

Wow. That's never happened to me. We hired a pro before I got a DSLR and he brought two Nikon D3X bodies with adjoining expensive nikkor lenses.

I was certainly surprised. This was not just a family friend, it was a legitimate business. Needless to say, I killed my order. And now that I have seen his pictures and mine -- 'good choice'. Which makes a point I may not have emphasized enough, I take great images with what I currently have. I am just mulling around if they could be better and at what cost. Photography has once again become my vice/addiction. It could be much worse.


Chris