Is This A Good Price For the 1Ds MKII?

[darklord]

Just wanted to report back on this deal as I went through with it. The two L lenses are in pristine condition 9.5/10 by my book and from the date codes of the lenses, they were purchased together with the 1Ds MKii. So if the lenses weren't being used much, the camera body shouldn't have been either.


The rubber parts of the camera body, however, exhibits some greyish white color rather than solid deep black. I'm not sure if it is due to aging or anything else. But the rest of the camera body is fine, shows not signs of heavy usage.


There are people interested in buying the two L lenses I got from this deal from kijiji so I'm confident the 1Ds MKii body will not cost me more than $1K, most likely less than that. So far, I have to say I'm happy to have gone through with this deal to jump into the world of full frame. Thanks everyone for the advice you've given me thus far.

[btaylor]

Good stuff!!! I think you've got a great deal there. That's excellent that you were able to inspect it in person before buying. A few scuff marks on the rubber shouldn't be unusual for a 5 year old body.


I've read profiles of pro photo photographers, and their images have really amazed me. When I read their bio I expect that they're using the latest and greatest of gear but have been surprised when they still use a 1Ds Mk II or even older. So it definately can produce the goods. Just goes to show that in the right hands the gear doesn't make the shot - not to say that the 1Ds Mk II isn't a superb camera.


Enjoy the new toy, I look forward to seeing some shots.


Ben.

[Keith B]

After much debate and lots of reviewing, I am in the market for a used 1Ds mkII as a back up/second camera. I want full frame and the 5DmkI would not really make much sense and the 1DsIII is still too expensive. 1DsII seems like it would be a great companion to a 5DII.


Good luck and enjoy your camera.

[darklord]

Oh, just found out that the 1Ds MKii doesn't have auto ISO. I blew a few shots going from indoor to outdoor without changing ISO as I'm used to having auto ISO. I guess this will force me into the habit of thinking about ISO setting before taking shots.

[JustinThyme]

Im newb here but not to several other forums.


Auto ISO isnt all its cracked up to be. Matter of fact Auto anything.


Allowing the camera to decide seldom yeilds the best exposure.

[Jon Ruyle]

Allowing the camera to decide seldom yeilds the best exposure.

But unless you shoot manual, you *are* letting the camera decide. In many situations, I'd rather choose the aperture and shutter speed and let the camera pick the iso than have the camera decide something important for me.


Of course, if you really want everything manual, then I agree, auto iso is moot

[JustinThyme]

I always shoot full manual. There is no difference from shooting M and using auto ISO or shooting P or Tv or Av. Choosing the correct ISO is the same as choosing one of the other two. The cameras metering system sees the entire area of the selected metering and uses that to calculate any of the above depending on what mode you have chosen with preference to preventing blown highlights. Problem is what if most of the frame is white? Its a guarantee you will walk away with an underexposed image, same goes for black but in reverse you will end up with an over exposed image.


I tried auto ISO on my MKIV once very briefly shooting a soccer game with clouds rolling in and out. The exposures were all over the place. Some over, some under maybe one or two out of a hundred exposed corrrectly. I tried it with every metering option and probably the best was evaluative and the worst (what I use most of the time) was spot. If everything is a constant, which it seldom is, and you get it dialed in then it will work fine but then it will never change. By the time you went to all that trouble you may as well have used full manual and not auto ISO.