Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Opinion: 1DII = 5D's chip (cropped), superb AF, 8fps,good LCD,bad JPEGs

In short: Here we are in the middle of 2010, and the 6 year old 1D Mark II is still a fantastic camera with hardly any usability drawbacks. JPEGs suck, high ISO isn't jaw dropping and it doesn't do video, but that's about it, in my opinion.

You could say the 1DII has the 5D's sensor (little cropped) with the 8.2um pixel array, but with great AF, ergonomics, short blackout time and 8fps. LCD resolution is still good (same as 1DMkIII...) - unique for a camera this old. But throw away the JPEGs!

I am a Nikon shooter (D50, shortly D80, shortly D3, now F100 & D40) but used to shoot with Canon (50E, 300D, shortly 40D). I am eyeing a Nikon D300 for its AF, but recently bought the 1DII because of the similar pro-caliber AF and because it was 60% price of a used Nikon D300 - a great deal with recently replaced shutter, no brassing and extra battery. D300 used price is still too high for my taste, and I also like to play with various cameras... I have an adapter for Nikon glass and also the Canon EF 50/1.8.

The 1D Mark II is in my opinion the oldest "old, cheap, but still great" Canon camera you can get and therefore the best bang for the buck. It's got a high resolution LCD with 230000 dots, which lets you check focus in the field. Even the Mark III's (sold new to this day) still have the same LCD resolution. The old 20D has 120000 dots only and the first prosumer Canon to get the better LCD is the 2 years newer 30D. (But then I'd maybe already get the 40D with its magnified live view etc.)

But back to the 1D Mark II. The pixel pitch is 8.2um - the same as the original 5D. I haven't seen the implications of this discussed, but I expect the pixel array to be exactly the same, and thus what you read about the 5D's image quality can be appropriated to 1DII, too. I don't think Canon did much if any tweaking to the array in the time between the two cameras' releases. If that was the case, the new tech would have gone into the 1D Mk II N in my opinion, and we all know the 1DII N's sensor is the same as the 1DII's. In the 20D to 30D transition Canon also didn't provide any sensel tweaks.

The pictures are just great. If you want to know more, read 5D reviews which there are more of than of the 1D II. That's about it for RAW image quality :) But stay away from the JPEGs! The JPG engine is doing the camera injustice. This has been reported early on e.g. by Rob Galbraith, but you have to see the difference between in-camera JPGs and Lightroom3 *automatic* rendering for yourself - then you'll understand why I'm using exclamation marks. In the light of Lightroom demosaicing, the camera JPGs are in my opinion throwaway, and if you shoot this camera in JPG, you are shooting yourself in the foot. It's astonishing how much LR3 automatic setting is better than the camera. My workflow is to shoot RAW, import into LR, apply AutoTone on everything, export into DNG with full size previews, and first then start looking and deleting non-keepers. That's extra 1 minute for 100 pictures + 3 minutes waiting for LR to finish the job to basically "get a new camera".

Couple more points:

I was worried about the user interface. I got used to it in 2 days fiddling with the camera and came to like it very much. Now I wonder how the newer 1D cameras handle and have doubts towards the new UI - similar to the doubts I had before getting the 1D II with the old UI, haha.

At the end of its life, the NiMH battery pack can be cut open and the cells replaced with off-the-shelf AA batteries, e.g. the much better Sanyo Eneloop AA's that don't self discharge.

There's a great feature called "Registered AF point", which lets you register a 'favorite' AF point somewhere in the frame. With some custom functions fiddling, you can have one button on the back of the camera initiate focus with the regularly selected point, and have another button set to tempoarily override that AF point selection and initiate focus with the "favorite" point instead. After the 2nd button is released, the AF point goes back to the regularly selected one.

The free 1Dcount utility calculates the shutter count from the EXIF codes (author's original site doesn't exist, but the 1dcount.zip can be googled). I read multiple reports that Canon service centers don't reset the shutter count when replacing shutters and that looks to be the case with my camera, too. -> Hard to tell how many actuations the camera has after shutter replacement if you buy it used. You can only estimate by invoice date or information from the seller.

Opinion: I purchased this used to replace my 20D bodies and took some time to reallly setup this camera. Once learning its abilities, I am impressed. The 1/250 sec flash sync is limiting but sensor has great image detail. Great lowlight performance as I have shot @ 3200 and had usable images for sports. At first was hesitant to use for assignments, used to my 1D bodies, but now trust the camera to bring back great work.

Opinion: Bought it usedas an upgade for my EOS 300 D. There is absolutely no comparison between the two. The 1D is simply the best camera that I have ever owned.

Opinion: A great camera, nice IQ, compared to today's standards also, and it's very fast,
autofocus and burst wise.

Possible to get it for $1800 nowadays, and it really is a nice price for a camera like
this.

Opinion: I have owned this camera since it first came out and to this day it's still a Peach!
This is the first 1D series camera I have ever owned. I have owned intermediate film
cameras, both Nikon and Canon, and I have no regrets sticking with the Canon line.
I almost bought the first 1D, but thanks to my former photojournalist classmates,
they told me to wait and save my money. I paid for it using a low interest credit
card, and finished paying for it by shooting weddings, portraits and other money
paying assignments. I could not part with it to be replaced by the 1D MkIIN or the
MkIII because it still does the job I expect it to do and it has not yet failed. Yes,
there is a learning curve involved when using this camera and yes, it is heavy. But
remember, this is a PRO CAMERA that is not for everybody. This is built for PROs
who shoot in even the most adverse conditions like: a war, football game, or any
type of sport, winter or summer, and conditions that are not as adverse but critical
as weddings and portraits. I can tell you, this MkII never let me down. I have no
focus issues or shutter issues and if the sensor gets too dirty, I take it to the Canon
service center in Irvine, CA. I'm glad I only live a few miles from the service center.

Opinion: I am now using my second copy of this camera. Had to part with first for financial reasons, but found out some weeks later that once you've driven a Ferrari... it's hard using anything else ! So I purchased another Mark II and couldn't be happier.
Having owned/shot/yried over 15 DSLR's from all manufacturers during the past 4 years, I fear not to say this is the best digital cam I have ever used. Image quality is simply magnifiscent, and the X1.3 crop factor seems for me the perfect compromise betwen full frame and AP-S sensors.
My only gripes about the Mk II would be the bulk (it doesn't go unnoticed !) and the two button operation that is a bit complex and obscure. Other than that, it's a stellar performer and a pure joy to use.
Prices are dropping due to introduction of the new model, so go get one now !

Opinion: I've been shooting with one since they first came out. My thoughts are:

Image quality: A, some complain about the skin tones but that can be fixed easily by using the PS channel mixer (add some red to the GB channels).
User Interface: D-, the UI is as unintuitive as ever. Canon really needs to revamp the 1 series, many pros feel the same way. Changing memory cards, enabling MLU, etc.. involves way too many steps
EOS System: A, this is after all what you are investing in when you buy a body. Selection of lenses, speedlites, features on lenses (ie IS, USM, etc..) are unmatched.

The bottom line for me is despite the awful UI, and let me rant here about the monstrosity that they call the battery charger, there's no competition. I love my wide angles and I love shallow DOF. Nikon has no FF camera (as of yet) so this is a no brainer for me. The 5D looks appealing with its low weight but the durability and dust issues rule it out for me.

Taking advantage of the full frame and shallow DOF with the 85mm F1.2 lens, Cuban man in Trinidad, Cuba:

http://www.tommyimages.com/Stock_Photos/Caribbean/Cuba/Life_in_Trinidad/slides/Cuba_2575-Trinidad_Donkey_Cowboy.html

http://www.tommyimages.com/Stock_Photos/Caribbean/Cuba/Life_in_Trinidad/slides/Cuba_2575-Trinidad_Donkey_Cowboy.jpg

Opinion: Sport shooter dream camera!

This (and the "N" version) is simply the best combination of speed and quality of any camera on the planet. The luminance noise at high ISO is astonishingly low, allowing ISO 3200 imaging. Focus speed and accuracy, with a fast focus lens like the 70-200mm, f2.8L, is second to none.

For sports, there is nothing better. For weddings, it's betweeen this and 2 other Canons. For general events, this is one to have.

Accurate Colors, Fastest camera made, Great Resolution, Nice Features and Settings, Rugged.

Opinion: A wildlife photographers dream. The perfect camera for wildlife and nature. Have it for about 2.5 years now and still love it.

have used it a lot for model and portrait photography as well.