Switching from 1Ds Mark III to 5d Mark iii thoughts?

After a long deliberation I am pulling the trigger on selling my 1Ds Mark iii and getting a 5D Mark iii. Here are my thoughts, I am interested in what people think about my rationale.

I preordered a 1Dx when it was first announced. I waiting and waited like everyone and my frustration grew, but my 1Ds Mark III still worked as great as when I got it so I wasn't in a rush. The 5D Mark iii came out and I was intrigued. Since getting the 1ds Mark III I developed shoulder issues and the lighter weight is appealling. I also don't do as much extreme weather shooting as I used to. While I photograph sports, it long distance track and field, mostly race walking. So while I would enjoy the 12 fps I don't need it. I know where and when athletes will be and have a 60 fps casio for educational purposes when I want refined sequenctial shots.

When I see samples from the 5d Mark iii they are great and the low iso quality is something I would use a lot. Having a CF card and SD vs two CF's are a wash. The two CF's would be faster but having an SD card is more convenient for quick shoots.

So the issue is what does the 1Dx get you? More fps sure, but usually I won't use it. Better ISO performance? From what I have seen beyond pixel peeping, I don't think there will be a huge real world diff with the 5D Mark iii and the improvement from the 1ds Mark III to the 5D Mark iii will be so great I don't think I will miss it. The autofocus? I know the specs say that the 1Dx will use the metering system, however Canon says they should be almost the same. I've always found the 1Ds Mark III to be great. So if the 5D exceeds that, then that should be a wash. The weather sealing? Nice, but not that necessary for me. The improved shutter? It's not that expensive to replace a shutter. I had a 1d Mark II and had to replace mine. Better durability in general? I can buy to 5D Mark III's for the price of 1Dx. Since I always carry a backup camera anyway, seems like that's a wash as well. Obviously the 5D has more megapixels. Probably not a big world world difference. My question has always been does the 1DX have less so it can pump 12 fps, if so , then I would rather have less fps and more megapixels. Finally, the buffer will be bigger in the 1dX, but I am used to the 1ds Mark III so I don't think that will kill me.

If I am switching cameras, I need to do it either a few weeks before the Olympic Trials or wait until the end of the summer because I need time to get used to the new camera.

Thoughts are welcome.
Jeff Salvage
http://www.onedressonewoman.com
http://www.greattreks.com
http://www.racewalk.com

You have done your homework. Although the 1DX will be an awesome workhorse, the 5DIII will function very well. I'm guessing that you would shoot JPEG so the 6fps would never bottom out the frame buffer, unlike with RAW the number of sequential frames is limited by the transfer speed onto the memory card. The CF cards are faster than SD. I'd certainly start with one 5DIII and prove its abilities. Worst case is that it is resold and maybe by then the 1DX will be available.

I have two 1Ds3 and a 5D2 at the moment; and never shoot videos. I thought of getting the 5D3 but no I cant replace my 1Ds3 with a 5Dseries camera... I can never connect with my 5D2 anyways.

I have briefly used a 5D3 couple times in the past few weeks, builtwise its very simliar to my 7D, no way it can replace a 1D series camera..... I might get it someday if and only if the price is substantially lower than what they are selling right now... I just dont see a point doing it. I could be wrong though!

Thanks for replying. I actually shoot RAW to the CF and JPG to the SD. This makes the SD convenient when I have to post something quickly and the RAWs are used when i need to post process or I am going to print.

If I still needed the superior body I would agree with you. However the low light performance is great with the newer bodies. So it's really a question of spending 3300 more for the 1D body and what comes along with it.
Jeff

I'm not sure the 5DMkIII would be better than your 1DsMkIII for what you are using it for. 1 fps more is really negligible.

Anywho, the easiest route would be take what you can get now, which is the 5DMkIII. You could always sell it or them later if the 1Dx turns out to be what you want to use.

The upshot to the 1DX is the files will be smaller taking up less storage, and probably just as good or better IQ wise than what the 5DMkIII produces. 18 mega pixels is nothing to sneeze at, if you're burning them off at 12 fps. It should be a considerably better sports camera.

You could always just buy one 5DMkII and keep your 1DsMkIII. If I were in your shoes, I doubt I'd get a 5DMkIII, unless I needed a backup for the Olympic trials. If the 5DMkIII turned out to be better than the 1DsMkIII, the 1DsMkII would move to the backup position.

Jeff Salvage said:

I actually shoot RAW to the CF and JPG to the SD. This makes the SD convenient when I have to post something quickly and the RAWs are used when i need to post process or I am going to print.

Click to expand...

Using the 5D3? Does that not shrink the available buffer space and hence the number of shots you can take before the buffer fills?

I tried that and ended up switching to RAW/RAW because continuous shooting slowed down after about 6 or 7 shots. Or is that not very important for you?

Just asking.

I actually ordered it today. I agree, the 1 fps isn't a big difference. To me it's the lighter weight, the low light performance, and actually for me it would be nice to capture video from time to time, although I have to admit, I am not thrilled with no auto focus. I think I am going to get the 5d mark III and then get a 1d Next after that if it turns out the 1D's are really that much better or I am dissappointed with the 5D. I will report back when I get it as to my thoughts after I use it.
Thanks everyone
Jeff

I also shot with 1Ds3's for the past 4 years. Great cams. Loved them. Sold one. I shoot studio/location about 50/50. Bought a 5D3. Like it better , for me and my work, than the trusty 1Ds3. Video is a terrific bonus, but not the main reason for the switch. Higher ISO's, higher frame rate, lighter weight and smaller size, better damped shutter and silent mode, HDR, wider auto-bracket, better AF, same or very slightly better low ISO performance, better LCD, in-viewfinder dual-plane level indicator, lower price and other better menu based features. Only things missed: secuirity of higher actuation rated shutter (who knows whether that really will matter), very very slightly bigger viewfinder size, and balancing heft when used with really big lenses; not important enough to matter. I shoot mostly static stuff: cars, people, business environments and machines, food, and occasional architecture. The only real action I shoot is of cars. I like almost everything about the 5D3 better, can't imagine going with 1Dx instead, unless it turns out that that cam is miraculous. Will get a 2nd 5D3 for backup. Would consider a higher MP Canon DSLR later, when available.

Regards,
David
--
Keep learning; share knowledge; think seriously about outcomes; seek wisdom.

I love my 1Ds III and was hoping to see what prob. Most people are realistically hoping for: 28-36 mpx, better sensor design, maybe a few tweaks in usability and obviously the addition of video. I stopped holding my breath for 16 bit RAW at over 30 mpx with a flash sync time of 1/500 sec or so. That would make my day in a big way.

Anyhow, i consider the 1Dx a bit of a letdown, and as much as I want to get enthusiastic about the c versions, I'm a still photographer and need Canon to not forget us shooting still for all sorts of usages...

I' m also shooting the 5D II since it came out, mostly as a small carry camera for scouts, lightweight backup etc., which I somewhat like but don't love ( the files are fine, thank you). For the newly occasionally video shoots its obviously brilliant.

Well, after the new 5D III was avaiilable a couple of weeks I got one ( along with the new 600 flash) and incorporate it more and more. The high ISO is amazing, the AF is on par with the Ds ( focus point ilumination needs an update) and otherwise handles very well. I like the two card slots, as every Mac book now has a SD slot, it's super practical and the new SD cards caught up in speed as well.

So, what am I missing: the solid feel, the vertical button layout ( remember when the F4 came out, a game changer for magazine photography), and the slightly higher flash sync time.

What I don't like that much: the menus got a little too big, I'm still looking for some switching options, focus screen seems slightly blurred, AF is spot on ( after calibration of course), maybe I finally need glasses, oh and the off switch, as logic as its placed I always forget to turn the camera of.

Finally, I haven't made my mind up and want to get the battery grip to see if I can work with this button layout, and if so, I might forget about the 1Ds series for a while. A bit sad, but I also truely appreciate the additional mpx of the 5D III over the 1Dx and c versions.