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1Dx Mark II

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OMMH

OMMH

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First i just want to say that writing in this forum is something I would never have thought I would ever do, I could never afford a 1D series camera. Now eight years after its release I ordered a used Mark II with around 170k actuations, it's in good condition and I'm really excited. The 1D series was an unreachable mythical beast in my early days of learning photography, I liked the look and the immense speed and ruggedness the camera projected. I know it's old and the DSLR is going away in the not so distant future but it's still a very capable camera. I have a Panasonic S1 for everyday shooting and I really love it, advanced, rugged and big. Anyway, im just here to share my excitement for this old workhorse and Im looking forward to taking it to my sons football matches, now I'm using a FD 300 2.8L with my S1 and it's great when I nail focus. I guess the 1Dx will do a better job than my eyes =)

Any tips and tricks to set it up for sports will be very much appreciated!
 
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OMMH said:
First i just want to say that writing in this forum is something I would never have thought I would ever do, I could never afford a 1D series camera. Now eight years after its release I ordered a used Mark II with around 170k actuations, it's in good condition and I'm really excited. The 1D series was an unreachable mythical beast in my early days of learning photography, I liked the look and the immense speed and ruggedness the camera projected. I know it's old and the DSLR is going away in the not so distant future but it's still a very capable camera. I have a Panasonic S1 for everyday shooting and I really love it, advanced, rugged and big. Anyway, im just here to share my excitement for this old workhorse and Im looking forward to taking it to my sons football matches, now I'm using a FD 300 2.8L with my S1 and it's great when I nail focus. I guess the 1Dx will do a better job than my eyes =)

Any tips and tricks to set it up for sports will be very much appreciated!
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First let me say congrats on getting your 1DX MK-II. You've got yourself an excellent camera, a true rugged beast which will undoubtedly serve you very well. I can actually feel your excitement. Now with regards to your possible setting for shooting sports I would simply suggest setting your 1DX MK-II in Shutter Priority/TV Mode and Auto ISO and just shoot away. Have fun and please do share your images.

Really happy for you mate.
 
OMMH said:
Any tips and tricks to set it up for sports will be very much appreciated!
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Which sports? There are a lot of them.
 
Scott Larson said:
OMMH said:
Any tips and tricks to set it up for sports will be very much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Which sports? There are a lot of them.
Click to expand...
I shoot for my sons football/soccer team and I have been using my Panasonic S1 with a canon FD 300 2.8L with great results when I do manage to nail focus. I will have somewhere between 15-25% of the images in perfect focus and I'm happy with that, it's the missed opportunities that bother me and it's to be expected with a manual focusing lens and aging eyes. The FD 300 2.8L is still a beast of a lens, supremely sharp wide open with no noticeable ca and great colors.



All shots @2.8

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Congrats on the purchase, the price has really fallen on the mark ii and its still a VERY good camera for sports usage.

My personal AF setup is single point for my primary AF-on button and another customised for 1/2000th, wide open and auto-iso with auto-AF (face detection on).

This means i have my normal point most of the time but can easily switch to the other button to quickly grab focus or if a player is alone etc.

Sensor still delivers in regards to ISO performance and general sharpness too, DR is decent too.
I shoot mine happily alongside R5 and R6ii with no issues
 
Well I fell of the wagon again. Got another 1DX II. LOL

Had 1DX and 1DX II sold both when old Canon Digital Forum was around.

Just before that forum expired.

Great camera still!!
 
While not the body I would have bought, it can certainly give the brand new R1 a run for it's money. The 14 fps will also make getting more keepers easier, if you intend on continuing with manual focus. Many years ago I had a used IDs so I do understand the desire for these true flagship cameras. I hope the 1Dx II is lighter!

Almost 20 years ago I photographed my kids' soccer with the FD 400/2.8 L on a Canon 10D. Like your FD 300/2.8 L the keeper rate was low, but still extremely effective.

If you intend to use the FD 300/2.8 L on the 1Dx II, the first thing you will need is the Canon FD EOS 1.26x Converter/Adapter. They are much more affordable now at under $300. They are very good and work effectively and you get the full focus range to infinity. It gives you about a 378mm f3.5 lens. Do not even try the cheap adapters, been there done that.

I eventually switched to autofocus for my kids' soccer and the improvement in my photographs was huge, even though the lenses were not quite as sharp. By then the kid's had gotten a lot faster too!

The best soccer lens would be a used Canon EF 100-400 L IS II, but you could do very well with either the EF 300mm f4 L, or EF 400/5.6 L at much lower used prices. The EF 300mm f4 L that I had, had no CA and the sharpness and AF were almost indistinguishable from my EF 300/2.8 L. I used to shoot with two cameras and you could do the same with a long prime on one camera and a shorter zoom on the other.

When using EF lenses for sports use AI Servo and keep the centre AF point on the subject.

Have fun and enjoy the 1Dx II.
 
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John Crowe said:
While not the body I would have bought, it can certainly give the brand new R1 a run for it's money. The 14 fps will also make getting more keepers easier, if you intend on continuing with manual focus. Many years ago I had a used IDs so I do understand the desire for these true flagship cameras. I hope the 1Dx II is lighter!

Almost 20 years ago I photographed my kids' soccer with the FD 400/2.8 L on a Canon 10D. Like your FD 300/2.8 L the keeper rate was low, but still extremely effective.

If you intend to use the FD 300/2.8 L on the 1Dx II, the first thing you will need is the Canon FD EOS 1.26x Converter/Adapter. They are much more affordable now at under $300. They are very good and work effectively and you get the full focus range to infinity. It gives you about a 378mm f3.5 lens. Do not even try the cheap adapters, been there done that.

I eventually switched to autofocus for my kids' soccer and the improvement in my photographs was huge, even though the lenses were not quite as sharp. By then the kid's had gotten a lot faster too!

The best soccer lens would be a used Canon EF 100-400 L IS II, but you could do very well with either the EF 300mm f4 L, or EF 400/5.6 L at much lower used prices. The EF 300mm f4 L that I had, had no CA and the sharpness and AF were almost indistinguishable from my EF 300/2.8 L. I used to shoot with two cameras and you could do the same with a long prime on one camera and a shorter zoom on the other.

When using EF lenses for sports use AI Servo and keep the centre AF point on the subject.

Have fun and enjoy the 1Dx II.
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I'm planing on selling my beloved FD 300 2.8L and get a used EF 300 2.8L IS, the first version. I will not attempt manual focus on a DSLR, mirrorless is superior with the EVF. My first DSLR was a 10D and I went through a 30D, 40D and finally a 5D Mark II. The 5D was exclusively used with manual lenses, Zeiss contax, Canon FD and various other manual lenses. I even shaved my 5D mirror so i could use it with all my lenses. I had a mint FD 85 1.2L converted into EF mount, I loved that lens. Back then my eyes and focusing skills were on another level compared to today. I switched out my focusing screen on my 5D to a matte one and I was good to go.

After 11 years and a multitude of cameras I'm back with Canon, i don't mind that it's not the latest and greatest, it's going to be a beast compared to manual focusing. It's amazing what canon could do with optics in the early 80s, the FD 300 2.8L is still a supremely sharp lens with great colors and no CA in almost all situations. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me, I appreciate it!

All shots @2.8

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When I sold my manual Nikon 400mm f2.8 I thought I was prepared for the risk of purchasing Canon EF lenses that are not supported. I could not resist buying the original EF 300/2.8 L for half the price of a used EF 100-400 L IS II. Then for not much more I got an EF 500/4.5 L. I am starting to have trouble with the AF on the 300 and will be taking it to my local repairmen to see if he can fix it. Crossing my fingers that the USM motor just needs cleaning.

Although the lens you are considering is ten years newer, it will also cost more than a used EF 100-400 IS II, which will be supported for a few years to come still. Image quality would be very close but you'd be giving up the separation provided by the f2.8 aperture.

I still use an FD 800mm f5.6 L for most of my motorsports photography. Over the next few months I will decide whether to sell the EF 500/4.5 L to get the EF 100-400 L IS II and a manual Nikon 600mm f4.

I have noticed that used EF supertelephoto lens prices have dropped quite a bit in the last two years.

Just consider the options and risks.
 
1D series cameras spoil you, addictive, awesome. The 1DX Mark II is hands down the best bang for the buck modern pro camera you can buy. I wouldn't trade it for a wheelbarrow full of Z9's and R1's. No way.

It's so consistent and reliable for action/BIF work I do, it's totally on it's own island. I love that camera.
 
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