5D III or 5D

[Tapeman]

[No message]

 

[Tapeman]

I am planning on upgrading my 5D II and I shoot more wildlife than anything else.

My big concern is the autofocus system, especially for BIFs. How do they compare?

I have been hearing about Canon coming out with a 5D IV for months, but doubt I'll wait too long before making a purchase.

 

[hotdog321]

I am planning on upgrading my 5D II and I shoot more wildlife than anything else.

My big concern is the autofocus system, especially for BIFs. How do they compare?

I have been hearing about Canon coming out with a 5D IV for months, but doubt I'll wait too long before making a purchase.

BIFs? Breast Implant Follow-up? Branded Iron Formation? Busan International Foreign school? That's a new one on me.

But I went from the 5D II to the 5D III and the difference was like night and day. What ripped it for me was shooting a birding assignment for the Houston Chronicle and missing easily 85% of my freakin' shots with the 5D II. The 5D III, on the other hand, is one of the finest all-round cameras ever made and nails focus like crazy.

I don't own the 5DSR, but from all I've read it is a wonderful camera and the focusing is quite similar to the 5D III, though the file sizes are much larger than I need.

As for the mythical 5D IV, it hasn't even been announced yet and will definitely NOT come out before the 1DX II. No one knows anything about the 5D IV--capabilities, price, specs, sale date, possible catastrophic problems (like the 1D III autofocus issue).

So, I'd advise a 5D III unless you really like big files for cropping, which might be a plus for wildlife.

 

[gipper51]

As hotdog said, nobody knows when and what a mythical 5D4 will be. Even if announced tomorrow, it will be a few months before you get your hands on one.

The 5D3 will be excellent for what you want to do. I'd say pick one up via the B&H/Adorama printer bundle deals for $2150 after rebate. When the 5D4 is announced then decide if you must have one, you can sell the 5D3 and probably only lose a few hundred $$. Consider that the rental fee for the next 6+ months

There are people using the 5DS for birding, but for the same money I'd rather have a 5D3 and a 7D2 (if bought with printer rebate bundles). A 7D2 is basically the same as cropping the 5DS to the APS-C sensor size, but with 10fps and higher ISO as a bonus.

 

[hesbehindyou]

There are people using the 5DS for birding, but for the same money I'd rather have a 5D3 and a 7D2 (if bought with printer rebate bundles). A 7D2 is basically the same as cropping the 5DS to the APS-C sensor size, but with 10fps and higher ISO as a bonus.

+1.

 

[hesbehindyou]

Tapeman wrote:
My big concern is the autofocus system, especially for BIFs. How do they compare?

BIFs? Breast Implant Follow-up? Branded Iron Formation? Busan International Foreign school? That's a new one on me.

You can't have been here long!

BIF = Bird in Flight. It's so commonly used on this forum your question is akin to asking what the 'mk' stands for when someone types 5D mkIII and acting all surprised when you're told it's 'Mark'.

 

[hotdog321]

Tapeman wrote:
My big concern is the autofocus system, especially for BIFs. How do they compare?

BIFs? Breast Implant Follow-up? Branded Iron Formation? Busan International Foreign school? That's a new one on me.

You can't have been here long!

BIF = Bird in Flight. It's so commonly used on this forum your question is akin to asking what the 'mk' stands for when someone types 5D mkIII and acting all surprised when you're told it's 'Mark'.

Thanks! I only shot birds once, and that was on assignment.

 

[expro]

Frankly most of this is rubbish advise.

canon choice is 20mp with 10fpS, good AF, medium iso

or 22mp with 6fps, better AF, better ISO

or 50mp with 5fps, maybe as good AF (jury is out), medium ISO.

decide which you need.

 

[gipper51]

decide which you need.

Frankly, if deciding what you need were always that easy, gear forums like this would have no reason to exist.

 

[Dave Seeley]

The 5diii autofocus will blow away the 5dii... I haven't noticed a difference between the 5diii and the 5dsr... and the extra pixels might be great for birding, as you often need to crop significantly.

 

[expro]

Must be why there are such poor answers then

and so few now....

 

[bhollis]

I am planning on upgrading my 5D II and I shoot more wildlife than anything else.

My big concern is the autofocus system, especially for BIFs. How do they compare?

I have been hearing about Canon coming out with a 5D IV for months, but doubt I'll wait too long before making a purchase.

If your primary use for your new camera is wildlife and BIF, I'd recommend you seriously consider the 7DII.

 

[gipper51]

Must be why there are such poor answers then

and so few now....

Guess we can add your quality response of "decide for yourself" to that list? Contribute nothing and criticize those that offer suggestions...nice.

I'll stop at that.

 

[Tapeman]

I want a full frame to use along with my 1D IV.

Autofocus has to be top notch, my 5D II is not too good in that regard.(Other than center point.)

 

[Old Greenlander]

Tapeman

I think you need something else for BIF (did you tell us a budget?)

I found that the real speed is about half of that they advertise ( if is listed 5 fps you get about 3 fps)

My 7DII is listed at 10 fps and takes about 5pfs (with 100-400 MKII)

5D3 autofocus is far more precise than that of 7DII (it costs twice) (btw, I have them both) but IMO is too slow for BIF. (2-3 real fps)

Didn't try 5DSR.

Old Greenlander

 

[Steve W]

I want a full frame to use along with my 1D IV.

Autofocus has to be top notch, my 5D II is not too good in that regard.(Other than center point.)

I you have a 1D IV then IMO it depends what you want to shoot. The 5DIII is still a great camera with great AF. Also you don't really need a fast FPS camera since you have the 1D IV.

You can also get a good price on a used 5DIII if your willing to buy used.

 

[Tapeman]

I am still leaning toward a 5D III. I feel it would compliment my 1D4. However I want to get a body that suits my style of shooting, hence my research.

 

[Graham Meale]

When the 5DIII came out, most of the improvements over the 5DII were incremental. But the improvement in the autofocus was a quantum leap. It was the Achilles heel of the II, but quite possibly Canon's best autofocus in the III. I'd never have attempted BIFs with the II, but have some good ones almost by accident with the III. (I say "almost by accident' because birding is not one of my interests — there have just been a few occasions in my travels.) I can't imagine there'll be much if any improvement in the autofocus in the IV when it's released, simply because it's so good in the III.

 

[ImageAmateur]

Might want to wait a couple of months. ;-)

Or if you need to save money, the 5DIII is a great deal now.

--
Wishing You Good Light.