Buying a used camera: Canon 5D vs. 1Ds

[Randal32]

But, again, image quality is my priority.  Not build quality and tank-like construction.  If the 5D is superior to the 1Ds MkI in image quality and noise, and roughly equal to the MkII, then it would be a good choice as a tourist camera for walking around all day.
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As stated above, yes to the answer of your question.  I sold my 1DsMarkII and use the 5D instead.  The 1Ds is super slow compared to the 5D, not to mention the smaller LCD screen.

After I got rid of my Mark II I shot a 100 page coffee table book with the 5D....

[ronno]

So my questions are:

Is the 5D clearly superior to the 1Ds MkI in image quality and noise at higher ISOs like ISO 400?

Is the 5D clearly equal to the 1Ds MkII in image quality and noise at higher ISOs like ISO 400?

In his review, Reichmann argued that the 5D is equal to the MkII in image quality, and by implication, superior to the MkI.

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In my experience, the 5D is clearly better than both of the 1Ds cameras when it comes to noise at high and low ISO.

Also, the 1Ds2 and 5D are so close in resolution, that any difference you see in the final product, there is a  99.5 percent chance that what you are seeing is a difference in lighting, and a .5 percent chance that it's due to differences in "resolution."

A few informal and unscientific tests (1Ds2 on left, 5D on right, 5D upsized so they are equal in dimensions. These are 100% crops)

http://www.pbase.com/r_p/image/54400645
http://www.pbase.com/r_p/image/54400647
http://www.pbase.com/r_p/image/54400649
http://www.pbase.com/r_p/image/54442821
http://www.pbase.com/r_p/image/54442820

All IMO.
-ron

[Mark D Segal]

So my questions are:
Also, the 1Ds2 and 5D are so close in resolution, that any difference you see in the final product, there is a  99.5 percent chance that what you are seeing is a difference in lighting, and a .5 percent chance that it's due to differences in "resolution."

-ron
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The 1Ds2 has 4 milliion more pixels than the 5D, giving it about 25% more resolution. That means, setting apart the noise issue which is a separate matter, you can do more cropping of a 1Ds2 image and end up with the same output PPI in a print than you can with the 5D. However, that is not relevant to the original poster's comparison which is with the first 1Ds, where we have 11.1 MP, or about 11% less than the 5D. This small a difference is quite trivial in terms of outcomes, but there seems to be a consensus that 5D images are cleaner.

[ronno]

The 1Ds2 has 4 milliion more pixels than the 5D, giving it about 25% more resolution. That means, setting apart the noise issue which is a separate matter, you can do more cropping of a 1Ds2 image and end up with the same output PPI in a print than you can with the 5D. However, that is not relevant to the original poster's comparison which is with the first 1Ds, where we have 11.1 MP, or about 11% less than the 5D. This small a difference is quite trivial in terms of outcomes, but there seems to be a consensus that 5D images are cleaner.
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Keep in mind that I am talking about final product -- meaing prints, not pixel peeping.
I have not seen any 25% difference in resolution in any of my prints from these cameras in prints up to 5' in height. You also have to figure in the other variables like lens resolution, papers, inks, etc, etc, etc.

(Just my experience...)

[Mark D Segal]

Keep in mind that I am talking about final product -- meaing prints, not pixel peeping.
I have not seen any 25% difference in resolution in any of my prints from these cameras in prints up to 5' in height. You also have to figure in the other variables like lens resolution, papers, inks, etc, etc, etc.

(Just my experience...)
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Of course not, you wouldn't be able to measure a 25% difference of resolution from looking at a print. I was making a technically incontrovertable statement that 25% more pixels gives you 25% more flexibility to crop an image without losing resolution, implictly all else equal. I wasn't talking about the conditions in which this would be visible in a print. Again, all else equal, in principle depending on the size you want to print it, the same crop from a 5D and from a 1Ds MK11 could be visibly different on account of the resolution difference.

[marty m]

Thanks to all of you for insights and advice.  One site is claiming that the replacement for the 5D will be released this August.  He doesn't say where he obtained his info from, and from my experience the release date of Canon models is a better kept secret than classified info about the war in Iraq!  So I am a little skeptical of the report.  The 5D was announced August 2005, and the first cameras appeared at the end of that year.  So about 1.5 years ago.  

Don't know if it is therefore foolish to buy it now or not.  But probably will. Still a step up over the weight of the 1Ds and better in quality as well.

Here is the site:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/7d.htm

[Sami Kulju]

If You need a camera and wanna make pictures right now - it´s not foolish to buy one.

If You need pictures in April buy it later.

If You need good resolution and full frame in 35mm format all cameras mentioned will produce professional quality. I doubt that the printing technology for magazines and newspapers is going to change so much in next 10-15 years that we need more than 10 megapixels to fill a cover or 2-page spread.
 
If You are on BUDJET buy the one, that you think will last the longest time. And I mean that it will work and work, in all places, take all beating You may imagine, just work. And dont even think about selling a camera like that - it´s there to work with You while time goes by. That´s the best value ever.

If You need high ISO (IMHO 1Ds is good up to 640) often, buy the one that does lowlight best.

If You only compare the quality at 50-640 ISO you can pick all cameras mentioned since they all qualify for professional work.

Just my 2 cents...

sami


 

 
Don't know if it is therefore foolish to buy it now or not.  But probably will. Still a step up over the weight of the 1Ds and better in quality as well.

Here is the site:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/7d.htm
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[cdnbear]

I just wanna thank everyone who's provided valuable advice. I've decided to buy a new 5D.

Oh wait, did someone mentionned 7D? LOL

Thanks!