If You Had To Buy Today What Would You Get?

I am going to Africa in February. Let's assume I cannot get the mythical 1DMK4 in time. Let's also assume that Canon is the only choice (it is). What would you buy today.

The 50D is fast and the 1.6 crop OK, but for landscapes it is not good and the high ISO noise is an issue. It also will not AF at f8, so my 500 and 2X TC will not work well. Frame rate is good at 6 fps. It is "only" $1,200

The 5DMK2 is great at FF with good IQ and excellent high ISO noise control. However the AF is slow and it will not focus at f8. So, I would have the lack of crop factor of FF with no ability to make it up with a 2X TC on my 500. Even cropping the 22 MP will not be as good as using the proper lens TC combo to begin with. The less than 4 fps is a big negative. Price $2,700

1DMK3 certainly has had a lot of AF issues, but most say it is OK now if you set it up correctly for your style of shooting. Advantage is fast frame rate, AF at f8 and excellent IQ with excellent high ISO noise control. Price $3,700

I am coming from a 1DMK2 so the built in vertical grip of a 1 series wold be missed on the first 2. The vertical grip adds additional cost.

So, what would you do? I look forward to your input.

The Nikon D300 would be perfect for you. Blazing fast AF, fast FPS. better noise control than 50D, and reason camera size. I honestly think Nikon has pulled ahead for the last two models. For an Africa trip I'd take D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, Nikon 17-55mm f2.8, Nikon 80-400mm VR, a Canon 500D (77mm), and maybe four flash with radio triggers.

Kent in SD

And with the brand new D300s you can take video with it, too. Of course none of this Nikon advice is any good if all your lenses and stuff are Canon… But, people have been known to completely switch gear from one to the other.

Whatever you go with, have a great time and show us some photos when you're back from the trip. Be fun to look forward to in the middle of winter.

Okay, Canon folks, help Ed out!

Ed,
I'd pick the 1DmIII, it really is a fantastic camera. The superior low light af capabilities will help you shooting at dusk and dawn and when there's low contrast scene.
I have been shooting with it right from the start and while yes there where af issues, they where vastly blown up by the internet. Its easy to start blaming the af when there are other people already doing that!

Wim.

The 50D is fast and the 1.6 crop OK, but for landscapes it is not good...

This simply is not true with the excellent wide angle lenses offered for these cameras. Why do you come to this conclusion?
As far as image quality is concerned, I would much rather have a 1.6 'crop factor' than use a 2x TC regarding optimum image quality for tighter compositions.

Ed,
Glad you're going to stay with the best and not settle for less - Canon. I have the MkIII, the 5DMkII and a 40D and to me the answer to your question is very easy. Buy the 1D MarkIII. I have NEVER had focusing issues or any other issues for that matter and agree that while there were assuredly some folks with issues, much of the negative PR was gleefully blown up by brand-x shooters. As for video, who cares. I for one am sorry to see Canon and everybody else junk up DSLR's with this feature simply to stay in the race. Sorry, I'm getting carried away aren't I!!

To your question...since in your situation "reach" is going to be more important than wide angle, the MarkIII with your 500 & 2x and AF will be a beauty. On those occasions when you do want to capture a wide angle vista, the modest crop factor should not be too huge an issue. If it is, buy a 17-40 L lens zoom. They are reasonable relative to most other lenses. I do not hesitate at all to use the MkIII over the 5D2 and image quality is outstanding. I have many images from the MkIII sold at 20x30 size and they look great.

I envy you your trip. I'll make it one day. Have a ball.
John

Thanks for all the input and advice. As you can tell this is a difficult decision. FTR, I already have a MK2. I shoot with a 500 f4, 300 f4 and 100-400 along with the 1.4 X TC and 2 X TC. I also use a 17-40 and 24-105 for landscapes. My wife has a 40D and we share the lenses. So, like I stated in the OP, Canon is the only choice.

Sounds like most MK3 owners are happy now. So, this is certainly leading the pack in my decision process as of now.

As always, any additional input would be appreciated.

I've put 20,000 frames through a 1D mk3 (sports, weddings and wildlife) and have had great success with the autofocus in all situations. Among the cameras listed I think you really have the choice between the Mk3 and the 5DII.

Since you already have a 40D on the team with the 1.6 crop factor, I'd suggest the 5DII. Ton of megapixels allows you to compensate by cropping away over half the image as "magnification" and still yield a 10 Mp file, and with the sharp 300 and 500 primes you'll have great results doing that. I've done so with a the 1DsMk3 with really nice luck. Also, for those landscape images, while I'm with John (there are sweet ultrawides out there that will bring get you 16mm equivalent from a 1.6 crop sensor), a 21 Mp file at low ISO from the 5D2 and 17-40 will be a thing of beauty.

So you'd have full frame and 1.6 crop factor. And while the 5D2 certainly doesn't have the burst rate to compare with the 1D3, a person can always capture excellent images the slightly old fashioned way -- by paying close attention to the subjects and timing the shutter release. And you've got HD video with the 5D2.

One other note: Tight portraits of wild African animals may be one of your goals, in which case reach will be vital, but time and again the images that have pleased me (and also the buying public) most when I've viewed wildlife, be it from Africa or right here outside Ely, are compelling environmental images in sweet light, and reach is not going to be your challenge for those. The fang and claw portraits you get in Africa will be indistinguishable from those in an open zoo setting, while the environmental images will deliver a vital sense of place.

Anyway, good luck, and have fun wit the trip!

Sounds like a sweet opportunity coming your way. I have one of the early 1DMkIII's that supposedly had "the autofocus issue". We parted with it for a week and Canon fixed whatever was supposed to be wrong with it. The camera has never missed a beat. We're primarily wedding and portrait photographers, so the click count goes up pretty quick. It's well over 100,000 now, and still no issues. We've been real happy with the 1DMkIII (not so much the 1DMkIIN - seen a lot of Canon Service Center time).
the twin Digic processors are wicked fast. There's nothing like the sound of 10 FPS at sunrise...

If I was going to Africa with wildlife focus (assumed by your lens selection), I would definitely not forget to factor in the video capabilities of the 5D2. You could return with documentary quality footage even if you're learning video on the go.

We have all the cameras you mention and my favorite all around camera is still the Canon 1D Mark III. It's a work horse body that has yet to let me down. If I had to choose just one body it would still be the 1D Mk III. Our two Canon 5D Mark II's have been excellent so far and I consider it a blessing we get to choose bodies for a given shoot. So ya Nancy & I are spoiled but our business allows that.

Well, here is what I did. I ordered the new 7D. I like the fast frame rate and the other stuff that it comes with. I have read all the posts RE possible noise, but I have also looked at the images posted on line. I think that the 7D will serve well as an action camera. I will also order the new 1 series when it is introduced. The 40D will be sold. So, my wife and I will have 2 cameras - a 1DMK4 (or what ever it will be called) and a 7D.

Thanks for all the advice.