Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

nielglass

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Better than you could possibly expect in a camera. I am interested in absolute image quality [AIQ] and am constantly pushing the boundaries using the best possible lenses and aiming to achieve the most accurate exposure overall. Used Nikon & Kodak but when I moved to the 1ds mark 2 I found the camera that gives me the best results under all conditions. Noise is negligable and I am amazed that canon even bothered to release a mark 3 with such a marginal improvement in specifications. Use your eyes and you can see that the mark 2 produces better results. I will wait until Canon offer a lot more before considering looking at a different camera. Recently I took a picture on Sydney harbour [on a moving vessel] of the opera house with a ferry moving at speed in front of the lower wall. I was using one of my lesser lenses the 24-105L series zoom for convenience. Took the image at ISO 250 at 1/640 f13. When I blew it up to A2 and took it in for framing you should have seen the crowd looking at the image! Sharp, clear & superb tonal smoothness and colour balance. No one had seen an image as sharp with so many details. Combine it with the right lenses and you will win every time.

Strengths:
Awesome battery life. Excellent image quality out of the camera. Sharper images from the camera than the mark3 version. Excellent balance in hand. fast responsive shutter and superb images. The only area where the mark 2 is inferior to the mark three is in the rear display however the rear displays can be misleading as is illustrated in the M80 display. If you're genuinly chasing image quality and willing to get decent glass.... get the mark 2!

Weaknesses:
It is a heavy camera and you'll notice the weight. The size does draw some attention. You need to have the sensor cleaned twice a year.... but what a sensor!

Similar Products Used:
Canon 1d mark 3 & mark 3. Canon 1ds mark 3, Nikon D2x, Nikon D100 & Kodak 14n [the most unforgiving beast anywhere!]

Customer Service:
Only needed to use online services and have been great.

stenowac

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5,
5 votes

Price Paid:  $8000.00 from B&H New York

Summary:
The image quality is simply fantastic! Hardly any noice at all - and lots and lots of image details. Very robust.

Strengths:
Hardly any noise up till ASA 1600 and overall perfect image quality. With L-lenses you simply get lots and lots of image details - a huge plus for landscape photos. A plus for portraits too? Well, you get so many "compromising" details revealed in peoples faces that you need to do quite a bit of selective blurring in PS not to "offend" your customer! There is an impressing number of ways to adjust the camera's "software" to fit your various needs. Physically, the camera is built to last forever. I have used it in rain forests, deserts, and north of the Polar Circle. No problems at all!! And I have had the camera for nearly one year by now.

Weaknesses:
It is VERY big and heavy, and attracts a lot of (often unwanted) attention. And when combined with Canon's 70-200 mm 2.8 L zoom, for example, the combination gets seriously heavy. From an ergonomic perspective the controls (buttons, etc.) are not as good as Canon D20 or D5. - If you don't need the extreme amount of image details and top-top-pro quality (and don't want to spend the $8000) , go for the D5 - it is more handy too. Some have complained about dust on the sensor. My experience too, BUT only in the beginning, that is, until I took care shutting down the camera when changing lenses (and avoiding to change lenses in dusty places).

Similar Products Used:
Nikon D100 Nikon D70 Canon D20 Canon D5

Customer Service:
No need

John99

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5,
6 votes

Price Paid:  $4770.00 from Jessops

Summary:
This was bought as an addition to our 1D Mk II mainly for wedding use. Not used at any weddings yet but the limited use it has had shows it to be visibly better than the 1D II for image quality (only really noticeable at 100% though) and due to the pixel count crops are almost too easy! Image quality is very, very good with 'L' lenses attached and handling - unsurprisingly - is practically the same as the 1D II. It doesn't feel quite as 'snappy' in use as the 1D II with focus seeming slower overall. Tracking seems good and images are practically noise free at low ISO's - again very much like the 1D II. If you want the extra pixels and can afford / justify it I don't think you will be disappointed. Our first 1DS II had to go back though because of marks on the sensor (not dust/dirt) where it looked as though something had stained the material the AA filter is made of. Canon did not argue at all and a new body was ordered. The problem was getting another body! The new body though appears perfect and exhibits none of the problems that have appeared on some of the forums re lost images.

Strengths:
Handling, Image quality, low noise, full frame sensor and clear bright viewfinder.

Weaknesses:
Cost, weight, size, not quite as responsive as 1D Mk II. Cost again!

Similar Products Used:
Eos 1D Mk II, 10D, Eos 3

Customer Service:
Faulty sensor - camera replaced in 2 weeks without argument.... the problem was sourcing a new body!

tdpiep

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
21+ years

Visitors rate this review
4.18 of 5,
22 votes

Price Paid:  $8000.00 from La Camera, Lawrencev

Summary:
The body size and weight and controls are comperable to the D1s.There is a remarkable reduction in noise level at all ISO levels. I have taken excellent quality photos at ISO of 1250.The color processing of photos requires the canon software but other programs will be able to do so as well. Phase one C1 pro and photoshop both promise new releases to help with this situation. There is greater color control and latititude with on camera settings. I will resubmit another evaluation after I have used it for a few differnt type of shoots.

Strengths:
Good body build, solid feel and response. Almost noiseless photos at ISOs up to 1250. The 16 meg gives a quality presentation to the photo-- very comperable to a larger format camera such as the 2 1/4 x 2 1/4.

Weaknesses:
None noted as yet.It is expensive.

Similar Products Used:
Canon D1s - used for 2 years, Nikon D100 used for 1 year, Canon 10D used sporatically

Customer Service:
I had to have the D1s --old model repaired due to its having fallen from a tripod due to a defective tripod latch. They were efficient in their appraisal, work and return of a product that was up to original specifications. I hope I never have that experience again.