Canon ID Mk IV *FWIW* Feedback (kinda) from photogs I talked to ...

[Done_rundleCams]

Canon 1D Mk4 (FWIW, from the 2010 Olympics) [Re: Number_6]
#874461 - 02/03/2010 16:52

Firstly, I think Canon (worldwide) probably had all their available
1D Mk IV's here in Vancouver for the Olympics ..possibly the reason
for no camera for AP to test.

Secondly (and on a more positive note), all the photogs I spoke to here (from Reuters,
AP, CP, AFP, etc...) had glowing reports regarding the 1D Mk IV and the only smudge was
from photog who said that the only place he (and according to him) and others found was
when shooting speed skating and he figured that was because of the lack of contrast due
to all the ice. And when I asked for a number (of keepers) of out 10 ...I guess about 5-6 and he
said "more 2-3".

And, again, that is a "FWIW".

Cheers,

Jack

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Jack,


Thanks for the feedback and update. I'm planning to visit Focus-on-Imaging at the NEC near Birmingham on Monday, and I'm hoping to get some feedback there. (Expect I'll be lucky!)

Having had a 1D Mk III for around 2 years, and am probably still getting to know its CFns' foibles etc., I'm fairly sceptical that any journalist can jump from one make to another and write a review which does anything more than scratch the surface of these vastly capable and complex machines. For example, I went to a local Pancake Race two weeks ago and came back with my worst set of images in years! I did better last year...

The polythene wrapped magazine I bought two days ago proclaimed on its cover that it was reviewing the 1D Mk IV and what did I find? Just 3 pages of report, and no images on the CD. Silly me, I bought this quite expensive rag on trust thinking that at least they would have copied their test images to the supplied CD, but no, that was taken up with yet more videos of how to use Photoshop. At least with just 3 pages of report, they didn't dig deep, and came up with a fairly bland recommendation. For items costing around £4,000 I feel we need better and more informed advice - it's no wonder that the internet seems to win out in these areas.

Given more time, I expect the news and comments about the 1D Mk IV will settle down, and I'll have more idea whether it's a sensible spend for my type of shooting.

[TimF]

There's a review in BJP if you're willing to spill the £6.99 for it. A preview of the first two pages can be found here

[Number_6]

More reviews:-

http://hofferphotography.com/2010/02...ark-iv-review/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1dmarkIV/

And some 'hands on' results:-

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/866879

Apologies if they've been previously posted

Gerry

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Tim,
Thanks for the link.

That's my first experience of the new display application - I'm not sure I like it. Perhaps it's designed to get us buy the printed magazine!

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Number_6

Thanks for your list.
I've skimmed the DPReview pages and know their format well, but the Hoffer blog was new to me, and very refreshing - particularly as his conclusions about the relative IQ of the 5D and the 1D Mk III match my own.

I'll spend some time now at the Fred Miranda site and see how things are going there. Hopefully it will have calmed down since I last visited.

[Done_rundleCams]

Jack,


Thanks for the feedback and update. I'm planning to visit Focus-on-Imaging at the NEC near Birmingham on Monday, and I'm hoping to get some feedback there. (Expect I'll be lucky!)

Having had a 1D Mk III for around 2 years, and am probably still getting to know its CFns' foibles etc., I'm fairly sceptical that any journalist can jump from one make to another and write a review which does anything more than scratch the surface of these vastly capable and complex machines. For example, I went to a local Pancake Race two weeks ago and came back with my worst set of images in years! I did better last year...

The polythene wrapped magazine I bought two days ago proclaimed on its cover that it was reviewing the 1D Mk IV and what did I find? Just 3 pages of report, and no images on the CD. Silly me, I bought this quite expensive rag on trust thinking that at least they would have copied their test images to the supplied CD, but no, that was taken up with yet more videos of how to use Photoshop. At least with just 3 pages of report, they didn't dig deep, and came up with a fairly bland recommendation. For items costing around £4,000 I feel we need better and more informed advice - it's no wonder that the internet seems to win out in these areas.

Given more time, I expect the news and comments about the 1D Mk IV will settle down, and I'll have more idea whether it's a sensible spend for my type of shooting.

Hi Malcolm,

No problemo and I think being able to handle it (@ FOI) will give you a much
better feel, ergonomically speaking , for the camera and, hopefully, you will
get a chance to handle it for more than a few seconds. The one thing about
"trade shows, so to speak " that I a little negative is that the majority of the
information is all very subject ...ie: Canon/Nikon/Pentax/Panasonic/Olympus/Sony/
Tamron/Sigma/etc... personal are all there to promote their products. Although, I gather
there will be *editors of distinguished publications* who will be able to offer
the attendees some very objective information And, the one thing about the folks I was
talking to at Olympics is that they came from around the world and were, in every sense, working
photogs ....a few I knew but the majority I only met once when they dropped by the shop (for odds
and ends) and a few even came back a few times and so I was able to talk to them a bit longer and, heck, even a few dropped some coin

I will be curious what your experience (with the 1D Mk IV) is like at the Focus on Imaging .

Cheers,

Jack

[Malcolm_Stewart]

... Although, I gather there will be *editors of distinguished publications* who will be able to offer
the attendees some very objective information ...
I will be curious what your experience (with the 1D Mk IV) is like at the Focus on Imaging .

Cheers,

Jack

Damien's going to be busy!

I see that Canon are there this year, but it's likely to be a bun-fight getting my hands on a 1D Mk IV, and as the interface and weight are more or less identical to my Mk III, it probably won't be worth the effort. From memory, I don't think they allow us to pop our memory cards in their demo bodies.
Sigma are much more relaxed/cooperative, and over the years I've acquired several quick demo files using their lenses on a 30D, and getting a feel as to how their lenses focus in the restricted conditions of the NEC. For my needs the annual Birdfair at Eggleton, Rutland Water is probably the best for testing the cameras/lenses I can't afford!

Birdfair Last year Jacobs had the EF 800 f5.6L with a 2x attached.

[johnf3f]

A friend of mine recently purchased a "MINT" 1D MKiii. I say mint because we all thought it was new until I spotted dust under the sticky tape on the charger! The camera gives excellent performance and he is capturing action shots that we never thought were possible - so much for the dodgy af ( I know quite a few MKiii owners including pro's - NONE have had af problems). We have been running comparative tests (very non sientific and subjective) between his MKiii and my MK iv.
Both are VERY capable cameras, however the IQ of the MKiv has significant advantages - firstly MUCH greater cropability, forget the pixal count crop hard and print to A3! Secondly the picture quality is different - luckily just the way I like it! A professional friend of mine suggested trying his workflow with the MKiv, ie Shoot in raw, convert (I use DPP), check image and print! Literally have not bettered the in camera results in Photoshop! Will probably regret saying this if the sensor gets dirty!
To sum up if you have the funds and don't have a pressing need for new glass get a mkiv. It's a point and shoot camera that gives pro results + you can play with the settigs and get even better results.
Difficult decision?

[daft_biker]

Was out with my 7D and a mate with his 1D4 at the weekend there. The 1D has a few nice touches (like the viewfinder) but nothing that important to me when the 7D has extra crop factor, even more pixels and is a fraction of the price. The new 70-200/2.8 is pretty stunning though

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Angela reviewed the 1D MkIV in this week's AP (dated: 22 May 2010), and now I don't know what to think.

Her results, and comments, on cyclists may explain why I've had trouble at times, but at other times, I've had excellent results with my MkIII - is it me or the camera?

And, I'm even more puzzled that a camera with 14 bit processing should demonstrate a dynamic range which appears to attract low marks. I think I'll sit this one out - I still haven't broken a shutter on any of my bodies!