I have an opportunity to buy a Canon EOS 1D Mark II secondhand. Has anyone used this, and is it worth it? It's only 8MP, so I don't know what kind of enlargements I'll get out of it. My current camera is a Canon 60D. Would the Mark be an upgrade since it's so old?
Tricky one. The 1D Mk2 was an incredible camera when it came out, but obviously it's now 8 years old!
This camera was originally aimed at sports and wildlife photographers, so the autofocus system is top-notch -- expect that, for tracking shots, you'll get a lot more pin-sharp photos than the 60D will provide. Similarly, it has a faster maximum frame rate of 8.3 fps.
The noise characteristics should be better as well -- the larger sensor, combined with a low ISO setting of 50, will provide very low-noise images. Note that it only goes up to 1600 ISO, so you won't be able to use it in extreme low-light without a flash or very fast lens. (And remember, it doesn't have a built-in flash)
Enlargement-wise, I wouldn't be too worried -- the megapixel race makes people think that 8 megapixels is pathetic, but some of my best shots were taken on my 350D which was 8 megapixels, and they enlarge fine. Similarly, I have a friend who used a 300D for quite a while (6.3 megapixels) and has had photos taken with it exhibited in exhibitions at a very reasonable size). What you won't have is as much flexibility to crop a photo down significantly.
On to the downsides:
* Weight -- at over 1kg, it's an extremely heavy camera.
* Screen -- a 2 inch low-resolution screen will seem awful after your 60D's screen
* Lens compatibility -- you can't use Canon EF-S lenses, and any 'crop' lenses you have from other manufacturers (e.g Sigma DC range) will fit but will produce a circular image that doesn't fill the sensor.
* Features -- no live view, no movie mode, no vignetting correction, no HTP, etc. etc.
If you are looking it as an second camera to use for tripod-mounted landscapes, action photography, etc., I'd say go with it. If you're thinking of replacing the 60D, I'd be a lot less sure.
@abirkill Thanks, this helps. It would definitely be a second camera and I only have one lens that I think would work on it (the 24-105 Canon lens). I shoot events for a local college and my 60D doesn't handle it well; doesn't sound like this one would be that much better.
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This camera was originally aimed at sports and wildlife photographers, so the autofocus system is top-notch -- expect that, for tracking shots, you'll get a lot more pin-sharp photos than the 60D will provide. Similarly, it has a faster maximum frame rate of 8.3 fps.
The noise characteristics should be better as well -- the larger sensor, combined with a low ISO setting of 50, will provide very low-noise images. Note that it only goes up to 1600 ISO, so you won't be able to use it in extreme low-light without a flash or very fast lens. (And remember, it doesn't have a built-in flash)
Enlargement-wise, I wouldn't be too worried -- the megapixel race makes people think that 8 megapixels is pathetic, but some of my best shots were taken on my 350D which was 8 megapixels, and they enlarge fine. Similarly, I have a friend who used a 300D for quite a while (6.3 megapixels) and has had photos taken with it exhibited in exhibitions at a very reasonable size). What you won't have is as much flexibility to crop a photo down significantly.
On to the downsides:
* Weight -- at over 1kg, it's an extremely heavy camera.
* Screen -- a 2 inch low-resolution screen will seem awful after your 60D's screen
* Lens compatibility -- you can't use Canon EF-S lenses, and any 'crop' lenses you have from other manufacturers (e.g Sigma DC range) will fit but will produce a circular image that doesn't fill the sensor.
* Features -- no live view, no movie mode, no vignetting correction, no HTP, etc. etc.
If you are looking it as an second camera to use for tripod-mounted landscapes, action photography, etc., I'd say go with it. If you're thinking of replacing the 60D, I'd be a lot less sure.