Canon Body Seals
Hello all,
I've been lurking around for awhile on different forums reading reviews, checking out pics etc ( I have way too much time at work with not much to do lately..;)) Seems like a Dgrin is a nice forum with lots of good info and some truly excellent pictures!
Anyways, I'm currently running a 40D, and I love it. I run pretty much all 'L' series lenses, eventually planning on the move to full frame. I've been between waiting a bit and planning on buying a used 5D once the mark 2 is readily available and the Mark 1 prices fall a bit more, or maybe waiting and picking up a Mark 2 this summer.
My choices have been skewed a bit after some snowshoeing and hiking this last little while and I got thinking about the ruggedness of the bodies and what the real differences are between the 5D mark 2 and the 1Ds mark 3 would be? Are the 1Ds series that much tougher? I can easily say I am very hard on equipment :dunno....but not a Pro-Pho by any stretch. I spend 80% of my time in the 'wild' so to speak wackign and scrambling my way up to inspect rocks and such (geologist), so I don't mind paying a bit for the extra mile of hard use resistance.
Are the 1D series that much more rugged? Or is the main price difference for the other features of the bodies? I am starting to see 1Ds mark 3's with similar pricing to a new 5D MK2 up here in Canuckistan.
I've been lurking around for awhile on different forums reading reviews, checking out pics etc ( I have way too much time at work with not much to do lately..;)) Seems like a Dgrin is a nice forum with lots of good info and some truly excellent pictures!
Anyways, I'm currently running a 40D, and I love it. I run pretty much all 'L' series lenses, eventually planning on the move to full frame. I've been between waiting a bit and planning on buying a used 5D once the mark 2 is readily available and the Mark 1 prices fall a bit more, or maybe waiting and picking up a Mark 2 this summer.
My choices have been skewed a bit after some snowshoeing and hiking this last little while and I got thinking about the ruggedness of the bodies and what the real differences are between the 5D mark 2 and the 1Ds mark 3 would be? Are the 1Ds series that much tougher? I can easily say I am very hard on equipment :dunno....but not a Pro-Pho by any stretch. I spend 80% of my time in the 'wild' so to speak wackign and scrambling my way up to inspect rocks and such (geologist), so I don't mind paying a bit for the extra mile of hard use resistance.
Are the 1D series that much more rugged? Or is the main price difference for the other features of the bodies? I am starting to see 1Ds mark 3's with similar pricing to a new 5D MK2 up here in Canuckistan.
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Comments
Rokdktr, welcome to the Digital Grin.
The Canon 1D/1Ds are very durable, weather sealed and with the fastest and most accurate focusing section that Canon makes. They also have the most durable shutter and mirror assemblies. Part of the weather seal is the lens itself and not all lenses are weather sealed. Those lenses that are weather sealed usually depend upon a filter to complete the front seal.
I still would not push the seals if avoidable. An external watershed is always indicated in a downpour and the cameras are not designed to be submerged, of course.
A sealed body does require fairly regular maintenance to assure the seals are still intact and functional. Basic cleaning is important in both salty and dusty environments.
If you are truly hard on bodies and lenses some form of body and lens "armor" might be indicated.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Welcome Rokdktr. This is truly the nicest forum you'll ever meet.
Ask yourself, aside from the money, can you afford the size and weight?
Then it's a scam. Caveat emptor!
In response to the comments....size vs weight are not a big deal when comparing the two. I've handled both a 5D Mk1 and the 1Ds, thats not an issue for me...most of my time is spent hiking...if I was climbing or doing extended day trips I might be more considerate, but my time is spent on 2-6 hour day trips for the most part.
I try to travel with the camera in a case, and any type of seal I get is mostly for the dust and "airborne moisture". It's interesting to learn that the shutter are more durable though....another plus? I have been known to drop my camera in the snow during a wipeout on steeper slopes while snowshoeing though....and a good seal would be best. I've thought about a housing but wow.....they make the cameras look cheap!
And as far as pricing....I've been comparing used 1Ds mark 3's to the price of a new 5D Mk2....and by close I mean within 1 - 1.5G....I almost a bought a used 1Ds up here for $4500 Cdn.....which is a within $1G to the $3500 Cdn for a 5D Mk2 with a grip and spare battery. I was hesitant because it was used (no warranty) and I still had not decided to try full frame or not. My fault for not mentioning the 'used' part...lol.
I'm leaning toward waiting for a decent deal on a 5D Mk1, then picking up the next couple fast lenses I have been after for awhile (50 f1.2 and a tilt shift of some design).....decisions decisions. It's also a tough decision because I make no profit from my cameras other than providing clients with a nice photo portfolio of rock / sample pics from various jobs that other consultants do not do....a nice "I go the extra mile, so keep me working advantage".
It seems like the 1Ds do have a nice 'tough' appeal though....maybe I'll hold out and see if a 1Ds Mk4 shows up???
:hide
My personal experience was in the January ice storm of 2007. I was photographing shots for a talk on the Sante Fe trail in Missouri ~1820. My camera and I were in my truck and would just jump out for a few minutes to shoot a few frames and then get back in my truck. The weather was drizzle at 28 degree F, so there was ice accumulating on the roads. After a few hours of this the frames in my 5D began to turn a very black vignette after shooting this image, and then the camera no longer worked.
My 1DsMkll had no problems that day at all.
I put the camera away, and after it dried out, it worked fine again. Another dgrinner (rutt) had a similar experience with his 5D as well.
I like the 5D and still own it, but it is better suited for modest weather in my opinion.
The 1DsMkll or lll are going to be heavy in the field. DO you need a DSLR, or would a G10 in an underwater housing work just as well? Canon makes a housing for the G10.......
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
He stated that weather sealed body of the 1D series are rated to handle seven inches of rain in hour. Note -- this isn't the same as dropping the camera in water.
During the trip to Egypt, the glass mirror suddenly drop off from the assembly. As I was in the middle of the trip and also middle of the desert, I have no access of Canon service at all. The only tools I have is the superglue in my tool box. It was fixed and worked for another 2000 pictures before the end of the trip.
Will send the 5D body to Canon service center and see whether need to change the whole mirror assembly.
This is the first time I saw the mirror come off from a dSLR. Is there anyone have the experience and share with me how it can happen.
flickr.com/photos/photoskipper/
I do have a G9 as my always in my bag camera....but sometimes the opportunities I get out in the field demand a dslr for the lens choices. I've gotten decent pics, but not as easily as with my 40D.
I'm going to keep my ears open though and maybe look for a used 1D series.