Canon 1DX: I have a friend selling one in like-new condition, but it would involve a "system switch" from the Sony gear and lenses I have to this tremendous beast, the 1DX plus some...

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

I have a friend selling one in like-new condition, but it would involve a "system switch" from the Sony gear and lenses I have to this tremendous beast, the 1DX plus some lenses. I'm wondering if I should give up the A99 and A77, the Zeiss glass, etc., to get into the 1DX, 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f2.8L, 50 f1.4. Thoughts, recommendations...

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

I guess the question would be why did you get rid of your 7D & 5dmii? Too big or too heavy? If yes, then you don't want the 1DX. If it were me, I'd jump on it...but that's me. You have to decide ...

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

cosmo54 wrote:

I guess the question would be why did you get rid of your 7D & 5dmii? Too big or too heavy? If yes, then you don't want the 1DX. If it were me, I'd jump on it...but that's me. You have to decide ...

The 5Dmk2 had focus issues... Hunted and made me lose shots at important events, one in particular. The 7D was fine, gave it to the ex-wife in a divorce.
Loved how it felt! How do you like your 5D3?

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

lukan wrote:

The 5Dmk2 had focus issues... Hunted and made me lose shots at important events, one in particular. The 7D was fine, gave it to the ex-wife in a divorce.
Loved how it felt! How do you like your 5D3?

Absolutely love it

Haydon

The 1DX is Canon's flagship and it's autofocus and frame rate are unsurpassed. The full body will weigh on you and the pro glass is also a weight factor. If weight doesn't scare you, there isn't any doubt you'll have an incredible system.

I can speak from experience, the 1D series are great but I still manage to love my cinder block.

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

Haydon wrote:

The 1DX is Canon's flagship and it's autofocus and frame rate are unsurpassed. The full body will weigh on you and the pro glass is also a weight factor. If weight doesn't scare you, there isn't any doubt you'll have an incredible system.

I can speak from experience, the 1D series are great but I still manage to love my cinder block.

Look at his signature line. :-)

amehta Loc: Boston

lukan wrote:

I have a friend selling one in like-new condition, but it would involve a "system switch" from the Sony gear and lenses I have to this tremendous beast, the 1DX plus some lenses. I'm wondering if I should give up the A99 and A77, the Zeiss glass, etc., to get into the 1DX, 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f2.8L, 50 f1.4. Thoughts, recommendations...

Follow the bouncing ball. :lol:

It will get you back to one camera for the safari, but what a camera!

Now I know why you were trying to talk me into getting the D4s. You didn't want to be the only one suspended from the G.A.S. support group. ;-)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

lukan wrote:

I have a friend selling one in like-new condition, but it would involve a "system switch" from the Sony gear and lenses I have to this tremendous beast, the 1DX plus some lenses. I'm wondering if I should give up the A99 and A77, the Zeiss glass, etc., to get into the 1DX, 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f2.8L, 50 f1.4. Thoughts, recommendations...

Lukan, The switch for me would depend on what your ultimate goal would be photographically.
If your current lenses are good, you would loose very little on them. the body of course, you will likely take a beating on, unless you are ready for a new body anyway. I can't comment on the Sony, as I know nothing of them. The Canon 1dmklV would easily out-shoot the 7d, and the 5dlll will out-shoot the 1dmklV, except for the frame rate. and the 1Dx will run circles around them all!
You've already owned several Canons, so they need no introduction for you. The 5lll has mostly the same focus system as the 1dx, But I have not used either one. You, I'm sure already know that the 1dx is as good as it gets for action, coupled with the availability of the light weight long lenses, or the very fast short lenses, and it's the ultimate pro rig.
If you want the 1dx, just get it. If you need the 1Dx, there are few options. I feel the 5dlll, will do most of what the 1d can do, minus the frame rate. Tough choice, good luck. ;-)
SS

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

amehta wrote:

Follow the bouncing ball. :lol:

It will get you back to one camera for the safari, but what a camera!

Now I know why you were trying to talk me into getting the D4s. You didn't want to be the only one suspended from the G.A.S. support group. ;-)

I was at the new Dodd Camera in Chicago, just slummin', and who walks in but an old friend who used to be a Nikon devotee (and still is) and shoots catalogs for dep't stores and does papparazzi work for magazines. He bought a D4S and a 1DX, and because of his plethora of Nikon glass (and minimal exposure to Canon glass) is selling off the 1DX. I immediately started salivating, a true sign of GAS. :lol: ;-)
The safari is postponed due to my (90 yr old) mother taking a fall, breaking her pelvis and her shoulder, and is now recovering nicely. But, I had to cancel the trip to assist my sister in dealing with the medical issues.
Now this 1DX opportunity comes up and I need some help because it's an expensive proposition, all in, but an incredible opportunity for me to acquire something special at a very special price. :P

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

SharpShooter wrote:

Lukan, The switch for me would depend on what your... (show quote)

SharpShooter, I'm glad you responded but am disappointed in your final line, "tough choice, good luck." I need more out of you, being the resident Canon aficionado. :lol: ;-)
My friend, who is predominantly a Nikon-shooting studio pro, has decided to stick along the Nikon route and use the D4S for his action/ paparazzi stuff. He was "given" (to try, at "cost" ) a 1DX, which he's willing to sell me. :thumbup: We all know I have GAS. :?
My question to you is, is there an appreciable (or slight) difference in image quality between the 18MP and the 20MP Canon sensors in the 1DX and the 5DMk3? I did love the ergos of the 5D2, but HATED the autofocus (never worked right). I understand now the AF is perfect. Plus, it has an OVF, as opposed to the EVF of my Sonys (to Anand's point).
Would I then officially have re-entered the Canon camp? My ex-wife would be so happy! I'd still have the Oly gear, but it seems that my daughter is becoming very fond of it... 8-) :shock:

amehta Loc: Boston

lukan wrote:

I was at the new Dodd Camera in Chicago, just slum... (show quote)

Sorry about your mother and the safari, hopefully her recovery progresses and the safari is only postponed.

I think the question comes down to whether you would get "value" out of the 1DX, specifically would you use it in a way that benefits from it's (relatively) unique abilities, and would you use it enough to justify the cost? For example, if I were to get a D4S, or even a D3S ("only" $4k, holding up it's value amazingly well), I would really need to shoot volleyball every week. I wouldn't even need to sell any pictures, but I would need to post them for the teams to enjoy. Meanwhile, I'm pretty happy with the value I have already gotten from the D800, closing in on 100k shots in two years.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

amehta wrote:

Sorry about your mother and the safari, hopefully ... (show quote)

Thanks for the wishes, and she's on the mend, just very impatient. The Safari is temporarily on hold (don't know when I'll have availability, was supposed to be back from it by now!).
So, while I was at the Dodd counter, I happened to be directly in front of the Nikon area, and the D800. I asked the guy to see it, and it's a jewel. But, I could see you in the D4S camp with no problem, especially if you've already shot over 100,000 rounds in 2 years! I feel GAS in the air...
I wouldn't even be considering the 1DX if it wasn't for my pal wanting to sell his (25,000 actuations, all taken in one weekend!). It would be very cool to have, but all of the close-to-top-end-gear is cool to have, and the images all of them create are phenomenal.
This is a dilemma, because the 1DX felt like it was made for my hand. Is that a sign? ;)
Then, could you imagine what SharpShooter would say?! :shock:

amehta Loc: Boston

lukan wrote:

Thanks for the wishes, and she's on the mend, just... (show quote)

Most of the D800 shots suit the D800 better than the D4. I don't think the D4/D4s is unequivocally better than the D800, because of the resolution difference. I'm not sure if the same applies to the 1DX/5D Mark III pair.

I'll take a completely different approach to the question now. Recently someone posted the challenge to add up how much we spent on our gear. Now, stuff doesn't really matter, but experiences and memories do, so the real question is how much did we spend on the entire hobby (pros have a completely different calculation), including the photo trips, workshops, etc. But then it needs to be compared to our income over the same time, and the real question becomes, "Did we spend enough for an activity which gives us great pleasure?" Yes, that is how good I can be at rationalizing. :-D

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

amehta wrote:

Sorry about your mother and the safari, hopefully ... (show quote)

I could get the 5DMk3 for a lot less money than the 1DX but is that even the point? If you could get the D4S at a significant (at least 20%) cost savings, wouldn't you at least consider it whether you would make full utility of its capabilities or not? I don't know, I have an opportunity but it might just be GAS. :oops:

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

amehta wrote:

Most of the D800 shots suit the D800 better than t... (show quote)

OMG! You've nailed it and I commend and applaud your rationale! Brilliant, actually. Here's the deal... I do not do this for a living (obviously), and I have spent 10 times these figures on stuff that doesn't give me nearly as much pleasure as photography (cars, stereos, stupid golf clubs, etc.). After putting pencil to paper, I can make the complete system switch for under $5000. That's a complete system switch! I can then add other bodies, etc., over time, and not worry about mounts changing, or the EVF evolving, etc. And, I'll have one totally bad-ass setup in my hand, all the while. Thank you! :idea: :-D