1/2 second shutter speed? You just sold me!

I had the same thought. Usually when I use a 20mm lens I can get down to 1/30 comfortably. Occasionally in low light, hand holding IS or VR would be handy but how much better would it be? 2 or 3 stops? I love the IS on my other lenses though.

Is it useful or marketing hype? If the shutter speed should be at least equivalent to the focal length, doesn't it mean you can get by on slow shutter speeds anyway? What do you think?

Yes. I like the extra battery capacity, balance for heavier lenses and not having to turn your wrist for portrait orientation.

You cant fix out of focus in post.
Out of focus shots get deleted and aren't useable.
Dynamic Range, contrast, color, burst rate, image quality, etc. are all meaningless when a shot is out of focus.
Bottom line: Make sure you're in focus with adequate shutter speed.

This is what I learned from my best teacher, "experience".

Manual mode with auto ISO is essentially having aperture and shutter priority at the same time. I like the concept. The ISO setting should be monitored so it doesn't get too high.

I was up in the mountains shooting the Milky Way and Perseid Meteor showers. A young lady probably in her early 20's approached me asking if I could Instagram her the pictures I took. I laughed and told her I don't do Instagram. Instead, I got her email address and sent her a link when I posted a couple of shots on Flickr. My friend who was with me thought is was funny thinking "old guys like us on Instagram?" I guess I need to get with the times. It took me long enough to give into texting. I do Facebook occasionally, but refuse to put that app on my phone.

Glad you mentioned ICC profile. That also crossed my mind as I was reading this thread.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Auto ISO can also affect the aperture in shutter priority mode. If the aperture is opened all the way because of low light, that can create very shallow DOF depending on the lens. That could also make the picture look out of focus.

He has a 5D Mk III, 6D, D77 T7i and more. The 5D Mk III is no slouch as you well know. He had B&H points or bucks to use so I suggested fast glass. I also kept in mind his level of shooting as he only uses the P Mode. As a friend, I'd rather teach him how to shoot and get more familiar Aperture, Shutter, Manual modes and eventually Bulb mode. There's no competition between us. I truly believe he has more than what he needs at his skill level. I want him to spend his money wisely.

I think it starts with the 12" behind the camera. Everyones skill set and knowledge is different. The more knowledge and skill one has, the more demanding a shooter becomes with their tools. In this case, cameras and or lenses. A knowledgeable shooter will want things like:

a better focusing system that has accuracy and speed. Wide coverage of focus points for those who don't like to focus and recompose. Good Auto focus tracking for moving objects.
Low light performance
FPS is nice for sports and wildlife.
Maximum shutter speed of of 1/8000 vs 1/4000 for narrow DOF in bright light situations.
Faster Shutter speeds or HSS when using flash.
Custom controls
Custom settings
Dual memory card slots, especially if you're on a gig.
Auto bracketing


The list of requirements gets bigger as your knowledge grows. Each individual will have a different list according to what they know.

As far as lenses go, it's mainly going to be fast focusing, sharpness, wide aperture, color, contrast, distortion, aberration, how quiet it is and sometimes IS or VR.

A cell phone or P&S won't cut it and will limit a skillful shooter. As your skills and knowledge grow, so does the demand on your equipment. A skilled photographer will want to be able to handle a lot of different situations that a lesser camera won't be able to handle.

I started with a 40D which was great when I first bought it. Then I found out it didn't have good low light performance. I went to a FF in a 6D knowing I was going to shoot landscapes most of the time. The focus system wasn't the best but adequate for landscape shooting. I started shooting musical performances and learned I didn't like focusing and recomposing with a wide open aperture.
That's when I learned and wished I had more focus points with wider coverage. I also learned I needed better focus tracking for moving objects. My list of demands grew which led me into buying a 7D MkII. Now I have a much better chance of getting good shots of moving objects, wider coverage of AF points, different AF tracking modes, faster FPS and the appearance of more reach using long lenses. Having the 7DII made me realize the focus system is most important to me. If a shot is out of focus, nothing else will matter. All of the other camera features become irrelevant when a shot is out of focus. The 7D MkII wasn't an upgrade but a supplement to the 6D. I think I'm set for what I want to do with the cameras I have for awhile. That could and will probably change down the road.

I've always been a techie and appreciated new technology. It makes life easier for me. But that doesn't mean everyone else is a techie. What works for me may not work for another person and vice versa. The advice to give a person is going to vary depending on what they like to shoot, their skill, knowledge and budget.

I can't argue with that as I've spent 5 figures on a guitar 20 years ago. I still enjoy it just as much today as I did when I first bought it. It's the best purchase I ever made. It has doubled in value but I bought it to play, not to sell. A few years later I had a custom 7 string built for me. Pick your pleasure. The guitar is my pleasure as well as my cameras, 7D MkII and 6D. I also get paid to play guitar and occasionally take pictures. I'm very lucky to get paid for things I love doing.

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Knowledge and skill are more important to me. They're priceless. At the same time, when you have more skill and knowledge, your demand for better tools goes up. Everyone has a certain level of skill and knowledge. What works for one person may not work for another.

I should've mentioned he doesn't shoot in Aperture, Shutter or manual mode. He only shoots in P mode. The latest and greatest is fine if you know how to use it. He's not ready for a 1DX markII. He already has a 5D MarkIII, 6D, T7i 77D, T3, and 5D MarkII. All with very low shutter counts. He asked me about getting the 6D MII and the 5DMK IV. He needs to do more shooting and figure out how to use what he has and what he needs before upgrading. Yeah, it's better to have more camera than not enough but in his case, he already has that. I think he's better off investing in glass.

He went to Oregon with the 5D MKIII, 77D, and T7i without getting any useable shots of the Eclipse. Even if he had a 1DX MKII, I think he still wouldn't have gotten the shots. He told me his wife got the best shots between the two of them with her point and shoot. I could feel his frustration. It was a once in a lifetime situation where no camera would have helped him. I told I would go out with him and give him some one on one guidance to get a better handle on his gear.

Lol!