Canon 1D Mk II - viewfinder image size?

05/04/2004 07:49:44 AM · #1

I had spent a nice sunny afternoon shooting with my 10D, and thought I would just fire-off a couple of 35mm shots using my 1V HS. Wow! The difference in viewfinder size is immediately obvious. I love my 10D, but framing the scene with the huge viewfinder of the 1V was a total joy.

I have read somewhere that the Canon 1Ds has the same huge viewfinder image. But before I take out a serious credit card debt, I wondered if the new Canon 1D Mk II has an equally big viewfinder image. I cannot find the info on the web (even at canon.co.uk) but I hope someone here will help me. I suspect that it does not.

I guess the reason I have a smaller image in the viewfinder of my 10D is due to its 1.6X mag factor. I understand that the 1D Mk II has a 1.3 X mag factor, so I wonder if this will produce a viewfinder image half-way in size between the 10D and the 1Ds.

I have just applied for a mint credit card to pay for whichever upgrade path I follow (www.mint.co.uk). The card offers 0% interest for eight months, and then an excellent standard rate of 10.9% APR.

On the brink of my big spend, all and any comments would be very welcome.

Thank you,

Steven

Niten

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/04/2004 08:55:52 AM · #2

Your right in the 1.3 multiplier. That would put it right between a 10d and a 1ds. Its disappointing that canon didn't make it full 24 x 36mm. It still might be a better camera that the 1ds though.

Message edited by author 2004-05-04 09:01:40.

C-Fox

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/04/2004 10:59:09 AM · #3

Might be easiest to find Eddy's email and ask him dirrectly. Can look up all Mark II, users on the forums but I think there are only two of them.

magnetic9999

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

05/04/2004 11:17:21 AM · #4

just ask on the dpreview 1D forum

jimmythefish

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/04/2004 11:33:04 AM · #5

From the 1Ds (full frame) review. I doubt that the old 1D viewfinder is any different in size to the new viewfinder.

DPReview 1Ds viewfinder comparison to 1D

Niten

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/04/2004 12:12:08 PM · #6

Did I not answer the question?

10d=1.6 x
1ds=1
1d=1.3
1d mark II=1.3

jimmythefish

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/04/2004 02:09:08 PM · #7

well you can magnify an image size without changing the field of view, so the physical size of the image in the viewfinder can be different.

Originally posted by Niten:

Did I not answer the question?

10d=1.6 x
1ds=1
1d=1.3
1d mark II=1.3

EddyG

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/04/2004 02:25:33 PM · #8

The 1D Mark II viewfinder is the same as the 1D, so jimmythefish's link to the DPReview comparison is valid.

The 1DM2 is noticeably brighter/larger than the 10D, which is one of the reasons I upgraded.

I've read that some folks have small complaints about the full-framed 1Ds' viewfinder; it has been described as "looking down a tunnel" and having barrel distortion (which is definitely not the case on the 1D Mark II). But they wouldn't trade their 1Ds for anything! =] See this thread, for more data. (Note that a little further down Gary Voth says "The EOS-3, 1V, 1D do not suffer from this.")

Another benefit of the 1.3X crop-factor over full-frame: since the focusing system is identical (but faster in the 1DM2), you get more spread-out AF coverage; on the 1Ds it is much more "center weighted".

Message edited by author 2004-05-04 14:36:42.

rll07

05/04/2004 03:33:13 PM · #9

Eddy how do you like the Mark II? Do you have any image samples experiance with it etc..? thanks

05/04/2004 04:44:03 PM · #10

Feeling the need to celebrate, so I think I'll be getting myself a 1Ds in the next month or so - how are you liking it so far, Eddy ?

jimmythefish

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/04/2004 05:24:52 PM · #11

1Ds hey. Hmm. Hmmmm. Not sure which I'd prefer really. Maybe I'll go Hasselblad and 80mm Zeiss Contax with Leaf Valeo 22mp back and just get 'er over with. Sell a kidney. Must be exciting...I'm gellus.

Message edited by author 2004-05-04 17:25:46.

paganini

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

05/04/2004 05:35:29 PM · #12

Thought you're gonna get a leaf :-)

Originally posted by Gordon:

Feeling the need to celebrate, so I think I'll be getting myself a 1Ds in the next month or so - how are you liking it so far, Eddy ?

05/05/2004 08:37:03 AM · #13

Originally posted by paganini:

Thought you're gonna get a leaf :-)

Doesn't have to be an either/ or type of decision :)

Brent_Ward

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

05/05/2004 10:00:16 AM · #14

get the sinar back, its 25mp...or larger i think...but great quality.

05/05/2004 11:09:53 AM · #15

Originally posted by MeThoS:

get the sinar back, its 25mp...or larger i think...but great quality.

I'm taking the one that I'm getting for nothing :)

EddyG

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/05/2004 12:08:01 PM · #16

Originally posted by rll07:

Eddy how do you like the Mark II? Do you have any image samples experiance with it etc..?

What's not to love about the Mark II! It is an awesome camera. I don't have any complaints. (Well, OK, one minor complaint: the shutter/mirror noise is a lot louder than the 10D! But I think that comes with the territory of 8.5 FPS and 200,000 lifetime actuations. There is a Personal Function that you can download to the camera from the PC that allows you to take a shot in One-Shot mode and as long as you hold the button down, the shutter curtain operates normally, but the mirror stays up. The mirror return is a significant part of the noise. So you can take a picture, keep your finger on the button, and then stick the camera under your jacket or whatever to try and muffle the noise a bit.)

I haven't even installed any of the Canon software yet so I haven't tried any of the Personal Functions. I've just been shooting in JPEG and using my CF card reader to download images. =]

I don't have any worthwhile samples. I posted an 8.5FPS demo movie in this thread that shows not only the speed of the camera, but also how good the predictive AF is in tracking a moving subject. I have been busy lately (haven't entered a challenge since March), and the only time I've had a chance to use the 1DM2 is at some high school sporting events (where the benefits of the 1-series cameras can be put to good use!)

paganini

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

05/05/2004 12:20:03 PM · #17

Did you strike gold in the tech world or something? :)

Are you still in the wildflower class, btw? I think they're offering another round on the secound thursdays of the month starting next week, might join myself.

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by paganini:
Thought you're gonna get a leaf :-)

Doesn't have to be an either/ or type of decision :)

dadas115

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

05/05/2004 01:03:22 PM · #18

Yes, the viewfinder is noticeably brighter and larger than that of the 10D but not quite as big or bright as the 1V.

Greg