Canon 1D MK III - Retro Camera Review in the Field | Worth Buying in 2024 for Wildlife Photography

[@alisonmeagor2355]

Really enjoy watching this retro vlog.The knowledge and the fun you had remembering how to use the camera was so interesting I remember the days we had on Exmoor !Such great memories for me too, 🦌x🥰

[@RichardBirchett]

Ah thanks Mum, yeah I'm glad some things in my head are still there! The older you get the more I forget, lol.... Not our special times of Exmoor though, there were special and will always be embedded in the grey cells! xx

[@stentionhouse]

Great review. I love these old 1D cameras. You get so much bang for your buck. I have five and use them all regularly. 1D classic (£109 with various accessories inc. a mediocre lens), 1D MKIIN (£159 in 2016), 1Ds MKII (£154), 1Ds MKIII (£239) and 1D MKIII (£164). I've had mine since spring 2017 and racked up over 2.6 million clicks covering running events, shooting wildlife and attending assorted other events. 10.1MP is fine for most things, bit of a stretch for birds unless you're reasonably close to them. I expected to get 6-12 months of use from mine. It's proven itself to be ridiculously robust. If only snappers would concentrate on getting the best glass and worry less about having the latest camera. You can still get tremendous, professional results from many of the old cameras, even the 4.15MP original 1D.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks very much for checking out my first Retro review on the 1D MK III, Wow, it sounds like you've got some great bargains there too, some beautiful cameras and still highly capable in today's modern world. Blimey, 2.6 million that's insane! Shows they are built to last! Yeah, the sensor unless your close does struggle a bit but it produces some amazing colour depth and I love them. Yeah, the glass is so important and it need to be decent to allow them both to shine. Thanks for watching Rich 👍

[@stentionhouse]

@@kalleankaa7536 No, it has at least 3,015,000 shutter count now. I bought it in early spring 2017. Seller stated that they'd had the camera serviced by Canon in 2012 and it had 'in excess' of 400,000 clicks on it. He was advised to have the shutter replaced but decided against it, used it for a few more months, then bought a 1Dx. Camera was then barely used till I bought it. It was sold as 'heavily used' due to the shutter count. I have always kept a log of the number of shots I take at the numerous events I cover with each of my cameras. Primarily, this is because on many you can't gain access to the info re the shutter count yourself. I've used my old clacker relentlessly since I got it. My record number of shots taken in a single day was 12,270 (more than 22,000 taken over that particular weekend. Even though mine had likely taken at least 450,000 shots when I bought it, I counted it as 400,000 as that was the official number as of its last service by Canon. The longevity of my one is staggering and well beyond anything I've experienced before, though I knew someone with a Nikon D3S that went to over 2.7 million clicks on its original shutter.

[@markgilder9990]

Hi Richard, great video and review. I always had Canon and purchase all my gear used from Wex or Park Cameras.

[@RichardBirchett]

Hey Mark, Thanks for watching really glad you enjoyed it. Yeah Park cameras are a good company to deal with too, usually I buy new stuff from them but always check out their secondhand photo equipment. Cheers Rich 👍

[@steveford6900]

Great retro review Richard. It’s got me thinking about buying one. Thank you.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks very much Steve. It has it's limits but a such a cheap price you can't go far wrong! Cheers R👍

[@davidhuth5659]

What a great price! Nice! Great images by the way!

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks David, I do love a bargain and great to use old tech! Cheers R

[@PeterLariviere]

You're making me reconsider selling my 80d! Great video. Looking forward to seeing more of these.

[@RichardBirchett]

You should, dam fine camera mate and unless you need the DOSH(CASH) I'd keep it! Rich 👍

[@Rob.1340]

Lot of camera for the money. Cracking vlog. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Rob, I think so too! Amazing what you can get fir your money. Cheers Rich 👍

[@ianhand5006]

I’m primarily a film shooter, but I do enjoy using my EF lenses on my 5D mk1, which is more than adequate under most shooting conditions.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks for watching Ian, and great to hear you are still shooting film! I stayed with film until the bitter end shooting with a Canon 1V HS, loved that camera and wish I still had it. Yeah, the 5D series are great cameras and still use my 5D MK III for camera trapping. Cheers Rich 👍

[@jameslittlejohn5590]

Nostalgia!

[@RichardBirchett]

Can’t beat a bit of nostalgia 😀👍

[@martynhall1752]

Wow Richard you certainly got a bargain there mate, really enjoyed the video makes a fantastic back up camera 📷 if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, amazing images Richard, just been on MPB they certainly got some bargains on there those 1D are built like tanks 😂 thank you for sharing your video with us. Martyn

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Martyn, It's certainly not for all and I remember the day when I couldn't afford the latest and best kit and nice to show people you can get Pro robust cameras at an affordable price, limitations compared to todays standards but still amazing images in the right hands! Yep, if you look daily like I do you can find some amazing deals... My pleasure and so pleased you watched this video. Many in the UK have stopped watching my videos but many new people have and some of my older subscribers from the UK are still with me which means so much. Cheers as always, your friend Rich 👍

[@AtaBoraBasar]

Hello Richard. I own a 1d Mark 3 camera in very good condition. I love this camera, even though I don't use it much.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thats great to hear, it's a beauty of a camera which will last forever! Cheers for watching. Rich 👍

[@AtaBoraBasar]

@@RichardBirchett I would like to inform you about something related to 1D Mark 3. (Maybe you know) There were problems with the mirror in some serial numbered machines. Canon recalled these cameras and fixed the problem. However, many users still suffered from this problem. Because of the problems with this camera, the Mark IV was released in 2009.

[@stephensimmons8657]

Just picked up a second hand 1D mark Iv with only 3,700 shutter count to use as a spare , dirt cheap 👍

[@RichardBirchett]

Nice one Stephen, there are some deals to be had and thats a low shutter count indeed! Great camera too, a review on that coming soon. Cheers for watching. Rich 👍

[@kalleankaa7536]

Nice score. I see yours is serial starts at 52. Thats within the afc issues. Do you have athing to say about that about afc performace? Iv got ghe later serial starting at 56, yet it still has afc issues where the next picture is out of focus. Even with a car going from left to right, should have been easy to track.

[@RichardBirchett]

Hi there, Yeah, I'm aware it was a possible affected Camera but checked that these issue was corrected back at Canon HQ, so far I've not seen any major problems with it but I've yet to test it fully so will see how it fares against some more challenging subjects and to see if any inconsistent focusing accuracy or inconsistent focus tracking with moving subjects using AI-Servo AF and continuous shooting modes is evident especially at high temperatures. Thanks Rich

[@nickswildlifefootage9392]

I've been using this set up for a couple of years now and I love. I've got the 1.4 converter with mine that takes it to f8. As you know the camera is manual only but I've been told that you can set the iso to auto.. I've gone through my settings but can't work out how to set up auto iso.. Any ideas

[@RichardBirchett]

Hey Nick, Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment. Great combo that will just keep on going. The auto ISO was first seen in the 1D MK IV so isn't available on the 1D III sadly, shame but that's tech for you. Cheers R

[@nickswildlifefootage9392]

@RichardBirchett Thanks for answering my question.. Happy snapping 👍

[@RichardBirchett]

@ my pleasure, all the best to you 👍

[@deegreen3351]

Seem to remember there being some AF and mirror issues with some early versions of the Mk3 The colour science on this and Mk4 were excellent though

[@RichardBirchett]

Hey Dee, Yeah there were in some of the first models and they were fixed, the newer batches were problem free and mine was one of the last ones made so all good. Yeah the colour on the images are lovely, really enjoy that about the older cameras. Thanks for watching Rich 👍

[@paulsamuelswildlifephotogr6260]

I was chatting recently to a sport photographer telling me the big pro DSLR's are now banned from use at Wimbledon tennis champs as they are to noisy, that was certainly my experience recently sat alongside a chat using a 1DX, when off with a right clatter and so did all the wildlife. Ok in the day but we've moved on with better options are available.

[@RichardBirchett]

Hey Paul, I can imagine that to be the case, as your serving you hear the beast of a 1DX blast away, enough to make you hit a dodgy shot for sure! And yes, as I said in my review if you want the camera for silent sensitive subjects it's the wrong thing to buy! Those days are gone but when conditions are right and you aren't fussed about photographing challenging subjects they can be great in the hand and take awesome images in the right hands. Thanks again for checking out my first Retro Review. All the best Rich 👍

[@balgavieslochospreys6836]

Good video m8, a guy I know has that 400mm lens, absolute belter of a lens. I've owned the 1DX MKII since new, mint condition with everything complete if you are looking for one to review ? ( going cheapish lol ). I ended up going for a Delkin card reader for my cfexpress type B card as Wex were the cheapest on the www. I've just taken delivery on the R5 MKII, out yesterday to try it, the AF is mind blowing coming from a 1DX MKII, but you already know this with having the R3 etc. Keep up the great work m8 ;-)

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks for checking out my first Retro Review mate, very much appreciated. Yeah it's a little belter on a lens and so old but my god the images are really nice and without IS it still packs a punch amongst the big guns! Ah, nice one and good to hear you got a good deal there. Wow, nice mate I bet it's amazing, heard the AF is another level than the R3, and thats saying something! And going from a 1Dx MKII to that is some upgrade! Enjoy it mate, did you get the grip? Will do mate and thanks again. Rich 👍

[@balgavieslochospreys6836]

@@RichardBirchett , yes I bought the battery grip m8, not the one with the fan or the ethernet port, just the ordinary BG-R20, very expensive for what it is, but Im used to the 1DX MKII body, so it makes sense.

[@RichardBirchett]

@balgavieslochospreys6836 blimey a fan! Yikes, the heat it must produce. I’d be getting a grip for sure, even though I’ve hands of a small child😆👍

[@balgavieslochospreys6836]

@@RichardBirchett £550 for the fan grip, £450 for the one I bought, fan one is more if you do video like yourself, I do the odd bit of footage, nothing like yourself though m8. What are prices like in Canada for R5 MKII etc ?

[@Wysko]

I just got one a few days ago, but she is almost a brick. Camera can focus, operate functions by the upper lcd but can’t take pictures, when you touch the shutter “busy” appears both upper lcd and viewfinder. Have you seen something like this before?

[@RichardBirchett]

Nice one, I've not come across that issue before! Have you got a warranty with it? R👍

[@colintraveller]

Top Drawer .... Everything that i have bought 2nd hand has all been from Wex . Dunno why some happuly upsell MPB etc . The times i have checked that site ... I can't find a bargin nevermimd a lense etc at a PP that is within my budget. . The last lense i bought 2nd hand from wex was a Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art lense brand new basically .. How much freespace etc does LR /PS / DXO that you use , really need to operate properly ?? without the fear of it operating slower than a week in the jail !!?

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Colin, They are one of the best companies to deal with that's for sure, the awards are testament to their success! Yeah, a few cameras I'll review are from MPB, if you look carefully there are deals to be found, I deal in the Uk and the USA so there are some good bargains to be had! Yeah, my system is really quick, NVME Drives, SSD, and a RAID system now, plus my system memory is around 72 GB so I can operate Davinci, PS, LR and Topaz at the same time without fear of a week in jail, lol... Is that what you mean? Cheers R

[@topstarnec]

Auto iso in Tv and Av modes

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks, it’s safety shift which isn’t quite the same as auto ISO but does help out. Thanks for watching R 👍

[@wildphil]

180 quid Bargain!!! You might find the auto ISO works in aperture or shutter priority mode if it's anything like my 5D original - that too has no auto iso in full manual mode

[@RichardBirchett]

Hey Phil, Thanks for checking this video out mate, and yes what a great price! It doesn't have any Auto ISO sadly not even in TV or AV, still do love going old skool!! Cheers R

[@hectorraso4857]

If you shoot in Aperture or Shutter priority mode, you can set your Safety Shift to ISO . Once you set the shutter speed range , it’s like auto iso. This video explains it kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJSppZmiebujgtksi=dyJ77-_RX2lDXbPZ