Your nonchalant way of educating on what appears to be an extension of yourself in camera form is wonderful! Subscribed and ordered this body for shts and gigs ! Thank you sir

I just bought one for landscape photography. I run in aperture priority and manual focus. I have a 1D and love it....

Thanks for watching! please do leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions about this era of cameras.

Really enjoyed this video; thanks for the insight!

I was out shooting mine today and you are spot on - it's a heavy piece of pro gear with superb build. The menu system as in many pieces of tech, is designed for the person who designed it, not the end user. It is not intuitive and a month or two away from it takes you back to ground zero. I have had mine for about twelve years and bot it off eBay so I have had a few generations of batteries. The aftermarkets that came wit it died immediately and the two OEMs didn't last much longer. I then bot two new OEMs and they are still working but perhaps not as well as a new aftermarket I bot last year - ie the aftermarkets are getting better although they are still metal hydride ie legacy. I am still buying lenses for it and expect to get a 5d Mark IV or 5SD/R so I will be covered for higher res.

Thank you so much for this video! Brought back a lot of memories:-) I bought a 1ds mkll in 2010 second hand from a professional photo journalist and got it out of the drawer right after I watched your video :-) I still love the form factor, the vertical grip and the weight, especially when using it with the 70-200 2.8. I used that combo to take portraits in the studio and the pictures still look amazing. The autofocus was way faster than that of my 5d classic. I just decided to buy a new battery and resurrect this beauty :-) Thanks again for your awesome video!

I used the 1ds mark II and loved it. I took great pictures with this instrument. Even now I use a 1D Mark II for sports, a 5d classic just for fun and a 1Ds mark III for landscape. I miss the 1ds mark II. Even in 2022 this is a great camera. If you are serious about photography I would suggest buy a 1ds Mark II. I am 53 and like to use the pro old school camera's. You can rely on those instruments. Greetings U-77.

Enjoyed watching your video and explained perfectly how good these cameras were and still are. I use a 1dmkii for wildlife and a 5D classic for most other things and still with Sigma pro lenses get great results. The 1Ds got the ergonomics exactly right and I repurchased a mint one 8 years ago rather than join the crazy pixel race. I print some very detailed A3 images with a 8.2mp sensor and the 12.5mp of the 5D, as I'm not a pro I don't feel the need to upgrade !

Great content on vintage cameras. At the moment I’m having some fun with the 1Ds and just ordered a 1Ds MII. Great cameras.

I own a 1ds mark II. To be honest, this camera has thought me to think before shooting. Due to the small unreliable low res. lcd screen - I've learned to review my meter before shooting; rather than shooting, then making adjustments based on the image displayed on the Lcd. I've also learned to watch my lighting very cautiously - due to the limitation on the iso - I'm forced to find good lighting - which is a good thing since photography is light. To me, this camera is like boot camp. If u can handle this camera - believe me, u can handle any camera!

Hi Roy, I wanted to upgrade to a full frame from my canon 760d but being furloughed and short on cash decided to exchange. I wanted something in the 5d range and was offered a mkii in exchange. I thought a lot, researched and watched your video reviewing the camera which helped me decide. Although I have lost 3mp and a number of helpful features and am more than happy with the real benefits of shooting with this full frame professional quality camera and feel justified in my decision. I love the mkii and will keep it even when hopefully upgrading to the mkiv at some point in the future. Even with the R6, R5, R3 on the market the 5d mkiv is my current dream camera. In the mean time I love using my 5d mkii.

Lovely review. I bought one about a year ago as I had always wanted a professional looking camera! I did feel a huge difference in the images from a full frame sensor and then bought a Canon 6D ...then a Nikon 800D! I have to say it is just a load of fun to have a camera that was worth thousands for next to nothing. The biggest difference I noticed with the Nikon was the auto ISO which is fantastically useful.

I have one of these beautiful beasts, and really loved it. I purchased it in 2013 to go along with my 5D Classic. Dust was a bummer, but didn't have to sensor clean that often, though. You are so on point about the ergonomics of the 1series; They feel amazing in the hand. The two major Negatives for me were that it wasn't as vintage lens or Nikkor lens adapter friendly as the 5d Classic.. but none of the 1 Series bodies are (Flange distance or electronic contacts). The second thing was that lens micro adjust had not been invented yet, and this body was a lot less forgiving of less sharp glass, so I rarely shot wide open, were as the 5d Classic took amazing shots, that even looked beautiful a little soft.

Can't beat charisma. The self-defense comment is on point. This camera is better than nunchacks!

I prefer the older digital cameras like Canon 5D Classic as it's basic and less to go wrong. I had thought of Canon 1Ds mkii but went for the Canon 5Dmkiii and simply love using it. Also I have started using the 5D Classic again as I feel it's nice to use a Camera that's simply just basic and not full of unwanted or unneeded technology as this takes away from the craft. Is it me, or are people these days just looking at gear and not really interested in image taking. The great thing about the 5D Classic is this, it only takes photos and because it was Canons first full frame camera aimed at enthusiasts and Pro's looking for back up body the tech was simple by todays standards. Lastly the sensor for that particular camera was partly developed by Kodak, hence the filmic look which hasn't been carried on.

Very good Video - thank you! 👍

I had one of these, its a beast! After using it for a year, I got 1Ds Mk3, which is a better camera in many, many ways. Sensor cleaning, micro adjustment, better layout of buttons, and live view are some of them. I actually still have the 1Ds mk3, and still use it with my 5D mk4 ;-)

I used to rent this beast to shoot weddings. It was $8k back then. Saw one for sale the other day for $200. Love these cameras that have the build in battery grip. That thing still looks like a powerhouse.

I had one for around 5 years and loved it, upgraded to the 1DS MKIII three months ago and the mkIII is a big upgrade in all respects, especially the way the menu works. Still think the mkII is relevant today fo people that want a solid full frame DSLR which does not break or break the bank.

Thank you for your perspective, I enjoyed the video. I recently picked up a used one in magnificent condition with a low shutter count for an unbeatable price. That said, I neglected to pay attention to the firmware version when buying it. It had a slightly older firmware version 1.1.4 which does not allow CF or SD cards over 2GB to be read of formatted (along with other small improvements). 2GB was a BIG card 20 years ago. Try and find a 2GB CF card these days, lol. The simple fix would be to update the firmware to the last version released, 1.1.6 which adds support for cards as large as 32GB to be read and formatted (This is what I have read anyway, happy to confirm that at a later date). The problem is Canon has removed all firmware updates for this camera from their sites including the last one, 1.1.6. The camera is no longer supported by Canon. I contacted canon and the only way I could have the update to 1.1.6 was to send it in for general service and pay for it, roughly $70 CDN including shipping. They would not send me the firmware update. I was reluctant at first but because the camera was in such good condition, I deemed it worthy. I have not yet received the camera back so I can only hope it will now read and format larger cards. I wanted to point this out because firmware availability is often overlooked when buying such an old beast. To get the most out of this camera you need the last update but even with older versions the camera can be a good value for some. Also, Watson still makes a battery for the camera available from B&H which I have ordered to replace the original (dead) one. I am curious what the latest firmware version your camera has and what information you could offer in regard to that. What the largest CF card you have tried to format in your camera etc. Thanks again and thanks for the awesome review.

I have one that I purchased new back in 2006, when I was still shooting professionally, though it has had a much easier life than your one. Originally I planned to sell it some years ago while it still had some value, but somehow never got around to it. An online seller told me about a year ago that it will soon be hard to find batteries for these, though I hope that is not true. It is absolutely built like a tank, and still quite capable today, but I never really warmed to the format or all those buttons after working so many years on the Hasselblad and Sinar. Nowadays I run a design studio and here is the bombshell; I can do pretty much everything on my iPhone 14 Pro Max and it shoots really nice video as well. How the times have changed.

Just gone back to a classic 1dmk2(N) - picked up for (£150), ridiculous VFM i think. Had a few 1d bodies (mk3/mk4) and really miss the ergonomics of them, they just feel so right in my massive hands, tried the 7dmk2 just didnt get on with it... hateful thing that was, and shoot commercially with 5d's still (great bodies also). But, what i love about the vintage bodies, is the smaller file sizes (8MP RAW files) they are just so more manageable to work with in post and from a storage point of view. Think many forget, when your shooting 1,000's of imagery for clients on a shoot, you need to store all that somewhere. Anyway, great video as always mate, good to see these old cameras still being used as they are absolute gems, so pick them up while they are so cheap!

I've had one since 2005 ... 205k shots and never had a problem - it's TOUGH once I was photographing a dog sled race and I was out there so long that my leveling pods on my tripod froze and broke but the 1dsMk2 was business as usual for a whole day like that I still love mine in 2024

A way around cleaning the sensor over and over again would be to clean the mirror and sensor, and then just put on a lens that's whether sealed like the 24-105 L lens and just leave it on the camera. If you need a longer or shorter lens instead of switching it out, just use a different camera ( back up camera that has a sensor that cleans itself for example ). That is what I did with my 5D. It Doesn't have a sensor that cleans itself, so I just cleaned it myself and just left the 24-105 f/4 lens on there. Just a thought. Enjoy your Passion everybody.

I picked up one of these in early 2019 as my first full frame body with a couple of Sigma Lenses for $450CAD. Managed to source an OEM battery for under $50 which has worked great. It took a bit to manage the clunky menu and focus settings, plus going directly to the camera 'on' switch after 10 years of Rebels top 'on' switch, but now when I have the weight in my hand the camera has been turned on without any thought...Yes, its' a beast in the hand, but I'm always surprised at the comments I get of 'nice camera', but I've learned that it's not the camera to take on a few hour hike unless there will be a guaranteed epic shot. Once I got the focus control sorted, I must say how impressed I was with the sharpness of the shots with plastic lenses I had at the time and the focus speed blew away any previous Rebel camera I have had. Shortly after acquiring the 1Dsii, I had the opportunity to acquire a 7Dii that I couldn't turndown mainly wanting the 10fps feature for sports action capture. I have learned high frame rates just creates more frames to cull out in most situations and as stated in one of other Roy's other video that usually you just need the one frame and with practice, one could get it with a single shot providing you can get the correct shutter speed, which has me considering 5Dsr as the next full frame body for my uses. Yes, the dust removal spots are an issue, but I don't print enough images from it to matter to me, if I were a professional, that would be different story for sure. The one thing I do love about mine, is that crisp shutter action (mine with over 275k actuations) and sound, reminds me of my fathers old Pentax and my old T90. Really enjoying the content Roy.

Nice video on a great 'OLD SCHOOL' camera. I am fortunate to own one of these as well as the MK1 which is even older. I take the 1dmk1 out many times with the family who use my 6d and 7dmk2 . I look at all the photos taken and there is little or no big difference. Sadly though the 1dMk2 is in need of repair as there is a white line across every image now , it means that the shutter has to be replaced which I have a replacement ready to fit. The history of the 1dMK1 and Mk2 is that I got them for £100 when a film company moved out of the office block where I was working. The Mk2 has the distinction in that the camera was used for cgi still shots for a Hollywood movie that one an Oscar for special effects and I got to see the Oscar when they had it on show in their office. They had the budget then to buy a new camera for every film they did so they had just these 2 oldies as the rest of their cameras were more modern and high spec and the staff got them they were going to bin these two as nobody wanted them

Excellent Video. I've just bought one of the as I remember my wife who is a good amateur photographer wanting one in the early 2000's, but unfortunately they were completely out of her price range. I have just retired (early) and have decided I want to take up photography as a hobby. I want to do mainy wildlife and landscapes which this camera seems well capable of. Can't for it to arrive tomorrow, complete with 3 lenses and spare batteries.

I was going through a nostalgic period during the covid lockdowns and decided to splash a bit of cash on a few classic slrs. I picked up an absolutely immaculate, as new cosmetically, Canon 1ds mk 2 , a well used but good condition Nikon D2H and just because it was available a Fuji S2 PRO. All in all I paid £360. I have enjoyed all three, although the one that I find gives me the most satisfaction in picture quality and ergonomics is actually the D2H. Good vid, like n sub.

Hi Roy, this is interesting, I did considered this one before I bought the 7D II and I feel I made the right decision. But it is good to hear about your thoughts about it and most of all see your pictures, they are stunning indeed. Still looking for a second body and most likely it will be a 5d IV. I do want to have a full frame body. The 7D is doing extremely well. I had my first assignment. After doing the light setup properly I was amazed, how well the 7D performed. Will visit a car museum shortly, and I am looking forward to putting her through the passes. Got some very nice lenses and accessories. (Varavon Multifinder, Canon EFS 10 - 18 mm) and it's pure fun. I am indeed looking forward for your comments. Kind regards Roland

Still have this camera!❤it.

Considering the first generally available 35 mm camera came out in 1913 and digital camera's did not become really available until 1988 and for the run 35mm had it never changed it's pixel capturing capacity. I used 35mm for several decades before digital was available and at the time 35mm was still far superior. The one major benefit I find with digital is that you can review your shot as soon as you take it. Compared to having to wait to process it in a dark room or send it off and wait for it to be developed for you. I have a Canon 1d mk2 and a Nikon d2h plus many other digital camera's and find each of these has it's own unique properties. When I shoot I usually use full manual mode as it gives me more control over my subjects. I paid £200 for my Canon 1d mk2, which is as new, a few years back and always grin when I pick it up to think that it cost around £6,000 new...wtf.

I have a 1Ds MKIII, and it is still my work horse. I have a R and an M50 as well, however, my 1Ds is still my go to.

I mostly use a 6d or a 7d mkii but cant bring my self to sell the 1Ds mkii. Photos straight out of the camera look nicer than the 6D in good light. With the 16-35L I don't have to worry about what mother nature will do to my camera. I dropped it out of a tree once and it still worked fine. Love the shutter sound compared to my plastic 6D. I payed 700 dollars about ten years ago then started buying used L glass, blew my old canon rebel and kit lens away. Thanks for the video I might dust it off and try to remember how to change the iso! lol

I have the 1Ds Mark II as well, I notice there is often purple colour cast on some photos taken indoors under artificial light. I had to shoot in RAW and adjust it in post. It was a pain to fix! I have since sold it and got myself a 1Ds Mark 3 instead.

Thank you

I just bought one with 27k on the clock - mint condition.....£135 !! 😮😮....just need a charger lol. I have recently retired and am looking forward to the spring and summer 🌞 🌞 to get outside with it...thanks for this review 👏👏👏👏

I’m in the process of trading my 1D Mark II for a 1Ds Mark II. I just love the colours of the 1D II but I’m not fond of the crop factor. I honestly don’t mind lower resolution cameras as I shoot with extremely sharp lenses (85 1.4L IS & 35 1.4L II), and I quite like how these old beasts make me stop and think before every shot. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to my 1Dx Mk I that has menus for days.

This camera takes beautifull pictures and was a very good used alternative for broke amateur photographer. Now 12 years later I've owned the 1D4, 1Dx, 1Dx2. For young people with limited funds I wouls recommend the 1Dx having nearly the same pixelvalue as the 1Ds mk II for down to around $700,- or the 1Dx mk II for around $1,200.- the bigest extra for the bucks is the CFast card allowing to take an unlimited amount of pics without having the buffer hiting the wall.

Just a tip for potential buyers of one of these beasts - it's a good idea to check the firmware version - if it's 1.1.6 ( the latest and last update) then you should be able to use most of the larger memory cards in either SD or CF. If the camera doesn't have 1.1.6. then it's dependent on what it has. Mine has 1.1.4. and will not recognise any SD card over 2gb but will recognise a 32gb CF card. The issue here is that Canon do not support this model now and it's a bit risky relying on downloads from 3rd party sites even if you can find one. I decided to stick to using the 32gb CF with just a 2gb SD. Hope this helps.

Reminds me of my old 20d with the tiny rear screen my 1st dslr which had for years till it died about 3-4 years ago where I then replaced it with a 7d

2024 - looking at one at less than 200 equiv. USD in very nice cond. Tempting - just out of curiosity. I could only afford Nikon's D70 in 2004. According to Ken Rockwell the 1Ds mkII was priced at $8000 initially. Thx for sharing.

Hello, All been looking for the charger for this model for months now I'm based in South Africa any recommendations on where I can get a copy in good condition even generic will do fine.

I remain with the 5D series(mk4 currently) having started with the mk1,each model has served me well,how I long for Canon to bring out an mk 5, I should be so lucky

My problem with a camera like the EOS 1Ds mark II is that there isn't a use case where it excels at for the price. One currently going for £385 on Ebay but will but will probably need new batteries. So over £400. And for that a 7D is better for sports and wildlife. A 5Dii is better for portraits and landscape. Any newer point and shoot is better for travel. Maybe for events? It does look the part but as you said the iSO is pretty low. Maybe as a gift for a photograpy school!

That camera still rocks!!

Shot two weddings with a 6D and 1Ds Mark II last month. The couples were either lying to me or they were indeed happy with the results. Guess equipment doesn't matter that much if you know how to use it. And since I don't use zoom lenses I don't have too much problems with high ISO. (And I don't have to do an extra cardio workout)

Just picked one up for £200 will let you know how it goes bought mainly for Landscapes

I still have an EOS 1N film camera, a tank of a camera and fully functional. The EOS 1D cameras are so much like it

Roy, colld you recommend brush and clean kit. These cheaper Chinese and even Jessops camera cleaning stuff are scary rubbish

It's always fascinating to see reviews of 'old' cameras. Just out of curiosity, can I ask you the number of shots?

Tengo esa cámara y hago súper fotos en 2022 con ella es mágica más que la 5D mark ii

I have both the 1DS MK II and III. If I can control the light, they can do 100% of what I need done. I do love i af for portraits, but don’t need it.

Can you tell us a bit more about its unique image quality? I have seen the files from you and other photographers and they seem to have the feel of film compared to latest gear that is very very clinical. Can you tell us more about this issue with your experience? Thank you

The 50D and the 5D are pretty damn good options in this price range (if not less) 50D if you want APSC and 5D if you want full frame. IQ is just about the same from what i have seen out of the camera. about the same MP count, about the same shutter speed count, about the same DR.

Just a question I see the corners of the images are dark is that edited or given by the camera?

I love these cameras... way better build than current stuff... just need to put my 5ds sensor in there... I need help figuring out the soft ware to change functions. I cannot find the version i need... and newer computers won't allow it to run...

Great video! I'm trying to get away from my Rebel camera's and getting out with this beast. I'm using a Canon Ef L USM 70-200 lens, and I'm just not happy with the sharpness with my pictures after zooming in on the shot. It just isn't real sharp around the edges. Any pointer video's for a guy who loves photography as a hobby trying to use use a machine like this?

I still have an inherited EOS-1 at home. 😂 It still works, but it's difficult to go back to film after decades of digital photography.

Using an air rocket will get rid of most of the dust on your sensor.

I bought one for 200 euros with only 35.000clicks, sold about five months later since I found it cumbersome to clean the sensor all the thime as you said. This thing was a dust magnet and costed me a lot on cleaning! However, on retrospective it seems that selling it was a mistake. I really miss the feeling of holding it and damn its AF was spot on. I really love your videos. Keep it up!

Good old workhorse and built like a brick outhouse. Still use mine regularly.

I saw a good copy online and bought it after watching you video. Condition is very nice and work very well but it has almost 800k clicks on it. I'm inclined to return it and trade for a 5d mark II. Can you give me your opinion? (Just fell in love with the 1 series with this old camera).

I have a Canon 90D and I just brought, I just brought 1DS mock 2 Could or would you share some good settings for that camera thank you.

Mate… old canons are great… I’ve just got a 5D classic and it’s produces great photos… On the back of what you’ve said about the 1D I’ll get one.. The pictures you showed in the video look really good. I take very amateurish photos so It’s not a money earner just for pleasure… Why spend 6 grand in a camera when there’s loads of perfectly great older kit available. If truth be told most successful photos rely on heavy post processing anyway…! Keep it real!!!

And I forgot to say, the only real issue is that it doesn't really support tethering. I was able to trigger it via the Canon utility with FireWire but from the software, not the camera so the cart was in front of the horse. Setting it up with Capture One is a non-starter. Having said all of that, it is more high tech than my Toko 4x5 field camera I have schlepped through a few airports...

its not a full frame , its APS-H Sensor , 1.3X crop . You must be an idiot not to notice your pictures are cropped but ok , maybe im a genius , i notice that 5D classic is also not Full Frame , it lacks 2mm to be full frame , its about 1.05X crop , and i notice that , but again im a genius

It is not a fullframe camera.