Wow - this is a world first... a camera thats competitive to buy in AUS than in Singapore? Usually your prices eat ours alive.
I laid my order of $12,499 AUD today..
Amatuers certainly don't need this camera, at least not over a 1DMKII. What kind of amatuer needs 16.7 megapixels? Unless they make prints 20"x30"+ all the time or something.. either that or they're filthy rich.
I had a really hard time justifying to get the 1Ds MKII over the 1D MKII. But I could really use the wider angle for my photography, plus my clients like to crop my photos, then slap them as a double truck spread. That kills the 6.3 megapixel images, and 8.3 isn't much help. The 11.1 1Ds is too slow, and it's 3 years old.
But the major reason is because the 1Ds MKII is going to last me at least a further 2 or 3 years more than getting a 1DMKII due to megapixel/Full Frame factor. And to me that alone is worth spending the extra money NOW, and getting the best of the crop now.
Put it this way, if I had bought the 1Ds 2 years ago, I would certainly not consider upgrading at this point in time, i'd be happy at what i've got and where I am with it now - and keep it for perhaps another 2 years. 4 years for a camera in a professional environment is pretty good.
This is just my stupid guess, but i'm hoping the 1Ds MKII might hold it's value better, I can't see increased megapixels being a significant factor in the future... people will start wanting things like full frame, or improved dynamic range, faster shooting and maybe less noise in small sensors.
If they brought out a 50 megapixel full frame camera in 2 years time... I won't miss my 16.7mp at all.
Also, I honestly don't beleive that Canon will be making full frame sensors indefinately in the next few years to come. They've started the EF-S series, and it's obviously a signal towards the future. I don't think they intend on making EF-S obsolete in the next 4+ years. So Full Frame will probably remain amongst the elite.
And then you've got what is kept only with the pro bodies. Big and black and strong, the quality components which are used to build these cameras don't always depreciate in value so quickly... only the digital components. Such as the CPU, processor, RAM, sensor.. and of course the LCD. I'm going to be ultra jealous in 2 years when 4 inch crystal clear LCD's are available on the EOS 1DMK4.
Only thign that would really piss me off is if there was a 20D style camera, that was basically a higher megapixel version of the 1DMKII. Coming out anytime soon for a very competitive price.
That would probably happen! But until then it's not like I can buy a 20D (1.6x :nono: ) or a 1DMKII (8.3mp :nono: )
:dunno: