Canon 1D Mark II: Underrated, Overlooked & $200

Nostalgia for the Canon EOS 1D Mark II, I have; an amazing pro camera that sells used for between $150 - $250. This was my dream camera upon it's release in 2004, but I couldn't afford it at the time. So here's my chance to own one. It turns out, though, that buying used gear online is not always a painless process.

Yes, the 1DM2 is an incredible DSLR for the price, but it's tough to find one in good shape, both cosmetically and internally.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 First 1D Mark II Arrives
1:13 Broken Shutter Button
2:41 Going Shooting Anyway
4:05 Second 1D Mark II Arrives
4:30 Changed Menu Settings
6:13 Changed Battery
6:48 1D, 1DS, 1D Mark II
7:28 2004 Camera Tech
9:15 Tests / 1DM2 vs 5D Mark II
11:46 First 1DM2 vs Second
15:39 Returned Second Camera
15:56 Content with what I Already Have?

Video: GoPro, iPhone
Stills: Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 5D Mark II

Music (for better or for worse) written / recorded by me

[cameraexplorations]

These are the times when we can buy all those high-end cameras that we couldn't afford when we were teenagers/young adults. I enjoyed the video

[emilyvideo]

Love this video and the sequel you just posted. Would love to see you try out more classic digital cameras.

[AB-vnwe]

Please continue this format for eternity. Buy, Rant, Return (camera) and Repeat. I enjoyed listening to your thoughts as you walked around shooting you have a very entertaining thought process. Also big fan of you showing almost all images that you took.

[ASTActionCam]

Loved this video, great story telling! I just bought my version of your 1d mkII, a 5d classic. It was the unobtainable "pro" camera when I was shooting a 350d. Coming back to a dSLR from mirrorless is such a buzz. I'm absolutely loving it, even if I haven't really managed to stray too far from my house with it yet. I was wondering whether I should get a cheap 1d, but your conclusion really cleared things up for me. Enjoy the buzz of my 5d, more new gear won't change that. And besides, I don't have another 200 bucks to drop on another massive and ancient camera!

[Beanso]

A well crafted story. I enjoyed it all the way through.

[vaughntoller]

The 1d Mark II was one of my favorite cameras ever.

[alibarancelik]

A few times MPB has downgraded the condition of items I sold them to "good" or "well used" (and paid me less than their quote) but then put them on sale as "excellent" and "like new". Not accusing anyone of malice, but your experience does not surprise me.

Also, your videos are oddly therapeutic, especially with the (almost but not quite) ominous music in some episodes.

[NightPhoenixPress]

Stopped caring about the camera earlier in the video but stayed for the narration. 😂😂😂

[visionz_n_media]

Nice video. The Canon 1D mark II is one of the few Canon cameras that I kept. I still pull it out every blue moon. Surprisingly it still works just as good now as it then when I first got it, and even when it sits months in the vault, the battery will still be at full power.

[stentionhouse]

I've got a 1D (classic), 1D2N, 1Ds2, 1D3 and 1Ds3. Results, especially on the oldest one with its CCD sensor, are mixed except using my 70-200 2.8 II, which nails it no matter which camera you put it on. All of the 1D line are incredibly tough and durable. 1Ds3 is up to 1.7 million clicks, the 1D3 past 3 million. Which is absolutely incredible given the rated shutter life of 300, 000. These old clackers are such a bargain and still deliver results which stand up in 2024, so long as you use decent glass.

[CINEMAWORX]

I love this camera!! I have the 1d mkii, mkiii and mkiv lol

[fleischliebe]

You voice is so soothing so calming. I really really enjoyed the videos

[shayhansen]

came for the review, loved the music! seriously. sounds like the band Palace. I was just listening to them and then started watching your video. For a second i thought their music was still playing.

[MICHAELSMITH-fldu]

My 1dmii focus is dead on with some of my lenses and not others, same with my 5dm1. other cameras that have micro adjustment 1dx and my 6d i have to use +10 and -15 just to get rid of the smudgy look.

My best guess is that the sensor plane is out of spec/adjustment a little, say a negitive on the sensor and lhe lens could be out of calibration with a positive value.

I do think I get sharper images if I shoot raw and convert to jpeg in canons DPP than in camera jpegs which is a bummer as I would rather shoot jpeg. I also like to shoot at the extended lower iso (50) and recon it is only starving me a 1/3 stop in the highlights which is fine as I think digital looks best shot at least a stop under (my taste) ymmv.

I captured a shot of my friends running on the beach with a 70-200 and the 1dmii and it's so sharp I can see droplets and wet sand flicking in the air around the dogs as they run.
So yes 1d line can be stunning.

[The_Hero_Is_Back]

I have a Nikon D2X. 12mp, 2005, apps-c, pro body, high mileage, max ISO800. Only owned it a couple of years. Hard to switch from single shot to continuous. Front dial slips sometimes. The metering button is stuck in matrix and needs a lot of work to make it switch to spot. The rear screen is washed out and the little screen below the rear screen is hard to read. I love the camera. You settle into a few settings and stick with them. It teaches patience.

[fotoScentfx-zrkl]

I have this camera, the 1Ds, and the 1Ds III.

[davyboyo]

I shoot on the 1D mark i, talk about a well built camera. Everything else now feels like a toy although I like the image results from my 5D mark i just as much as the 1D and the extra resolution comes in handy occasionally. The two cameras have different rendering, as you said the 1D mk I with subtle rendering and the 5d a little more flamboyant I think. Fun! Sorry to hear you had no luck this time around 😕

[ToniLovesSkateboarding]

well, Thanks to this video, the battery of my 1DMkII is charging and my old pal and I will go on a stroll later on. I still have one Canon lens left since I switched to Sony years ago. Not a good one but one good enough. Sorry those cameras didnt work out for you. hopefully mine is still working as it should. Specially after being on a shelf for so many years

[darensmith]

Own 3 canon eos 1 d mark 2's 2 mark 3's and 2 1d's had no problems. Now I and buying a 1 D's mark 3. 22mp. Not bad

[jaapkamstra]

Hey there! Hope you will find a good version of your dream camera one day. I did kind of the same thing today: I got an old X-t1 in the mail today. Somehow I was a lot of fun to shoot with it. And somehow I got better shots with it than with my new camera. The sensor's of that era really have a look to it. Less realistic but definitively more interesting.