Hello everyone, it's 3AM here and I drank to much coffee yesterday and now I'm unable to stay asleep. So, why not respond to some comments.
"Getting a ND and 3 Lenses for the price of a 1Ds body because of heafty rebates"... is a bit of an exaggeration that will only serve to deflate the value of the Contax gear.
I bought the Canon 1Ds from an authorized Canon USA dealer for $7,100. Now, keep in mind that this is a hot camera right now. In a year it'll be $6,000. I paid a total of $10,000. for the 1Ds camera, the new 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L with Image Stabilization+a spare battery and off camera flash shoe.
Let's do some math shall we?
To recieve the N rebates, you must buy from an authorized Contax USA dealer. If you get the ND for say $6,500 retail, less 10%= $5,850. The three lenses offering $500 each in rebates have to total at least $4,500 retail, less $1,500.= $3,000. Total, $8,850.
minimum (probably more like $9,000.)
Now back to my in-studio tests. This is not easy because the lens throw is different between the two cameras. I have settled on using the Canon 24-70/2.8 verses the Contax 17-35/2.8. IMO, the 17-35 is a better lens than the Contax 24-85 and I want the best against the best. But, what the heck, it's digital so I'll try the 24-85 also. Subject matter is also something that has to be carefully considered.
I don't usually shoot test charts for pay, so I won't use them for a test.
As far as the Kodak 14n I ordered, I still may get it. I do not make gear choices based on bodies, it is the lenses that drive every decision I make. I got the Canon due to the 11 meg for sure, but the new 24-70/2.8 has recieved rave reviews...and the 70-200 IS is already a legend. I will probably add only one lens to the Canon mix, the 35/1.4 L, which IMO is the best fast 35mm SLR lens ever produced.
Nikons' 28/1.4 isn't far behind, and their 85/1.4, 105/2 or 135/2 and 18/2.8 ASPH
is worth having a body for.
But, as we all know and love, there is something about those Contax Ziess lenses, so my ND isn't going anywhere.
Oh, another point about tests. I've found that doubling megapixels doesn't double the quality on any digital camera. It's a sort of sliding scale thing. What I'm interested in is realizable differences which will most likely be less dramatic than one would expect. Also, I know how to get more out of the ND after living with it for a year. The Canon is brand new to me ( although I know the controls because I had an EOS 1V for awhile).