Is that your desktop wallpaper or are you just happy to see me?

Yep. It's my desktop wallpaper alright. Every time I am contemplating on buying new equipment, be it a camera, mobile phone or a new TV, I always download a large image of the product and make it my desktop wallpaper for a few days. In that way I can stare at it, contemplate, imagine how it would feel using it, etc. In essence I just want to make sure that the product is something I can actually see myself using and enjoying. I have done this with the Leica M9-P, the Nikon D800, the 5D Mark III, and the GX1. Now it's the 1D Mark IV's turn. And I must say, this desktop wallpaper is by far the nicest.

My thoughts on this "old", but still expensive camera? Pretty positive. The 1D series never go down in price, even when the next generation models are already in the horizon. These "beasties" are built to last, made to function perfectly until the last recommended shutter actuation has been clicked. It would be a good base to start re-building my EF lens collection.

But of course all is not final yet. I am still in a dialog with my camera dealer. But on a per-shot basis, the 1D4, with its 300.000 shutter lifespan, is much cheaper than the 5D Mark III.