First impressions of the EOS-1v

So I've shot two rolls with the EOS-1v so far (I know, hardly anything at all! I need to get out there and shoot more!). My first impressions are that the camera feels PERFECT in my hand. I used to think that big cameras were too much, back when I was carrying a Rebel Ti around. Now that I've used the EOS-1v, I can't imagine how I took all those photos with the smaller bodies. It's just not very comfortable, my fingers are in all the wrong places on those bodies. The EOS-1v offers fantastic grip, and it's easy for me to reach all the buttons I need to without excessive twisting.

The other thing I really like about the 1v is the action of the shutter. There's just a very solid feeling when I press the shutter release. The heavier body probably contributes to that. The weight of the body also helps me steady the camera. I took a few shots at 7/10 second shutter speed and under an 8x loupe it doesn't look blurry at all! With my Rebel Ti, I could never get anything under 1/10 second, and with my Elan 7 1/2 second was about as long as I could go. Of course, my hands and body have gotten steadier in that time too, but I know the camera has made a big difference as well.

Finally, having everything operate in 1/3 stops is an interesting experience. From the aperture stops to the shutter speeds to the +/- exposure, I feel like I'm constantly seeing new numbers pop up in the viewfinder that I've never seen before. But I definitely appreciate the ability to fine-tune exposure. And obviously the camera is capable of taking much more accurate pictures since the metering system doesn't always have to round off to the nearest 1/2.

Overall it feels pretty good, I'm definitely glad I made the switch, considering the cost!
A very rugged body. I'm looking forward to using it more in the coming months and years! :-)