5D II - Initial Thoughts

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Archive 2008 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

lecter
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p.1 #1 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Well, as you know, I have the 5D Mark II and have been messing around with it a little. To the detriment of many other "Projects"

Size and Weight: It feels similar to the Old 5D but somehow seems a little more sturdy.

General Dynamics: The screen on the back is huge and clear. The menus are simple and easy to get around (If one has a 1D3 or 1Ds3 or 40D etc, they are the same style) and there are some more buttons that I like. AF-On is one. I love this feature. The ISO is handy. I have not figured out all the dial options yet as I mainly use Av with Tv for panning and Bulb now and then.

Auto ISO: I used this but I found it a little limiting and the shutter speeds were too low. I have to get used to how it runs and what it means. I expected the SS to be maintained. More to learn I guess. But a feature that worked, but I am not an expert yet.

ISO Performance: I found it to be OK. Anything special? NO, just what I expected. Similar to 1Ds3 but with more range.

HD Video: Very interesting. This is the main reason I have this camera. If HD Video is going to push my buttons, then the 5D Mark II will be the catalyst once we get some footage of animals birds and locations. David Attenborough beware!!

Kit lens: 24-105/4 is not something I'd normally buy. We have one already, so this one will be sold on.

AF: The jury is still out I guess, but I had no real issues. Many of my soft shots are lens or shutter speed related. When I had the combos right, it was spot on. I used AI Servo a lot.

All in all, I am happy with it.

One the boss arrives and reviews it for herself, then the real answer will be known!!! SWMBO (She who must be obeyed) will have the last say!!

Cheers

Rob

Videos available on: (Look for lecter1963 or lecter)
www.vimeo.com
www.exposureroom.com
www.youtube.com

Nov 26, 2008 at 01:59 AM

dolina
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p.1 #2 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Rob I heard that the 24-105/4 bundled with the 5d2 vs the one on retail are slightly different with the 'kit lens' getting an increment upgrade. would you notice anything to that can prove this?

Would you have a 200/2 IS handy now that you can take some sample images with the 5d2?

Nov 26, 2008 at 02:40 AM

dolina
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p.1 #3 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Nov 26, 2008 at 02:40 AM

John Power
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p.1 #4 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Can you map exposure compensation to a button like you can in the 1 series cameras?

Nov 26, 2008 at 02:45 AM

UCSB
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p.1 #5 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Paolo Dolina wrote:
Rob I heard that the 24-105/4 bundled with the 5d2 vs the one on retail are slightly different with the 'kit lens' getting an increment upgrade. would you notice anything to that can prove this?

Would you have a 200/2 IS handy now that you can take some sample images with the 5d2?

What have you heard about the 24-105?

Nov 26, 2008 at 03:06 AM

lovinglife
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p.1 #6 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

pictures

?
(aren't they worth a 1000 words?? or 5000 with the 5d mk ii)

Nov 26, 2008 at 03:09 AM

lecter
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p.1 #7 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

didn't notice anything different on the 24-104/4

Pictures on

www.pbase.com/lecter (hit recent)
www.fotki.com/lecter (Full size jpgs)
www.vimeo.com (Videos, search on 5D2)
www.exposureroom.com (search lecter1963 or 5D2)
www.youtube.com (lecter1963)

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:07 AM

lovinglife
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p.1 #8 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

http://www.pbase.com/lecter/image/106303833/original

Wow Thats nice!!

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:12 AM

BenV
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p.1 #9 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

why would Canon make the 24-105 different JUST FOR the 5d2? that doesnt make any sense at all...

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:15 AM

ChrisDM
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p.1 #10 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

No, there is only one version of the 24-105.

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:27 AM

Ron Hew
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p.1 #11 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

BenV wrote:
why would Canon make the 24-105 different JUST FOR the 5d2? that doesnt make any sense at all...

+1

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:29 AM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #12 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

BenV wrote:
why would Canon make the 24-105 different JUST FOR the 5d2? that doesnt make any sense at all...

They've done it before. The EOS 10S anniversary edition shipped with a limited edition silver EF 35-135 USM. The EOS IXE had a special edition silver EF 24-85 USM. I vaguely recall the FD system having special edition lenses for new cameras as well. Maybe the EF 24-105 4L IS USM has an extra stripe, golden logo or leather accented case for all the yuppie puppies, doctors and lawyers soon to buy it for baby and doggie snaps...

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:56 AM

lecter
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p.1 #13 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

hey, I have to buy a doggie first!!!
Here in Beijing they'll chase me around to have it for lunch . . .

Nov 26, 2008 at 05:02 AM

Allan Bruce
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p.1 #14 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Did you own the original 5D before this? If so, how do you compare the noise at the same ISO levels? Particularly ISO 6400?

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:21 AM

lecter
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p.1 #15 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

I must admit, with my old 5D, my wife used it most of the time.

She would rarely do any high ISO work, so my commentary on a comparison is based on not a huge amount of actual high ISO work. If I was in the Environment I used one of our 1D's.

It's been sold, as my wife likes the handling of the 1D2 or 1d3 much better for birds and wildlife. The 5D she loved for everything else.

Cheers

Rob

5D2 Videos
http://exposureroom.com/members/Lecter1963.aspx/videos/
http://www.vimeo.com/user822719/videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/lecter1963

Nov 26, 2008 at 11:02 AM

dolina
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p.1 #16 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

It got some updates that didn't warrant a version 2. Read the mad mad speculation at http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/Canon_new_lenses.html
UCSB wrote:
What have you heard about the 24-105?

Nov 26, 2008 at 12:38 PM

Carolyn1250
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p.1 #17 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Thanks for the time in posting your initial thoughts. I guess I just have a simple question. If you love your 5D and really have no desire for the HD/video, live view parts of it (I mean, I'd dabble once I had it simply because I did), would you recommend upgrading? Is it worth it?

Carolyn

Nov 26, 2008 at 03:06 PM

dolina
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p.1 #18 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

lecter based on your initial experience with the EOS 5D Mark II and assuming you were to choose between these three items to buy

EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM
EOS 5D Mark II

What would you get? Is the 5D2 that good of a body to forgo lenses?

Nov 26, 2008 at 03:19 PM

Allan Bruce
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p.1 #19 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Paolo Dolina wrote:
lecter based on your initial experience with the EOS 5D Mark II and assuming you were to choose between these three items to buy

EF 200mm f/2L IS USM
EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM
EOS 5D Mark II

What would you get? Is the 5D2 that good of a body to forgo lenses?

Thats a strange question - what do you currently have?

If for example you have a 1DsIII and a 200/2.8L then the 200/2 would obviously be a better buy than the 5DII ;-)

Nov 26, 2008 at 05:04 PM

Nick Nishizaka
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p.1 #20 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

How was the accuracy/responsiveness of the non-crosstype outer AF points? Same as the 5D MKI?

Nov 26, 2008 at 05:06 PM

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