5D II - Initial Thoughts

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Archive 2008 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

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

I have a knack for asking out of this world questions

Some items I have are

10D, 40D, 5D
16-35L II, 70-200 f2.8L IS, 85L II

What worries me about the 5D2 is it may have issues like what happened with the 1D3. So do I go with lenses that appears to get 94% or better ratings on FM or a body that will come out within two weeks time in my part of the woods.
Allan Bruce wrote:
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 05:20 PM

garyvot
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p.2 #2 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Paolo Dolina wrote:
I have a knack for asking out of this world questions

Nov 26, 2008 at 05:25 PM

Yohan Pamudji
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p.2 #3 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Personally, if I had to choose between buying a 200 f/2L IS and ANY camera Canon has out right now, it'd be the 200 f/2L IS any day, and twice on Sunday.

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:05 PM

dolina
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p.2 #4 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

I guess lens wins. Now back to the 5D2...

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:07 PM

orangefirefish
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p.2 #5 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Paolo Dolina wrote:

What worries me about the 5D2 is it may have issues like what happened with the 1D3.

Hah, don't worry about it. The AF is as basic as it can already be. It's a tried and true system, so you won't see any surprises over the original 5d AF.

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:22 PM

bobbytan
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p.2 #6 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

The 200/2L is literally twice the price of the 5D Mk II. I would rather get the 5D II + 135L + 24L II or 85L II.

Yohan Pamudji wrote:
Personally, if I had to choose between buying a 200 f/2L IS and ANY camera Canon has out right now, it'd be the 200 f/2L IS any day, and twice on Sunday.

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:40 PM

pcho
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p.2 #7 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

bobbytan wrote:
The 200/2L is literally twice the price of the 5D Mk II. I would rather get the 5D II + 135L + 24L II or 85L II.

Nov 26, 2008 at 07:55 PM

bobbytan
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p.2 #8 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

pcho wrote:
bobbytan wrote:
The 200/2L is literally twice the price of the 5D Mk II. I would rather get the 5D II + 135L + 24L II or 85L II.

Yohan Pamudji wrote:
Personally, if I had to choose between buying a 200 f/2L IS and ANY camera Canon has out right now, it'd be the 200 f/2L IS any day, and twice on Sunday.

Hi Bobby,

I would agree with Yohan as long as the 200mm is the focal length that you need to shoot with. Camera depreciates and new model get released all the time as technology improves. I would get the 200L F2 first. I have the 200L f2 and I would not trade it for any camera.

Perry

Fair enough. But I would get the 5D II + 85L II + 135L + 1.4x TC II .... as it seems like I am getting a whole lot of high quality gear for the price of just one 200/2L lens! FWIW, I do have a 200/1.8L, along with the other lenses mentioned - and I'm waiting to receive my 5D II.

Nov 26, 2008 at 08:34 PM

lecter
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p.2 #9 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Carolyn1250 wrote:
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

No

Wait until it's cheaper. Then it's worth it. If you current tool is working, then why replace it?

Nov 26, 2008 at 11:31 PM

bobbytan
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p.2 #10 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

lecter wrote:
Carolyn1250 wrote:
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

No

Wait until it's cheaper. Then it's worth it. If you current tool is working, then why replace it?

That's an honest answer albeit a personal view.

I have little interest in the HD video myself, and I don't make a cent from my images, but I consider the 5D II to be a very significant upgrade so, to me, it's worth it. Sure, a lower price would be nice, but seeing that there is a long waiting list for this camera, it will be a while before you see a significant price drop.

What I like about the 5D II is the new 21mp sensor which is supposedly even better than the 1Ds Mk III (great for large prints and cropping), the useable high ISO with low noise (terrific for low light), the high-definition VGA screen (like having a Polaroid), the live view (for accurate and critical focussing and DOF preview), the self-cleaning sensor (must have), micro AF adjust (to fine-tune all your good glass) .... plus the 30-something additional upgrades and tweaks.

Bottom line .... if you can afford to upgrade to the 5D II and you have some nice L-lenses to take full advantage of the high resolution, I think it's well worth the money. Heck, I paid $3,200 for the 5D when it first came out - and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Edited on Nov 27, 2008 at 02:25 PM · View previous versions

Nov 26, 2008 at 11:58 PM

dolina
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p.2 #11 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

bobbytan wrote:
The 200/2L is literally twice the price of the 5D Mk II. I would rather get the 5D II + 135L + 24L II or 85L II.

Just to weigh in

135L is ripe for an update as it is almost 13 years old
24L II is coming 1-3 months from today
I also have the 85L II.

But you do bring a good point. I could get the 5D2 + 14L II and have some coin left for a burger or two. Not to mention the 14L II is "older" and probably discounted better than a newer lens.

Nov 27, 2008 at 05:27 AM

Mike Boreham
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p.2 #12 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Lecter,

Apologies if this is mentioned and I missed it.

Assume these are jpegs "out of the camera". I think the 50D applies NR progressively strongly by default as ISO increases. Is the 5D mk2 the same?

If Canon can do good NR and retain detail this doesn't matter, it's the end result that counts, but it does matter when trying to compare with other cams/pics.

The 25600 is pretty good (http://www.pbase.com/lecter/image/106303833/original). Guess the banding in the bg is not surprising at that.

Thanks

Nov 27, 2008 at 06:00 AM

Matt OHarver
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p.2 #13 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

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

Wow Thats nice!!

Does that shot have banding in it?

Matt

Nov 27, 2008 at 06:47 AM

scott f
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p.2 #14 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

What's with Canon and Banding? The 50D is filled with it at high ISO's and now the 5Dm2? I wonder if the lower "hi" iso's are loaded with banding as well?

Nov 27, 2008 at 12:54 PM

michael49
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p.2 #15 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

scott f wrote:
What's with Canon and Banding? The 50D is filled with it at high ISO's and now the 5Dm2? I wonder if the lower "hi" iso's are loaded with banding as well?

The posted image is ISO 25,600 in horrible lighting! To not expect banding in these conditions is expecting way too much.

Nov 27, 2008 at 01:11 PM

lecter
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p.2 #16 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Paolo Dolina wrote:
bobbytan wrote:
The 200/2L is literally twice the price of the 5D Mk II. I would rather get the 5D II + 135L + 24L II or 85L II.

Nov 27, 2008 at 02:46 PM

lecter
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p.2 #17 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

michael49 wrote:
scott f wrote:
What's with Canon and Banding? The 50D is filled with it at high ISO's and now the 5Dm2? I wonder if the lower "hi" iso's are loaded with banding as well?

The posted image is ISO 25,600 in horrible lighting! To not expect banding in these conditions is expecting way too much.

Agree. It was almost pitch black where I took it. The image is a miracle really.

Nov 27, 2008 at 02:49 PM

Carolyn1250
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p.2 #18 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Thanks for the responses. I guess I feel a lot of it is to be determined. I'm curious as to whether the IQ at high ISO and/or crop situations, etc., will truly be as good as the 1Ds III. I love Canon, really, but some of the early production cameras sometimes are not the best. My partner just got a 50D and I'm not all that impressed really. Granted, the tool really is dependent on the person behind the lens and I've seen people with Rebels do stuff that blows away the 1Series crowd.

Money IS an object. I cannot just plunk down $2700 and I'll have to sell my 5D probably to make it happen.

I'm shooting weekly and because of that, my present camera decreases a bit in re-sale daily. But that's okay.

So I'm gonna wait for a while. I'm fine with waiting a good 6 months or more to see what prices do, or find a coupon or whatever. I'm going to Paris in May and I'm sure I'll reevaluate it all 'round that time.

So c'mon everyone, head over to the Photo of the Week/Month and the "gallery" threads and show me what the camera can do once you get it!

Happy shooting (and Thanksgiving)!

Carolyn

Nov 27, 2008 at 05:58 PM

JohnLL
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p.2 #19 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

bobbytan wrote:
<big snip>
Heck, I paid $3,200 for the 5D when it first came out - and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Me too (nearly), but now I still have it. I'm salivating after the 5D2, but I can wait until the price drops a bit, because the old 5D does *nearly* as well on *most* counts ... for my needs anyway. But I'll probably get one in 6 months or a year or so.

Nov 27, 2008 at 06:18 PM

lecter
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p.2 #20 · 5D II - Initial Thoughts

Carolyn1250 wrote:

So c'mon everyone, head over to the Photo of the Week/Month and the "gallery" threads and show me what the camera can do once you get it!

Happy shooting (and Thanksgiving)!

Carolyn

We're heading to the Shanxi Province tomorrow to shoot some Bhudda Efigies, a hanging temple and some nice scenery with the 5D2 and 1Ds3

Some comparisons may be made.

Cheers

Rob

Nov 27, 2008 at 11:56 PM

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