braddo_99 wrote:
Just in case anyone else wants a 5D2 and has access to an airplane, there are three sitting on the shelf in Dixons Heathrow for 2600 GBP :-) They clearly don't know what these are - when I asked the price they checked and were incredulous... me too :-)

yeah but no tax or duties so it's a STEAL!

jamato8 wrote:
I know that different CF cards have been mentioned in this thread but I am now wondering with a little more trial and error, which CF cards appear to give the best price to performance?

I also notice that there are firewire readers, which would seem to speed things up.

the adorama discount + sandisk rebate for SanDisk 8GB Extreme III for $4 seemed decent to me....

RDKirk wrote:
I am wondering how my existing Canon lenses will perform with the more detailed sensor, I've been reluctantly wedded to crop cameras for a few years, and have no idea what to expect with such a high definition full frame. Anyone here advise me whether I will need to upgrade any lenses for the new camera?:

24L f1.4 Mk 1
35mm f2
50mm f1.4
85mm f1.8
135L f2

I still say, as an old film user, that this is a gearheaded issue that is totally overblown.

We had the same (and inferior) lenses with film sharper than a 21mp sensor decades ago, and we had the option of cropping away the corners even then--we even had APS cropped cameras--the original APS cropped cameras.

APS in film failed. It failed utterly. Nobody thought it had any kind of advantage in making lenses look better, nobody thought full 24x36mm had any kind of disadvantage. If someone had said then, "full frame puts too much stress on the lenses," he'd have been laughed away.

The only reason APS got a foothold in DSLRs was because it was cheaper, and after that people invented all kinds of rationale as to why it was actually better--the "if all you have is lemons, make lemonade" rationale.

If people actually get out and start taking and (for the love of Gene Smith), start printing pictures instead of having forum "thought debates" people would "get the picture" and half of these debates would go away.

Then we could start debating serious unresolved issues like whether H&W or Tech Pan produces greater resolution with the same dynamic range.

most people also printed 3x5's and saw 99% of what they took that way and often thelab didn't even make a sharp 3x5

jamato8 wrote:
I went to order it but then noticed that it said "on the way to warehouse" so even though it now says in stock it doesn't appear they really are.

What is the free shipping they use? Is it two day? Thank you for any information.

If you call the retailers, they can often tell you how many are on their waiting list. For example, I ordered my second 5DII from onecall.com. They told me that there were about 10 orders at the time. Mine shipped about a week later. It wouldn't surprise me if Canon was allocating cameras based on retailer backlog.

most people also printed 3x5's and saw 99% of what they took that way and often thelab didn't even make a sharp 3x5

Not those of us who were arguing over H&W versus Tech Pan.

Allen's Camera in Pennsylvania had plenty of 5D2's last week. Bodies and kits. I called them on Wednesday... had it on Thursday. They were great to deal with. Here's a link to their store. They had everything I needed and were very knowledgeable on everything I asked them. There were recommended on this forum before.

http://www.allenscamera.com/

Matt

Murphy's Camera in Louisville, KY had several kit and body only Mk II's on Saturday.

They are a good shop, and very helpful. I have bought all my cameras, and most of my lens from them. Ask for Earl or Louis.

http://www.murphyscamera.com/

Great thanks!

Has anyone figured out a way yet to get better focus on the video section and an override of the exposure to manual while using the video?

RDKirk wrote:


most people also printed 3x5's and saw 99% of what they took that way and often thelab didn't even make a sharp 3x5

Not those of us who were arguing over H&W versus Tech Pan.


true

Hmmmm,

"most people also printed 3x5's and saw 99% of what they took that way and often thelab didn't even make a sharp 3x5 - Not those of us who were arguing over H&W versus Tech Pan"

Funnily enough I've hardly ever had enprints made of my photographs, and I've never argued over H&W versus Tech Pan.

As someone about to graduate from crop to full frame I simply wondered how the corner performance of my old film lenses would look on the 5D2, a camera marketed on the basis of having a very detailed sensor.

Sorry if this makes me a "gearhead". Clearly I will simply have to run my own tests when my 5D2 eventually arrives.

Your question resonates with me. I got my 5D MkII last week and was shocked to see pronounced vignetting from both 24mm f:2.8 and 35mm f:1.4 L. It is stong enough to be very noticeable on the camera LCD. Using the in-cam correction makes a big difference, but still it was a shock to see such a well-regarded and otherwise superb lens as 35L do this. Let's see if others feel the same way, or if it is user error. BTW, my 2 Zeiss lenses exhibit none of it at all.

Sorry if this makes me a "gearhead". Clearly I will simply have to run my own tests when my 5D2 eventually arrives.

When your 5D2 eventually arrives, I would recommend immediately taking pictures and printing them rather than doing tests. Judging a camera on the basis of tests rather than the pictures it takes what makes one a "gearhead."

don't skip the dead pixel test.

don't skip micro af adust testing with all of your lenses.

abam wrote:
don't skip the dead pixel test.

don't skip micro af adust testing with all of your lenses.



Yeah, being able to micro adjust for up to 20 lenses is one of my favorite features of the 5D2. At first I completely ignored this feature trying to learn how to use the camera (big change from my 1D2N) along with the bells and whistles. But when I finally got around the micro adjustments for my lenses....WOW. And kudos to Canon for being able to register adjustments for non-Canon lenses. My Sigma 50mm f/1.4 took a fair amount of compenstation, but now the AF is spot on.

I've been doing assignments on Sports for this month and did it on a major major basis with the 5D mark ii. It's amazing how the servo feels much more improved over the mark i (even though the focusing module is unchanged)and the colors literally pop up. Just fresh from the oven to show how amazing it is, the servo that is.



If anyone's sitting on the fence on this one, I'll say get it! I had no idea a relatively "slow" camera could get the servo correct in Sports.

Triste wrote:
If anyone's sitting on the fence on this one, I'll say get it! I had no idea a relatively "slow" camera could get the servo correct in Sports.
Agreed - I thought my camera was malfunctioning in servo this weekend. I tried it for the first time on a whim tracking my dog fetching the stick. An Australian Shepard can haul when he wants to! I tracked him running to my son (oblique) and to me (direct on). Seriously - the old 5D used to hunt a bit if you got off even a tad - this thing was so smooth I thought it wasn't working. Gave me crispy whiskers all the way in. I was truly surprised and impressed!

Are the grips available?

John Caldwell wrote:
Are the grips available?

Grips are readily available, sadly spare batteries are not.

Ok, I ordered a 5D II and an extra battery. 3 days until it arrives. :^)

Where did you find a battery, please?

At Murphy's above I got a camera and battery. At the Allen store once it was posted they had cameras and batteries they sold out in a couple of days they told me. I called them first about a camera and the woman I spoke with said someone posted they had cameras and batteries and they got hit with a huge number of orders for both.

I know I posted this before but I have had problems with some cards and not with others.

In the 8gb cards what ones are working out and reliable?

Thanks for any suggestions. I have used Ridata and used them extensibly in my 1.5 years in China but I am also looking for what is best now. Oh, and what fire wire 800 readers do you guys like?

Relax, once the crush of demand by the first adopters is over, there will be plenty of cameras and prices will certainly be better.

I agree with that but I bet the price will stay up for a while. Also when compared to my 5D and the price I paid, the cost of the 5D II seems pretty good. I think Canon had this all in mind and may have had a narrower mark-up.

jamato8 wrote:
I know I posted this before but I have had problems with some cards and not with others.

In the 8gb cards what ones are working out and reliable?

Thanks for any suggestions. I have used Ridata and used them extensibly in my 1.5 years in China but I am also looking for what is best now. Oh, and what fire wire 800 readers do you guys like?


I've been using SanDisk Extreme III's. 30 mb/s, solid performer, it includes a rescue package CD.

No issues except I decided to get a couple of the 16GB cards while they are on sale at Canadian Best Buy for $99.

8GB fills up very quickly with the 5D2.

I also just invested in a SanDisk CF card reader which is way quicker than the one I had. Unfortunately by lap top only has a 4 pin firewire port.