Mel Gross wrote:
How many times have I said that I'm NOT talking about video capture? Don't you read my posts before you respond to them?
It's been VERY clear that I'm ONLY talking about Still bursts.
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Yes I did read your post, and if you look carefully I was responding to your statement that the cards were just barely fast enough for video, or least that's how I read this:
"It's fast enough for video, but just barely."
To me, this suggests to a new user who is thinking about purchasing a 5DII that they will need the fastest classes of cards to shoot video which is patently incorrect. Perhaps this is not what you wished to get across, but it's what I got out of it, and I assume so would other users. I just wanted to set the record straight as to what is needed for video capture on the 5DII according to Canon, and to qualify that with real world samples.
As far as the fastest cards being needed for quick buffer recovery during high FPS bursts, we agree on this.
igcollection wrote:
I preordered two 5d mk2 from Houston Camera Exchange on 11/05 and I was number 6 on their list. They got two bodies and two kits last week. I guess that puts me down to number 4 currently. I called on friday and they have no idea when they are getting more of them. They said maybe sometime next week.
Anyone else ordered from them? I get my stuff from them all the time when I don't order through B&H. They are great.
I ordered from the other Houston camera store, Camera Co-op, on 10/24 and put down a $500 deposit. They called me yesterday, and I picked it up. I was number four on their list for a body, and I got the last body they received. They also had a kit awaiting pickup from a pre order.
Talking with the owner, David Marsden, I learned that they still had deposits on some number of additional bodies and kits. David concluded, after conversation with the Canon rep, that it would be mid January before he would have a body for "stock".
BTW, a converted RAW file from this camera--with no adjustment layers, just converted--is 120MB.
Card capacities (RAW): 4GB 98 pics at ISO25600 or 146 pics at ISO100.
And now I see what some of you described as a mushy shutter button. It is mushy. Why was it designed that way? It's less of a concern for those of us who use the back button for focus, but it is surprisingly easy to accidentally take a shot.
One other observation. Even though this is my wife's camera, I was able to look through it and take some test shots. It is nice to see lenses look like their focal lengths. At last, the 28-135 is a 28-135. The 85mm F1.8 has its proper AOV. And that Sigma 12-24, the world's widest full frame rectilinear lens...what a view. I just may have to borrow this camera once in a while!
Was that what was reported from a freshly formatted card, or what you achieved in actual shooting?
My 5D2 (set to regular--large--RAW) estimates 137 exposures with a freshly formatted 4GB card, and 78 exposures with a freshly formatted 2GB card.
Depending on what you shoot, that number could change somewhat. Images with a lot of detail (which includes noise in high ISO shots) are larger than images with a lot of bright-toned blank areas.
Enthusiast forums filled with guys, I should have guessed :P She's my other half, and the camera she's holding is indeed very nice (if a little heavy).. IQ is stunning though.
Valerie S wrote:
30mm f1.4? I haven't been following Canon or the boards erecently, but did they release a new fast prime?
My bad, I meant 35mm f1.4 I knew it was that when i typed it, but I was reading about the Sigma at the time so it must have stuck!
RDKirk wrote:
Was that what was reported from a freshly formatted card, or what you achieved in actual shooting?
My 5D2 (set to regular--large--RAW) estimates 137 exposures with a freshly formatted 4GB card, and 78 exposures with a freshly formatted 2GB card.
Depending on what you shoot, that number could change somewhat. Images with a lot of detail (which includes noise in high ISO shots) are larger than images with a lot of bright-toned blank areas.
Good question. I looked again, and realized the number of photos depends on the ISO setting. I had it set to H2 when I read 98 from a newly formatted 4GB. At ISO 100, it shows 146. At L (50), I get an indication of 134. Apparently there is additional information stored when the ISO deviates from the designed ISO100.
jray wrote:
Yes I did read your post, and if you look carefully I was responding to your statement that the cards were just barely fast enough for video, or least that's how I read this:
"It's fast enough for video, but just barely."
To me, this suggests to a new user who is thinking about purchasing a 5DII that they will need the fastest classes of cards to shoot video which is patently incorrect. Perhaps this is not what you wished to get across, but it's what I got out of it, and I assume so would other users. I just wanted to set the record straight as to what is needed for video capture on the 5DII according to Canon, and to qualify that with real world samples.
As far as the fastest cards being needed for quick buffer recovery during high FPS bursts, we agree on this. ...Show more →
If that was the impression I left people with, I correct it now.
Even the older, slower Extreme III cards are fast enough for video. I'll leave it at that for those cards. But the other impression I did want to leave is that some are thinking that they are also fast enough for the primary purpose of using the camera, which for most, will be the only reason for buying it, other than to play with the video a bit.
We agree that theses, and other cards that are not among the fastest, won't work well for this purpose, under certain circumstances, but I felt, and still do, that there are some new users who won't get that, and so I made a strong point about it.
My daughter was using an Ultra II card that we had lying around, and complained to me that her 40D wasn't able to get the bursts that Canon said it could. When I gave here one of my Extreme IV cards, it was fine, though that card is faster than what camera needs.
I see a lot of mass market stores still selling the now ancient 4x cards for D-SLR's, and I cringe, because people buying them for even the cheapest models won't come close to specs., esp. as those cameras have such a small buffer, and rely on the card for even their slow burst speeds past a couple of shots.
Enthusiast forums filled with guys, I should have guessed :P She's my other half, and the camera she's holding is indeed very nice (if a little heavy).. IQ is stunning though.
ahh! Just got my camera! I'm a basketcase, due to ordering it from a place I've never done business with, late tracking numbers by fedex, and then getting a delievery notification today from FedEx, and no camera.
I called and they said it had been delivered and *person's name* had signed for it. They told me to ask my neighbors if they signed for it! I finally went to the office of my complex to check if it was there, or to check and see if they new the person's name, but they had it thankfully and all is good. Just waiting on my battery to charge.
Picked up mine yesterday, though didn't play too much with it yet... Just a quick fiddle, and setup, and fitment into my main travel gear bag. Did a few quick tests for 'black dots' but doesn't appear mine suffers from it (though tests aren't what I'd call inconclussive.
sailingpilot wrote:
BTW, a converted RAW file from this camera--with no adjustment layers, just converted--is 120MB.
120 MB - yikes! Converted to what kind of file - TIFF?
It was a PSD file (16 bit) with no layers, so a TIFF would be comparable.
The good news, which is also directly the result of the image size, is that the native converted file is a 10.5x15.5 inch print at 360dpi (for Epson printers) or 12.5x18.7 inches at 300dpi (for Canon printers). That's a really big print for no resizing! So 17x25 on the Epson 3800 will be no problem at all. My expectations are pretty high here, considering the very high quality prints I already get at 17x25 from the 40D and the 20D.
The battery grip is now shipping. I just received mine from Adorama--at $279.95, by the way. B&H originally estimated $379, but I see they've dropped their price as well.
I expect that with video [added: And useable Live View], there will be more battery grips sold for the 5D2 than for the 5D1.
[added: The batteries and battery charger are still back-ordered.]
Hey to those out there who have owned a 5d and now the new 5DII, do the 5DII files have "the dreamy look" of the classic 5D? I am curious to get feedback since I don't think even a 1DSII or 1DSIII have that dreaminess to them, or am I just nuts?
Jammer112 wrote:
Hey to those out there who have owned a 5d and now the new 5DII, do the 5DII files have "the dreamy look" of the classic 5D? I am curious to get feedback since I don't think even a 1DSII or 1DSIII have that dreaminess to them, or am I just nuts?
The files look like 1DsIII files. Not sure what you mean by that "dreamy" look, but the files look like top quality low noise full frame files (a category I would place 5D files in as well). If you like the 5D, you will likely be happier with 5DII files.
Ok, just got mine (5D2) this afternoon. I'm not a pro, (just a handy amateur), and I’ve been reading this thread since day one and accordingly my expectations were not overly high ( I am English too, so it takes quite a bit to impress me, glass half empty and all that).
So, I’ve just messed around at home with the new body. I have a 20D and that was my intro to the DSLR world. These are my initial views of this new bit of kit.
Feel:
Similar to a 20D but somehow more substantial. All the buttons and levers stick a bit more as they are so new and my 20D is nearly five years old, but it feels nice and familiar.
Shutter button:
What are you guys going on about? It feels just the same as the 20D. It’s fine.
Shutter noise:
Different but kind of efficient sounding. Not at all annoying. It sounds like a quality machine in action.( I was expecting something weird from the posts, again, what is up with some of you guys?)
The black dot thingy:
I gave it a go with my 50L but no joy. No black dots yet but I’ll keep trying.
LCD:
Truly amazing. A HUGE difference from my 20D and its like looking at a mini-laptop display. Sharp and bright. A quantum leap.
Image quality:
Just amazing. My 20D feels like a point-and-shoot in comparison. When I chimped in to look at shots of some Christmas tree decorations there was no loss of detail like I’m used to.
Sharp all the way through ( 24-105, 16-35II, 24-70, 50L). I’m wondering if my 20D is broken? The 5D2 is just amazing on IQ, the colours are fantastic. Everything is so sharp without any PP.
I’d post pictures but I saw the slaughtering another guy got when he did.
Let’s just say that I did nothing in DPP with the 24-105, which is a lens I rarely used and I was blown away with my initial results. This camera brings a whole new appreciation to my lenses.
I am well impressed. Don’t worry about the nay-sayers, this is a great bit of kit.
High ISO:
Mmm, I’m impressed with a few shots at some of the weird settings like 1250 but still, I’m thinking flash is better. It is a huge improvement on the 20D which I thought was limited to a usable 800.
I went outside in the dark with my 50L and I wasn’t overly impressed but I’ll try my zooms to see what I really think.
As we say in England (I’m now a proud Canadian!) I am well chuffed with the 5D2.
This has to be a perfect camera for the wedding guys. This will do me for the next 4 years or so!
....... and she's cute too! 
I knew it was that when i typed it, but I was reading about the Sigma at the time so it must have stuck! 
