M8/M9 owners: Who owns a 5D Mark 2? Your verdict?

[eleskin]

I am an M8 owner who may also be interested in a 5d MK 2 for certain situations. My M8 is great, but the 5d MK 2 new for $1,899 may be too hard to pass up, even if I love rangefinders. I would be interested in the 5D with the Zeiss 35 f1.4 if anyone has this combo. So all of you Digital M people here, who owns a 5d MK 2 and how do you like it? How do use it with your digital M? How many of you do not have a 5D MK2 but are very attracted because of the price drop? It is very tempting to me right now!

 

[jsrockit]

I used digital Ms and currently have a 5d MKII I'm selling. As far as a DSLR, it was my favorite one that I've used (D700, D40, 40d). It made sense i.e. controls were in the right spots, the menu system isn't horrible by any means, and the image quality is fantastic. A real bargain used. However, ultimately, just not for me... I can't get into DSLRs.

Have you had the chance to go to a store and play around with one? This might deter you right away if you haven't. Could go the other way too though. 😉

 

[gdmcclintock]

I have the 5DII and use it for events, typically with a Zeiss 35mm Distagon lens or a Canon 24-105 L lens. It's a terrific camera.

 

[Ben Z]

I've got two 5D-1's. 12mp is big enough, IQ is fine (ISO above 800 is slightly better than the M9), and the two bodies cost less than the current discounted price of the MK-2. And the file size is more manageable. And I have no need or desire for video or live-view. I only use the M9 on trips, the rest of the time I prefer the 5D hands-down. I'm sure the MK-2 is great. But if you're devoted to rangefinder viewing and/or obsessed with Leica M glass, you won't be as happy with a Canon as I am.

 

[twopointeight]

The Canon 5DMK2 can do just about anything and is my main camera for editorial and portrait work. My M8.2 makes great files, but I don't mix those CCD files with Canon's CMOS files. The M8.2 is for special projects, often in B&W, as a two lens system, no other cameras involved. And the 5DMK2 is very well sorted out. 1600 and 2500 iso is tight. Never a problem with over 100,000 exposures.

 

[kbg32]

I have a M9 and I use my Canon 5D Mark2 primarily for shooting corporate events and other commercial work as well.

 

[Eric T]

I have an M8 and Mark II. The Mark II and its lenses are so big that I rarely pick it up to use it. BUT if I absolutely have to get a shot, it is the system of choice. It is very versatile.
IF you don't mind the size, you can't go wrong.
These days I mostly use the Fuji X-Pro1.

 

[shadowgun]

Leica M when I want to be pretentious, DSLR when I need to produce and deliver the goods.

 

[eleskin]

Zeiss has my eye

Zeiss has my eye

Ben,

Although I love my M glass, good glass is good glass. I had a chance to rent a 25mm ZM for my M8 and I have to say it is as good as any modern Leica lens. I would expect the same from the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 EOS mount. I do own a 645N Pentax and have used Minolta SLR's in the past. I have no problem adjusting to another system when I have to. Heck, I just restored a B&J 8x10 and mounted a 300 mm Industar barrel lens on a custom shutter mount made from a baby Graflex focal plane shutter. I am not a one camera type of guy! How do you like the Zeiss 35mm on your 5D? I have 2 35's. A 35 v4 Summicron and a 35 1.2 Nokton.

 

[Ben Z]

Ben,

Although I love my M glass, good glass is good glass...How do you like the Zeiss 35mm on your 5D? I have 2 35's. A 35 v4 Summicron and a 35 1.2 Nokton.

I never tried the Zeiss. I've got the EF 35/2 and the v4 Summicron M and they are equally good. Have EF 50/1.8 metal mount and 85/1.8 too. Compare perfectly with my 50 tabbed Summicron M and 90 Summicron. But mostly I tend to use zooms with the Canon: 20-35/3.5-4.5, 28-135 IS and 70-300 IS. The only non-Canon lenses I use with regularity are a Leitz 400/5.6 and a very tiny 20/4 Nikkor non-AI with an adapter.

 

[swoop]

I have a M9 and I use my Canon 5D Mark2 primarily for shooting corporate events and other commercial work as well.

Same here.

I use my 5d mk2 for events where people just stand there and smile, for sports, for crime scenes where the cops push the line back, and recently for corporate headshots.

I use my M9 for about 80% of my work.

 

[wintoid]

I have a Canon 5D2 which gets used only when I need it. Otherwise it's the M digital. One comment about the Zeiss lenses on the 5D2... the mechanical quality of the lens *feels* much higher than the M lenses to me. Focus was never as smooth on my Planar ZM as it is on the ZE.

 

[Archiver]

I am an M8 owner who may also be interested in a 5d MK 2 for certain situations. My M8 is great, but the 5d MK 2 new for $1,899 may be too hard to pass up, even if I love rangefinders. I would be interested in the 5D with the Zeiss 35 f1.4 if anyone has this combo. So all of you Digital M people here, who owns a 5d MK 2 and how do you like it? How do use it with your digital M? How many of you do not have a 5D MK2 but are very attracted because of the price drop? It is very tempting to me right now!

I was a Canon DSLR man for a few years before going M9. First came the 30D, then the 5D Mark II, which I thought was the best thing since sliced bread. Even now I still use the 5D Mark II for work, when compositional accuracy, zoom, very high ISO and full HD video are crucial. I shoot interiors, architecture, products and online commercials, and the 5D Mark II handles all of that.

I don't have the Zeiss 35/1.4, but the Canon 35L is a dream. It focuses quickly, has beautiful bokeh, and renders gorgeously. Again, it's what I use when I know I have to bring home the bacon. But the M9 is what I use for fun, and occasionally for paid work, as it renders very differently due to the lenses and sensor. For example, the Voigtlander 35/1.4 on the M9 has a vintage look with a sense of character. The same can be said for the Zeiss C Sonnar 50/1.5. I don't have anything in Canon that comes close to the look I get from those lenses.

At the moment, I am not confident enough in my rangefinder skills to be able to shoot more work with the M9. That, and I'm very used to the 5D Mark II for work and the M9 for 'fun'/personal shooting. When I'm out for a shooting day, the M9 is with me. When I'm working, the Canon and a swag of L zooms is there.

 

[gavinlg]

Ben,

Although I love my M glass, good glass is good glass. I had a chance to rent a 25mm ZM for my M8 and I have to say it is as good as any modern Leica lens. I would expect the same from the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 EOS mount. I do own a 645N Pentax and have used Minolta SLR's in the past. I have no problem adjusting to another system when I have to. Heck, I just restored a B&J 8x10 and mounted a 300 mm Industar barrel lens on a custom shutter mount made from a baby Graflex focal plane shutter. I am not a one camera type of guy! How do you like the Zeiss 35mm on your 5D? I have 2 35's. A 35 v4 Summicron and a 35 1.2 Nokton.

For what it's worth, the canon primes are optically as good as the zeiss primes - sometimes better - and they have the added benefit of lightning fast & accurate AF.

That being said, the zeiss ZE lenses are quite different mechanically - they're beautifully made, and much slower to use.

 

[Scott_H]

Hi have a 5dii and a bunch Canon lens, the 5d is a great camera but I only use it when I need to get a clean professional looking shot (boring headshots). I take my M6 with me everywhere and use it a lot more than my 5d.
The Canon 6d was just announced, if don't have to use Canon check out the Nikon D600.
: )

 

[lhotse]

I have an M8 and have had, sold and re-bought a 5d Mark 1 - great camera for all of the reasons listed above - just bigger, heavier and not as much fun to shoot as the M.

If you don't need video or super high ISO I would jump all over a 5D mark 1 at the current prices - I paid $550 😀 - that way you can see how you feel about using a DSLR without investing too much - and you might just find that the mark 1 is good enough, personally I prefer its output over the MKII, but still much prefer the shooting experience of the M.

HTH

 

[CronoZero]

I have a 5D2 (actually 2 of them, one is for infrared), and I think I actually prefer the ergonomics of the 5D2 to the M9 I'm renting. This isn't a rangefinder vs SLR view (I generally prefer the rangefinder), I just think that the Canon does a better job of presenting relevant info when shooting.

In terms of lenses, I've rented the Zeiss 35/2 and 35/1.4. The f/2 is a very good lens. The f/1.4 is extremely special, but is heavy and large (I remember it being comparable to the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 Mark I). The huge aperture is nice, but most of the time, the f/2 will be a better lens than most people actually need, while also being less expensive. I prefer the Zeiss 35 f/1.4 to the Canon one, but I remember the comparison being very close (a bit more IQ vs weather sealing and AF).

The 5D2 definitely looks more imposing though, especially with the battery grip. On vacation in London and Paris, other people stared at my 5D2 with 24-70 and gave me a wide berth or kept saying "wow, look at his camera" even if other people had a 5d3 or 5d2. However, no one (except me) acknowledged/bothered the M9, M8, and M6 users I saw. Heck, my friend and I were in a car dealership, he was using a 5D3 with the Zeiss Makro Planar 50 f/2 while I had the M9 with 75 Summilux (we were taking pictures of a Ferrari that was randomly in the dealership). Friend got offered a gig to shoot a concert, the guy didn't even look at me, even when I changed lenses like 3 times.

In any case, I think the ease of use of the M9 is over rated as I haven't found it to be as convenient as people claim (slow write speeds, slow menu, slow image preview, awful screen, not very helpful viewfinder info, terrible battery, meter is easily fooled). My Zeiss Ikon has been the best rangefinder I've ever used so far. If only Zeiss or Cosina would just sell a full frame digital version of that, I'd be extremely happy getting one.

 

[moreammo]

I've got an M9 and Mark II. I use the M9 for fun stuff and when i need a lighter kit. I use Mark II for when i NEED auto focus or a tilt / shift lens. My wife loves the Mark II for taking pics of our daughter and I love it for video... really for me it breaks down like this.

MKII = Video, Speed, perspective, full auto
M9 = 🙂 everything else

 

[Arvay]

I've got an M9 and Mark II. I use the M9 for fun stuff and when i need a lighter kit. I use Mark II for when i NEED auto focus or a tilt / shift lens. My wife loves the Mark II for taking pics of our daughter and I love it for video... really for me it breaks down like this.

MKII = Video, Speed, perspective, full auto
M9 = 🙂 everything else

And now M-E - all included...

 

[jamato8]

I have the 5D, 5DII and the M9. The M9 and 5D are my favorite for image purity, my idea of it, and the 5DII more digital but more useable in commercial functions. I use what works for the current situation. The 6D, being smaller, should add to the mix though I am not crazy about the lack of focussing spots but the price should be right at around 2 thousand.