5D Mark II Unveiled

should i just give in to the siren call of the relatively affordable, hi-res ff 35mm sensor? or should i bite my lip, be happy with my medium format film cameras, and hope that one day, i too can own a mfdb?
 
wow THIS is the one I have been waiting for. Bought a 350D two years ago and was quickly frustrated by the crappy handling, awful AF and postage stamp viewfinder. Been waiting for a killer FF at a decent price point to work interchangeably with my Eos 3 bodies. Now here is and with 21.1mp!!!
 
Looks like a nice camera for me too. Up to iso 25600! Who said the 5D lacks a pop-up flash? These cameras no longer need flash!

Too bad though I bought a 40D only 9 months ago and now that the 50D is out the 40D has depreciated quite a lot. I would have to sell a couple of my RFs and I'm not sure I'm up to that ;)

I think it's better to resist the hype and maybe wait another year or two for the 5D Mk III.
 
Looks the same old horrible Canon ergonomics, but 21MP is pretty impressive to say the least! The game of leapfrog with Nikon continues!
 
Steveh said:
Looks the same old horrible Canon ergonomics, but 21MP is pretty impressive to say the least! The game of leapfrog with Nikon continues!
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I like the canon interface/menu system MUCH more than the nikons.
Those nikon menus are built for people with some sort of schizophrenic-like disease.
 
Steveh said:
Looks the same old horrible Canon ergonomics, but 21MP is pretty impressive to say the least! The game of leapfrog with Nikon continues!
Click to expand...

Ergonomics is a matter of opinion, of course. I currently have a 40D and used to own a 20D, and found them both to be very usuable :).

I wouldn't mind having a FF digital, especially at 2700 USD, but given that I view my images almost exclusely on a computer monitor, the 40D is more than adequate. I can't believe how cheap these FF cameras are getting- maybe I will break down and buy one in a few years.
 
dexdog said:
Ergonomics is a matter of opinion, of course. I currently have a 40D and used to own a 20D, and found them both to be very usuable :).
.
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I know I know - should have added an "IMHO" ;).

For some reason I just can't get on with Canon SLR's - they never seem to fit my hands properly - Nikons are "just right" for me in terms of handling, but I accept that's a personal thing!
 
I recently sold my 20D and 1D MkII and bought a 5D (current model of course) together with a M4-P for my more creative work.

I am utterly impressed with the 5D despite this sensor being older than the 1D the image quality is much better! Hardly any correction needed straight from RAW into DPP. Can't imagine what the new 5D MkII will do.

This week I will finally get a lens for the Leica and can start using it. Hopefully it will get my creative juices flowing and bring the joy back into photography.
The DSLR feels just to much like WORK...
 
I must admit I am very excited about the 5D mark II and need to restrain myself from buying one straight away.

Don't get me wrong, it won't be a replacement for my M8. Most sensible people realize different cameras have different strengths. For me the M8 is a beautiful camera which is ideal for when you want a small but very good quality rangefinder. The lenses are way better than Canon lenses. Without seeking to rovoke a fight, I don't think the sensor is as good as Canon's existing one in the 5D, especially so far as noise is concerned (where I can take excellent photos with my 5D at 1500 iso, I don't like to even go up to 640 on the M8), and of course the Canon sensor is full frame.

Being a bit of an equipment junky I keep experimenting with different cameras. Currently I am enjoying using Mamiya medium format cameras. But with a good quality sensor, and now over 21MP, the 5D mark II has to be considered one of the most attrractive cameras out there. I have been getting into studio work recently, and it is another area I where my M8 would not be first choice - rather the 5D and sometimes the Mamiya RZ67 Pro II. If anything I fear the 5D mark II will replace my medium format cameras (which I will keep but use less) if I get it, not my M8. In the past I had thought the ideal combo for travel was my M8 and Mamiya 7. Now the 5D mark II will be very tempting especially given its versitility with high ISOs (the new 5D mark II promises to be good quality at 3200 and above).

I recently purchases a Leica 28mm R lens and adaptor for my 5D, and I have a 50mm R lens too, so I could of course use those with the 5D when the occassion demanded a better quality lens than some of the Canon lenses. If Zeiss bring out a range that will make the 5D mark II even more attractive. I think some of the Canon L lenses are very good, but when I compare them to Mamiya on a MF camera they do not stand up.

So whilst I don't regeret shelling out the large sum for an M8 at the beginning of this year, and some lenses to go with it, and whilst I have only brought my 5D back ou for some commercial work and experimenting in a studio and macro work, I would love to get my hands on the 5D mark II and I think it is bordering on the churlish to knock the camera. As someone who has invested in a few ks worth of Canon glass I am also delighted they may now have stolen back the mantle from Nikon for best semi-professional/serious enthusiast DSLR.

Nick
 
Nick,

Those eos fit Zeiss lenses could be the answer for the wide end. I am supremely happy with my 135 f2L, 70-200f4 etc but the wide primes are perhaps not up to par. With the new 24 1.4 MkII, I would bet a 35 1.4 MKII follows soon. Still, I am looking fwd to putting some Velvia thru my new Mamiya 7 and suspect that will keep me quite happy for a while ;)
 
Indeed. I agree about the 135 f2 and also I like the 70-200 f2.8L (which I have) although its heavy. I think the 16-35mm f2.8L wide zoom is bretty good but agree about the need for Zeiss primes.

I just realised -smeone correct me of I am wrong - one advantage with the 5DmkII I had not previously factored in. This 'live view' thing should mean (shouldn't it) that when I put my Leica 28mm R lens on the camera and stop down I will be bale to see the photograph (because when you do it throught the viewfinder it becomes too dark).

Also agree re Velvia in the Mamiya 7, I shot some in Italy last month and it looks like a painting.
 
I would wait a month and pick up a cheap original 5D.

Nothing wrong with it, great camera. I doubt that the MkII is going to be some huge order of magnitude better in the image files it produces.
 
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