Which DSLR for 35mm and low light?

I have a 5DmkII and I think the 35L is magical. If you are looking for a cheaper solution I think the D700 with the 35mm Ais will be good as well.
 
JSU said:
When exactly was it that the 5D was the only full frame 35mm dslr on the market, given that the EOS 1DS MkI & MkII preceded the 5D?

I used a 5D for 3 years and now use a D3 which shares the same imaging sensor and processor with the D700. My D3 files are superior, at all ISO ratings, to those I shot with the 5D. I also feel my Nikon lenses are better both in image quality and construction, than the Canon lenses I used to have, which included numerous L glass lenses.

I shoot only RAW files and with PhotoShop I can get almost any tone possible from either a Canon or a Nikon. The tones of either camera are so variable in post that this isn't an issue for me.
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Ease up, I'm just playing with you nikon guys. I happen to think the d700 is a great camera. I had a d300 for a while.

I meant that the 5d was the first AFFORDABLE non-grip dslr on the market.

d700 and d3 are a little better at high ISOs than the old 5d, and so they should be. They also cost alot more, and you don't get to use the wonderful L primes.
I personally don't really like nikon primes, because well, they don't have any really fast ones that aren't screwdrive AF, which is just agricultural. Canon has ones in all my favorite focal lengths in USM, most weathersealed, and they're all pretty special optically.

*all my opinion of course, all the 35mm dslrs now are awesome - you wouldn't really go wrong with any.
 
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JSU said:
The only Nikon lens I have that exhibits any vignetting on my D3 at all, RAW or JPEG, is my older 55mm/f-1.2 when I shoot it wide open at or near infinity. But I have this lens only because it is an f-1.2 and as such it is used wide open 99% of the time.
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From DPreview:
Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AF-S @f1.4 - 2.3 stops darker in corners than center
Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AF @f1.8 - 1.7 stops darker in corners
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @f2.8 through the range - 2-2.7 stops darker in corners

The canons equiv lenses are similar, as are the sonys.
All 35mm full frame DSLRs show vignetting, it's just completely blown out of proportion.
 
i did a comparison this summer as i needed to get into the dslr game for work.
i rented a 5d II and a d3 on different weekends shooting festivals. i shot bonnaroo with a 5d II and rothbury with a d3.

there was no comparison for me, the d3 was king. firstly that ability to back up the cards inside the camera, HUGE. i rock out with 2 32gb cards and dont worry about a damn thing.

secondly the low light capabilities are HUGE. the 5d II sucks in comparison, iso 6400 is completely useful and i generally bump it up that far whenever i get in a situation which calls for it.

i grabbed a 14-24 and a d3 and im in biz.

i rent tele lenses until the new 70-200 comes out as the old one really sucks full frame, the vignetting is horrid.

anyhow -- if i was you id grab a leica - r summilux 35 and a d3 (or d700 if you dont need to back up your cards) and call it a day. when it comes down to it i love my m cameras, but they're just not capable of what the d3 has to offer.

just so you know i'm never without an m body however, and i was generally shooting this summer with an xpan on my neck, m8 on one sholulder and the d3 on the other.

hope this helps.
 
I thought so (though I now realize that rover was referring to the young guy w/hair). Saw him down in Charlottesville during Look3 a few months ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/3841766567/

nksyoon said:
Yes, the bald-headed guy is David Alan Harvey. I took a workshop with him in 2007.

A few more pics of him:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/446898270_7178555bf3_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/254/448011209_9f84b86e01_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/237/448007850_6252e2db1a_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/455344682_4fa1ab9bb5_o.jpg
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JSU said:
The only Nikon lens I have that exhibits any vignetting on my D3 at all, RAW or JPEG, is my older 55mm/f-1.2 when I shoot it wide open at or near infinity. But I have this lens only because it is an f-1.2 and as such it is used wide open 99% of the time.
Click to expand...

from personal experience, this one suffers from rather severe vignetting and soft corners:

fdigital said:
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8
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i have used both the 5D and still have the D700.

Ergonomics, high iso performance, and superb autofocus are somethings in the D700 that the 5D lacks.

weather sealing is another concern in the 5D.

For me the D700 is way ahead, unless you are invested in canon lenses.

Good luck with your choice.
 
"Which DSLR for 35mm and low light?"

I do not do enough low-light shooting to justify a Nikon D3 or D3x but if I did, they would be my first choice. The D700 would be my second choice.

When shooting low-light with 35mm film, I use and recommend the 35mm f/1.4, the 50mm f/1.4, and the 85mm f/1.8. However, if given a choice, I would replace the 85mm f/1.8 with the 85mm f/1.4
 
A used 5D is a great deal. It has pretty darn good high ISO and you can get them for fairly cheap nowadays. The 5D is going to be remembered as a classic digital SLR for good reason...it is really a great camera.

That said, I think the D700s are sweet :)
 
I've been close a couple of times this week to say screw it and order the D700, then I see my hexarAF's that have done me well for the last 7 years.

It's sad to say but I have a sentimental attachment to them and don't see me using them much if I get the D700.

Decisions, decisions.
 
Another +1 for D700, but I'm biased you know, I have it! ;)

I'm sure however that also a good / used 5D might be an excellent camera to shoot with (as others said, it's more a matter of lenses eventually already owned than a camera one)
 
While other speak of vignetting and blondes I try to confuse you a bit...

The D700 is very hard to beat but there is another camera which sell for a fraction of the price and I find very good in low light: the Fuji S5 Pro. It is based on the D200 body and has a 1.5 crop factor but it has a double sensor for low and high light which gives incredible latitude to it. Especially if you have a flow of work and don't have the time to do a lot of photoshop I find it great.

GLF
 
Only had it for a few days now but a d700 and zeiss zf 35mm f2 distagon is hard to beat, I haven't done much shooting with it in low light, but this lens wide open is really something to behold, the transition from in focus to out of focs is very nice from what I've seen so far. Of course in a few months youll be able to buy the same lens in canon ef mount and use it on the 5dii...

I think you're best bet is to forget about which camera/lens will give you the best output, because they'll all give you more than good enough results, and go to a shop and hold each camera, see where the buttons fall under your fingers etc, and see which one you like. I think the usablility and functionality is where the differences lie, not in the output.
 
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