Talk me out of it (ha!)

[rasputin]

I just got my 50D 6 months ago. It was a massive upgrade from my previous DSLR and I am very happy with it.

So why do I keep thinking about the 5D MkII?

Can someone with a 5D MkII please tell me that it's really noisy above ISO 50, that a pop-up flash is essential, that full frame pictures look distorted, and that the extra 28 grammes will cause my arms to dislocate?

[flat-planedCrank]

rasputin said:

I just got my 50D 6 months ago. It was a massive upgrade from my previous DSLR and I am very happy with it.

So why do I keep thinking about the 5D MkII?

Can someone with a 5D MkII please tell me that it's really noisy above ISO 50, that a pop-up flash is essential, that full frame pictures look distorted, and that the extra 28 grammes will cause my arms to dislocate?

Would it be a replacement for your 50D or a 2nd camera? (not that you're getting it )

What is it about your 50D that the 5D2 would change?


Negatives? Hmm, er, don't you need other expensive lenses before a new camera? (best I can do )

[RobDickinson]

rasputin said:

Can someone with a 5D MkII please tell me that it's really noisy above ISO 50, that a pop-up flash is essential, that full frame pictures look distorted, and that the extra 28 grammes will cause my arms to dislocate?

No, the 5D2 is nice and clean BUT can have bad banding issues in shadow areas even at low ISO.

pop up flash is teh debil.

Full 135 frame sensors are ace.

5D2 though has poorer AF and fps compared to your 50D

[rasputin]

I don't have any good reasons for wanting to switch - mostly it's because I prefer what I see through the viewfinder when I use my 50e (35mm film SLR).

The FPS hopefully won't be an issue - I've only used high speed mode on the 50D once and it ate up my card far too quickly! And I only use the centre focus point so I doubt I'd notice any difference.

Would the difference in ISO 1600/3200 be easily noticeable between 50D and 5D-II? If it's just a marginal difference the price may be too high...

[RobDickinson]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

I rekon you have about 1.5 stops of usable difference between the two.

[LongQ]

Lens collection updates required? (No idea what you have at the moment ....)

[rasputin]

All my lenses other than one (Sigma 18-50mm) will be fine.

RobDickinson said:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

I rekon you have about 1.5 stops of usable difference between the two.

Good site, but I wish they'd show Raw shots processed the same, without noise reduction.

I might try to pop into Jessops some time and do my own comparison, and see how I get on with it...

[Rofly Lollers]

rasputin said:

I just got my 50D 6 months ago. It was a massive upgrade from my previous DSLR and I am very happy with it.

So why do I keep thinking about the 5D MkII?

Can someone with a 5D MkII please tell me that it's really noisy above ISO 50, that a pop-up flash is essential, that full frame pictures look distorted, and that the extra 28 grammes will cause my arms to dislocate?

I have both. The 5D mk II will be a big upgrade in terms of image quality. My 50D has not very much chroma noise, but noticible luminance noise (most noticible in blue skies etc when viewed at 100%) common with most crop cameras. The 5D mk II has a 3D quality to the pics which I really like.
I've never had a problem with the AF, just realise that you aren't going to be able to use servo in really low light. One shot works well as long as there is contrast. Servo works perfectly well in good light, I've used it for race cars and running dogs.
I bought a small 270EX flash for when the 580 is too big, it is surprisingly small and can fit in a pocket for emergency use.
Having said that, the 5D mk II is EXCELLENT at low light shooting, ISO 6400 is very usable.

[pernod]

In case it helps, I put off a full frame last upgrade in favor of sorting more suitable lenses first before switching... namely a 70-200 length and a non EFs wide angle.

Personally a 5DMkII without the right lenses to match would have been a backwards step... so I'd consider your lens range and possibly whether that needs upgrades first?

[rasputin]

70-200 f4L, 85mm f1.8 and Tamron 11-18 (usable on full frame with no dark corners from 13mm) should all be nice on a 5D I reckon... Certainly look nice on my Canon film SLR!

Rofly - What would you say is the maximum ISO you're happy with on the 50D, and the 5DII?
Personally 1600 is the highest I'd use on my 50D and even then the keeper rate isn't high. 3200 is almost useless for me and 6400/12800 are for mucking about only - not even usable at web sizes. Would you agree with that?

[Rofly Lollers]

rasputin said:

Rofly - What would you say is the maximum ISO you're happy with on the 50D, and the 5DII?
Personally 1600 is the highest I'd use on my 50D and even then the keeper rate isn't high. 3200 is almost useless for me and 6400/12800 are for mucking about only - not even usable at web sizes. Would you agree with that?

I don't think I've ever used 3200 on the 50D so I can't comment on whether it's usable or not. It's fine at 1600 to get a high enough shutter speed, I normally use mine in good light with a 70-200 or 100-400 to take pics of my dogs, or wildlife.
You've probably noticed luminance noise at lowish ISO on the 50D at 100% even in good light? You won't notice that much on the 5D.

6400 is very usable on the 5D mk II.

[HoHoHo]

I did exactly what you are thinking of doing about 3 months ago.

I'm not able to offer any technical advice, but in my experience the 5D MKII is in a totally different league. I don't have any problems with AF or a slightly slower shutter rate, but it also depends on your main genres that you shoot. I regularly use ISO 6400 when I don't have my flash and there is little I need to do to remove noise, iphoto removes anytrace with a swipe.

My everyday lens is a 24-70 f2.8 and I also have a 70-200 f2.8 L iS with a 1.4II when required. I can't think of a better combination for me, and in reality, my gear far outweighs my ability!

The shot below was taken outside on a very dull day when my daughter played football for Berkshire. Most of the photos from that set were taken on 6400 to help me, the composition may be st, but the photos are clear!


Berkshire v Kent U16 20/11/10 by Martin_Bennett, on Flickr

[davidd]

I really want a 5dmkII, however I'm holding off for a few months as there are now very strong rumours of the mkIII

http://www.canonrumors.com/2010/12/5d-mark-iii-cr1...

I know there are a lot of rumours, however if it is going to be upgraded in the next 6 months then I'll hang on and spend a little time getting some of my glass upgraded..

Cheers

D

[Rofly Lollers]

davidd said:

I know there are a lot of rumours, however if it is going to be upgraded in the next 6 months then I'll hang on and spend a little time getting some of my glass upgraded..

Cheers

D

Some things have been rumoured for many years. The 5D mk II is a good price right now, and you can bet your a$$ that the 5D mk III will be much more expensive initially.

[DIW35]

And remember of course that due to it's poor AF system, the 5DII is absolutely crap for motorsports.

[HoHoHo]

DIW35 said:

And remember of course that due to it's poor AF system, the 5DII is absolutely crap for motorsports.

God that's ste

[flat-planedCrank]

HoHoHo said:

DIW35 said:

And remember of course that due to it's poor AF system, the 5DII is absolutely crap for motorsports.

God that's ste

Is it a bike? Difficult to make out...

[HoHoHo]

flat-planedCrank said:

HoHoHo said:

DIW35 said:

And remember of course that due to it's poor AF system, the 5DII is absolutely crap for motorsports.

God that's ste

Is it a bike? Difficult to make out...

I thought it was the Vulcan

[Thunderace]

DIW35 said:

And remember of course that due to it's poor AF system, the 5DII is absolutely crap for motorsports.

. . . and only 3.9fps too . . . it's embarrassing at times

Edited by Thunderace on Saturday 1st January 09:41

[Colin RedGriff]

There I was happily thinking that I didn't need to buy anything more and you have to start this thread.