Canon 5D Mark II Owners' Thread

[mark800]

Since there is a lot of interest in the Canon 5D Mark II, and with cameras starting to appear, I thought it would be useful to have an owners' thread.

First impressions of the 5D Mark II

Here are my early first impressions (although I'll have a lot more time to test this weekend and to post some pics).

Just to let you know where I'm coming from. I've owned the original 5D camera for two years. I've been very happy with it. It's delivered very good image quality (significantly better than the Canon 350D I previously owned) with much lower noise. However, it has been looking a bit outdated recently.

A month ago, I purchased a 50D, principally to benefit from the 1.6 x crop factor compared with the 5D, to get the best reach from my new 300mm f/2.8 Is lens. The 50D has proved a bit of a mixed bag.

First the positive with the 50D. I love the AF lens adjustment, which has allowed me to cure slight backfocusing of my 85mm f/1.2 lens. I also love the LCD screen - very bright and clear allowing me to check focus (which I cannot really do on the 5D screen). Now the bad. The noise performance of the 50D is not a patch on the 5D.

So, I was looking forward to getting a 5D Mark II.

Early impressions are:

* The 5D Mark II has all the really good bits that the 50D has e.g. the AF lens adjustment and the brilliant screen
* The image quality from the 5D Mark II is outstanding. Even at 100% with my best lenses the image is sharp
* Noise performance is noticeably better than my 5D, and substantially ahead of the 50D
* I've not noticed any black dots (yet!)
* Ther AF seems very good with the 5D Mark II (but there again I had no problems with the original 5D)
* the video is excellent (although I need more time to play!).


Overall, I'm delighted with the camera and I believe that it will become a classic, just like the original 5D. It represents a significant improvement over the original 5D in many respects, without any obvious defects (such as the noise performance with the 50D). I love it.

[edddie_veddder]

I've been told that mine should arrive tomorrow! Seems like i've been waiting years....

[45689ajax]

Went into a local (friendly) independant camera shop yesterday, intending to get a 50D.

Just about to finish the buying when I mentioned 5D MKii. They had received two that morning, with one on pre-order. I came out with the other one.

With Christmas shopping, I have not had much of a chance to test it yet, but am really glad that I got this over the 50D.

Not sure my bank balance would agree though.

[dazza74]

Look forward to seeing the pics

[mark800]

A new review of the Canon 5D Mark II from Pop Photo

"Let's cut to the chase -- the Canon EOS 5D Mark II does live up to its billing. It takes a great full-frame DSLR, the original 5D (Pop Photo's 2005 Camera of the Year), boosts damn near everything, adds high-definition video capture, and turns in an overall performance that makes it a virtual steal (or at least as close as a steal comes in this price bracket)."

Canon EOS 5D Mark II: Test - - PopPhotoDecember 2008

[T0MAT01]

Is it too early to give an impression of the 10MP SRAW mode at high ISOs?
I haven't seen a review that uses it yet, so maybe someone here could give us an example of the difference between it and a full size RAW?

TIA.

[salubrious_k]

Originally Posted by T0MAT01

Is it too early to give an impression of the 10MP SRAW mode at high ISOs?
I haven't seen a review that uses it yet, so maybe someone here could give us an example of the difference between it and a full size RAW?

Yes, I'm particularly interested in this too, so would love to hear your thoughts/experiments...

[Jas H]

Originally Posted by T0MAT01

Is it too early to give an impression of the 10MP SRAW mode at high ISOs?

Here you go, full size

5Dii sRAW at ISO25,600
http://www.xerodigital.ca/2008/5DII_25600.jpg





Nikon D3 RAW at ISO25,600
http://www.xerodigital.ca/2008/D3_25600.jpg

[springtide]

Can we change this thread to "20+MP Owners' Thread"?

But lets not talk about High ISO performance. Lets just talk about Base ISO quality!

[senu]

Originally Posted by springtide

Can we change this thread to "20+MP Owners' Thread"?

NO! that sounds elitist

But lets not talk about High ISO performance. Lets just talk about Base ISO quality!

Now That is very techy!!

Sighs and walks away.. " I give up"

Just post the Images sir . and let them do the talkin'

[noops]

Originally Posted by Jas H

Here you go, full size

5Dii sRAW at ISO25,600
http://www.xerodigital.ca/2008/5DII_25600.jpg





Nikon D3 RAW at ISO25,600
http://www.xerodigital.ca/2008/D3_25600.jpg

Wow that's a huge difference, I could have done with 25,600 a couple of weeks back whilst trying to cover a rugby match in the gathering gloom in Leicester (fog, late November afternoon).

Incidentally, I see the 5d 2 price is now gradually coming down Lambda-tek.com are selling a body for around £1700.

[T0MAT01]

Originally Posted by Jas H

Here you go, full size

5Dii sRAW at ISO25,600
http://www.xerodigital.ca/2008/5DII_25600.jpg





Nikon D3 RAW at ISO25,600
http://www.xerodigital.ca/2008/D3_25600.jpg

Thanks Jas, the results are certainly interesting, but since my lenses wont fit a D3 I'd be interested to see the difference between a full size RAW compared to the sRAW.

It's said to supress colour noise really well, and the example above seems to agree with that, but it's hard to tell without seeing the full size RAW.

[Jas H]

Originally Posted by T0MAT01

Thanks Jas, the results are certainly interesting, but since my lenses wont fit a D3 I'd be interested to see the difference between a full size RAW compared to the sRAW.

They're not my pictures btw. I don't own a 5Dii (or D3), but wish I did!

Pics I've seen show that 5Dii RAW at ISO25,600 is noisier that D700/D3 at full resolution, but when downsized to the same resolution they are to all intents and purposes identical for noise. However, 5Dii sRAW is a lot better than 5Dii RAW downsized for ISO25,600 noise (per above pics).

Basically the idea is to use full RAW normally, but when forced to use very high ISO, consider going to (10Mp) sRAW.

Hope this helps.

[RobDickinson]

I think the 5dmkII 25,600 is a ton better.

[edddie_veddder]

FINALLY got my hands on mine today! Patiently waiting for the battery to charge........ First impressions after a brief play in the shop before i headed to the cinema to watch "the day the earth stood still" are...

Very, very impressed by the noise performance right up to 6400. Tried the H1 and H2 on sraw for kicks and looked very good all things considdered, best kept to black and white and for emergencies only though. Loving the huge/bright/clear LCD on the back. AF semmed very good at f/2, but will leave judgement for tougher situations. It feels more angular and hard edged than the softish, more rounded feel of the original 5D.

I will get back to you all when i have had a good play. Now....do i sell the 5d or get it converted to IR.....