5D MK II - DPChallenge Forums

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

12/11/2012 08:50:40 AM · #1

Since I'm determined to go big with my next purchase... yet, still having somewhat of a budget... and wanting to go full frame...
tell me the things I need to know about the 5D MK II.

I know my 18-55mm kit lens that came with the xsi won't work with it, since it's an ef-s lens.

my understanding is that my 50mm 1.4 and 100mm 2.0 WILL work, correct?

and I'll be purchasing with the 24-105mm lens... so that should be a decent "carry around" lens, right?

next purchase will be a UWA... but not for many months after my initial purchase.

any thought/opinions/advice would be helpful. and anything else you can think of.

BTW... this is way in the future... like tax season time. Lol. so I have plenty of time to do even more research, not like I haven't done a ton already!!!

smardaz

12/11/2012 08:53:19 AM · #2

As someone who went from a 300d rebel to the mk2 i can say that you will be in love. I would highly reccomend adding the battery grip to your budget if you can, I have loved the battery life thats given me. I would also suggest trying as hard as you can to get L glass as fast as you can, you just wont believe the difference it makes

and yes, your 50 will work

Message edited by author 2012-12-11 08:53:54.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/11/2012 09:15:26 AM · #3

I've never felt the need for the battery grip; I carry an extra battery, but I've never had a battery go out on me during a single day's shooting. You'd have to be shooting fast and furious for that to happen. Your 50mm and 100mm will mount fine. The 24-105mm is a fine walkaround range for a FF lens. Here's a link to a review of the lens that includes a dandy little landscape shot where you can click on the different focal lengths and see the actual range of it.

As smardaz says, you'll want to be working towards high-end glass from this point forwards. In practical terms, what this means for you is that as you move into longer lenses, you'll want to stay away from the consumer zooms and move into the white lenses, which are more expensive.

In the UWA range, the 17-40mm will do you fine, and it's reasonably priced.

markwiley

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS

12/11/2012 09:21:35 AM · #4

I just upgraded from a T2i to the 5D Mark II and I am still excitedly getting familiar with it. I had been coveting this camera a while even though it was really out of my budget. When my T2i broke and two days later Canon ran a Black Friday sale on a refurbished body for about $1300 -- I decided it was fate. Things have been busy and I have not had the time I would like to really get comfortable with it, but I am looking forward to settling in with it over the holidays and getting some great family candida. Good luck, Denielle.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

12/11/2012 09:25:35 AM · #5

First, I think you will be astounded by the difference. You have tow really good lenses, the 50/1.4 and the 100/2. Both fine performers. The 5DII is a bargain right now. I see that Canon Direct Store has them in stock at the moment for $1759. That's an attractive price, but if you are looking at the 24-105, you can get the kit for $2999 with full new warranty, so refurbed does not save you that much. Unless you also bought a clean used copy of the 24-105. There are lots of them available, usually for around $800.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/11/2012 09:31:55 AM · #6

ditto the high-end glass recommendations! when i first got serious about photography about 7 years ago, i got some advice here that has proven itself true over and over again.

jason told me to buy a good body, but plan on replacing it every few years, because of both wear-and-tear, but also to take advantage of improving technologies. he also told me that more critical than the body would be the glass i put on it. properly cared for professional glass not only can provide years and years and years of excellent results, it will also hold its value.

as to the battery grip, to me it's not just about battery life, but giving me something more to hold onto (and my hand doesn't feel as cramped). also, with longer lenses, it helps balance out the camera.

smardaz

12/11/2012 09:35:24 AM · #7

Originally posted by Skip:

as to the battery grip, to me it's not just about battery life, but giving me something more to hold onto (and my hand doesn't feel as cramped). also, with longer lenses, it helps balance out the camera.

that was also my feeling but didn't articulate it, i am just infatuated with batter life i guess, not to mention its kinda nice to have the duplicate buttons when you turn it to portrait orientation

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/11/2012 09:41:20 AM · #8

Thanks for the help everyone!
now I'll have a reason to get L-glass... when possible.
unfortunately my husband just doesn't understand why everything costs so much. "it's just a picture".
no, it's much more than that.
and I want to get into the more professional side when time allows... so better equipment is a must.
and what better place to learn but here? :)

Spork99

OM System OM-1

12/11/2012 09:50:45 AM · #9

The non-L Canon primes are (generally) an improvement over non-L zooms. They're certainly much faster.

As for the battery grip, it's nice, but certainly not a "must-have"

smardaz

12/11/2012 09:54:47 AM · #10

Originally posted by Spork99:

The non-L Canon primes are (generally) an improvement over non-L zooms. They're certainly much faster.

As for the battery grip, it's nice, but certainly not a "must-have"

A bigger camera makes other photographers feel inferior, that alone is worth the cost.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/11/2012 10:20:57 AM · #11

Originally posted by smardaz:

Originally posted by Spork99:
The non-L Canon primes are (generally) an improvement over non-L zooms. They're certainly much faster.

As for the battery grip, it's nice, but certainly not a "must-have"

A bigger camera makes other photographers feel inferior, that alone is worth the cost.

If you want to make other photogs feel inferior, get a 1D series camera and let them see you drive a few framing nails with it and then shoot a perfectly lit portrait.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/11/2012 10:27:36 AM · #12

I love the battery grip but could care less if it holds 2 batteries.... I wish it was lighter sometimes but I have large hands and it's just a LOT more comfortable to carry & hold. I have a beautiful leather hand strap attached and rarely use a neck strap and it feels like an extension of my arm almost. The extra button is handy sometimes for portrait shots but that's about it.

My BIG bug bear is that it adds some movement when on a tripod because of the flex between the camera and grip (yes it's tight and yes it's the name brand one). It's not a lot but it IS there :-(

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

12/11/2012 11:26:19 AM · #13

i went from a 60D to a 5d2. the biggest thing i noticed is becuase that now that i need to stop down a bit to get a useable DOF in portraits my primes are insanely sharp at f4 and above not to mention im standing closer to my subject becuase of the extra FOV so that improved resolution as well. I was floored the first time i used it for portraits. i'm still not overly impressed for landscapes over what the 60D and 10-22 did, but i also haven't really given it a good change either. I plan to give it good tripod work over winter break.
a few other things to note.

1. your lenses will be wider. the 50mm will will now be useful in indoors and the 100mm will lose reach.
2. the 5d2 has no built in flash, so you need an external one if you dont have one.
3. i went to NYC on Saturday and used it again Sunday night, having no charges in between and it was still showing 3 bars. i dont think a battery grip is required unless you are planning on taking a tons of images or like the vertical grip for portrait crops.
4. the files are huge, Raw files are about 20MB each, plan on eating up hd space.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/11/2012 11:48:04 AM · #14

My Rebel and walkaround zoom paid for my 40D and a couple of pieces of L glass. My 40D and L glass paid for lighting gear and a couple of family vacations. It all continues to make more than enough to buy a fancy full frame, but I've resisted for other interests.

If you set aside money from photography profits with your Rebel to pay for the MkII etc, there would be no reason for hard feeling from your husband, or from yourself if the business doesn't work out.

You might want a solid business plan before you dig too big a hole. The people of DPC are great enablers when it comes to buying gear. :-D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/11/2012 11:57:21 AM · #15

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Business plan is in progress. right now, it's just an expensive hobby.
but, I won't be using my gear professionally for many years.
my ultimate goal is to incorporate photography in with psychology... therapeutic photography.
I have to finish my bachelors (in September) then will go on to a masters. eventually a PhD.
HOWEVER, from research, I could technically do this now... therapeutic photography doesn't require a degree of any sort, because it's considered "alternative medicine".
However... I want a solid background in photography, psychology, and business management prior to starting such an endeavor.

I *could* begin photography as a professional means... but I'm not comfortable with that yet. Perhaps after another year here... I'll be ready.
Plus, the camera I have now makes me feel "touristy" so to speak.
If I want to "feel" professional, I need to "look" professional. Hard to explain... but I hope I did so.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

12/11/2012 01:03:13 PM · #16

Originally posted by Denielle:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
My Rebel and walkaround zoom paid for my 40D and a couple of pieces of L glass. My 40D and L glass paid for lighting gear and a couple of family vacations. It all continues to make more than enough to buy a fancy full frame, but I've resisted for other interests.

If you set aside money from photography profits with your Rebel to pay for the MkII etc, there would be no reason for hard feeling from your husband, or from yourself if the business doesn't work out.

You might want a solid business plan before you dig too big a hole. The people of DPC are great enablers when it comes to buying gear. :-D

Business plan is in progress. right now, it's just an expensive hobby.
but, I won't be using my gear professionally for many years.
my ultimate goal is to incorporate photography in with psychology... therapeutic photography.
I have to finish my bachelors (in September) then will go on to a masters. eventually a PhD.
HOWEVER, from research, I could technically do this now... therapeutic photography doesn't require a degree of any sort, because it's considered "alternative medicine".
However... I want a solid background in photography, psychology, and business management prior to starting such an endeavor.

I *could* begin photography as a professional means... but I'm not comfortable with that yet. Perhaps after another year here... I'll be ready.
Plus, the camera I have now makes me feel "touristy" so to speak.
If I want to "feel" professional, I need to "look" professional. Hard to explain... but I hope I did so.

Neat, that's very specialized-sounding, which should bump up the value. Good luck!

pgirish007

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

12/11/2012 01:14:58 PM · #17

check out this thread may not be relavnt but I started because I want to upgrade to 6D from 50D. Some good piece of information in there!

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1178889

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

12/11/2012 03:31:35 PM · #18

is it April yet???

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/11/2012 04:03:52 PM · #19

it can be, hold on let me change the date in my camera.