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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> 5D MkII
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03/06/2012 12:39:52 AM · #1
Why do you think it is worth $2000?
03/06/2012 12:43:14 AM · #2
Image quality, especially in low light. Of note, Canon sells refurbs for $1760.
03/06/2012 01:13:40 AM · #3
the body only has dropped to $2199 at b&h since the release of the mk3, almost seems better off buying new but i guess the extra $500 could go to other gear
03/06/2012 05:08:24 AM · #4
I am in Australia. $US1,950 is the cheapest I can get it brand new from Hong Kong including all customs fees and 1 year Australian warranty. I will also need 2 CF cards and a spare battery. I already have an external flash that I almost never use but will have to consider for 5D.

What other gear would I need? I already have most of the lenses I want (I do hope so!!).

Is there any measure of quality improvement comparing 5D with 550D? From my limited experience so far the piece of gear that made a dramatic difference that I could easily recognize was an upgrade of my telephoto lens from Tamron 18-270 to Canon 70-200 f4. I am still amazed with the sharpness of 70-200 but no other piece of equipment has made that much noticeable impact. Will the impact of 5D be comparable?
03/06/2012 05:22:44 AM · #5
Originally posted by MargaretN:

I am in Australia. $US1,950 is the cheapest I can get it brand new from Hong Kong including all customs fees and 1 year Australian warranty. I will also need 2 CF cards and a spare battery. I already have an external flash that I almost never use but will have to consider for 5D.

What other gear would I need? I already have most of the lenses I want (I do hope so!!).

Is there any measure of quality improvement comparing 5D with 550D? From my limited experience so far the piece of gear that made a dramatic difference that I could easily recognize was an upgrade of my telephoto lens from Tamron 18-270 to Canon 70-200 f4. I am still amazed with the sharpness of 70-200 but no other piece of equipment has made that much noticeable impact. Will the impact of 5D be comparable?


wow, i'm no expert but i would think as far as quality, the full frame sensor on the 5d2 would be a big improvement over the T2i
03/06/2012 06:38:47 AM · #6
Image quality should of course be better,but I think it depends what you will be doing with the images.If you are only viewing on screen and maybe up to A4 prints then I doubt very much its worth $2000.
A friend has one and took the same shots as me using it and a 24/105L lens me using 7D and 17/85 and on screen the difference was very hard to tell.
It obviously has better features but do you need them ?

As we all know the camera will not make you a better photographer.
03/06/2012 07:13:43 AM · #7
Originally posted by Tiny:

Image quality should of course be better,but I think it depends what you will be doing with the images.If you are only viewing on screen and maybe up to A4 prints then I doubt very much its worth $2000.
A friend has one and took the same shots as me using it and a 24/105L lens me using 7D and 17/85 and on screen the difference was very hard to tell.
It obviously has better features but do you need them ?

As we all know the camera will not make you a better photographer.

Thanks. I agree with that. I'd like a second camera as I'd like to convert 550D to IR. I also would like 2 cameras so that I don't have to change lenses in nasty environments. I might after all wait till Canon releases 700D (?) and see what improvements it will have over 550D. I hope it won't be centered on the video but the still camera side!
03/06/2012 08:03:08 AM · #8
Bottom line is, the larger 35mm format is still more expensive than APS-C (1.5 or 1.6 crop) cameras. If you personally don't want or need the larger format, then it's not really worth the investment. Here's why. It's not just the body price, it's the fact that you need glass that performs well over that larger image circle. EF-S lenses are out completely (without major surgery) and some EF-ount lenses, particularly 3rd-part offerings, that looked really good on APS-C will be underwhelming on 35mm. The Tamron 28-75/2.8 comes to mind.
03/06/2012 09:57:25 AM · #9
The image quality, as compared to the 550D, is hugely better. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. People joke about how I use the phrase "buttery-smooth tonality" all the time, but it's TRUE. And the apparent dynamic range is better, there's less color fringing, and the high-ISO performance is just light-years improved. 5D2 at 3200 ISO looks better than 550 at 400 ISO. Where this improved smoothness will be most evident to you, in the kind of work you do, will be in your HDR processing. It really, really makes a difference there, there's much less tendency towards artifacting in the skies etc.

You're in good shape for FF lenses: the only one that won't work is the 10-22mm, so you're missing the ultra-wide range - you need to acquire a 17-40mm for that, or better yet the 16-35mm f/2.8, but that's very expensive. The 17-40mm is quite acceptable.

R.
03/06/2012 10:20:55 AM · #10
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

The image quality, as compared to the 550D, is hugely better. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Um, yeah... you're about to be told otherwise. The image quality is better, but I wouldn't call it hugely better. You can compare shots from both cameras side by side HERE. The T2i is a VERY good camera, and the difference isn't as significant as you might think. Check out the still life at ISO 3200. The 5D II is cleaner, but I suspect it would take close examination of a large print to really notice.
03/06/2012 10:28:33 AM · #11
That,s what I said,its better but not that better
03/06/2012 10:43:07 AM · #12
Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

The image quality, as compared to the 550D, is hugely better. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Um, yeah... you're about to be told otherwise. The image quality is better, but I wouldn't call it hugely better. You can compare shots from both cameras side by side HERE. The T2i is a VERY good camera, and the difference isn't as significant as you might think. Check out the still life at ISO 3200. The 5D II is cleaner, but I suspect it would take close examination of a large print to really notice.


I'd *never* make a judgment on comparative image quality using the DPReview still life alone. Ever. It will tell you about resolution and give you a general idea of tonal performance, but it utterly fails to convey the complete real-world attributes of the camera. It's a useful tool, but not a universal one.
03/06/2012 10:53:12 AM · #13
Well, I've limited experience with the 550D, just a little lest shooting, so let me talk about what I know intimately: the 7D. We own a 5D2, a 5D, and a 7D at the moment. I have a really hard time being happy with the 7D for the kind of work I do; even the original 5D outperforms it significantly for landscape work, and the 5D2 is a noticeable improvement over the 5D for me. This is in real-world shooting and processing, not some static tests in a still-life set up. And a lot of the improvement comes from the nature and the quality of the noise each sensor produces, and the sort of post processing I do.

I'll concede that if you shoot and post up mostly unedited images, there's little to choose between the cameras, especially at web resolutions. But that's not how Margaret works, and it's not how I work; we both do a LOT of tone mapping, we both manipulate our images a LOT going for certain effects. And under those circumstances, the FF Canons DO outperform the APS-C cameras, even the 7D. That's just the way it is.

R.
03/06/2012 11:01:16 AM · #14
Thanks, everyone. I can see the difference in tonality on the sample photos and probably will get it after all. For me it is at the moment a $1,000 question (a difference between 650D and 5D). But I will wait till the new Rebel comes out. I assume it will happen within the next few weeks. I won't be getting a wide angle EF for a while, I will use EF-S 10-22mm on the 550D. It is a good lens.
03/06/2012 11:06:17 AM · #15
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I have a really hard time being happy with the 7D for the kind of work I do; even the original 5D outperforms it...

Outperforms it at what? I have both of those cameras, and the 5D certainly does not impress me (especially the chroma noise). Now the Mark III, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether. I'd opt for that one in a heartbeat!

Message edited by author 2012-03-06 11:07:48.
03/06/2012 11:08:11 AM · #16
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Well, I've limited experience with the 550D, just a little lest shooting, so let me talk about what I know intimately: the 7D. We own a 5D2, a 5D, and a 7D at the moment. I have a really hard time being happy with the 7D for the kind of work I do; even the original 5D outperforms it significantly for landscape work, and the 5D2 is a noticeable improvement over the 5D for me. This is in real-world shooting and processing, not some static tests in a still-life set up. And a lot of the improvement comes from the nature and the quality of the noise each sensor produces, and the sort of post processing I do.

I'll concede that if you shoot and post up mostly unedited images, there's little to choose between the cameras, especially at web resolutions. But that's not how Margaret works, and it's not how I work; we both do a LOT of tone mapping, we both manipulate our images a LOT going for certain effects. And under those circumstances, the FF Canons DO outperform the APS-C cameras, even the 7D. That's just the way it is.

R.

Thanks, Robert. I am sold on it, I just have to get used to CF cards, readers etc. Such a small thing but it annoys me as I have everything setup around SD cards.
03/06/2012 11:09:57 AM · #17
Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I have a really hard time being happy with the 7D for the kind of work I do; even the original 5D outperforms it...

Outperforms it at what? I have both of those cameras, and the 5D certainly does not impress me (especially the chroma noise). Now the Mark III, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether. I'd opt for that one in a heartbeat!

Not at its current price!
03/06/2012 11:16:31 AM · #18
Originally posted by scalvert:

Outperforms it at what? I have both of those cameras, and the 5D certainly does not impress me (especially the chroma noise).


Your profile shows 50D and 7D? You running a stealth 5D under our radar?

R.
03/06/2012 11:34:12 AM · #19
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Your profile shows 50D and 7D? You running a stealth 5D under our radar?

I've used a 5D at the office for many years, but I only list that one temporarily in my profile for the rare times I use it for a challenge. Lately, though, I won't even use it at the office if I have my 7D with me.
03/06/2012 12:01:57 PM · #20
Originally posted by MargaretN:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Well, I've limited experience with the 550D, just a little lest shooting, so let me talk about what I know intimately: the 7D. We own a 5D2, a 5D, and a 7D at the moment. I have a really hard time being happy with the 7D for the kind of work I do; even the original 5D outperforms it significantly for landscape work, and the 5D2 is a noticeable improvement over the 5D for me. This is in real-world shooting and processing, not some static tests in a still-life set up. And a lot of the improvement comes from the nature and the quality of the noise each sensor produces, and the sort of post processing I do.

I'll concede that if you shoot and post up mostly unedited images, there's little to choose between the cameras, especially at web resolutions. But that's not how Margaret works, and it's not how I work; we both do a LOT of tone mapping, we both manipulate our images a LOT going for certain effects. And under those circumstances, the FF Canons DO outperform the APS-C cameras, even the 7D. That's just the way it is.

R.

Thanks, Robert. I am sold on it, I just have to get used to CF cards, readers etc. Such a small thing but it annoys me as I have everything setup around SD cards.


I believe you can buy SD/CF adapters and use SD cards in CF slots.
03/06/2012 12:05:42 PM · #21
I love my 5DmkII. Mostly because the FOV is huge with a 12mm lens, but the IQ is ridiculously good and sets my heart aflutter. No, I'm not going to quantify that. I'll leave that to the measurebators.
03/06/2012 12:07:00 PM · #22
Originally posted by MargaretN:

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I have a really hard time being happy with the 7D for the kind of work I do; even the original 5D outperforms it...

Outperforms it at what? I have both of those cameras, and the 5D certainly does not impress me (especially the chroma noise). Now the Mark III, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether. I'd opt for that one in a heartbeat!

Not at its current price!


Yeh, $3.5k is a tough bite to swallow... but historically it's actually a better deal than the original 5D at introduction, and it's at least as good a deal as the 5DII at introduction. And that's taking into account only the change due to inflation (using US numbers) and not the exchange rate. So they are holding the line on price very well actually.
Nonetheless, I find myself really not wanting to spend that kind of cash. I might just pick up a 5DII refurb and use that for a year or two, then migrate to the MkIII.

Edit for typo

Message edited by author 2012-03-06 12:07:15.
03/06/2012 12:11:03 PM · #23
Originally posted by MargaretN:

Originally posted by scalvert:

Now the Mark III, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether. I'd opt for that one in a heartbeat!

Not at its current price!

Mortgage optional.
03/06/2012 06:52:37 PM · #24
Originally posted by Spork99:

I believe you can buy SD/CF adapters and use SD cards in CF slots.

Thanks! Just found one on eBay. That will save money and hassle.
03/06/2012 07:32:19 PM · #25
Originally posted by MargaretN:

Originally posted by Spork99:

I believe you can buy SD/CF adapters and use SD cards in CF slots.

Thanks! Just found one on eBay. That will save money and hassle.


I'm not sure if I got this right, it seems you're going for the 5D MK2? If so you might want to consider getting a new cf card that is udma and take advantage of the speed that offers, all though maybe data speed is not a consideration for you. I got my 16gig card for $64
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