5D Mark II RELEASED!!!! - DPChallenge Forums

09/19/2008 06:03:17 PM · #127

The quality of camera you own will not help you to become a better photographer. I used to be pretty heavy into triathlon, but I had a horse of a bike which cost me the equivalent of 250 dollars, but I used to ride it in races past guys who had 5000 dollar carbon bikes and leave them standing. It's all in the legs! I know a photographer who bought himself a Hasselblad H3D II 31 for 20,000 + dollars but I have never seen a photo from him which made me go "wow". I could take better photos with my cell phone :) The 5D Mark II looks good, but if I go out and buy it I know I am not gonna take better photos with it than what I have now, so why spend the money on it? I would rather spend it on a new beauty dish, soft box or porty.... that is what will help me take better photos. If you already have a good camera, Simms for example, then why spend all that money and get something new? It won't improve the quality of your photos I can guarantee you that. Having the best doesn't mean you will be the best.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/19/2008 06:11:21 PM · #128

Originally posted by kiwiness:

Awwwwww, the life gets sucked right out of the thread! :) joking of course---your words ring true.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

09/19/2008 06:11:38 PM · #129

Originally posted by kiwiness:

I agree! My 20D is in the mail. I hope when you get it you'll put that 5D in the box it came in and ship it back. :PP

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/19/2008 06:15:53 PM · #130

True, having a better camera doesn't make you a better photographer, but... it helps in other areas, especially technicals (such as low light performance).

I regularly use the 1D Mark III and the 5D. Both serve different purposes. I primarily use the 5D for portraiture and the Mark III for either sports or wedding candids (also sometimes for portraiture because then I don't have to switch lenses).

And while I've done quite a few large family portraits with the 5D, I have really wanted to get a higher resolution camera to better handle the large groups (there's nothing like medium-format envy to drive you there). That's where the new 5D2 becomes valuable to me. Being able to shoot large family groups and print them large enough that you can see who they are.

But not only that... the new 5D has the option to use sRaw1/sRaw2 for smaller files. Suddenly the 5D2 can *also* be used for low-light wedding candids without killing my storage space. Right now I use the 5D as a companion to the 1D3 for candids but I cringe at how much space I'm chewing up needlessly. I think with the 5D2 I may actually switch and use it more than the 1D3 for candids.

None of this has anything to do with being a better photographer. But the technicals certainly come into play.

If all I ever shot was studio work day after day, then all I'd ever really need is one camera. But I have quite a variety of things I shoot, and that's where I think a variety of cameras, each with areas of expertise, comes into play.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

09/19/2008 06:16:39 PM · #131

Originally posted by kiwiness:

The quality of camera you own will not help you to become a better photographer.

Although sometimes the kit will help you get a shot in a situation where it might have otherwise not been possible. That's not to say that any such shots will automatically be artistically show-stopping. That latter part is exclusively the preserve of the photographer. Or luck...and one only gets lucky so often.

Edit: Beaten, much more eloquently, by

DWTerry

Message edited by author 2008-09-19 18:17:45.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

09/20/2008 12:17:01 PM · #132

I agree with virtually every point that

Kiwiness

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

Mr_Pants have made about the equipment not making the photographer.

However, for me switching equipment did make me a better photographer, but not because I improved my gear. When I made the switch from my 35mm K1000 to medium format it dramatically altered my approach to photography. There was something about using the Pentax 645 that made me slow down and really think about what I was shooting and how I wanted to capture it. I started to see things differently than when I shot 35mm. The thing is, it was not a conscious decision on my part. At no point did I say to myself, "You've got a real camera, now make pretty pictures." I just found myself think differently before hitting the shutter button, taking more time to compose through the viewfinder.

On another note: I just surfed through the MKII samples on dpreview- pretty sweet.

CarpeLumen

Canon EOS-40D

09/20/2008 12:30:19 PM · #133

does anyone ever spend money on lenses anymore..... why doesnt canon and nikon quit with the penis size race and design some truly innovative lenses to go with these cameras. I am talking about image stabilized L glass that is brighter than f/2 and costs less than a grand. ok maybe thats a dream for now, but really, it seems that the companies have lost focus on lenses. Probably because of the ignorant amateur market who will buy their d40 and 18-55 and never know any better that their lens can even be changed. Maybe im alone here....

09/20/2008 01:09:48 PM · #134

I'd love to replace my Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L with its push-pull zoom with something like a 100-400 f/4L and internal zoom. Pretty please? :)

(really, I'd like it to be f/2.8, but I realize that 400mm at f/2.8 is absolutely monstrous in size, so why not a constant f/4?)

Jedusi

09/20/2008 01:14:09 PM · #135

Originally posted by dwterry:

Ahh - now we are talking !

I love that lens and a fixed F4 internal focussing would make a great lens even better.

Jedusi

09/20/2008 01:25:58 PM · #136

What I would really like is a 5DII Lite.

So that when taking nature, sport, landscape or anything else that doesn't involve a studio and a tripod you could have the quality of a 1D or 5D without a hulking great heavy body, which you then add a huge great heavy lens to . .

How about a Lightweight range with pro features ?

Or am I being greedy :- )

09/20/2008 01:35:10 PM · #137

Originally posted by vxpra:

On another note: I just surfed through the MKII samples on dpreview- pretty sweet.

I just noticed the MKII Sample Gallery at DPReview. Woo hoo! Finally, a fantastic set of sample images, including a high-ISO set (a controlled scene with good exposure taken at 1600-25600)! They're the old camera pictures at the far right of the gallery.

Wow! ISO 1600 and 3200 are incredible. 6400 is usable. Even 12800 is salvagable. Though you can tell via these samples that color richness and sharpness do fall off as ISO increases.

Aside from high ISO, color and dynamic range look good (at least to this untrained eye).

Thanks DPReview!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/20/2008 01:55:55 PM · #138

Originally posted by smurfguy:

just noticed the MKII Sample Gallery at DPReview.

NICE! Quite a range of colors / scenes / ISO settings.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

09/20/2008 03:20:26 PM · #139

Originally posted by kiwiness:

I don't disagree, but I'll make the argument that in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, it may lead to better pictures. If (and it's an "if") the noise reduction of the 5D mII has ISO 6400 at the equivalent of the 5D's ISO 1600 then suddenly I've gained 2 stops on all my lenses and my 24-105 f/4 is now the virtual equivalent of a 24-105 f/2. That greatly excites me.

09/20/2008 03:40:14 PM · #140

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

suddenly I've gained 2 stops on all my lenses and my 24-105 f/4 is now the virtual equivalent of a 24-105 f/2.

Well, except for two things... the shallower DOF that f/2 really gives you, and the higher precision focusing that Canons f/2.8 AF sensors provide.

However, I'll readily admit that quite often when I'm shooting wide open it is just to get the light and not necessarily for the shallower DOF. In which case, f/4 at a higher ISO is going to be just fine. (and yes, I went ahead and ordered the 24-105 ... it seemed like quite a bargain as a kit lens)

09/20/2008 06:17:29 PM · #141

Originally posted by dwterry:

(and yes, I went ahead and ordered the 24-105 ... it seemed like quite a bargain as a kit lens)

Indeed, I almost ordered the kit even though I already have the 24-105. =) For $800, I could practically sell it and come out ahead. In fact, if anybody wants a brand new 24-105 in late November for $900, PM me and I'll change my order.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

09/20/2008 08:14:41 PM · #142

Some nice high-ISO 5DII images here... the original JPEGs with EXIF are there if you click on the images. Still no RAWs, but then we'd have nothing to convert them with anyhow :-P

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

09/20/2008 10:26:22 PM · #143

Also check this... Vincent Laforet had his hands on a 5DII for 72 hours and managed to produce a video in that time. He's looking for a place to host it. Read down for his comments on the performance of the 5DII in video mode.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/20/2008 10:55:24 PM · #144

Originally posted by Jedusi:

You just described the 5DII. It is almost a pound lighter than the 1D. Big difference. Quality and image size of a 1Ds, without the hulking great heavy body.

Message edited by author 2008-09-20 22:55:35.

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

09/20/2008 11:27:11 PM · #145

Originally posted by kirbic:

Man that's an amazing post. I'm convinced.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/22/2008 09:53:59 AM · #146

I posted this in another thread, but for those watching this one, it appears that the Amazon.com pre-order page now shows out of stock.

I'm now offering mine for sale for $5000. =D

(ETA: There are apparently other sites that still have them - maybe Camulet, Ritz, or buydig. B&H's "notify me when in stock" button is maxed out.)

Message edited by author 2008-09-22 09:56:09.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

09/22/2008 07:15:10 PM · #147

I love early adopters. They're like guinea pigs with credit cards. :D

breadfan35

Nikon D3

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

09/22/2008 07:24:22 PM · #148

I told my boss not to the get the 5d because a successor was around the corner. Now he's kicking himself and saying he should have listened to me.

I wanna play with one!

Message edited by author 2008-09-22 19:24:32.