Canon 5D Mark II - who has one? - DPChallenge Forums

11/27/2008 10:11:06 PM · #26

We're planning on getting one of these hopefully in the not too distant future (

-bec- if you're reading, it's nearly Xmas). Great samples! Cheers!

jwillerton

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

11/27/2008 11:04:06 PM · #27

I picked my Mark II up yesterday. Haven't had a chance to shoot anything interesting...still learning the new features. A model is swinging by tomorrow...so I should capture some nice stuff with it.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

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

11/27/2008 11:43:26 PM · #28

Having played with the 24-70 f/2.8 lens on the new camera, I can now say that the 5DII feels just as responsive as the old 5D as far as focusing is concerned. And judging by the focus on the shots I'm getting, it seems pretty much equal to the 5D. (I'd say slightly better, but I'm not sure if I'm biasing that judgment)

One thing is for sure ... video is a game changer. It's a whole new world. And it's not as simple as it sounds! Especially if you're playing with shallow DOF and needing to put the focus on a specific individual out of a group of people. I didn't discover the AF controls for the video until I read the manual. There are three modes: Quick AF, AF Live and AF Face Recognition.

Quick AF slaps the mirror back down, uses the normal AF focusing points to quickly focus and then brings the mirror back up. Obviously you can only do this at the start of a video otherwise Quick AF would interrupt the video.

AF Live lets you place a square anywhere on the image and it will use contrast detection to focus (it does this at the time you press the AF-ON button). You need to keep in mind that the camera may decide to totally de-focus and refocus the lens. Not necessarily a good thing if it's in the middle of an action sequence.

AF Face Recognition lets the camera try to pick out a face in the scene and focus on the face. The trouble you may run into here is if you have multiple faces in view, and one of them is more important than the others to keep in focus. The camera may not pick the face you want. It also may move back and forth between faces on its own.

Manual focusing is always active -- assuming you have a lens that lets you focus while AF is engaged (all of my Canon lenses let me do this). The trouble is, if I hold the camera far enough away so I can see the LCD to determine what is in focus, then I'm more likely to bounce the camera around while I'm recording.

Like I said ... video is going to be a challenge. And shallow DOF only makes it more so.

Here is a video from yesterday's birthday party where I was using AF Face Recognition to focus the camera.

TrollMan

Fujifilm X-T4

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4

11/28/2008 01:21:35 AM · #29

Originally posted by dwterry:

The trouble you may run into here is if you have multiple faces in view, and one of them is more important than the others to keep in focus. The camera may not pick the face you want.

Canon has been bragging so much about the AI of the new DIGIC 4 and it doesn't even know enough to automagically focus on the most important face in a crowd of faces?!? Sheesh! :P

AlexSaberi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/28/2008 05:46:45 AM · #30

Woooohoooo I just this second called up. The store had only 6 in. I had to have it. Cant wait for this weekend. Looking forward to the HD video.

Simms

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

11/28/2008 06:01:41 AM · #31

Originally posted by AlexSaberi:

Woooohoooo I just this second called up. The store had only 6 in. I had to have it. Cant wait for this weekend. Looking forward to the HD video.

LOL, is that what you tried to ring me about 5 mins ago?

nice one.

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

11/28/2008 06:57:52 AM · #32

Originally posted by Jac:

This camera may make me switch from Oly. I'm sizing up my gear to see what I can get for my entire kit.

I want to have the flexibility of high ISO quality.

Well..if you're switching...I'll take that Oly! :P

smurfguy

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

11/28/2008 10:35:18 AM · #33

Hmm... While the Vincent Laforet's of the world may be able to produce amazing, artsy short films, I'm beginning to wonder if video mode will be useful for amateurs like myself. Looking at some of the video samples posted:

- video will require a tripod or other steadying equipment (VL used a gyro in the helicopter shot)
- video focus will definitely require some practice
- processing/editing video will require software. I've heard Sony Vegas Pro 8 is the best, but runs $400+

This is starting to sound really expensive... I wonder if I'm not better off just picking up somebody's used 5D.

DrAchoo, didn't you have some deal for me. ;)

Or, if someone's considering switching systems from Nikon, I'd consider the D700 and trading glass.

AlexSaberi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/28/2008 10:48:52 AM · #34

Just wondering if any UK DPCers fancy taking my 5D off me. asking £890

danielcheong1974

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM

11/28/2008 10:51:10 AM · #35

I got one today!!!!!
Any chance getting Langdon to input the camera in the profile?

Valdo

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/28/2008 12:16:24 PM · #36

Originally posted by AlexSaberi:

Just wondering if any UK DPCers fancy taking my 5D off me. asking £890

How old is it? seems a bit pricey :)

Simms

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/28/2008 01:54:16 PM · #37

Originally posted by Valdo:

Originally posted by AlexSaberi:
Just wondering if any UK DPCers fancy taking my 5D off me. asking £890

How old is it? seems a bit pricey :)

Nah, not considering the history attached to it. Get him to sign it in silver pen as well.. the one off Alex Saberi signature model.. and get a certificate of autheticity chucked in as well.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

11/28/2008 02:05:34 PM · #38

Originally posted by smurfguy:

This is starting to sound really expensive... I wonder if I'm not better off just picking up somebody's used 5D. DrAchoo, didn't you have some deal for me. ;)

I'll be selling mine in the next 2-3 months. Keep an eye out. :)

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

11/28/2008 03:51:36 PM · #39

So many people are flooding the market with the original 5D right now its unreal. The price is plummeting to the point I wont give mine away for what they are selling for. I'd wait a while to see the prices stabilize if I were selling, however if I were buying I'd jump now.

Matt

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/28/2008 04:02:01 PM · #40

I'm tempted to drive to Cedar Rapids and pick one up. Porters Camera has several in stock. I said I would wait til Spring so I'm gonna try and adhere to my own word no matter how difficult it is.

12/02/2008 02:35:53 PM · #41

so has anyone bought one with the bundled 24-105 ?

and is it really different to the previous one as suggested in various places ?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

12/02/2008 04:36:17 PM · #42

Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

I'm tempted to drive to Cedar Rapids and pick one up. Porters Camera has several in stock. I said I would wait til Spring so I'm gonna try and adhere to my own word no matter how difficult it is.

Oh, it is very hard indeed. Cedar rapids is only 4 hours from my place, and in fact I have a friend coming up from Cedar next week. Must... not... succumb!

Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f1.8

12/06/2008 05:27:13 AM · #43

Originally posted by Jedusi:

so has anyone bought one with the bundled 24-105 ?

and is it really different to the previous one as suggested in various places ?

I never got an answer to this - but some sources reckon that the bundled 24-105 is a gently improved version of the current one.

Anyone know whether it's true and if so how ?

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

12/06/2008 05:36:12 AM · #44

I would be interested to see how they could possibly 'gently improve' something that is already one of the best zooms Canon make.

*WATCHING*

Message edited by author 2008-12-06 05:49:07.

Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f1.8

12/06/2008 05:39:18 AM · #45

I have seen it written that the tweaks were not enough to warrant a mkII designation, but were there all the same.

A 'silent upgrade'

Message edited by author 2008-12-06 09:01:14.

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

12/06/2008 05:48:53 AM · #46

my bad, morning eyes mixed with excitement, no bad intentions will change original quote.. thanks

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

12/06/2008 09:00:25 AM · #47

Originally posted by MAK:

my bad, morning eyes mixed with excitement, no bad intentions will change original quote.. thanks

Hey - no probs

:- )

dougi555

Nikon D800

12/09/2008 06:55:37 PM · #48

I've got mine...............so excited, first few shots a huge improvement over my old 30D

smurfguy

12/09/2008 07:00:16 PM · #49

I just noticed DPReview is alive with reports of "black dot" problems with the 5D Mark II - pixels around blown highlights that seem to be clipping to pure black.

I guess we've yet to see if the problem is truly widespread, but wow - I really thought Canon would be more careful with quality control after the auto-focus issues with the 1D series... and in a soft economy... and given the recent FF competition...