EOS5D MkII

grezmel · #1 (**permalink**) 29-11-2008, 20:27

Ok, where do I begin - beginner question.

I can/could buy the new Canon EOS5D MkII for £1800, but what exactly does £1800 give me ?
I currently have a EOS450D and understand that the 5D has a full size sensor thus no cropping better quality images(also boasts 21mp) -is this going to be that noticable to the average user(has anyone got a comparrison photos taken with a £500 camera and a £2000 camera?).

Will the 5d be better shooting in low light conditions or is this down to the lens used?

The above are probably dim questions, but I struggle getting my head round the sum of money you can spend on cameras and I am sure it doesnt make you a better photographer.

thanks Graham

**carregwen** · #2 (**permalink**) 29-11-2008, 21:34

Forgive me for saying so, but if you do not know the answer to your own question, then I would not consider buying an expensive camera.

The 5DMkII is going to be about £2k. Because of the pixel density you will need Canon 'L' lenses to get the best out of it. The same applies to the new 50D camera that I have just bought (I also bought a 24-205L). The high pixel density puts extra demands on the lens being able to pick up detail, hence the need for an expensive lens. If you need to buy expensive lenses as well as the camera that could easily be another £2k for 2-3 lenses. Do you really want to spend that?

I have decided to use a 50D for a year or two, and gradually replace my cheaper lenses with L lenses. Then, when I can afford a full frame expensive camera, the lenses I have by then will all fit, and do the camera justice.

The light gathering capacity of the 5D should be better than say the 50D because the increase in sensor area over pixel count should give a less pixel density, hence slightly better quality in low light.

Do you really need the HD video capacity of the 5D? When did you last shoot video, and what did you do with it?

The 50D is excellent, and if you are a 'beginner' as you say, I would suggest you do the same as I am.

I could be wrong though.

grezmel · #3 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by carregwen

Forgive me for saying so, but if you do not know the answer to your own question, then I would not consider buying an expensive camera.

The 5DMkII is going to be about £2k. Because of the pixel density you will need Canon 'L' lenses to get the best out of it. The same applies to the new 50D camera that I have just bought (I also bought a 24-205L). The high pixel density puts extra demands on the lens being able to pick up detail, hence the need for an expensive lens. If you need to buy expensive lenses as well as the camera that could easily be another £2k for 2-3 lenses. Do you really want to spend that?

I have decided to use a 50D for a year or two, and gradually replace my cheaper lenses with L lenses. Then, when I can afford a full frame expensive camera, the lenses I have by then will all fit, and do the camera justice.

The light gathering capacity of the 5D should be better than say the 50D because the increase in sensor area over pixel count should give a less pixel density, hence slightly better quality in low light.

Do you really need the HD video capacity of the 5D? When did you last shoot video, and what did you do with it?

The 50D is excellent, and if you are a 'beginner' as you say, I would suggest you do the same as I am.

I could be wrong though.

Thanks for the reply - sounds like sense to me....

how are you finding the new 50d ?

**carregwen** · #4 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by grezmel

Thanks for the reply - sounds like sense to me....

how are you finding the new 50d ?

Excellent. Image quality is very good, and the viewing screen (which has 900,000 pixels instead of about 300,000) makes the shot look superb when reviewing in-camera. It's a very nice camera indeed, probably one of the best crop factor cameras you can get - which for £850 is not bad at all. But as I said before it does need good quality lenses due to the high pixel density.

**genese** · #5 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 19:41

the 5D is great in low light low noise
although more pixels are desirable and yes the image quality is better the file sizes will be larger which is great for commercial use ... not really worth having for your own use in my humble opinion, the full frame sensor takes some getting used to and is frustrating after you have had a camera with a 1.6 crop factor... its very much a wysiwyg ( what you see is what you get) through your view finder your lenses are exactly what they say on the tin... so you buy bigger lenses! top end cameras perform better with top end glass... so theres another thought, BUT boy of boy does this camera shake your boots taking landscapes ... its what the camera is made for .. and it exels
how serious are you about photography?
i have the first series 5D tried the new one and wont be upgrading yet ... the video has put me off and id be paying for mega pixels.. so im waiting for someone to buy me a Hasselblad.co.uk

grezmel · #6 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by genese

the 5D is great in low light low noise
although more pixels are desirable and yes the image quality is better the file sizes will be larger which is great for commercial use ... not really worth having for your own use in my humble opinion, the full frame sensor takes some getting used to and is frustrating after you have had a camera with a 1.6 crop factor... its very much a wysiwyg ( what you see is what you get) through your view finder your lenses are exactly what they say on the tin... so you buy bigger lenses! top end cameras perform better with top end glass... so theres another thought, BUT boy of boy does this camera shake your boots taking landscapes ... its what the camera is made for .. and it exels
how serious are you about photography?
i have the first series 5D tried the new one and wont be upgrading yet ... the video has put me off and id be paying for mega pixels.. so im waiting for someone to buy me a Hasselblad.co.uk

Thanks - I think Id be waiting for a long time for a Hasselblad lol.

**genese** · #7 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:58

lol me too but a girl can dream

Joseph Carmichael · #8 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:37

That's a lot of money, and it would depend on what you are going to do with it? Obviously it would be a waste if all you going to do is upload to a Forum. However it you are planing to use it Commercially eg: for Weddings or Magazine advertizing, it would make better sence to Register your Bussines first, and make use of the Taxation Advantage of your Purchase and/or Insurace.

I also think that both Rob and genese have both contributed to some very sound advice.
And besides the 450 quite a good little Camera as well, so does it handle all your needs at present?...Remember with all this electronic stuff, in just five years from now the 5D could be just expensive land fill.
It's happened before........and more than once!

Cheers,
Joseph.