Well, I finally did it...

I finally went to full frame and picked up a nice used 5D2.

Having slowed down with my sports photography I thought this would be a great time to see what all the fuss was about with FF, and I picked up a nice used 5D2 here the other day. I have always shot with 1.6 or 1.3 crop bodies (My most recent was the 7D) so I thought I would share a few of my initial thoughts.

First...the IQ is fantastic. I am using the same L glass on the 5D2 that I used on every XXD and 1D2 that I owned and the colors are amazing (Especially reds). When I opened the first files up to nitpick I had high expectations, and this camera certainly did not disappoint, the detail is incredible. What really, really made my day was shooting low light at ISO 3200/6400 and then looking at how clean the files looked compared to anything I have shot with to date.

I had read so many negative things about the AF system on the 5d2 that I guess I had already made my mind up that I was going to hate it before I even tried it out, especially coming from the 1D series and 7D, and if your going to compare it to those cameras AF systems then it's obviously going to look bad, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it focuses just as fast and accurate as any 30 or 40D that I have owned. I have yet to track anything in servo, but I doubt that I will ever need it much for what I intend to shoot. I have another 1D2N in my sights for the sport side of things anyway as I will still shoot some games occasionally.

I have always liked shooting with the brick on any body, but the files this camera produces with it has me loving this lens so much now that I may just go ahead and have it welded on permanently

If you wanted to go Full Frame, and coming from a 1D series body, you should have gone for a nice used 1Ds Mark II, or 1Ds Mark III. You'd get the Full Frame advantages PLUS keep the 1D/1Ds series AF...the best of both worlds.

I got the chance to "play with" a 1Ds Mark III the other day, and OMFG. In a class by itself!!

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #13038031
If you wanted to go Full Frame, and coming from a 1D series body, you should have gone for a nice used 1Ds Mark II, or 1Ds Mark III. You'd get the Full Frame advantages PLUS keep the 1D/1Ds series AF...the best of both worlds.

I got the chance to "play with" a 1Ds Mark III the other day, and OMFG. In a class by itself!!

I considered it. But honestly I didn't want the weight and bulk of the 1D series considering that I would basically be using it for weekend shooting in fair weather.

The only time I need the 1D build is when I'm out shooting sports ( Not that often anymore).

Ahh ok. Was just a thought.

I myself LOVE the feel of the 1D series cameras. They just seem better balanced.

I don't know why, but I've never been interested in the 5D, 5D Mk II in any way whatsoever.

But that's just me.

Have fun with your 5D2. Hope you have years of great picture taking.

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #13038222
I myself LOVE the feel of the 1D series cameras. They just seem better balanced.

Yes, they are quite manly...the muscle-cars of the camera world

congrats! i remember my first day with the 5d2...it ate up high iso's like nothing. still love it as much as the first day.

I'm looking forward to going full frame myself, but I have a couple more years of learning and saving before that happens.

Congratulations.

As we all know, the AF of the 5D3 has been bad-mouth ever since, well, ever since it cae on the market!

Yeah, the 1D series have the great performance and yeah, the 7D now has the fancy AF. What some people don't like to recognze, though, is that the 5D Classic and then the 5D2 actually have very capable AF, as long as you stay within the limitations. And, all cameras have their limitations, just different ones for different bodies.

I don't have a 5D2, but I do have the 5D Classic, and let me tell you it has performed well as far as AF goes, and that includes using AI Servo AF on moving objects, including some demanding bird-in-flight shots and some "panning" shots that can be very demanding of the AF in AI Servo mode.

So, I'm just sayin'...!

Congrats on the new gear I think it rocks ...post some pics