Last chance to sell me or talk me out of a 5D

Well I have added the camera to my cart several times, but fail to pull the trigger. As wonderful as my XSI is, I want the very best tool available for photographing my twin girls. I know glass should always come first, but I am after the bokeh, contrast, and color (and amazing skin tones) that the 5D Mark II delivers. What's my holdup ? Well I am concerned I will get the camera and images will only be marginally better than my XSI. I do shoot indoors a lot using natural light and the XSI gets a bit rough above ISO 800 - should I do it or ditch it - last call LOL !

Buy it. It will work great for what you want to do with it!

i just sold my xsi for a 5dmk2... waiting for it to arrive

just do the same watson76 -

DO IT! I just upgraded from the 40D to a 5Dc and my portraits of my kids have never looked better!

Bokeh is dependent on the quality of the glass, not the body. You will get shallower DOF and hence more blurry backgrounds, but the quality of the blur is totally glass dependent.

Contrast and color again are totally glass dependent. Amazing skin tones are the result of great glass and great post processing, not image sensors.

In your example the one place the body will help is shooting indoors with natural light. ISO 800 is easy for the MkII as is ISO1600 or 3200.

But if your expecting some magical quantum improvement, you'll be disappointed. The MkII is only as good as the glass you stick on it. A XSI with a 50mm f/1.2 is going to look better than a MkII with a 50mm f/1.8

CLP route! This should make you feel better pulling the trigger? And hopefully wife won't roll her eyes when she sees the invoice?

ctrout wrote in post #14401144
DO IT! I just upgraded from the 40D to a 5Dc and my portraits of my kids have never looked better!

I really want the 5DC, as I believe it's the best bang for the buck, I am just very concerned with reliability, 1K is a lot to gamble - too bad Canon won't reintroduce this camera.

watson76 wrote in post #14401359
I really want the 5DC, as I believe it's the best bang for the buck, I am just very concerned with reliability, 1K is a lot to gamble - too bad Canon won't reintroduce this camera.

IMO, the 5D classic is a great way to go FF at a very affordable price. Reliability shouldn't really be much of an issue.....just find one that's been well cared for. There are lots of lightly used ones out there to be had

The 5Dc can be found for $600 if you hold out and actively scour the classifieds. Mine was $700 PPd and shipped WITH the battery grip. Great camera and a perfect compliment to my 40D. I will not buy another DSLR until the 5D3 can be found used for under $1000 or the 1Dx for under $1500.

I have both the 450D and a 5DII. I use both of them for different purposes (450D is relaxed "party photos" camera, 5DII is "serious" camera)Funny thing, most of what I am hanging at an upcoming exhibit was shot with the 450D:

http://anscochrome.zen​folio.com/p240037183

anscochrome wrote in post #14401406
I have both the 450D and a 5DII. I use both of them for different purposes (450D is relaxed "party photos" camera, 5DII is "serious" camera)Funny thing, most of what I am hanging at an upcoming exhibit was shot with the 450D:

http://anscochrome.zen​folio.com/p240037183

So in all honesty is the IQ a big leap ? My XSI produces razor sharp images and amazing color, I really question if it can get any better.?

watson76 wrote in post #14401481
So in all honesty is the IQ a big leap ? My XSI produces razor sharp images and amazing color, I really question if it can get any better.?

IQ is governed more by technique and glass than body. You will not instantly get a big bump in IQ. It will help when shooting the fringes especially high ISO. ISO 100 through 800 will not show an appreciable difference. f/4 through f/11 will not show an appreciable difference. Above 800 or less than f/4 and you will see a difference.

of course you should do it.

I was an early adapter to the 5D classic. I defended my move on more than one forum. In my opinion, it's worth the move. Do it!!

watson76 wrote in post #14401359
I really want the 5DC, as I believe it's the best bang for the buck, I am just very concerned with reliability, 1K is a lot to gamble - too bad Canon won't reintroduce this camera.

It's better to gamble on a 5Dc for $600 than not gamble and flat out spend 2.5x more on a 5D2 assuming all you need is a 5Dc.

The 5Dc is not really sharper than crop sensors. But it produces "more artistic" images. That is obviously completely subjective and over simplified. It also has great low light performance.