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

Go for the 5DII. Ive got both the XSI and the 5dII. The differences in handling, IQ, high ISO and AF are huge. The high resolution LCD alone is a major improvement. What lenses do you have or plan to buy?

I have a feeling you are going to take a lot of photos with bokeh but not really product anything that only can be made with this new camera.

You never listed your current glass. For all we know you are going to buy a 5D2 and only have EF-S mount lenses right now. All I can find of your previous post is talk about the 50 1.8.

Frankly I think the money can be better served in more glass or a flash if you want to take photos indoors. The 50 1.8 is a good lens for what it cost but it's not the be all and end all of lenses. It's pretty slow to focus and it's a 70 mm equivalent on a crop. Hard to imagine anyone using that exclusively for a year with a crop body without producing the same sort of pictures over and over.

gjl711 wrote in post #14401205
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

I agree with this. Also, the Mark II is going to expose lesser glass. It likes 'L' glass for best performance. Just be aware that nothing magical is going to happen to your photos with a better camera.

Your images will be only marginally better, but you will *think* they are better and subconsciously work harder to develop your skills.

There are other reasons to upgrade. I can't stand the small feel of the XXXD bodies and hated the ergonomics. I went to a 5D3 and now shoot manual mode all the time because it is just sooo much easier to control everything with a front and rear dial plus joystick for the AF (amazing AF as well on the 5D3).

gotak wrote in post #14402050
I have a feeling you are going to take a lot of photos with bokeh but not really product anything that only can be made with this new camera.

You never listed your current glass. For all we know you are going to buy a 5D2 and only have EF-S mount lenses right now. All I can find of your previous post is talk about the 50 1.8.

Frankly I think the money can be better served in more glass or a flash if you want to take photos indoors. The 50 1.8 is a good lens for what it cost but it's not the be all and end all of lenses. It's pretty slow to focus and it's a 70 mm equivalent on a crop. Hard to imagine anyone using that exclusively for a year with a crop body without producing the same sort of pictures over and over.

All I have is the 50 1.8, but I have rented more expensive glass and yet I always fall back on this cheap lens. I rather like the odd 70mm focal length, I find images stunningly sharp even wide open and the bokeh is rather creamy - color and contrast are also good - its a lens that constantly leaves me scratching my head. I'm the kind of guy who can make due with one single focal length and somehow find away to make it work with any subject matter - so more glass won't suffice, I hate changing lenses and as I stated once a put a lens on a body is stays glued. I prefer changing bodies to glass - IMHO a good sensor and good in camera processing (color, dynamic range, etc) makes the images shine - not always the glass - I know I am in the minority here but years of my own experience tell me otherwise.

If your lookin for a camera capable of natural/available light shooting the 5dmk2 is a great camera with excellent IQ. I'm assuming your going to be shooting with primes indoors with no flash.

How much are you willing to invest into a body and lens??

watson76 wrote in post #14402211
All I have is the 50 1.8, but I have rented more expensive glass and yet I always fall back on this cheap lens. I rather like the odd 70mm focal length, I find images stunningly sharp even wide open and the bokeh is rather creamy - color and contrast are also good - its a lens that constantly leaves me scratching my head. I'm the kind of guy who can make due with one single focal length and somehow find away to make it work with any subject matter - so more glass won't suffice, I hate changing lenses and as I stated once a put a lens on a body is stays glued. I prefer changing bodies to glass - IMHO a good sensor and good in camera processing (color, dynamic range, etc) makes the images shine - not always the glass - I know I am in the minority here but years of my own experience tell me otherwise.

I don't even know how to respond to this part except to say that for you to feel that way your definitions of sharpness, etc. must not be the same as mine. The 50 1.8 is ok but it has a plastic mount and there are MUCH sharper lenses out there. It's always the glass. It might help if you posted a photo that you think is sharp and has this bokeh you speak of.

watson76 wrote in post #14400979
Well I have added the camera to my cart several times, but fail to pull the trigger....

.....on yourself.

saintz wrote in post #14401958
1) 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.

2) The 5Dc is not really sharper than crop sensors. 3) But it produces "more artistic" images. That is obviously completely subjective and over simplified. 4) It also has great low light performance.

1) Agreed
2) Disagreed
3) Agreed
4) Agreed, up through ISO 1600, at 3200 the latest round of crops have matched it

watson76 wrote in post #14400979
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 !

Bokeh, contrast and color is from lens first and camera is the secondary tool. 50 1.8 is better glass on 5D compare to Rebel, for sure.
Seems to be sharper. But colors from this lens and bokeh...
Mark II will give you Hollywood quality of video, but again, you will need better glass for it.
So, is it going to be better compare to Rebel? It is going to be, if you know how to use it.
But 50 1.8 and no flash will limit best use of this camera a lot.

5D MK II and 70 200L USM IS II ...It is a Awesome set up I love it

I would be recommending a compromise on both body and glass.
A 5D MKII with a plastic lens sounds a bit like putting the cart before the horse. The camera is not going to capture anything that the most inexpensive lens canon makes will not let through. The camera deserves better!!

why not just get a mirrorless camera if a single lens is good enough for you? one of the main advantage of DSLR is the large selection of lenses. I'd prefer carry a X100 than lugging a DSLR around! you should also look into the D800 since you don't have much invested in Canon glass. Sony sensors are miles ahead of Canon.

My first advice on the forum
Considering everything you have said about how you prefer to shoot, and everything you desire from your next purchase, I would get a clean 5Dc and an 85mm 1.8 and live happily ever after.

elrey2375 wrote in post #14403321
I don't even know how to respond to this part except to say that for you to feel that way your definitions of sharpness, etc. must not be the same as mine. The 50 1.8 is ok but it has a plastic mount and there are MUCH sharper lenses out there. It's always the glass. It might help if you posted a photo that you think is sharp and has this bokeh you speak of.

OP needs to also remember that if he's using EF lenses on his XSi he's in the sweep spot. Upgrade to a FF and suddenly the often ugly corners on primes (compared to their center) is clear and visible.