5D Mark II upgrade from my XSI

I upgraded from 450D and a 500D to 5D2 and was stunned at how much better my images were. I had good lenses all the way around. I was having trouble with focus and recompose on both Rebel bodies, with the 5d2, not even a hint of trouble and actually I have been purposely trying to be sloppy in my recompose and the images are very sharp.

I think you have a bad camera or it's operator error. You can crank up the sharpening in Raw WAY further with the 5d2. My portraits are so much better. Shoot inraw or just head back to the rebel line. I would never go back myself.

Numenorean wrote in post #15265401
First, if you don't shoot RAW, why bother with this kind of camera?

Is this really true? I want to eventually move up to a 5D classic from an XSi...So your saying I would be wasting my time and not see any difference in my pictures since I only shoot jpeg?

JC32 wrote in post #15266092
Is this really true? I want to eventually move up to a 5D classic from an XSi...So your saying I would be wasting my time and not see any difference in my pictures since I only shoot jpeg?

No, it's not true. RAW user snobbishness. Ignore the comment.

@ TSchrief - I was just in Vegas for Halloween, and took a lot of pics of the costumes on Fremont St. under horrible lighting conditions. 5Dc and 50 1.8 II - missed focus on one shot; all the others were great, and some even had that 5Dc "magic".

ickmcdon wrote in post #15266672
@ TSchrief - I was just in Vegas for Halloween, and took a lot of pics of the costumes on Fremont St. under horrible lighting conditions. 5Dc and 50 1.8 II - missed focus on one shot; all the others were great, and some even had that 5Dc "magic".

Thanks for that. I have heard similar stories about this combination. I have no idea why mine (5Dc/50 1.8) don't like each other. After determining that the 5Dc works well with my other lenses, I put the 50 back on my 60D. By the way, I like it more on the 60D. The 50mm f/1.8 II simply works on my 60D. It works better on the 5Dc in decent light, but is still unreliable. I tried all sorts of situations. Indoors with and without flash. Using different flash units. It does seem to perform better with the 430EX II than with the 550EX. Perhaps the AF-assist pattern is different? I used it outdoor in bright sunshine/clouds/shade and get better results in brighter light; but what good is a lens you can only shoot in bright sunshine? And it still misses more than any lens I have ever owned. I really intended to shoot my 5Dc with only my shorter primes. Now I have to rethink that. Perhaps a mid-grade zoom of some sort; 28-135, 24-105. I don't want a 50 1.4 just for my 5Dc.

Raw is a useful tool. Shooting jpg is a different useful too. Shoot what you like, when you need it. Canon's JPG engines are quite good, and almost infinitely tweakable. If you like ALWAYS and ONLY shooting raw, fine. Please allow others to use their tools as they see fit. The main difference is that you will spend a lot more time at your computer. If the results you get make you happy, we are all happy for you. Please leave us (mainly) jpg shooters alone.

Did you use mirror lock up?

dexy101 wrote in post #15267388
Did you use mirror lock up?

I am not sure this is directed at me. For just off-the-cuff shots of cats in the back yard? For flash-lit snapshots? For 1/800 and faster shutter speed? I shot the 5Dc/50 1.8 yesterday in bright sunshine: ISO 200, 1/8000 f/2.2. It still misses, sometimes. I use mirror lockup for tripod work, only. There is no point to it with hand-held shots.

Anyway, this is hijacking someone else's thread. Back to the 5D2, please.

jubu wrote in post #15264401
I made the same jump from an XSi to a 5D2 and to be honest, if you're expecting a huge "WOW" difference in pics, I don't think that you will find it. To be honest, the XSi is quite a camera and very capable of producing quality images. I think many people think by upgrading from a Rebel to a 5D or a pro series body you will automatically notice a difference in images; but with the advancement of recent entry-level cameras, I don't think that difference is as noticeable as it used to be anymore. Yes, a bunch of other cameras in the Canon lineup are much better and more capable, but that doesn't mean you will get the equivalent of a jump from a non-HD television picture to a 1080p HD one. Additionally, the 5D2 is a ton heavier than the XSi--maybe that could be contributing to the OOF shots you refer to, or perhaps the focusing mode you're in?

With that said, what exactly were you looking for by switching to the 5D2? A bigger more durable body? Full frame DoF? The 12megapixels from the XSi is more than enough for many hobbyists or advanced users--perhaps a better lens is really what you were after?

I sent it back. This is actually the second time. I guess I really wanted to justify the camera. The body is fantastic feels wonderful in hand, nice big viewfinder and sharp LCD.

I have been guilty of buying and returning bodies from Amazon as of late. I guess the real problem is that in terms of IQ, there honestly isn't a whole lot to choose from in the Canon lineup. Canon uses the same processor and demosaic algorithms in all their bodies thus color, tone, white balance, detail is all very similar whether it's a $500 body or a $3000 body. Of course you can nitpick some fine details and the high ISO is better on the mark II, but I can still make lovely shots on my XSI, just wish I had a more robust body, better viewfinder, etc. I dunno maybe I am simply wasting money.

watson76 wrote in post #15268612
I sent it back. This is actually the second time. I guess I really wanted to justify the camera. The body is fantastic feels wonderful in hand, nice big viewfinder and sharp LCD.

I have been guilty of buying and returning bodies from Amazon as of late. I guess the real problem is that in terms of IQ, there honestly isn't a whole lot to choose from in the Canon lineup. Canon uses the same processor and demosaic algorithms in all their bodies thus color, tone, white balance, detail is all very similar whether it's a $500 body or a $3000 body. Of course you can nitpick some fine details and the high ISO is better on the mark II, but I can still make lovely shots on my XSI, just wish I had a more robust body, better viewfinder, etc. I dunno maybe I am simply wasting money.

Maybe look into a 50D as an upgrade if you're after a better body?

watson76 wrote in post #15268612
... I guess the real problem is that in terms of IQ, there honestly isn't a whole lot to choose from in the Canon lineup. Canon uses the same processor and demosaic algorithms in all their bodies thus color, tone, white balance, detail is all very similar whether it's a $500 body or a $3000 body. Of course you can nitpick some fine details and the high ISO is better on the mark II, but I can still make lovely shots on my XSI, just wish I had a more robust body, better viewfinder, etc. I dunno maybe I am simply wasting money.

If your looking for a bump in IQ, don't upgrade the body. As you pointed out between Canons lowest end and highest end bodies the IQ will be nearly identical except in certain cases where one of the higher end features are needed.

So upgrade your glass. That's where you really see an improvement in IQ. The difference between say the 55-250 and the 70-200II is really noticeable, but then so is the cost.

watson76 wrote in post #15268612
I sent it back. This is actually the second time. I guess I really wanted to justify the camera. The body is fantastic feels wonderful in hand, nice big viewfinder and sharp LCD.

I have been guilty of buying and returning bodies from Amazon as of late. I guess the real problem is that in terms of IQ, there honestly isn't a whole lot to choose from in the Canon lineup. Canon uses the same processor and demosaic algorithms in all their bodies thus color, tone, white balance, detail is all very similar whether it's a $500 body or a $3000 body. Of course you can nitpick some fine details and the high ISO is better on the mark II, but I can still make lovely shots on my XSI, just wish I had a more robust body, better viewfinder, etc. I dunno maybe I am simply wasting money.

7D has a big beautiful viewfinder and a robust body.

Realistically, though, if you are happy with the results you currently get then carry on. There is so much gear envy that goes on these days that if you can manage to not contribute to it you will be making the world a better place.

I'd keep the 450D as a secondary an 5DmkI as a primary. That's what I plan on doing....

Didn't you make a whole thread belating the 5Dc and 5DII and insisting on keeping your 60D?

vsg28 wrote in post #15269257
Didn't you make a whole thread belating the 5Dc and 5DII and insisting on keeping your 60D?

See this thread. Amazing.
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=15269359#po​st15269359

I have come to respect a lot of the regular posters in these fora. Sovern is one I will feel quite content ignoring.