New 5Dmkii owner. Looking for some tips.

Well, I just purchased (as in an hour ago) my first full frame camera. I've seen too many pictures posted on here of people using 5dmkii's, and I just couldn't take it anymore. haha So far I've picked up the battery grip, a few extra batteries, and a sandisk 32gb extreme pro CF card.

I also purchased the 24-105L about a month ago now, and as I'm learning, this camera/lens was/is actually sold as a kit. I'm here just looking for some general tips for a 1st time full frame user. I'm coming from a t2i, so this is quite a big upgrade for me. Lenses I currently own are listed in the signature.

I typically shoot in Aperture Priority (AE) with my t2i, and adjust exposure and ISO accordingly. Would this be a good way to continue to do things with the new 5d2?

Also, what is the sweet spot as far as sharpness goes with the 24-105? I've only used it a few times so far.

Thanks for any/all help!

Your new full frame user,

-Mike

Congratulations!

Set AF to center point only, as that's your only cross type AF point.

Unless you are pixel peeping, ISO 1,600 through ISO 100 will be pretty much the same, so I would keep it in AF priority if that's what you're used to, but realize you can get much faster shutter speeds, because you can up the ISO much higher then you could with the t2i before you care.

Lastly, get this:
http://www.magiclanter​n.fm/

Excellent. That's the kind of help I was looking for. Thank you.

And I currently have ML installed on the t2i. Use it when recording video (disabling AGC), and a few other settings. What are the big advantages on the 5d2?

mikealicious wrote in post #15788983
Excellent. That's the kind of help I was looking for. Thank you.

And I currently have ML installed on the t2i. Use it when recording video (disabling AGC), and a few other settings. What are the big advantages on the 5d2?

No real advantage on the 5D2 over the t2i with respect to ML's features. You just want all those features on your new camera .

Also I forgot to mention, the 5D2 has 3 preset configurations. The t2i has none. This is helpful if you plan to shoot different kinds of things. You can set the camera up how you usually use it for low light/no action type stuff, and then set another one for how you usually shoot sports.

I use mine for on and off a tripod, where when on a tripod I want AV, mirror lockup, iso 100 and a 2 second delay, and in hand I use AV, set the ISO to 1600, no timer, and no mirror lockup.

All kinds of ways you can use it. I just want to make sure you remember you have it

Try shooting manual, which might be easier since you now have a rear control dial. Maybe switch shutter to front dial and aperture to rear.

Change the SET button to adjust ISO. Now you can control all 3 things at once in M mode.

Gregg.Siam wrote in post #15789642
Try shooting manual, which might be easier since you now have a rear control dial. Maybe switch shutter to front dial and aperture to rear.

Change the SET button to adjust ISO. Now you can control all 3 things at once in M mode.

Just curious. What is the difference between the SET button and the top-deck button for ISO. Don't you have to spin the rear control dial after pressing either button?

TSchrief wrote in post #15789705
Just curious. What is the difference between the SET button and the top-deck button for ISO. Don't you have to spin the rear control dial after pressing either button?

I agree it makes no difference which method you use.

One thing that I highly recommend is using Back Button AF. This will disable the AF function from half pressing the shutter release which means the lens wont try to AF every time you meter the scene by half pressing.

1) Use center AF most, if not all the time.
2) Turn on expansion points in the CF
3) Turn on the CF that allows you to control the AF point directly via the joystick
4) If you want BBF, just set the CF setting for that where you only have metering start turned on for the shutter button

Other than that, you will use the 5D as you did your other camera, same basic settings, etc. Your images will be sharper and about 1 stop better in noise than what you are used to on the T2i. You have a dial now instead of a series of buttons, and this combined with new button locations, may trip you up initially.

One thing i noticed coming from the T2I was the rear LCD wont turn off on the 5DII unlike the T2I where there is a sensor for when you block it the screen goes off, I though my 5DII was broken at first.

you dont need to worry about magic lantern if all you use it for is to turn of AGC, you can do that in the live view settings to set manual audio.

Not sure about getting a grip on the 5D2, the camera is much bigger than the t2i, might try it first before doing it.

dont worry about sweet spot of your lenses, all of them will be sharper and wider than your t2i, just shoot the hell out of your camera. Learn about BBF because now you have a body capable of really using it's full benefits.

outer points are fine in good lighting, be careful in poor lighting. I use it near exclusively, even indoors.

Also remember if shooting in higher ISOs, over expose a little (but not clipping the highlights) even the 5D will look noisy if underexposed.

mafoo wrote in post #15789624
Also I forgot to mention, the 5D2 has 3 preset configurations. The t2i has none.

This is something I'll definitely be taking advantage of. I always wished the t2i had something like this.

mrbubbles wrote in post #15789808
One thing that I highly recommend is using Back Button AF. This will disable the AF function from half pressing the shutter release which means the lens wont try to AF every time you meter the scene by half pressing.

I've read quite a bit about BBF. I thought I read somewhere that it's also possible to do on the t2i? Definitely seems like it'd help.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #15789845
1) Use center AF most, if not all the time.
2) Turn on expansion points in the CF
3) Turn on the CF that allows you to control the AF point directly via the joystick
4) If you want BBF, just set the CF setting for that where you only have metering start turned on for the shutter button

For 1-3, if this is what I think it is (like 9 or 10 red focus point "dots" in the viewfinder), I'm doing it currenlty with the t2i. Helps a lot.

dexy101 wrote in post #15789878
One thing i noticed coming from the T2I was the rear LCD wont turn off on the 5DII unlike the T2I where there is a sensor for when you block it the screen goes off, I though my 5DII was broken at first.

Ha! Now this is something I could most certainly see myself thinking.

Charlie wrote in post #15789978
Not sure about getting a grip on the 5D2, the camera is much bigger than the t2i, might try it first before doing it.

I do have larger hands, but I mainly like the grip for the two battery purpose. When I go walking in San Francisco, or am at an event and don't want to bring a bag with me, or load my pockets with batteries, it's nice having two in the camera. Typically lasts me the day.

markweaver wrote in post #15790038
Also remember if shooting in higher ISOs, over expose a little (but not clipping the highlights) even the 5D will look noisy if underexposed.

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

And thanks everyone for the help. I will be re-reading this thread the first couple times I take my camera out. I'm sure I'll have questions as I start shooting with it.

TSchrief wrote in post #15789705
Just curious. What is the difference between the SET button and the top-deck button for ISO. Don't you have to spin the rear control dial after pressing either button?

No you use the main dial. I find it much easier to find the set button than the ISO button, plus your index finger is usually all ready near the shutter/main dial, so you just press with thumb and start spinning.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #15789845
1) Use center AF most, if not all the time.
2) Turn on expansion points in the CF
3) Turn on the CF that allows you to control the AF point directly via the joystick
4) If you want BBF, just set the CF setting for that where you only have metering start turned on for the shutter button

Other than that, you will use the 5D as you did your other camera, same basic settings, etc. Your images will be sharper and about 1 stop better in noise than what you are used to on the T2i. You have a dial now instead of a series of buttons, and this combined with new button locations, may trip you up initially.

mikealicious wrote in post #15790188
For 1-3, if this is what I think it is (like 9 or 10 red focus point "dots" in the viewfinder), I'm doing it currenlty with the t2i. Helps a lot.

No, it is not like the T2i. The 5D II has 6 "hidden assist points" surrounding the center AF point that can be enabled in the Custom Functions: CFn III-7 AF Point Area Expansion, P. 199 of the manual. Also see P. 80 of the manual for a diagram of the hidden points and their usage. Note that the hidden points are only functional in AI Servo AF mode.

D/L the manual from Canon: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com …02/eos5dmkii-im5-c-en.pdf

lovemyram4x4 wrote in post #15790351
No you use the main dial. I find it much easier to find the set button than the ISO button, plus your index finger is usually all ready near the shutter/main dial, so you just press with thumb and start spinning.

can someone show me how to set this up? is this the same as setting your set button to the quick settings defaulted on the ISO?