5D or 5DMkII...it's as simple as that.

Ok gang. I'm a 30D user and thoroughly enjoy it...but...reading all the raving reviews of the 5DMkII, I'm craving a second body, and it's gotta be FF.

It'll be some time in the making (cash flow, and convincing Missus Skygod!) but I'm really unsure as to whether it's truly beneficial, as a non-pro, to have a 21.1 megapixel camera, compared to the 12.8 FF 5D Classic.

Here's my thinking....

I keep looking at all your amazing MkII pictures, and bugger me if I can really see a massive difference. It seems FULL FRAME is what really counts, when compared to a cropper. Not having more pixels than you can throw at Naomi Campbell. You see, I've spotted that a lot of people imply they kinda like sRAW on the MkII, which seems odd really.

Don't bother with the, "Oh, it blows the socks off of anything out there"..... I'm pretty certain you're trying to convince yourself more than anyone else. Tell me something concrete.

I want well-balanced, selfless thinking here.

Is the MkII really lightyears ahead regarding IQ and useability?
Do the new features make, at current B&H prices, $900 worth of difference, when I only sell pictures when I want to? Or is the Classic, "while stocks last" the greatest FF steal of the decade?

Opinions please.

Should it be: Save those yen and get a 5DMkII.....and why.

OR: Get the 5D Classic plus new glass.....and why.

Thanks all

ps: due to our relative locations on the planet, I'll catch up with you "tomorrow" I expect.

I only had a crop body, but, I notice that I tend to crop my pictures A LOT. I imagine that if I improved my technique and/or lenses, I could get away with a lot less cropping. When you're dealing with your 30D files, do you often find that you wish that they were bigger, or are they big enough for your purposes? That seems to be the real question, IMO. If you're happy with your current file sizes, then I imagine that you will be happy with a 12MP camera.

Of course, weather the other features of the camera make the upgrade worth it could be an entirely different question. Do you like such things as improved LCD and video capability?

skygod44 wrote in post #7029893
It'll be some time in the making (cash flow, and convincing Missus Skygod!) but I'm really unsure as to whether it's truly beneficial, as a non-pro, to have a 21.1 megapixel camera, compared to the 12.8 FF 5D Classic.

Should it be: Save those yen and get a 5DMkII.....and why.

OR: Get the 5D Classic plus new glass.....and why.

I'd hate to break it to you, but you're worrying about a problem you won't be faced with. You said it will be some time before you move to FF. Well, 5D classic isn't going to be around much longer. Unlike the Rebel series or the 40D series, with the EOS 5D Canon isn't going to keep the older model on the shelf alongside the new one. Production on the 5D stopped a long, long time ago. I'm guessing that the 5D Mark I will be totally gone in a month or two.

After that, the Mark II will be your only choice (unless you're buying 2nd hand).

Strawberry Fields wrote in post #7029970
I'd hate to break it to you, but you're worrying about a problem you won't be faced with. You said it will be some time before you move to FF. Well, 5D classic isn't going to be around much longer. Unlike the Rebel series or the 40D series, with the EOS 5D Canon isn't going to keep the older model on the shelf alongside the new one. Production on the 5D stopped a long, long time ago. I'm guessing that the 5D Mark I will be totally gone in a month or two.

After that, the Mark II will be your only choice (unless you're buying 2nd hand).

I think he may have been saying that he will have to wait longer in order to save up enough for the 5D2.

Strawberry Fields wrote in post #7029970
I'd hate to break it to you, but you're worrying about a problem you won't be faced with.... Well, 5D classic isn't going to be around much longer.... I'm guessing that the 5D Mark I will be totally gone in a month or two....After that, the Mark II will be your only choice (unless you're buying 2nd hand).

That, I didn't know. It's my 40th birthday next month....maybe I should reserve the 5D Classic I've seen in my local tog-shop!!!

XterraJohn wrote in post #7030103
I think he may have been saying that he will have to wait longer in order to save up enough for the 5D2.

Weeeellll, you're kinda right. The money is almost there, but convincing Missus Skygod isn't almost there! But my main point is, can people really tell me that they're using 21.1MP, as it seems to me, a bit of a nightmare when it comes to downloading files, editing, storage, etc. Obviously, if the 5D is going to vanish, I'd have to re-think anyway, but that would be along the lines of 5DMkII or 1DMkIII (or IV...?)

I just don't see that we should encourage Canon to keep on increasing pixels as it's just causing a massive increase in everything that isn't a direct part of "taking a picture", and although initially I was thinking the 50D would be an upgrade, I don't think so now. It's more of a slide, kinda up and kinda along...and I don't want to fall into that trap. It's either FF, or 1.3x in a pro body.

Straight: Get the 5D Mark II. You don't have to shoot at 21MP unless you want to.
Simple as that.
John

If you do not plan on extensive cropping, don't print huge enlargements, don't want to use the Video feature, don't care about LiveView, Don't have the need for Lens Micro Adjustments then I'd say get the original 5D. It still delivers outstanding results

Forget the features and specs.

If photography is a hobby and money for it is tight then it does not make sense to buy a new model that is still selling in its early high cost phase. Camera bodies stopped being revolutionary releases with the (respective to each line) 300D, 10D, 5D and 1Dm2. Early adopters of subsequent models have paid a lot of money for a handful of features.

If one has the money then no problem, grab the latest and greatest and have fun. If this is a stretch, get the one release older model and save big bucks.

Why stretch your budget and relationship with your wife for something that you probably don't really need? You said it yourself, it's not for your livelihood and you are happy with what the 30D does for you. The extra 10 MP of the mark2 only really comes into play when significantly cropping or printing VERY large, neither of which you mentioned.

A lot more goes into making some of the astonishing images you see others produce than just the camera body used. Post processing is a huge factor, as are composition and framing. Then there's the ability to "see" an interesting shot in the first place. I know you already know all of this, but it sounds like you needed someone to remind you.

The 5D is the smart choice in this case.

I'd personally love a 5D2. That being said, I cannot justify the $1500 price difference between buying it versus what I paid for my used 5D. I agree with you about one thing, the move from a crop to a full frame is a big upgrade. Once you do that, it will leave you with extra money for glass (which holds its value much more)

At this point, I personally would never buy a brand new 5D classic. Just because its already a few years old, and its predecessor is already out. If it were between the two, I would just spend the extra money and get the newer camera.

However, if buying used is a choice, and I could find one for $1100-$1300 USD (ive seen it go many times for around that price) then I wouldnt have any regrets for paying about half of what I would pay for the newer camera, and using the rest to buy some nice glass.

If you are a non pro, just think to yourself, how much did you crop before? Where you happy with the results on an 8.2 mp camera? 12.8mp is still a lot of mps. The 5D classic is still a great camera. Look through the pics taken from the 5D classic, and tell me how much of a difference you see.

How large you do normally print? Ive seen huge prints taken from 20/30/40Ds that turn out fine. 12.8 is already more than enough for most people, but of course 21 is very nice to have. Remember that you will also have to spend a lot of money on larger memory cards if you chose the 5DII. You might even have to upgrade your computer to handle the file sizes as well.

Do you NEED the extra features of the 5DII, or do you just WANT them?

Build your glass collection first.

Technology moves at a fast clip - lenses move slow. The lens is more important then the camera.

Great prices on pro level used cameras out there.

Think about this: for the price of a 5DMKII, you can get a used 5D and 85L . Or a 1DsII. Or 1DMKIII. The 5D classic still spits out better quality and resolution than most people will ever need - there's a reason this camera is so highly regarded. Full frame is what matters, not bells and whistles or massive resolution.

5DMKII is really nice, but worth the money? Not to me, especially since that kind of resolution would require a computer upgrade, more hard drives, more CF cards, etc etc.

5D MKII, as simple as that...

martines34 wrote in post #7030565
Build your glass collection first.

Technology moves at a fast clip - lenses move slow. The lens is more important then the camera.

Great prices on pro level used cameras out there.

Very true!

Quite a few of us here have caught 1DsMkII fever! as the price point on this body is in between the the two 5D series cameras and has many unique 1Ds series features that can't be had on either of the fiver's such as the 45 point AF and far superior build quality and weather resistance.

Cheers!