Help me pick a replacement body for my dead 5Dii:

CTM wrote in post #8531230
I have been shooting Canon until recently when I bought a D700. So I had both systems for a while.

I don't know why you feel the menus are a pain in the *$&, I find them alot more customizable as well as easier to use than the Canon. They have shooting banks, lots of shortcuts. Mind you, I am coming from a 5D and not the 5D II.

I opted for the D700 over the 5D II because of weather sealing, a/f, build quality and CLS. They suited my needs. IF a new D700s was to come out, the pricing would be much more than the current D700. I paid $2100 US for my D700 as Nikon is having rebates here in Japan. It was a huge saving on compared to the 5D II. Having CLS thrown in for free, that was a bonus.

The Nikon 14-24 is a mighty fine piece of glass. Here is a review of it against the 24L. http://www.16-9.net …ikon1424_canon1​4l2_a.html

A few other differences for me were build quality, I preferred the feel of the Nikon over the 5D (personal preference). Small features like Virtual horizon, customizable menus, 3D tracking in continuous a/f mode, flash exposure lock, having external buttons for everything.

A few things I wasn't too happy about, no 100-400, not as many long primes, no 17-40 L (or similar lens in that range and that price bracket).

Don't get me wrong, Canon is a great system, but the Nikon seem to suit my needs a little better at this point in time. I sold all my L lenses and switched. Any questions, just send me a PM.

thanks for your thoughts! Regarding the menus, a large part of it is probably just because they're different. That's a big reason why I want to rent it. I have concerns there and with the controls (no big rear dial, different joystick and the 2 smaller dial's positions). Nothing against them, just that they're very different from what I'm used to.

and yeah, I've read the 16-9 review before as well as his others. It's an awesome lens but he makes a few very interesting points which I agree with. Basically, it's amazing wide open. But if you're stopped down to f/11 ALL the UWA zooms do very well. I've been shooting with a sigma 12-24mm again and loving it, giving up the 12~13.9mm FLs would be tough (it's a huge difference) especially considering the size/price/weight of the 14-24mm. BUT!!! If I could/would use it inside in low light because of it's 2.8, then it's a completely different story! The 12-24mm get dark quick at 4.5~5.6, especially considering it's "issues" wide open.

A.C. wrote in post #8531264
But as far as your final decision is concerned, the best thing to do is wait. In a few months, maybe weeks, there will more than likely be updates and announcements made for both Canon and Nikon systems.

I'm waiting out the September 1 announcements but nothing more. Waiting means you're ALWAYS looking for the next thing and never using something you like. The only way I'd even consider "waiting" is if I cherry picked a cheap 5D to hold me over. But why not get some other camera I've never owned before and give it an honest trial while waiting? (IE a D700 and 1 or 2 lenses while waiting for a 1DIV).

If you like zooms at 200mm or shorter the D700 is a good option. The Nikon prices for the 24-70 and 70-200 were affordable for me, but the 200-400 is just way too expensive. I have a 24-70 and 70-200 f/2.8 and bought a 70-300 for a small/light travel lens. While a lot cheaper it was a pleasant surprise to see that the IQ from the 70-300 is really good, so I use it a lot when I want to travel light.

The D700 is a very nice body, but if you need to crop a lot then print large you'll miss the resolution of the 5DII. 12MP is plenty for me, but I can see how it may not work for everyone. IQ is excellent, controls make sense to me (but so do Canon's), and there are a ton of setup options for AF. If you like off-shoe flash using ETTL, you will like the Nikon CLS even more.

My only nits with Nikon so far are:

- Price/size of the 200-400 zoom
- No pro-quality f/4 zooms
- Some accessories (off shoe cords) aren't made very well

If you have a lot of investment in Canon I wouldn't recommend switching unless you were really dissatisfied.

Having owned both a 5D2 and 1Ds2 and knowing why you prefered the 5D2 (which I didn't so sold mine) I'd recommend sticking with what you had for the same reasons you wanted it in the first place. If you feel that you are at risk on the shore line or aboard boats (which you are) why not get a surf housing. I dive but can't see the need for a true underwater housing but from what I've seen the surf housings are priced reasonably vs underwater housings, and would offer the level of protection needed, assuming they have lens ports that fit your needs. I really don't think a 1 series is built to be hammered by a big salt water wave, or if so not for long.

Bob_A wrote in post #8531740
If you like zooms at 200mm or shorter the D700 is a good option. ..... bought a 70-300 for a small/light travel lens. While a lot cheaper it was a pleasant surprise to see that the IQ from the 70-300 is really good, so I use it a lot when I want to travel light.

yeah, the 200-400 is out for both reasons mentioned. I have and love my 100-400, but I've been considering going to a 70-300 IS AND 150-500 OS. The first would give me a great little travel lens for when I don't want to deal with the 100-400, the second a bit more reach when 400 isn't enough on FF. Switching to Nikon I'd start with the 70-300 and see if I needed the 150-500 down the road.

also a concern. When I had my 5D I felt I wanted a cropper for when I "needed" reach. I did this with a 5D and 40D. But when I switched to the 5Dii I could crop it enough it didn't matter. I do NOT want 2 bodies again (over a cheap rebel/d90 backup my wife uses). So this could be an issue as well. Switching to the siggy 150-500 as my tele would help a lot here I think.

cicopo wrote in post #8531828
If you feel that you are at risk on the shore line or aboard boats (which you are) why not get a surf housing.

the issue is I'm landscape shooting near the water, so how do you effectively do that inside a housing? But I emailed the guys at CMT a month or so ago, ironically getting my reply THE DAY AFTER MY 5Dii DROWNED! The CMT housings look very promising. It's funny, back when I originally contacted them they were looking for a 5Dii to borrow to design their housing around.... maybe they can help me so I can help them?

I only skimmed the responses, but it seems like you have a lot to think about.

Personally if I were in your shoes and needed to replace my 5D MKII today, it would be an easy choice for me--I'd be getting another 5D MKII. No question. I'm happy with it, and I don't know of another camera out there that meets my needs better.

While the D700 may have better sealing than the 5D MKII, I still don't think it's sealed well enough to sustain getting dumped with salt water. The crucial areas (CF slot and battery slot), aren't sealed much differently than the 5D's, and certainly not as well as a 1 series.

Good luck in your choice!

^ both the battery and CF were "bone dry"... dusty even (first thing I checked).

jacobsen1 wrote in post #8532006
^ both the battery and CF were "bone dry"... dusty even (first thing I checked).

Hmmm... score one for foam seals!

Either way, salt water soaks are pretty much the worst thing you can do to anything. If protection against salt water were a big priority for me, I would probably look at a 1 series. I just don't think the D700 is on the same level with the weather sealing.

I would never take my 5D2 into that situation. I know what would happen long before it did. I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

Nikon? Not in my lifetime. Not unless they do something totally revolutionary that would justify me dumping all of my kit and switching over at a much greater cost.

I wouldn't buy a 1DMk3 right now given the 1DMk4 is about to drop. That's the problem... you really need a 1D. I personally wouldn't do a 1DMk2, it would be a 1DMk3 or Mk4.

Tough position given the timing. I suppose I would buy another 5DMk2 and shoot it until the 7D drops or the 1Dmk4 drops. The 5D2's are still in high demand, so selling it shouldn't be a problem.

Meanwhile, stay out of the surf.

For me, I have both the 5D2 and 1D3. I would take the 1D3 into that situation while the 5D2 stayed safely at home or in the car.

timnosenzo wrote in post #8532014
Hmmm... score one for foam seals!

don't forget my tape in the CF door!

tharmsen wrote in post #8532034
Nikon? Not in my lifetime. Not unless they do something totally revolutionary that would justify me dumping all of my kit and switching over at a much greater cost.

I wouldn't buy a 1DMk3 right now given the 1DMk4 is about to drop. That's the problem... you really need a 1D.

but to me the D700 is a baby 1D with FF... Which is very appealing. Plus, 8fps on FF in a non pro body size (all the time) is awesome. That and they've given us high ISOs w/o banding when you really push it. All pretty revolutionary if you ask me. If canon made that camera I think a lot of people here would flock to it...

OK, but that's a ~$6k proposition. You picking up the difference? Plus, you'd shoot LANDSCAPES with a cropped 10mp sensor when you have a 21mp FF in the car?

the 1Diii is NOT a consideration. The 1Div could be, if it's FF. But even then it's going to be, what, ~$4k+ at launch?

I would say that you should stay with the 5dmkII - just think of your original reasoning in buying it. You do some amazing landscape photos, so why not stay with the 21mp. A switch To nikon involves all the lenses etc and then in a few years switch back again etc etc...

zincozinco wrote in post #8532134
I would say that you should stay with the 5dmkII - just think of your original reasoning in buying it.

• I had a 5D and could sell it for $400 less than I paid for it after 18 months and 10k shots.
  
• I also had the difference in my camera gear/money account.
  
• I had a 40D and preferred it's bells and whistles but wanted them on FF
  
• movies!
  
• 21mp meant I could get rid of the 40D as the crop factor no longer applied
  

yeah, on the one hand it lets me test some ideas on lenses I've had where the other option I'm considering -vs- what I own is the only option there (24-70 -vs- 24-105 and 70-300 -vs- 100-400). So that's win/lose.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #8532056
but to me the D700 is a baby 1D with FF... Which is very appealing. Plus, 8fps on FF in a non pro body size (all the time) is awesome. That and they've given us high ISOs w/o banding when you really push it. All pretty revolutionary if you ask me. If canon made that camera I think a lot of people here would flock to it...

It's a great body, no doubt. But I rarely, if ever, shoot past ISO 3200. I realize you're not me, but the images the 5DMk2 produces look better to me than what the D700 produces. It's a matter of personal preference, I realize that - and that's why I'm madly in love with my 5DMk2. Plus, you mentioned the video thing... again, for me, that's a non-issue. But you apparently find it useful.

I think you need to re-read my comment that you quoted. I said for me. Again, personal preference. I don't shoot landscapes as I have little interest in them. If you have a single camera and no back-up, that's your choice. My backup is a tank that I can take to the beach, get covered in sand, wash it off under a hose and safely put it away. I do shoot on the beach quite often. My portraits/modeling shots don't require a full frame camera, I just prefer the files my 5D gives me so I prefer to shoot with it. I also can't live without a backup. I like to shoot all the time, and I can't bare to be without a body.

I didn't say it should be.

As for the 1D4, yes... if it's full frame it will be awesome and I may ditch my 5D for it. If not, no way. Cost? Who knows but the current body is $4500 new so I suspect it will be at that price point or a little north of it.

tharmsen wrote in post #8532421
the images the 5DMk2 produces look better to me than what the D700 produces. It's a matter of personal preference, I realize that.

I agree but I've always wondered if it's the shooter? That's why I want to try one personally and see how I like it for the way I shoot...

I shoot up to 3200, and have had my 5Dii on 3200 for 50% of it's shots (12k) so far. I used to be on 1600 on the 5D and struggled with shutter speeds so the stop was a nice improvement, and enough I don't need 6400 unless I went to zooms. The D700 can easily handle that, but it ALSO brings 8fps to the table.

oh, I have a backup. I used to shoot with a 5D and 1D. Then 5D and 40D. But then when I got my 5Dii I had ZERO use for another body and my wife wanted a "real" camera. So we have a XSi now as well. Damn is it TINY now.

It's size has actually been a nice change. But it's 1600 sucks.

Get another 5D2. The pro body and AF of the 1Ds2 wouldn't have helped you in that situation. Get the better IQ and 21MP, if anything, that extra MP will hide noise better at high ISO.

Now as per the D700... I was in love with the specs of that machine... perfect in many ways (power booster grip is awesome) but for some reason, I have a problem adapting to what I call retarded camera operation. That and the expensive glass... I don't need 10 fps at full frame.

^ yeah, I'm fairly sure I'll rent one this weekend to play with it. The menus and controls are very different. I don't like them now, but I think if I forced it on myself for ~2 days I could learn adapt. I also want to see what the IQ is like when I'm using it -vs- what I could get from my 5Dii.