5D MKII (Users get in here)

Pward1980 wrote in post #11173668
well, the 5D II is considered a pro camera, just like the 1D series. however, the 1D series is more geared towards sports and action photography whereas the 5D II is geared more towards landscapes and portraits. both excel at what they were meant for.

It's considered a pro camera by most users - it's not by Canon.

Canon officially classifies the 5D MK II as well as the 7D as "advanced mid-range".

I can afford a 1D series camera, but I choose not to have one due to having small hands. Even if Canon does not consider the 5D series pro, I know a lot of pros that use them. When the first 5D came out years ago, I was shooting at the A&S Museum in Dulles and the pros there were sporting Hasselblad digitals and 5D's. It was such a thrill to have so many Canon 5D's in one place and I was shooting with one of them.

Tom O. wrote in post #11139402
Contemplating getting a 5D MKII. I am currently shooting with my old 20D. Still love it but I am looking to get a solid camera to replace it and use the 20D for back up and limited drag racing shots. Looks like the 5D MKII will do everything that the 20D would and then some. I read that tracking fast moving objects may be an issue but then I see some really nice shots that were generated with the 5D MKII in the motorsports forum. So I am thinking that it will do fine for a what I may use it for periodically.

Mainly I am looking to get into Landscape and still shots (just random stuff). Been in awe looking through the Landscape forum and really want to get into that and learn how to do it.

Does anyone have any insight on the 5D MKII as far as drawbacks or things you don't like about it. I would like to hear the good and the bad from 5D MKII users.

Since nobody mentioned it: keep in mind the focal length for all your lenses will be shorter by a factor of 1.6. That's not much of a practical issue since you have more than enough extra pixels to get the same pixels on the same object but alas it uses up your extra pixels, you can't spend them elsewhere for max zoom pictures.

Pward1980 wrote in post #11173668
well, the 5D II is considered a pro camera, just like the 1D series. however, the 1D series is more geared towards sports and action photography whereas the 5D II is geared more towards landscapes and portraits. both excel at what they were meant for.

the 1d iii, iv, is geared towards pretty much anything, sports, landscape, nature/wildlife, portraits, weddings.

5d ii is a prosumer camera that may or may not be used by "pros"

they wont exactly be shorter. The field of view will just be wider. you can just step forward or crop to get that other field of view from a crop.

On the Canon 5D MK ( I,II ) and Canon 1Ds MK ( I,II,II ) are the only cameras by Canon that has the true 35mm Full Frame sensor and the ratio is 1:1 unlike the other models they have the cropped sensor of 1:1.6 and Canon 1D MK ( I,II,III,Iv ) has the cropped sensor of 1:1.3. So when pairing lens to the 5D and 1Ds your getting the true value of the lens at 1:1 ratio. I went from a Canon 40D to the Canon 5D MK II and can see a huge difference. One thing that I did notice tho is that the Full Frame sensor is really touchy. Maybe its just me but allot my shots are not coming out the way I want them to with the FF compared to my cropped. I know I comparing Apples to Oranges but still there shouldn't be that much gap between them.

XFaega wrote in post #11178816
One thing that I did notice tho is that the Full Frame sensor is really touchy. Maybe its just me but allot my shots are not coming out the way I want them to with the FF compared to my cropped. I know I comparing Apples to Oranges but still there shouldn't be that much gap between them.

Can you tell me what you mean by this? Are the images coming out little softer or what do you mean?

I am on the fence as well...I ask myself this question...if 7D and 5DII are same price, what would I buy? What would others buy?

I am about 70% funded for 5DII...or almost 100% for the 7D...

It would be a great xmas gift to myself...

Make a list of pros and cons for each. You don't worry what others buy, but what you want out of the camera. I had a choice of getting a 5D mark II for $1,599 or a 7D for a little over $1,000. I chose the 5D II because I wanted to utilize my lenses at their intended focal lengths, not to mention the extra megapixel real estate. The 7D does have some very nice features as well.

I went 20D, 40D and now 5DII. While you can get great images with the 40D, the 5DII moves things to another level. The high ISO performance is simply spectacular, and IQ is out of this world.

5D II makes me happy, but in some scenarios, the 7D performs better - especially if you're relying on evaluative flash metering in very tricky lighting situations. 5D may take more trial and error, or knowledge to get the same results the 7D can get very easily.

I think having both is great. I used the 5D exclusivly for a week and had a new found appreciation for just how fast the 7D really is

5D2 will be mind blowing IQ wise (compared to your 20D). I will be better at AF tracking than your 20D. The only thing you will REALLY notice is your reach with your lenses. BIG TIME difference! If you have long lenses on all the time I'd think twice about this body.

7D (since others brought it up), super fast, way more features......that (IMO) probably aren't used, or confuse 60% of the owners. The grip & layout is very nice, and personally being a prior 1 series person I enjoy some of the features that have transferred over into this body. IQ wise, the story's you are constantly reading on here would make you think it's better than sliced bread. After shooting about 200 shots with mine now I will honestly say I'm not that impressed. If I had not shot with a 5D2 then I probably would be a bit more excited about this body. But really, I don't see THAT much change from the 40D I sold to get it. However, I will say I haven't shot sports with it yet.......which is the main reason I bought it.

Bottom line, if you can work with probably 20% better AF than your 20D, and don't need the 1.6 reach I wouldn't think twice about the 5D2. If you are looking for more speed& the same reach then you're all over the 7D.........just don't shot a 5D2 after you buy it.....lol