5D MK2 ... to buy, or not to buy?

Dazb75

Dazb75

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Daz
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Hi

I currently have a 60D and the following lenses:

  • 24-105 f4 L IS
  • 70-200 f4 L IS
  • Nifty Fifty
  • Sigma 10-20

I'm getting to the stage where I'm getting paid work - mostly family portraits. I don't want to leave myself in the position of only having one camera body.

I want to spend approx. £1200 which leaves me with a few options:

  • grey import
  • Canon Ebay Outlet
  • used, from Ebay (my least favourable option)

I also have to factor in the cost of a few CF cards. Thankfully both the 60D and the 5D MK2 use the same battery.

Will I really see a marked improvement in picture quality by moving to the 5D?

I also take landscape photos for my own pleasure!

Thanks
 
I have an original 5D and a 60D and I prefer the images which come out of the 5D. The noise pattern of the 60D at higher ISOs is not to my taste, and images seem to have a nicer pop to them from the 5D (they are also sharper in RAW). I always reach for the 5D first, and the Mark II should be better.

Also, your 24-105 will become a real walkaround lens on the 5D II of course, but you'll get the soft corners which the 60D crops out (might be an issue if you're shooting landscapes?).
 
Being a FF body, the 5DmkII should offer better image quality, and definitely should offer better ISO performance. The prices are dropping on them nowadays too. I'm not a Canon shooter, but I see them on local used sites all the time, just like the D700. Great time to buy either I say.
 
I'm playing Devil's advocate a little but......if you're happy using the 60D and are getting results that are allowing you to make money is there a need for the 5D mk2 ? You could get another 60D and save yourself about £600 (based on hdew prices for body only) that would pay for a 135mm f2 L, which could be great for your portraits.

I do think you'd see an improvement in quality with the 5D mk2 though. I have barely used my 7d since I got a 5d mk2. High ISO performance and image noise is much improved and photo's generally just seem to have a better look to them. I did want the FF sensor so my lenses weren't cropped any more as well though, and find that the 24mm wide end is far more useful than it was on my 7D.
 
stu.artd said:
I'm playing Devil's advocate a little but......if you're happy using the 60D and are getting results that are allowing you to make money is there a need for the 5D mk2 ? You could get another 60D and save yourself about £600 (based on hdew prices for body only) that would pay for a 135mm f2 L, which could be great for your portraits.

I do think you'd see an improvement in quality with the 5D mk2 though. I have barely used my 7d since I got a 5d mk2. High ISO performance and image noise is much improved and photo's generally just seem to have a better look to them. I did want the FF sensor so my lenses weren't cropped any more as well though, and find that the 24mm wide end is far more useful than it was on my 7D.
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Completely agree, I have a 5D MKii & a 7D & I now loathe to use the 7D.
I've just got myself a 1D mkiv & I still prefer the images from the 5D MKii
I bought the 1D mkiv for wildlife so that will get a lot of use too.
 
do it! you won't regret it. twice the imaging area, much better result. there's a few going on this forum, could be your 3rd option instead of through ebay.

you will need to buy a new wide angle lens, like the 17-40mm f4L, then you'll have Canon's f4 trinity :D

you won't need to buy CF cards, get a CF-SD adapter and you are good to go. I've got a few 32GB SD cards and 2 CF-SD adapters, works wonders.
 
neil_g said:
You'll need to sell the sigma if wont work on full frame.
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b****r! Hopefully the 24 end of the 24-105 will be wide enough for my needs.

I also forgot that I have a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di ll LD Aspherical (IF), which will have to be sold also.

I'd rather buy a fast lens (f2.8 or lower) than another f4 like the 24-70 L.

Will the 135mm f2.0 L be good enough for all my portraiture needs? Head, head and shoulders, and full length shots?
 
The 24-70 is a 2.8 lens. The 17-40 is a 4.0

The 24-70 is porobably my most used lens for portrait shooting on my 5DII.
 
Scarecrow said:
The 24-70 is a 2.8 lens. The 17-40 is a 4.0

The 24-70 is porobably my most used lens for portrait shooting on my 5DII.
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My mistake. I'd love a 24-70 f2.8, but my bank account wouldn't!

As I said I would like a fast lens for portraits such as 135 f2 L, but I want to make sure it covers all types of portraiture.
 
After much thought I have decided to buy the 5D MK2. I will be selling my Sigma and Tamron and buying an 85mm 1.8 lens.

The lenses I will have are:

  • 24-105 f4 L IS
  • 70-200 f4 L IS
  • 85 f1.8
  • Nifty Fifty
Sound like a good plan?
 
That sounds like a very good plan. You'll love the 85 on the 5D2, it's awesome. The others wont be bad on the 5D2 either come to think of it. I had a 5D2 and a 7D and sold them both to get a 5D3, but out of the 2 cameras I used the 5D2 about 80% of the time cause it was so much better than the 7D for IQ.
 
Dazb75 said:
After much thought I have decided to buy the 5D MK2. I will be selling my Sigma and Tamron and buying an 85mm 1.8 lens.

The lenses I will have are:

  • 24-105 f4 L IS
  • 70-200 f4 L IS
  • 85 f1.8
  • Nifty Fifty
Sound like a good plan?
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That's not a bad selection of lenses to use on a 5DMk2 to be fair. I would save up and get the 17-40 f4 L to have most bases covered, then sell the nifty fifty and get a 50mm f1.4 for some serious full frame bokeh fun.
 
Boldonian said:
That's not a bad selection of lenses to use on a 5DMk2 to be fair. I would save up and get the 17-40 f4 L to have most bases covered, then sell the nifty fifty and get a 50mm f1.4 for some serious full frame bokeh fun.
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Yes, the 50mm f1.4 is on my long term list!
 
I use a 5D and 5D2 for weddings and portraiture primarily. Having the depth of field control is a huge advantage over a crop frame body in my line of work. I cannot say enough good things about FF cameras and prime lenses. 35/1.4, 50/1.4, and 85/1.4 all day.
 
my 85mm should be here on Monday, looking forward to using it :D

I'm not a huge fan of the nifty fifty. been thinking to replace that with 35mm f2, so I'll have two fast primes for different purposes, then 3 zooms to have all base covered.

do get a 17-40mm f4, if you love shooting wide angle, this is a great lens. looking back, most of my favorite shots were taken with this lens.
 
wuyanxu said:
my 85mm should be here on Monday, looking forward to using it :D

I'm not a huge fan of the nifty fifty. been thinking to replace that with 35mm f2, so I'll have two fast primes for different purposes, then 3 zooms to have all base covered.

do get a 17-40mm f4, if you love shooting wide angle, this is a great lens. looking back, most of my favorite shots were taken with this lens.
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Don't get the old version of the 35/2. It's not great. The 35L or even the sigma 35/1.4 are far superior and worth the coinage. I've used the 35/2 and was not a fan. Slow and noisy focusing mechanism and old lens element design.
 
I know but it has examples of picture noise between a 60D and a 5DII, Which is what he is looking to upgrade too.

Sorry maybe should have said what the like was for.
 
Ah right, makes sense now, I just looked at the link and picked out the 60d bit. :thumbs:
 
tdphoto said:
Don't get the old version of the 35/2. It's not great. The 35L or even the sigma 35/1.4 are far superior and worth the coinage. I've used the 35/2 and was not a fan. Slow and noisy focusing mechanism and old lens element design.
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thanks. I'll have to reconsider that. sounds like 35mm f2 is similar to 50mm f1.8, not very desirable.
 
wuyanxu said:
thanks. I'll have to reconsider that. sounds like 35mm f2 is similar to 50mm f1.8, not very desirable.
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No, it's not very desirable. Honestly the 50/1.4 is a whole different beast on a full frame camera. Much more acceptable working distance and works well indoors too. I had just that lens for a few months when I went from a T1i to 5D and it made me really think about my shots much more. Just my experience.
 
Dazb75 said:
Selling my Sigma and Tamron. Purchased a 5D MK2 and a 85mm f1.8. Happy bunny!
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You will be very happy with that setup.

Here are a few shots I've taken with an 85/1.4 5D1 or 5D2.

sarah_and_ryan_web-9538.jpg


sarah_and_ryan_web-9613.jpg


TiffandJameson-3757.jpg


It's my go to combo most of the time. I'm positive you'll love it if you shoot people. :)
 
wuyanxu said:
thanks. I'll have to reconsider that. sounds like 35mm f2 is similar to 50mm f1.8, not very desirable.
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I can assure you it is leaps ahead of the 50mm F1.8, a great little lens. As long as you understand it's limitations.

It does have a slow & noisy focus system, but it still works quickly enough for me to photograph live music. Once you get past that the lens is quite a gem and has a pleasing quality to it.

Sharp enough in the centre at F2 although does go soft in the corners. Quite a vignette at F2 as well. Stopping down seems to resolve...
 
RichardtheSane said:
I can assure you it is leaps ahead of the 50mm F1.8, a great little lens. As long as you understand it's limitations.

It does have a slow & noisy focus system, but it still works quickly enough for me to photograph live music. Once you get past that the lens is quite a gem and has a pleasing quality to it.

Sharp enough in the centre at F2 although does go soft in the corners. Quite a vignette at F2 as well. Stopping down seems to resolve...
Click to expand...
thanks for reply. I may get the 35mm f2 IS USM or 2nd hand f1.4L in the end. as whole reason for a prime lens is to shoot in low light. so wide open performance is the only thing I'll be concerned about with prime lenses.
 
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