Canon 30D to 5d Mkii Jump

[The_Bulb]

After selling my car today, I have decided to use some of the money to continue to upgrade my kit bag, as I am developing my portrait and wedding work and have just turned the corner into going pro.

I currently have a 30d with a couple of L lenses, and I have noticed a considerable improvement in my results since purchasing the L glass, not to mention the overall improvement in focusing speed and build quality.

My question to anyone who knows or to people who have made a similar upgrade I suppose is what improvement in quality to my results between the two bodies should I reasonably expect? I know it all depends on the user, but what improvement have you experienced? I would hope for instance, for the performance of the two cameras at the higher end of the ISO range to be worlds apart - is this true?

The HD video also interests me, as with a new baby I was thinking it would be nice to have a video camera to record snippets of him from time to time.

Live view doesn't really interest me, as I like to get up close and personal with my equipment :nuts:

I would still use the 30d as a backup body for the weddings and say to house my efs 10-22mm when I needed to use it.

I was originally considering a good used 5d mki but they just seem silly money to me at the moment on places like ebay.

Any advice would be greatly received

On a side note, I also have a 580EX ii with a cheapo ebay wireless trigger does anyone know if I was to purchase another canon flash, say the 400 series, could I slave this to the 580EX ii and fire both from the cheapo trigger??

Thanks again

 

[david1701]

I don't think you can with the flashes as the master needs to talk to all the pins to use ttl and I don't think it will master without ttl...... not 100% though

they should be worlds apart a 5dI is better than a 30d in reviews and a 5dII is better than a 5dI or my 50d or most other bodys........

looking at your glass would you use the 30mm as much, might be worth picking up a 50mm and the L is a grand on top..... and I think the pixel density on the 5dII will really show up the flaws in the 28-135. Just food for thought

 

[EdBray]

I had a 5DMk1 and 30d, when I got my 5DMk2 I had to sell my 5DMk1 to help fund it, I only used the 5DMk2 as even cropping the image to give a 1.6 crop the quality seemed better than straight from the 30D, so I sold that to.

If you have some L glass, I very much doubt you will regret the purchase.

Don't want to use live view but shoot weddings? Wait until you are in a church, use a fast lens reasonable ISO and turn on the live view, now you can take almost silent shots (especially using quiet mode 2).

Would I swap my 5DMk2? Only for a 1DsIII or a Digital Medium Format Outfit.

 

[natjag]

On a side note, I also have a 580EX ii with a cheapo ebay wireless trigger does anyone know if I was to purchase another canon flash, say the 400 series, could I slave this to the 580EX ii and fire both from the cheapo trigger??

Thanks again

I've just tried this, It works but at 1/125 shutter speed. Well I use 580ex mk1 and 430ex.

 

[The_Bulb]

I don't think you can with the flashes as the master needs to talk to all the pins to use ttl and I don't think it will master without ttl...... not 100% though

they should be worlds apart a 5dI is better than a 30d in reviews and a 5dII is better than a 5dI or my 50d or most other bodys........

looking at your glass would you use the 30mm as much, might be worth picking up a 50mm and the L is a grand on top..... and I think the pixel density on the 5dII will really show up the flaws in the 28-135. Just food for thought

Thanks for your comments, I am no expert on TTL but how would it know what settings to set each strobe to in TTL mode when it doesn't know the position of the second strobe :shrug:

I had a 5DMk1 and 30d, when I got my 5DMk2 I had to sell my 5DMk1 to help fund it, I only used the 5DMk2 as even cropping the image to give a 1.6 crop the quality seemed better than straight from the 30D, so I sold that to.

If you have some L glass, I very much doubt you will regret the purchase.

Don't want to use live view but shoot weddings? Wait until you are in a church, use a fast lens reasonable ISO and turn on the live view, now you can take almost silent shots (especially using quiet mode 2).

Would I swap my 5DMk2? Only for a 1DsIII or a Digital Medium Format Outfit.

Something I hadn't considered on the live view - thanks for your feedback too. How have you found the video?

I've just tried this, It works but at 1/125 shutter speed. Well I use 580ex mk1 and 430ex.

Thanks Natjag, really appreciate you trying this for me.

 

[HoppyUK]

Give Live View a go. I was really surprised how useful it is.

On the flash, a 580 will act as a wireless Master to a 430 Slave, and give full TTL operation so long as it attached to the camera, or hard wired with a dedicated cord. A cheapo trigger will fire the flash, but only in manual mode. I think there is a Pocket Wizard that will do everything, but it's expensive, and so long as you keep the range within a few yards the built in IR works very well.

I don't understand why Natjag is only getting 1/125sec. You should get the full range of shutter speeds.

 

[EdBray]

Something I hadn't considered on the live view - thanks for your feedback too. How have you found the video?

No problem

I've never used the Video, it's not something that interests me really!

Pic below taken at the wedding I shot a couple of weeks ago, vicar had advised that he was unhappy with images taken during the actual service as he didn't like the noise or the flash going off. I told him that I wouldn't use flash and that there would be little noise,he agreed that I could take a couple, but if he found it disruptive he would glance my way (I was standing to his right and slightly behind about 8ft from him) and I was to stop. When it came to the signing of the register he commented to me "so you didn't take any photos through the service", he was gobsmacked when I showed him the 8 images I had taken during the actual ceremony.

24-70L @ f2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO 400 (exif data intact) Handheld Colur balance corrected from RAW.

'Genuine First Kiss as a married couple'

 

[selva45]

Hi Richard

Can't comment on your body questions however I use the Canon STE2 IR transmitter with several 580EXII and 430EX's and find it invaluable.

Bravo for the shot above EdBray.

Adam

www.adamcoupe.com/blog

 

[The_Bulb]

Give Live View a go. I was really surprised how useful it is.

On the flash, a 580 will act as a wireless Master to a 430 Slave, and give full TTL operation so long as it attached to the camera, or hard wired with a dedicated cord. A cheapo trigger will fire the flash, but only in manual mode. I think there is a Pocket Wizard that will do everything, but it's expensive, and so long as you keep the range within a few yards the built in IR works very well.

I don't understand why Natjag is only getting 1/125sec. You should get the full range of shutter speeds.

Thanks - sounds like I shouldn't be dismissing it!

No problem

I've never used the Video, it's not something that interests me really!

Pic below taken at the wedding I shot a couple of weeks ago, vicar had advised that he was unhappy with images taken during the actual service as he didn't like the noise or the flash going off. I told him that I wouldn't use flash and that there would be little noise,he agreed that I could take a couple, but if he found it disruptive he would glance my way (I was standing to his right and slightly behind about 8ft from him) and I was to stop. When it came to the signing of the register he commented to me "so you didn't take any photos through the service", he was gobsmacked when I showed him the 8 images I had taken during the actual ceremony.

WOW - my Dad has a Nikon and I have always found the shutter noise on my Canon to be much louder! So this quiet mode sounds good.

Hi Richard

Can't comment on your body questions however I use the Canon STE2 IR transmitter with several 580EXII and 430EX's and find it invaluable.

www.adamcoupe.com/blog

Thanks Adam, I'll have a look at the IR transmitter - just when you think you've spent enough and got everything you need, up pops something else to tempt you

 

[Denisw]

Thanks - sounds like I shouldn't be dismissing it!

Thanks Adam, I'll have a look at the IR transmitter - just when you think you've spent enough and got everything you need, up pops something else to tempt you

I have just ordered this transmitter from Amazon after seeing it demonstrated at a Canon Experience Seminar on EOS Flash. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Speed...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242577702&sr=1-2

It's a good price but you will have to be quick, only two left now!

 

[The_Bulb]

I have just ordered this transmitter from Amazon after seeing it demonstrated at a Canon Experience Seminar on EOS Flash. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Speed...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242577702&sr=1-2

It's a good price but you will have to be quick, only two left now!

Thanks for the lead

I am still wondering how people who have upgraded to a 5d Mk ii have found the jump in image quality and camera performance from a lesser camera like the 30D - I am on about parting with 2k and was hoping someone would tell me how it is a big jump in performance and quality!!!! Got to have some backup when the wife sees how much it costs :nuts:

 

[EdBray]

Thanks for the lead

I am still wondering how people who have upgraded to a 5d Mk ii have found the jump in image quality and camera performance from a lesser camera like the 30D - I am on about parting with 2k and was hoping someone would tell me how it is a big jump in performance and quality!!!! Got to have some backup when the wife sees how much it costs :nuts:

Apart from the loss of length from the full frame camera and the price, there is no comparison to a 30D. If you want the length crop away, if not then wait to see what a FF camera with lots of meggys can do with good glass. It will show up deficiencies of poor glass though.