Canon 5D mk II official owners/users thread, anything related to the 5D2

kitfit1 said:
It is very anoying that a camera costing as much as the 5D MKII does, dosn't come with blind and lever built into the finder. I've moved from a 28 year old Cannon T90 that has a blind built into the finder, so it's not rocket science and not something that Cannon hasn't done before.
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There should be one built into the strap...

I've not found it makes a great deal of difference unless I've got some heavy filters or sun is shining onto the back of the camera.
 
Hi people, I have recently joined your ranks with the purchase of a new 5D mark2.
Today I received my authentic Canon BG-E6 grip but I am not sure if it is genuine. I purchased it from Amazon for £161 and it doesn't seem quite right. The door is very plasticky and there is no serial number on the bottom whereas the one for my 7D does have one.
The box and packaging don't seem the same quality as the BG-E7 either.
Any of you users have one that you can look at and let me know your thoughts please?
 
I have a genuine grip as do quite a few people on here.

Post up some pictures and we'll either be able to reassure you or confirm your fears.
 
New 5d owner looking forward to following this thread
 
Haven't had time to take any pics yet.
A bit more info though - the BG-E6 is made in Japan whilst the BG-E7 comes from Taiwan.
I was wondering if the BG-E7 is an improved design over the E6 and the E6 hasn't changed at all since it's introduction maybe?
It fits as expected and works as it should.
Perhaps a touch of paranoia?
 
There is no serial number on the bottom of my BG-E6.
 
Sylar said:
Haven't had time to take any pics yet.
A bit more info though - the BG-E6 is made in Japan whilst the BG-E7 comes from Taiwan.
I was wondering if the BG-E7 is an improved design over the E6 and the E6 hasn't changed at all since it's introduction maybe?
It fits as expected and works as it should.
Perhaps a touch of paranoia?
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http://reviews.ebay.com/BEWARE-OF-q...Y-GRIPS-FROM-CHINA_W0QQugidZ10000000016963792
http://www.photographybay.com/2010/01/14/canon-5d-mark-ii-battery-grips-bg-e6-vs-third-party-grips/
 
Sylar said:
Today I received my authentic Canon BG-E6 grip but I am not sure if it is genuine. I purchased it from Amazon for £161 and it doesn't seem quite right. The door is very plasticky and there is no serial number on the bottom whereas the one for my 7D does have one.
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My BG-E6 looks exactly like the proper one in this article (if that helps). I.e. no serial number or plate at all...

Wyshniukas said:
http://www.photographybay.com/2010/01/14/canon-5d-mark-ii-battery-grips-bg-e6-vs-third-party-grips/
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Thanks everyone for your help. After looking at the articles and doing some further research it would appear to be a fake. I must admit I didn't realise there were fakes out there :'(
I didn't do a great deal of research (obviously!) and with the recent news of Jessops no longer stocking these and possibly a 5D2 replacement on the horizon, just saw what looked like a good deal on Amazon and went for it.
I will try to return to seller and pursue a full refund.
I will keep you all posted :(
 
Hi, for reasons too long and boring to explain, I am moving over to camp Canon. I am being given a couple of lenses, a 50mm 1.8 and an older 17-40 (I think) Canon fit lens, can't remember the make. I have seen pics with them both and from what I've read the 50mm seems a nice little lens, the latter has some issues with darkening around the edges on a 5D.

I take photos mainly of children or families, often outside but sometimes not, often in natural light, so low light performance is important to me.

So, my question for you (I'm going to ask the 5D mkI guys too!) is which do I go for?

I can afford a 2nd hand 5D classic and a lovely new lens- I'd quite like the 24-70mm f/2.8 L or the 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS (is the IS worth it?),

OR a 5D MKII and get something like the 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS too.

Is it better to have the mkII and an L lens, or the MKI and a cheaper lens?
 
5DII and the 17-40 is a very good combination.
The 18-135 only works with crop cameras.

I would keep the 5DII, 50mm and 17-40 and start saving for a 70-200 f4 which costs only around £350 2nd hand.
 
Hi micloi, thanks for the reply, yes I should have spotted that :bonk: too much lens browsing!
I have seen the 70-200, but I think I would rather have one lens I can leave on for most of the time, this would be the 17-40 (I think I must have that sizing wrong too as that wouldn't fit on a FF either would it? I am told it's an old film lens) and I am not sure the lens I am being given is up to it.
The 70-200 looks great, but I just don't think I would want to have it on all the time, I want something around the 28-105 mark really
I just wanted opinions on whether having the MKII instead of the MKI would make up for the difference in lens quality?
I know there isn't really a straight answer, I just thought there may be some pointers here as to which would be the better combination.
 
Cocohoney said:
Hi micloi, thanks for the reply, yes I should have spotted that :bonk: too much lens browsing!
I have seen the 70-200, but I think I would rather have one lens I can leave on for most of the time, this would be the 17-40 (I think I must have that sizing wrong too as that wouldn't fit on a FF either would it? I am told it's an old film lens) and I am not sure the lens I am being given is up to it.
The 70-200 looks great, but I just don't think I would want to have it on all the time, I want something around the 28-105 mark really
I just wanted opinions on whether having the MKII instead of the MKI would make up for the difference in lens quality?
I know there isn't really a straight answer, I just thought there may be some pointers here as to which would be the better combination.
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The 17-40 is fine for all EOS cameras, film, full frame digital and cropped digital.

If you want a general purpose lens, a good choice would be either the 24-70 or 24-105 IS zooms
 
kitfit1 said:
There is, but my view is that there should be a mechanical one built into the viewfinder.
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compared to the T90, the 5D might lack a viewfinder shutter, but it does have a dioptric adjustment for the viewfinder, and that's far more useful for everyday use.
 
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Hi mortimerhill, yes, that is what I would get but I couldn't afford that and the MKII, although I have just looked through the classifieds in here and am wondering if I could stretch to a used one if I get the body at a good price...

I guess what I am asking in a roundabout way is how much better is the MKII, and how much better are the L range of lenses. I'm trying to work out which it is worth spending the extra on.

But perhaps 2nd hand is the way to go
 
A body can never compensate for bad lenses. It won't make up light that didn't come through... I'd still get the 5D2 though and save up for a 24-105.
 
Hmmm, yes, that's what I thought. Also, no-one has answered me on the classic thread :sulk:. Got to base my decisions on something :lol:
 
Hi , im new here and am in the process of doing some research on best lens combinations to partner with a 5mk2.

The kinda pictures I like taking are landscape, macro, dusk / night shots. not really into portrait stuff.

my question to you 5dmk2 owners is which would suit my needs better 24-105L or 17-40L or save up and get the 16-35L

To keep costs down im considering the 50/1.8 as starter and then possible a 70-200 f4L to complete the kit.

Im not 100% sure what I would use the 70-200 for tho...? Only caught my eye as its quite cheap for an L zoom lens.
 
The two lenses that get most use on my 5d2 are 24/70 f2.8 and 70/200 f2.8

I'd spend a tad more on the 50 1.4 over the 1.8, I have the 1.4 and the bokeh can be stunning but the metal mount is far more durable.
 
digitalfailure said:
The two lenses that get most use on my 5d2 are 24/70 f2.8 and 70/200 f2.8

I'd spend a tad more on the 50 1.4 over the 1.8, I have the 1.4 and the bokeh can be stunning but the metal mount is far more durable.
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Thanks,

the 1.4 is preferable, for the very reasons you have mentioned, will have to see what it all comes to and decided what to get first.

iv had a looka th you filkr/500px site and I really like the detail on the airshow/biker shots. i assume that would have been with the 70-200/2.8
 
Might of, might have been my 400L 5.6. I don't use the 400 very much at all really though preferring to add a 1.4x tc to the 70-200 and walk a bit closer :D
 
Does anyone have experience with 3rd party batteries? Through this weekend I have to charge almost three times the battery.
I'm reading all kind of reviews on batteries, chips, not showing Battery info and so on. I'm really only interested how long does those batteries hold compared to more expensive Hansel??? £15 vs £30?? Any input on this would be great.
 
Typically on a single OEM battery I get between 1200 shots (e.g. at a festival) and 400 shots (extensive Live View and long exposures) - typically about 800 shots.
Hence I rarely change a battery while I'm out for the weekend.

How many shots are you getting with your 3rd party batteries and what is their quoted capacity ?
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
Typically on a single OEM battery I get between 1200 shots (e.g. at a festival) and 400 shots (extensive Live View and long exposures) - typically about 800 shots.
Hence I rarely change a battery while I'm out for the weekend.

How many shots are you getting with your 3rd party batteries and what is their quoted capacity ?
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I just got myself 5D so running genuine battery but looking getting extra. I'm used to to have few batteries with 40D so now feel insecure with only one :suspect: Do you have the name or model of your one I could have a look?
 
Wyshniukas said:
I just got myself 5D so running genuine battery but looking getting extra. I'm used to to have few batteries with 40D so now feel insecure with only one :suspect: Do you have the name or model of your one I could have a look?
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Know what you mean about feeling insecure without a 2nd battery, I always carry one with me.
It's possible to flatten a battery in a single day's shoot, but it's only happened to me a couple of times.

I bit the bullet and went for a genuine Canon battery (got mine from Warehouse Express).
My 5dII was one of the early ones, 3rd party batteries were only just becoming available (and viewed with a great deal of suspicion) - hence getting a Canon battery was an easy decision.
Not sure what I'd do now, but I can't fault what I've got.
 
Wyshniukas said:
Does anyone have experience with 3rd party batteries? Through this weekend I have to charge almost three times the battery.
I'm reading all kind of reviews on batteries, chips, not showing Battery info and so on. I'm really only interested how long does those batteries hold compared to more expensive Hansel??? £15 vs £30?? Any input on this would be great.
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You may find that battery life increases considerably after a number of charge cycles. Mine certainly did.:)
 
Yellowbelly said:
You may find that battery life increases considerably after a number of charge cycles. Mine certainly did.:)
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Same here. I have 2 batteries in the grip at all times and it took about 3 charges before they started to perform as they should. From past experience though, all Lithium batteries need a few charges before they perform at their best.
 
Yellowbelly said:
You may find that battery life increases considerably after a number of charge cycles. Mine certainly did.:)
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kitfit1 said:
Same here. I have 2 batteries in the grip at all times and it took about 3 charges before they started to perform as they should. From past experience though, all Lithium batteries need a few charges before they perform at their best.
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It's the probably the cast but my question was "any recommendation on cheap OEM battery vs slightly expensive OEM battery". After reading some reviews here & there I decided to order Hahnel HL-E6 (slightly more expensive) battery. As I said, feel insecure without second battery :)
 
Right, update on fake BG-E6 - I have returned it to seller and I have been credited back including the return postage! I have now purchased a proper one from HDEW (£179) and I can report it is real! The differences are subtle but noticeable, as soon as I unboxed it I had my doubts. I shall be wary purchasing from Amazon in the future. Hope this may help anyone in a similar position.
 
I hope to be abel to join this thread soon as opposed to envying everyone on it! I had a 5D classic but am looking to sell it go for the mark2, the only drawback is the possibility of a mark3 perhaps?
 
Carrying on with all the spare battery talk, I bit the biscuit & went for the proper Canon LP-E6. I went on a college trip for four days & was continuously shooting throughout the experience with two of these batteries & didn't have to recharge once. I was dead impressed after not expecting the batteries to be that efficient. Both are 1800mAh{Li-ion} if thats any help? I'd recommend just spending that little more & going for the legitimate Canon batteries opposed to the third party brands, they seem to last longer between recharges for me. If anyone's been having doubts about whether it's worth spending that little more £ take it from me, I found it worthwhile.
 
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squiby2004 said:
I hope to be abel to join this thread soon as opposed to envying everyone on it! I had a 5D classic but am looking to sell it go for the mark2, the only drawback is the possibility of a mark3 perhaps?
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I was in a similar dilemma but felt that it would be a while before we see the MkIII and then, as is usual, prices will be eye watering and take a few months to settle so really, for me, MkII now vs. MkIII in 6-12 months was a no brainier. For the MkII.
 
Hi All,

Upgraded my 550d last year for my 5DMKII and im loving it.

Just need to learn how to use it now.
 
Tony

You're on the same steep learning curve then :thumb:
 
Any 5d2 owner with a BG-E6 Genuine Grip - please have a look at my thread:

HERE

I'm trying to work out which is genuine which is potentially not :)

Thanks!!
 
Took the plunge few days ago, after weeks... / months of researching what to get and what lenses to buy.

Hoping the camera arrives before the weekend,


its been a long few days already!
 
What's your opinion on focusing screens? I'm thinking upgrading to EF-S or EF-D. S version would be ideal as I have few f1.4 lenses, but D would make more aware of lines and composition.
 
Wyshniukas said:
What's your opinion on focusing screens? I'm thinking upgrading to EF-S or EF-D. S version would be ideal as I have few f1.4 lenses, but D would make more aware of lines and composition.
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Eg-S makes a big difference to the depth of -field you can see through the VF. Eg-D just adds a grid which is useful, but frankly I didn't see any point in it as I could get the same grid in Liveview and also use the focussing points as a reference for rule of thirds.

By the way don't get the EF-S or EF-D - they won't fit the 5D MKII! You need the EG series.

I have a EG-S screen in as new condition that I need to sell on as I don't have a 5D MKII anymore, I'll let you know when I list it.
 
travellingcello said:
Eg-S makes a big difference to the depth of -field you can see through the VF. Eg-D just adds a grid which is useful, but frankly I didn't see any point in it as I could get the same grid in Liveview and also use the focussing points as a reference for rule of thirds.

By the way don't get the EF-S or EF-D - they won't fit the 5D MKII! You need the EG series.

I have a EG-S screen in as new condition that I need to sell on as I don't have a 5D MKII anymore, I'll let you know when I list it.
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Thanks. I'm definitely interested to give a try.
As you are based in London, would I be able to collect it if agreed suitable place & time?
 
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