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

Started from a 1000D 4 year's ago I have to say, I ****ing LOVE the 5D MKII :love:

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ISO 3200 :nuts:
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ISO 3200:nuts:
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LOVE LOVE LOVE:bonk:
 
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Picked up a 5D2 body with 75k on it, with a 24-70 F2.8L. Arrived at 10:00hrs and I was shooting with it at a community orchard planting at 13:00hrs, after picking up a CF card.

My daughter being cheeky


Yarmouth Local Heroes Community Orchard Planting by Diamond Hell, on Flickr

Local Sarg and his daughter.


Yarmouth Local Heroes Community Orchard Planting by Diamond Hell, on Flickr

Managed to run down to the seafront from the green on which the trees were being planted to see what it's like on landscapes:


Yarmouth Local Heroes Community Orchard Planting by Diamond Hell, on Flickr

Sad but true, I'm in love with it. It is gorgeous and the images are just delicious.
 
5d mk2 and 24-70L 2.8, iso 1600.
Halfway up the Christmas tree!
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Keep your dolls out of our pram!
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5d mk2 and 100L 2.8, iso 1600. (Christmas lights in the reflections)

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5d mk2 and nifty fifty, iso 1600.
Think I was about to get asked what I was pointing my camera at.
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Ahhh!! Lovely colours!!

Wondering how quickly a 100mm L macro auto focusses for moving target portraits, say compared to a 70-200mm. Macros I've used in the past have lumbered into focus, is the Canon L an improvement?
 
100L Macro on a fast moving subject (raw file 100% crop, no edits, and full frame inset)....

20121211_095357_.JPG


The AF is slow in the macro range, unsurprisingly, but at conventional non-macro distances it seems swift enough.
 
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tdodd said:
100L Macro on a fast moving subject (raw file 100% crop, no edits, and full frame inset)....

20121211_095357_.JPG


The AF is slow in the macro range, unsurprisingly, but at conventional non-macro distances it seems swift enough.
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That's very impressive!

So the 100mm L macro acts like a dual purpose lens, lumbering af in the macro range and perky af at longer distances.

How does it compare with a 70/200 af wise at portrait distances?
 
On my 5D2, using centre AF point, with a subject at ~3.5m distance the 100L comes into focus subjectively at least as fast (faster, I think) than my 70-200/2.8L IS MK 1 set to 100mm whether focusing from infinity back down to 3.5m or from 1m (1.4m for the zoom) back up to 3.5m. If the focus is already close to correct then confirmation is pretty much instant. Otherwise it's maybe 0.5 seconds to snap into sharp focus from further away. That's indoors with lighting from a single fluorescent strip light in the kitchen.

Obviously there is more glass to shift in the big zoom lens, so it's not a complete surprise that the little macro lens matches or beats it at that sort of shooting distance.
 
tdodd said:
On my 5D2, using centre AF point, with a subject at ~3.5m distance the 100L comes into focus subjectively at least as fast (faster, I think) than my 70-200/2.8L IS MK 1 set to 100mm whether focusing from infinity back down to 3.5m or from 1m (1.4m for the zoom) back up to 3.5m. If the focus is already close to correct then confirmation is pretty much instant. Otherwise it's maybe 0.5 seconds to snap into sharp focus from further away. That's indoors with lighting from a single fluorescent strip light in the kitchen.

Obviously there is more glass to shift in the big zoom lens, so it's not a complete surprise that the little macro lens matches or beats it at that sort of shooting distance.
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I'll look into getting one. It will kill two birds with one stone!

Great for macro work and great for fast action street dance photography - where I need quick and accurate af.

THanks
 
didn't know there's a 5D2 thread. count me in :D


anyone know what's the best way to use AI-servo? single point or all points?

with AI-servo, manual says if set to all points, the focus will follow the subject around AF points. but my test shows it's not very reliable. as soon as the subject goes out of centre circle, it's pretty much bye-bye in focus photos.

been experimenting with street candid portraits using the 85/1.8. but due to shallow DoF, One-shot AF are always out of focus.
 
For AI Servo to be successful with all points active you must always start focusing with the centre AF point over the subject. The camera makes the assumption that the centre point is where your subject is to begin with. If the centre point is not covering the subject when you begin to AF then your results will be highly unpredictable and probably disappointing. This is different behaviour from using all AF points in One Shot mode.

If your subject is large enough to cover more than two AF points at once and can be clearly identified (by the camera) from the surroundings/background then theory says that the other AF points should take over if the subject moves away from the centre point. However, if your subject is small - e.g. BIF - then it can easily slip between AF points, making all points Servo AF fairly hit and miss. Equally, if the subject blends into the surroundings the camera may not be able to tell that it has moved and will not know that it needs to change AF points in order to track it.
 
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^^ That's very helpful, i'll give that a go myself .... Thanks.
 
kennysarmy said:
Just picked up a 5dmkii and 24-105 on here tonight from the classifieds...

:)

Thought I would say hello to everyone.....
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Welcome to the club Jeff.

Good combination there - the 24-105 is my walkabout lens on mine.
 
tdodd said:
For AI Servo to be successful with all points active you must always start focusing with the centre AF point over the subject. The camera makes the assumption that the centre point is where your subject is to begin with. If the centre point is not covering the subject when you begin to AF then your results will be highly unpredictable and probably disappointing. This is different behaviour from using all AF points in One Shot mode.

If your subject is large enough to cover more than two AF points at once and can be clearly identified (by the camera) from the surroundings/background then theory says that the other AF points should take over if the subject moves away from the centre point. However, if your subject is small - e.g. BIF - then it can easily slip between AF points, making all points Servo AF fairly hit and miss. Equally, if the subject blends into the surroundings the camera may not be able to tell that it has moved and will not know that it needs to change AF points in order to track it.
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many thanks for the explanation. so AI servo with all spots enabled works like Nikon's 3D tracking, difference is that it doesn't show the red dot. I had an entry level Nikon and with 11 AF points, 3D tracking was pretty much useless.

perhaps safest is to only use centre point in AI servo and then crop to reframe?
 
The outer points have inferior performance, being linear type rather than cross type, so while they can generally be relied upon to deliver the goods in easy shooting conditions they are going to struggle more with a tricky, moving subject and poor light/contrast compared to the centre point. In any case, the outer points are not exactly spread wide within the frame so their value for fine tuning composition is somewhat limited. It might be a wise to stick to centre point for action and then crop for framing later.
 
I have the mark ii. I LOVE LOVE my camera. I have the 24-105 lens. My phones not showing where I can post pictures "/
 
I guess I better introduce myself too as I have just added a 5Dmk2 to my collection, I think I maybe in this section a fair bit over the coming weeks lol
 
Very nice!
I think you could have taken her photo with my kids vtech kidizoom and she'd still have looked good though! ;)
 
stu.artd said:
Very nice!
I think you could have taken her photo with my kids vtech kidizoom and she'd still have looked good though! ;)
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Hummmmm she is really pretty:love:... but I'm in Love with the 5D2:lol:

Love the FF sensor

ISO 3200
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Well I have taken delivery of my 5D mk2 and I have to say....I'm very disappointed :( !!!

I don't know why but I just am, the funny thing is, it's the same feeling I had when I got my 1D so I know my feelings will change because I now love my 1D.....strange dont you think ???
 
Depends how high your expectations were!
I've experienced the same with a couple of lenses, initial disappointment then they end up being used most of the time.
 
stu.artd said:
Depends how high your expectations were!
I've experienced the same with a couple of lenses, initial disappointment then they end up being used most of the time.
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Don't know really, I just got that feeling of being let down...like I said, I had this when I got my 1D and now it's the best thing sine sliced bread lol

I know this will be the same I just don't know why I get like this, I almost get so disappointed I think...sod it, I'm gonna find another hobby lol

I assume its maybe down to change or something new ???

Watch this space !!!
 
Wondering if I need a spare battery if this would suit....not prepared to spend silly money on a canon original...

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/19413251/694350463/PowerPlanet-Canon-LP-E6-Compatible-High-Capacity-Rechargeable-Fully-Decoded-Lithium-Ion-Digital-Camera-Battery/ListingDetails.html?_$ja=tsid%3a11518%7ccat%3a19413251%7cprd%3a19413251
 
kennysarmy said:
Wondering if I need a spare battery if this would suit....not prepared to spend silly money on a canon original...

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/19413251/694350463/PowerPlanet-Canon-LP-E6-Compatible-High-Capacity-Rechargeable-Fully-Decoded-Lithium-Ion-Digital-Camera-Battery/ListingDetails.html?_$ja=tsid%3a11518%7ccat%3a19413251%7cprd%3a19413251
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Don't know but it looks like a bargain !!!
 
Ruffy said:
Well I have taken delivery of my 5D mk2 and I have to say....I'm very disappointed :( !!!

I don't know why but I just am, the funny thing is, it's the same feeling I had when I got my 1D so I know my feelings will change because I now love my 1D.....strange dont you think ???
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It's that anti-climax isn't it? I think if you'd come from a battered old crop sensor that was more plasticky and cheaper lenses you'd feel a real step change.

Anyway, I've rung NHS Direct for you :hug: and they recommend that you just need to get out and spend some quality time together, get to know each other, take some shots with it etc.

If this doesn't work, you might have to consider putting it up for adoption :naughty:
 
kennysarmy said:
Wondering if I need a spare battery if this would suit....not prepared to spend silly money on a canon original...
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That depends entirely on how you shoot and your access to a charger. I've had my 5D2 and 7D for just over three years and I've yet to find the need for a spare battery. The same is equally true of my 40D, 50D, 1D3 and 5D3. So long as I can charge overnight I've yet to run out of power during a day's shooting, which might typically top out at around 1,000 frames on any one body, but is usually far less.

If you shoot a lot of video or use Live View extensively it might be a different story, but for "normal" shooting you'd have to be going some to exhaust a fully charged battery.

The only time I've bought additional batteries was when I had a 30D and grip.
 
tdodd said:
That depends entirely on how you shoot and your access to a charger. I've had my 5D2 and 7D for just over three years and I've yet to find the need for a spare battery. The same is equally true of my 40D, 50D, 1D3 and 5D3. So long as I can charge overnight I've yet to run out of power during a day's shooting, which might typically top out at around 1,000 frames on any one body, but is usually far less.

If you shoot a lot of video or use Live View extensively it might be a different story, but for "normal" shooting you'd have to be going some to exhaust a fully charged battery.

The only time I've bought additional batteries was when I had a 30D and grip.
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I flatten batteries in a single day.

One way is as you already mentioned, take loads of images - I reckon on about 1200 images on a single battery when taken in a single day. Taking that many at one go means little time for live view or chimping, hence the higher number of images than normal.

Another way (previously mentioned) is heavy use of Live View - with my tilt shift lens on a low tripod I use Live View continuously so this is a real problem.

The real killer is taking long exposures. Using a Big Stopper, IR filters or low light photography rapidly drains the battery. I reckon on only getting about 2.5 hours of shutter open time from a single battery. Combine some twilight shooting or big stopper shots with a full day out shooting landscapes and a battery change becomes a necessity.

In summary - I always carry a spare battery and occasionally need it!
But I've never managed to drain two batteries in a single weekend.
 
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Buck said:
It's that anti-climax isn't it? I think if you'd come from a battered old crop sensor that was more plasticky and cheaper lenses you'd feel a real step change.

Anyway, I've rung NHS Direct for you :hug: and they recommend that you just need to get out and spend some quality time together, get to know each other, take some shots with it etc.

If this doesn't work, you might have to consider putting it up for adoption :naughty:
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Lol, I will take your advice lol
 
talking batteries iv'e just had 2 3rd party batteries fail for my 50d used exclusively in a battery grip
these were jessops badged 3rd party they lasted a couple of years before they gave up the ghost but the original canon batteries i have for the same camera / battery grip are still going strong and are almost twice there age
maybe it says something about spending the extra on original batteries

i have a blumax 3rd party battery for the 5d mk2 bought from one of the stands at focus on imaging in march this year and so far has been as good as the original time will tell if it will stay that way

the symptoms of the failed batteries is they appear fully charged and will function in the camera for a short while but the battery indicator on the camera shows 1 bar although the charger behaves as if they are fully charged even when the camera shuts down indicating flat batteries
 
One from today with 5D2 and 100L Macro wide open, no edits. AF on static targets was much snappier in bright light than when I tried indoors with fluorescent kitchen lighting - pretty much instant.

20121215_123045_3848_LR.jpg
 
tdodd said:
One from today with 5D2 and 100L Macro wide open, no edits. AF on static targets was much snappier in bright light than when I tried indoors with fluorescent kitchen lighting - pretty much instant.

<snip>
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Nice capture Tim :) Can I ask, is that servo-AF with the 100L macro, or pre-focused?

On the battery thing, I'd be completely snookered without a spare. I use live-view a lot in the studio, product stuff, and most times it'll be flat after a few hours work (5D2, Canon battery).

Edit: on a more general point, I get to use quite a few CSC cameras and their small batteries are generally hopeless for a full day of even normal walkabout. Very poor. Only one that hasn't let me down is the Nikon V1 that has a decent sized battery, from their DSLRs.
 
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Servo. I very rarely use pre-focusing unless there are obstructions (e.g. people, fence posts, trees, blades of grass) making it impossible/difficult to track a moving subject.

Here's another from today, this time at f/3.2. No edits other than a big crop to reproduce the file here at 50%.

20121215_125431_3878_LR.jpg


These aren't the sharpest shots from today, just a couple of examples.

Here is one of the sharper ones, lens wide open and displayed at 100%. No edits....

20121215_122338_3835_LR.jpg
 
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