New EOS 5D Mark II

[Thomas Bliss]

Anyone even considering the new EOS 5D Mark II for architectural work on any level?

Can someone tell me how this camera is different from a Canon 1Ds MII, is the sensor of better quality in the 1DS MKII (not talking MKIII)?

21.1 mp sounds awful sweet for $2700.00 USD

Features

21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion (16,384 colors/each of 3 primary color), wide range ISO setting of 100-6400 (expandable L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600).

I have a link here to more info.

Should I have this camera in my bag?

Tom: confused:

[ccarothers]

whoa. I just rented the D700 for a shoot because I needed the high ISO for available light interiors. Thought it performed well and was thinking about going Nikon. But if this camera is what they say it is...

I'll be interested to hear from anyone who has used this new super 5D.

Cameron Carothers

[Thomas Bliss]

Im not a Tech-Head at all, a big short coming I know. But I keep thinking that this camera has got to be better than my current 1DS MKII with all those extra pixels, and new Digic processor & oh! the self cleaning.

Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction
Illumination Correction takes into account any light falloff in the corners of the frame and corrects it, making for a perfectly exposed image.

Huge, High Resolution Screen.
3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) monitor with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings for improved viewing and smudge protection.

3.0-inch Clear View LCD that features high-resolution 920,000 dots/VGA for far more detail than any previous EOS Digital LCD. A number of new features enhance usability: a new anti-reflection and water-repellant coating provides a clearer and more smudge-resistant surface and a light sensor mounted below the screen enables automatic brightness adjustment in accordance with ambient light.

Am I wrong to think that my 1DS MKII sucks next to this?

Tom

[ccarothers]

don't forget the built in grid lines. Yeah I'm thinking you are not wrong about your current body if this lives up to its promises.

Cameron

[Keith_Cooper]

Hi

Looks to be a very useful camera for architectural/interior work.

I use a 1Ds3 for my work and the improved noise/ISO performance of the 5D2 might be useful on certain types of work - still I'm expecting the 1Ds4 to be announced by this time next year (35+MP) See Canon EOS 1Ds Mark IV (EOS-1DS MK4) for all the info I've collected.

The illumination correction is a bit of a red herring since it requires you to use Canon DPP for processing the images - I'd prefer DxO as a a specialist raw converter/correction software.

I had hoped Canon would update the 24 T/S lens, since I often find I'm using it at quite a bit of shift and it gets a bit soft at the edges. Perhaps that's with the 1D4 at PMA ;-)

Personally, if I switched to a 5D2 I suspect it would be the 1Ds3 viewfinder that I'd miss the most - it's 100% coverage and is very bright compared to any other 35mm camera I've used. That and the rock solid build...

I also recall all kinds of arguments (by people who didn't have one) that the 1Ds3 would somehow render certain lenses obsolete - stuff and nonsense. My only lens that shows a bit of a lack of performance is my 16-35mm, and Canon have a new version of that anyway. I find (as a rough generalisation) that the more people nit-pick over lens MTF figures and the like, the less inspiring I find their work. Anyone can find problems in an image viewed at 100% - I prefer to see how it affects a 20"x30" print ;-)

Keith

[Ron Rosenzweig]

Greetings,

I too am very interested in the performance aspects of this camera. I think Canon has taken this camera upgrade very seriously. The list of new and improved features and the upgrade in performance is considerable, especially at $2,699. I am placing a pre-order today. I think until the 1DsM4 appears this camera is "the" ticket.
I've been following an inside track on this camera via Vincent Laforet's blog.
Check it out. At first glance the video capability may seem like a non issue for most architectural shooters. However, I make all of my client presentations, including proofing a job, via Photodex ProShow. Having the ability to add short video clips to the presentations, especially in HD will add another dimension to my presentations.
If you can read between the lines of what Vincent has to say, and capture the same vision he has, you will agree that this camera has the capabilities of changing the photography business in previously unexpected ways.
Here is the link:

Something Very Interesting is coming…both to this blog and to our industry « Vincent Laforet’s Blog

Best Regards,

Ron

[Josiah Davidson]

Speculation only goes so far. We'll start to see some real 5D2 files within the next few weeks, but until we can actually test a 5D2, we won't know how it really works.

I traded my 1Ds2 on a 5D two years ago, and I never have regretted it for a minute. The 5D files are much cleaner than those of the 1Ds2, and give more useable image quality in all conditions except some rare perfect lab test conditions.

We are now clearly moving into the terrirory where Canon will need to redo many of its lenses, especially including the 24ts, which is real junk (as a true pro lens). It is far more difficult to design and build a lens that will resolve all of those tiny pixels, than to design and build a top quality lens that will resolve the much larger pixels on a MF or larger sensor (or 4x5 sheet of film).

My concerns about the 5D2 are built-in Digic IV noise reduction that may be too agressive. I have great hopes because it appears, on paper, to be a pretty good image making tool. But we won't know until we can actually test a production model 5D2.

Josiah

[Thomas Bliss]

Originally Posted by Josiah Davidson

Speculation only goes so far. We'll start to see some real 5D2 files within the next few weeks, but until we can actually test a 5D2, we won't know how it really works.

I traded my 1Ds2 on a 5D two years ago, and I never have regretted it for a minute. The 5D files are much cleaner than those of the 1Ds2, and give more useable image quality in all conditions except some rare perfect lab test conditions.

We are now clearly moving into the terrirory where Canon will need to redo many of its lenses, especially including the 24ts, which is real junk (as a true pro lens). It is far more difficult to design and build a lens that will resolve all of those tiny pixels, than to design and build a top quality lens that will resolve the much larger pixels on a MF or larger sensor (or 4x5 sheet of film).

My concerns about the 5D2 are built-in Digic IV noise reduction that may be too agressive. I have great hopes because it appears, on paper, to be a pretty good image making tool. But we won't know until we can actually test a production model 5D2.

Josiah

Josiah,

Did you switch from a 1DSMII to the 5D?

Tom

[pkubilus]

Originally Posted by Keith_Cooper

Hi

Looks to be a very useful camera for architectural/interior work.

I use a 1Ds3 for my work and the improved noise/ISO performance of the 5D2 might be useful on certain types of work - still I'm expecting the 1Ds4 to be announced by this time next year (35+MP) See Canon EOS 1Ds Mark IV (EOS-1DS MK4) for all the info I've collected.

The illumination correction is a bit of a red herring since it requires you to use Canon DPP for processing the images - I'd prefer DxO as a a specialist raw converter/correction software.

I had hoped Canon would update the 24 T/S lens, since I often find I'm using it at quite a bit of shift and it gets a bit soft at the edges. Perhaps that's with the 1D4 at PMA ;-)

Personally, if I switched to a 5D2 I suspect it would be the 1Ds3 viewfinder that I'd miss the most - it's 100% coverage and is very bright compared to any other 35mm camera I've used. That and the rock solid build...

I also recall all kinds of arguments (by people who didn't have one) that the 1Ds3 would somehow render certain lenses obsolete - stuff and nonsense. My only lens that shows a bit of a lack of performance is my 16-35mm, and Canon have a new version of that anyway. I find (as a rough generalisation) that the more people nit-pick over lens MTF figures and the like, the less inspiring I find their work. Anyone can find problems in an image viewed at 100% - I prefer to see how it affects a 20"x30" print ;-)

Keith

It took them over 5 years just to update the Mark 2!!!! Dont expect a 4 in the near future.

[pkubilus]

I am so glad to see this upgrade, the 5d practically came out with the 1ds mark 2 and it took them forever to upgrade it. I was really hoping to see this upgrade last year, but still cant complain. I tested the 5d with the 1ds mark3 and really did not see a great difference on a 11 x 17 print so it was not worth it for me to upgrade an extra $6000, especially since images just end up on the web now. For $2700 for a new 21.1MP super sweet dSLR (i am sure all of you have read the specs) how can anyone pass this up! Now only if canon uses schneider lenses

[Keith_Cooper]

Don't expect the same 3 year wait between model revisions any more. I expect the 1D3 and 1Ds3 to be 18 months old or so at announcement of replacements

As to that comment about the 24 TS/E being 'junk' then I'll just say that I have plenty of happy clients with images from one, and some damn nice prints too.

Sure, I'd like improvements, but if it's your definition of 'Junk' then please point me to your trash can the next time you are having a clear out :-) :-)

Keith

[pkubilus]

who said the 24T/s is junk ... they do not know what they are talking about, obviously.

[Josiah Davidson]

Thomas,
Yes, I switched from the 1Ds2 to the 5D.

Others, RE: 24ts being a sub-par lens.
Please, I am not disrespecting your relatives. This is not a personal issue. It is simply that if you put the 24ts on your camera, use impeccable technique (perfect focus, optimal aperture, etc.), and critically examine the files that it gives you, the 24ts is very disappointing (especially 2/3 out, or more, from the center). It cannot be considered a serious pro lens when compared with top-quality view camera lenses. And why can't Canon make apo lenses that don't have serious fringing problems?
I wish that Canon would take their job of creating lenses more seriously. Yes, they make a few good lenses that produce sharp images across the entire field. But those are the exception.

What does this have to do with the 5D2 thread? All those pixels are largely useless if most of Canon's lenses are performing well below the Nyquist frequency (can't resolve what the sensor can) of the new 5D2. My poor old 13MP 5D can out perform most of Canon's lenses, so the 5D2 would only give bigger files that are fuzzy (with most of Canon's lenses).

I would like for us to join together in encouraging Canon to produce a good stable of truly pro-quality lenses.

[Ron Rosenzweig]

Greetings,

Maybe the new Zeiss lenses introduced at Photokina last week will be the answer to some of the questionable Canon offerings. Can also assume the $$$$ will also reflect the quality .

Best Regards,
Ron