Equipment 5D II

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos5dm2/index.html

 

Full specs, which I missed in my haste: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos5dm2/specifications.html

So my actual reactions:

Lots of what we exepcted. 1080p 30FPS video, and more importantly it supports an external mic (has an internal mono mic as well). Useless for plenty of people, but it'll be handy for the right crowd. Also has HDMI out. Presumably it uses manual focusing only. I see it as something handy to have, if it lives up to the marketing material.

Live view/face detection... I'd have to see it in action. It sounds decent on the details page.

3.9FPS - quite unimpressive, but that buffer is insane. And it is 21.1MP

AF: "Nine AF points — eight horizontal-line sensitive at f/5.6 and one cross-type, vertical-line sensitive at f/2.8 — combine with six invisible Assist AF points to provide speedy and precise focusing of even fast moving subjects." That sounds... meh. Should be all f/2.8 cross-types.

ISO100-6400, expandible to 50, 12800, 25600. If it's low enough noise, I'm thrilled.

3" 920k px LCD

Overall, sounds pretty good on paper, but I'll reserve judgment until I see more than two ISO100 samples. And see the MSRP, which I didn't spot anywhere.

 

Large/Fine JPEG: 78 frames (310 with UDMA card), RAW: 13 frames

$2,700

To bad Canon still won't use the AF from the 1D series. But otherwise it looks nice.

Edit: and I just don't get the lack of even basic weather proofing.

 

once again they've screwed the UK over with the RRP.
blah.

 

I'm actually hoping to god that there is another body going to be released (3D/7D). WTF is up with the same exact AF system as the original 5D? Everything I see is what I assumed was going to happen, except of course for one of the most important features to me...AF.

Here's the hands on

Another thing...No gapless microlenses.
RAW is now available in auto.

Guess I'll have to get more excited about new lens releases...24/1.4 MKII, 35/1.4 MKII, 135/2 MKII IS, 24-70/2.8 MKII IS (OK, so those last two I can dream about)

 

That's a joke

 

That video functionality is amazing.

That's disgusting

 

My exporting business will begin taking orders...

 

Having used the 5D in the rain I can say (if you want to take a tiny risk) it'll be fine.

That price is crazy though, thanks for screwing us

 

You guys are used to it though. You'll be fine

/will export at ~£1500 shipped

 

It was a pretty expected release, can't wait to see the in-depth reviews, sure some of the features sounds exciting and the price tag was pretty expected aswell. Makes me wonder how much will the 5D mark I will fall in terms of price

 

Funnily enough, the AF is contrast based like in Live view in video mode.

I dont think this will steal much of the D700's thunder in that the 5DMKII seems to be marketed more at first time FF'ers and portrait photographers who want the extra mp bump, while the D700, will probably cater to the wedding photographers that dont need the 21mp/the sports/wildlife etc photographers who need the better AF, and faster fps. At the end of the day, they seem to be different beasts , and it's another case of who wants/needs what/

I hope the D700 gets a price drop in the states so i can get one brought over with a friend.

 

The 5DII will blow the D700's high ISO capability and IQ out of the water. Better AF and fps will likely go to the D700. Feel free to quote me on that at a later date. I'm looking forward to the head to head.

 

I don't see the high ISO of the new 5D being any better than the 1Ds Mk III unless they are fudging some noise reduction. But I bet IQ will be better, especially for landscapes.

 

The 1DsMKIII has the best high ISO quality--even with the D3/D700's heavy in camera NR. The 5DII is, in essence, a mini 1DMKIII.

"Expanded ISO sensitivity range
Both the EOS 5D and EOS-1Ds Mark III have a 'calibrated range' of ISO 100 to 1600 with expansion of ISO 50 to 3200. Despite the smaller pixel pitch the 5D Mark II pushes the sensitivity envelope considerably further providing a calibrated range of 100 to 6400 with expansion of ISO 50 to ISO 25600. It will be interesting to see how it performs at the highest sensitivities."

 

no it doesn't. and it's not because of heavy nr in the nikon, it's pixel density which is why the original 5D had such great IQ at higher ISO's relative to the field back then.

And I'm fully aware that the 5D mk II is like a mini 1Ds Mk III, which is why I made the point in the first place.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/comparison.shtml

 

It doesn't eh? So where is your stance on it...what other camera does? If you say the 5D, they are nearly identical in high ISO quality. What I don't understand is why you'd say

in the first place--its the same sensor so why would it be any better (NR doesn't make High ISO quality any better, it just masks it). Case in point--the D700/D3 will not touch the 5DII in high ISO performance since they do not touch the 1DsMKIII...can we agree on that?

 

nope.

 

Scroll down until you see the sample images (trees) from DPR...pretty interesting.

 

"This new sensor is said to be based on that of the EOS-1Ds Mark III (indeed it has exactly the same pixel count) but has several small changes, the hint being that it's actually slightly better."
"Expanded ISO sensitivity range
Both the EOS 5D and EOS-1Ds Mark III have a 'calibrated range' of ISO 100 to 1600 with expansion of ISO 50 to 3200. Despite the smaller pixel pitch the 5D Mark II pushes the sensitivity envelope considerably further providing a calibrated range of 100 to 6400 with expansion of ISO 50 to ISO 25600. It will be interesting to see how it performs at the highest sensitivities."
-DPR

Also via DPR: "Reduced micro lens gap
Canon have stated that the gap between microlenses has been reduced compared to the original EOS 5D, although there is still some gap (the EOS 50D has a 'gapless' design). We are guessing that the gap has been maintained to enable a shifted pattern near the corners of the frame (which helps reduce fall-off on such large sensors).

Not sure if the 1DsIII shares the same microlens array or not, but it will be very interesting to see a side by side comparison of the two.