Camera Labs

With a 7D and 40D, I was considering the purchase of a 5D Mk2, but the opportunity to purchase a pre-owned, very clean 7D presented itself, and because I strongly prefer the handling of the 7D over the 40D, I went for it. This gives me two 7D bodies to use at work, and allows the 40D to remain at home, for my wife. She finds the 40D a very comfortable camera, and of course, she is more talented than I, and could make better images with a pinhole camera than I can with a 7D.

This action has meant, however, the eventual purchase of a 5D Mk2 must be significantly postponed.

Well, I did the math, and have followed some pre-owned 5D auctions, and seen a few in the second-hand displays at a local camera shop. The price of a decent pre-owned 5D, plus what I paid for the pre-owned 7D, adds up to less than a new 5D Mk2, so is attainable.

I have read the old reviews of the original 5D and the 5D Mk2 at Cameralabs and some other websites. Gordon, plus two other reviewers, indicated that the 5D was still relevant when the 5D Mark 2 was relatively new on the market. The question is, now, whether the original 5D is still relevant in 2011, for shooting stationary subjects, such as portraits and landscapes, mostly with a tripod and remote shutter release, when superb ergonomics are less important.

I have two 7D bodies for shooting action, and which are weather-sealed for the times that is important. I have good flashguns, and EF lenses, including several not mentioned in my signature line.

My take on obsolescence is that an older product will still do everything that it could do when it was state of the art, so if a well-preserved example can be obtained, it is relevant as long as the manufacturer supports it, or spares can still be obtained.

Thanks for reading this far! What says the forum?

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I'm in the market for a 5D mark 1. I'm a student, so getting anything expensive takes time to save (not to mention getting the Mrs.' approval )

I think it's the best option for me right now to experiment with full frame imaging. It's my hope that with that image quality I'll create some more business for myself to afford newer equipment in the future.

Still saving some cash from occasional gigs here and there for that purchase.

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MrKman | website
Canon EOS 5D II + PowerShot G12
Samyang 14 f/2.8 + Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 + Samyang 35 f/1.4 + Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
Yungnuo YN560 + YN560ii (x2) + Cactus V4

WISHLIST: 300 f/2.8
FORMER: Canon 5D + 40D + 450D + 18-55mm + 28-135mm + 50 f/1.4 + 100 f/2.0

I did get a 5D1 in the past, but didn't keep it as it wasn't for me. My thoughts at the time are somewhere in the forum if you want to search for it which I'm too lazy to right now.

The short version is what does the 5D1 bring that your existing cameras don't? To me that means for landscapes the difference will be minimal, but for portraits you can get shallower DoF easily with cheaper lenses than on crop sensor. After I got it, I found I didn't need the shallower DoF, so I didn't need the 5D1 in the first place.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Thanks, popo, for your practical advice, based on experience with both full- and cropped-frame cameras. I have no full-frame experience, so I don't yet know what I don't know. I do know that some local pro photographers shoot portraits with cropped-frame Nikons, and at least one local pro used a Canon 40D until recently. (I bid on his 40D, but did not win.)

I want to try landscapes during an upcoming four-week vacation, which would be a "holiday" for you Brits. I can use my excellent EF-S 10-22mm only on cropped-frame Canons, of course, so that is a reason to stay with the camera bodies I already have.

Photographing people, on the other hand, is much of what I do at work, which involves photographing crime victims, though for evidence image purposes, shallow DOF is not desirable, and dreamy bokeh in the background irrelevant, so it is not portrait photography as most think of it. (I will often open the aperture to emphasize an injury in close-up shots.)

My wife was recently asked to shoot a wedding, and asked for my help and equipment, which got me to thinking about "real" portrait photography. Though we did not shoot the wedding, due to schedule conflicts, there may be another such opportunity in the future.

MrKman, thanks for your thoughts, too.

Rather than the $1000 or so US dollars that a pre-owned 5D would cost, I should probably use that toward prime lens(es) more suited to portraits with our cropped-frame Canons?

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

My friend still shoots big corporate jobs and projects with his 5D mkI.

examples:

http://www.graemestuart.com/

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Mark Osborne
My life through an iPhone

I feel the 5D has been surpassed in just about every area except one - and it's a big one - mine's image quality is just stunning! The end result is a good as anything I've ever seen or used and 13 megapixels is plenty.

I find it so much better than my 40D was and my 7D is that I kept craving for a 5D sensor in a 7D body (which they don't make!!! (whisper this...they do make it - it's called a D700)).
In the end I've got so frustrated that I've bitten the bullet and bought a 1D Mk IV to get the best of both worlds.

Really though, unless you need speed the only real downside of a 5D (aside from age) in my opinion is the really poor quality rear screen. It's low resolution and green cast makes it very hard to make a good judgement on images.
For IQ alone I think it is still a worthwhile prospect, but as a long term buy you might be better saving up for a Mk II.

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Attitude and Perspective are everything.
Canon 33 (film),G10, 5D, 7D, 1D Mk IV, 50mm 1.8II, 100mm f/2, 18-55mm IS, 10-22mm, 70-200mm F/4 IS, 70-200 f 2.8 IS II, 135mm F/2.0, 24-70L F2.8, 430 EXII. Previously owned: 40D, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS, 15-85 F3.5-5.6 IS.

Thanks, Mark and Imaluckyguy, for your responses.

Interesting idea, that the D700 is a 5D sensor in a 7D body, as the D700 is on my short list of full-frame digital candidates. Of course, no decent D700, even pre-owned, is selling for the price of a pre-owned 5D; they are comparable to 5D Mark II prices.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I seriously considered changing to Nikon, as that D700 is an impressive bit of kit with speed and weathersealing just two advantages over the 5DII, but their lenses are even dearer than canon's and I needed a backup body and FULL weathersealing to go pro, too. Buying the 1D IV was probably no more expensive than changing over wholesale (plus it's a lovely, lovely bit of kit)

On a budget, I reckon if you can stretch to the 5D it's a great unit but make sure you're happy to buy EF lenses as the EF-S dont fit (I'm sure you knew that). There's some great non-L series glass at affordable prices (50mm 1.8, 100mm f 2.0 (Super!)and 200mm 2..
L series can cost++ but I had some great images (when stopped down a bit) from an EF 70-300 IS f4-5.6 and the 70-200L is even better (and the IS version more so but more $$$).

HOWEVER - I've really noticed the handling deficiency of the 5D compared to the 7D and even the 40D (I had one) beats the 5D. Both have much better screens, the 5D lacks live view and auto ISO, plus it's is only 3fps.

Re: EF-S lenses, The 15-85 IS is a great (but slow) lens and reputedly the 17-55 IS is brilliant (there's times when I'D love IS on the 24-70L 2..

The 40D and 7D still take great images.

For landscape and portrait I like to use the 5D (but that screen annoys me!) but for everything else, I prefer the handling and speed and vastly better AF of the 7D.
The 7D gets sports images that the 5D just cant.

Big tip for the 7D - 'shoot to the right' if you bump up ISO- to minimize noise - it works a treat!

Cheers.

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Attitude and Perspective are everything.
Canon 33 (film),G10, 5D, 7D, 1D Mk IV, 50mm 1.8II, 100mm f/2, 18-55mm IS, 10-22mm, 70-200mm F/4 IS, 70-200 f 2.8 IS II, 135mm F/2.0, 24-70L F2.8, 430 EXII. Previously owned: 40D, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS, 15-85 F3.5-5.6 IS.

In my opinion,the 5D offers just a full frame sensor,as for the rest of it's features,from A to Z are very outdated,especially the AF system,reason that I would never get a 5D,no matter it's price. I found myself recomposing simple party shots because the AF didn't had enough coverage. When Canon will make a strong opponent to the D700/D3 series,then I would advice people to buy Canon more. But Canon's philosophy is 1. fast,accurate & highly durrable 1,3x sensor camera & 2. slow full frame camera,mostly for studio purposes.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

I had a D700, didn't like it, didn't like Nikons range of primes at the time. Went for the 5DmkII as the resolution is mind blowing and the images are jaw dropping when you stick an great L lens on it. Plus it shoots full HD video, something at the the time when the camera was released i didn't like, but being able to offer full HD Video to clients is a seller.

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Mark Osborne
My life through an iPhone

Thanks for the continued insight. Ultimately, it may boil down to whether a particularly nice 5D is available at just the right time, and it catches my attention. If I stay out of the local independent camera stores, and ignore on-line auctions and the on-line dealers, and put full-frame out of my mind for a while, and concentrate on my wonderful 7D cameras, life will be simpler.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

You could wait for the 5d mkiii and get the mkii for a cheaper price. I am considering a full frame camera within the next couple of years but will probably find myself with a mkiii. But I wouldn't buy another camera until I had most of the lenses I wanted (70-200 2.8 is ii, 100mm 2.8L macro, 16-35mm 2.8L, 28mm 1.8 and 85mm 1..

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Camera: Canon 550D with battery grip
Lenses: Canon 24-105mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm,
Accessories: Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 head, Canon 430ex II speedlite, Lowepro Nova 180AW and Lowepro Pro Runner 450AW

Oh that is so lame, every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer -Stewie Griffin

Thanks for the continuing insight and ideas. Regarding lenses, I did just purchase one of my holy grails, a Canon 50mm 1.2L USM, which has consumed the resources I would have used for a 5D. Then, a friend just offered to sell me a very well-kept 5D, when I could least afford it.

Other nice lenses are also on my short list, including a 35mm L and 70-200mm L, preferably the II with IS, so I understand prioritizing lenses. On the other hand, buying a pre-owned 5D, with its greatly lesser cost than a 5D2, makes all the more sense when one is prioritizing glass over the latest camera technology. After all, there will always be more lenses on the wish list.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I understand where you are coming from. I was standing in the shop wondering about a 7d instead of the 24-105mm but them I thought it through and went with the sensible option that would have a bigger effect on my pictures and I am very happy with my choice. Also you do seem to have acquired quite a lot of cameras and unless you really want to go full frame a lens would be more sensible. Yes you have just purchases a awesome lens but you do have 2 main cameras and that means 2 lenses! Like you the 70-200 2.8 IS ii is next on my list. I recently tried the older mk1 version of this and it was truely AMAZING. Check out my entry to this months Assignment at the bottom of page 2 which was shot with this lens:

http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtop ... 4&start=15

I was overwhelmed by how sharp this lens was and the mk2 is meant to have even better image quality.

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Camera: Canon 550D with battery grip
Lenses: Canon 24-105mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm,
Accessories: Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 head, Canon 430ex II speedlite, Lowepro Nova 180AW and Lowepro Pro Runner 450AW

Oh that is so lame, every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer -Stewie Griffin

Yes, I have accumulated quite a few cameras. Now, at work, where I must shoot in any and all weather conditions, I have two weather-sealed cameras, and two weather-sealed L lenses, so I will rarely have to switch, and the cameras themselves have identical controls. If I bring my old XTi (400D) with my 10-22mm mounted, neither of which are weather-sealed, and which would both require protection from water, I may never have to switch lenses while at work.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro