Camera Labs

Hi stuart,

Maybe a locking Mode dial is Window Dressing for some, including me, but I guess that for others it might be a valuable option, especially weighed against the risk of losing unrepeatable shots through a moment's carelessness. Full marks to Canon for offering the chance to purchase the mod to those that want it.

As for the 5D3, be careful what you wish for. I've even seen a rumour that the 5 series and the 1Ds series may be merged in which case the price of Canon's next full-framer might get a little heady for most of us. Personally I'd be surprised if that happens but I'd be truly shocked if a 5D3 is announced before a 1Ds Mark IV which would push the 5D3 announcement back to the end of 2011 IMHO.

Luckily I hardly ever use to video facility of my 5D Mark II so I find it really hard to understand in what way Canon can offer me anything to tempt me to "upgrade". IQ is already fantastic and the camera just works. The only criticism I have of it is that the shooting information displayed in the viewfinder is too dim but I can live with that.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I take it a small positive sign that refits are offered to existing models, rather than the endless push for you to upgrade to the latest model if you want new features.

On another site someone worked out the "age" of each model and the 5D2 isn't that old yet. Not that we have many data samples to go on since there's only the 5D1 directly before it. It would put a possible refresh within the next year as a likely scenario but that's still pure speculation. Rumours do suggest a 5D3 might appear before 1Ds4, but as a whole I find general Canon rumours to be unreliable unless they're practically days away from shipping.

The 5D2 is still ever tempting me with its gradual price drops. There would certainly be some possible "nice to haves" in a 5D3 such as a similar AF distribution to the 7D, weather sealing and the obligatory sensor update. The AF would be most interesting to look at, because I suspect 5D users are more likely to want to change focus screens so I'm not sure we'll see a direct copy of the 7D style system. I think it could be something different again. Sensor wise, just bringing it to the same generation as the current 18MP models will help high ISO a bit, although I wouldn't complain if they have a newer generation waiting to come out.

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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.

I think i like the idea of a lockable dial switch, maybe one day though!

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Mark Osborne
My life through an iPhone

I am put off buying a 5D mkII now because I will be thinking I am getting second best to a 7D in it's facilities. The 7D has been out for two years or so now and therefore the facilities on the 7D have been around for at least that amount of time. I would hope that now, with Canon being two years further on, a 5D mkIII would be even better. It is, after all, supposed to be a step up from the 7D.

I would prefer a full frame body to complement my 40D but I would be looking for the latest technology and not buying older technology when there is later technology already available.

The perceived wisdom is that Canon updates their models every three years. Therefore 2011 may well be the year when it happens. I do not necessarilly believe the IDS mkIV upgrade will come out first. Just because that is the way it has been in the past does not necessarilly follow that it will always be like that. In the same way a 5D mkIII may not necessarilly come out after three years - but the 7D has been around for a long time already and has left the 5D behind technologically. Canon must be aware of that and should therefore respond with a mkIII as soon as possible. If Canon are concerned that the IDS mkIV should take preference because of it's customer base then surely the 7D being around for so long with an older technology 5D mkII must concern them?

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

Hi Stuart,

Well, if you offered me a brand new 7D in exchange for my two year old 5D2 I'd refuse it - not too much of a surprise, perhaps, given the difference in retail price.

No doubt the 5D Mark III will be a better camera but whether that difference will warrant the significant difference there will be in price, money that could be spent on EF glass, depends so much on your own needs. But if a 5D3 is what you need then I hope Canon releases it sooner rather than later for you.

But here's a thought. The RRP of the 5D2 is £2,300 here in the UK so it may well be that for the first few months of availability the 5D3 will be at least that much. Actually, given the depreciation of Sterling since the launch of the 5D2, the 5D3 may actually cost rather more than that. So, rather naughtily I suppose, can I point out that you can go out right now and get an EOS 1D Mark IV (reviews here and here) from Park Cameras for, to name but one, for £3,400....

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Unfortunately Bob the 1D mkIV is a 1.3 crop frame camera and not full frame. It is also rather bulky for my liking.

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

.
Well, it's nearly full frame.

Only joking and yes, I'd find it a bit bulky too. Hope you don't have too long a wait....

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi all,

Regarding slow motion video on the 5D MK II. I gather there is no 60p Firmware update, and as such, am wondering if anyone has experience shooting slow motion in 30p and slowing it by reducing the frame rate in a video editor like Final Cut Express. I'm interested in achieving a "super slow" motion look and am concerned that 30p isn't high enough a frame rate to shoot in, in order to achieve this.

Seniors, how do I AE lock during manual-dial-mode?
For P>S>A mode, after AE, the LCD will show " * ', but nothing on a manual-dial-mode.
Kindly advise~

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www.flickr.com/photos/jojovan

If you're in full manual mode, then you don't need to lock the exposure. Just don't change your aperture/shutter speed between shots.

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thanks ^^

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www.flickr.com/photos/jojovan

There's an option in the custom menus called "safety shift". Disable it.

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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 a lot. Appreciate deeply~

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www.flickr.com/photos/jojovan

I took some shots at 25.8k ISO and used TopazLabs DeNoise & DXO. Topaz quote 4 stops and they just might be correct.

See the test results on the TopazLabs website.

The original 5D shots where heavily grainy with noise. Both Denoise and DXO worked. I redid my test results the next day but this time DXO was the best?

Obviously, one de-noise product might work better with one Camera type because each manufacturer handles noise differently.