Canon EOS 5D, 50D, or 5D Mark II?

[d3debian]

Hi guys, I got the 5D Mark II

Congratulations!
And plenty of good weather this weekend to spend hours with it.

I have to smile when i hear Belgium people talk about photography.
They don't "take" pictures, they "pull" pictures.
So, pull it to the max this weekend akamc77!

[Colin Southern]

Hi guys, I got the 5D Mark II tonight

Congratulations - I'm sure we're all looking forward to seeing some shots (just not full resolution!).

[Jimmymck]

Hi akamc77, how are you getting on with your 5d mark 2. I'm going through the same dilemma at the moment would you strongly recommend the 5dm2?

[Colin Southern]

Hi akamc77, how are you getting on with your 5d mark 2. I'm going through the same dilemma at the moment would you strongly recommend the 5dm2?

Hi Jimmymck,

If you can afford either the 50D or the 5D2 then it possibly all comes down to whether full frame or crop sensors work best for what you'll be doing most (eg shooting long, shooting wide, or just general shooting).

[Jimmymck]

I tend to do a good mix of everything (landscape, sailing, architecture mostly)

[akamc77]

Hi Jimmy, I most highly recomend the EOS 5D Mark II to you, it's absolutely awesome!

I don't have technical specs for you, but I can tell you that it keeps every promise it makes

[Colin Southern]

I tend to do a good mix of everything (landscape, sailing, architecture mostly)

By the sound of it, full frame would be better - in which case the 5D2 is probably the best weapon of choice (unless you want to step up into the 1D series).

Lenses are the next issue though -- what do you have? Have any additional ones in mind?

[phuongnlh]

Hi ,

5D MkII is your right investment even on amateur photography.
I love this toy (i don't make money for that hobby), high resolution and specially the iso -> perfect in any cases (of course my 5 years 300D is still working perfectly as my backup dslr). 24-105f4 is perfect kit for 5dMkII also (even i had it while using with 300D) for walk-around where you might need an external flash for low light situation if you don't want to put high iso (Colin knows it well).

I have 70-200f2.8 IS also and will make more and more photos for lovely kids and family portrait around me. Of course i also aim to 16-35 f2.8 II then that that perfect kit
should be ok for amateur people like me.

One day, you need more and more resolution, sport action then 1Ds Mk x series might be your choice

@Colin: are you IT consultant and if yes, we are in the same boat, so hard during the economy now.

Cheers,

Phuong

[Colin Southern]

might be your choice

@Colin: are you IT consultant and if yes, we are in the same boat, so hard during the economy now.

Hi Phuong,

I do quite a few things for a living ... IT - photography - printing - even a bit of video work I heard about the global recession, but I've decided not to take part in it

[Amberglass]

Congrats on your purchase, akamc77. The 24-105 f4L IS is my absolute favorite walk-a-round lens for travel; tossed in with a 35 or 50 1.4 prime (for low lighting) and I'm good to go go go. As much as I love my 24-70 2.8L, it's a brick on the shoulders and neck if you're not actively shooting and taking the load off plus the big hood (necessary though).

Jimmymck, bodies comes and goes but lenses will stay with you forever until you decide to sell them. If you're starting out in photography and do not own a dslr just yet, I would recommend the 40D or 50D and nail down your fundamental skills while focusing on acquiring glass purchases (slowly and get comfortable using each). Also perfecting your skills in workflow and photo processing/editing.

My 2 cents, I've been mentoring several photographer newbies over the past couple of years (via friends and local photography clubs), and noticed that "many" of them do not know their camera setups/processing skills as well as they should. Instead of taking the time to do so, they purchase the latest, newest, and greatest camera body.

You only need one camera (for a hobbyist) and that camera should last you until the day it dies. Then and only then should you upgrade to the next. It's not the camera that creates the pictures, it's the person who does with the camera as a tool.

[Amberglass]

Probably because FF-users on average being more experienced photographers with good quality lenses and good post-processing skills.
You might be right with your view FF pictures consistent look better than CF but i expect it's due the photographers qualities.

Agrees with you on that matter. I would never recommend a a FF camera to a beginner.

It's really shocking for me to discover thru a magazine poll that there are more beginners with FF and professional level cameras than there are "working professional" who are in the field who requires it. You do not need to have a FF camera in order to be a working (paid) photographer, nor for someone just starting out. I shot with mid range 35 mm film cameras for years at weddings for clients who could not afford medium format. Guess what, the size of the prints all came out the same size in the end.

The poll also showed that they shot 90% of the time on P mode, the same could be achieve on a much lower priced cameras. Bottom line, you go with what you can afford and grow with it.

[Colin Southern]

The poll also showed that they shot 90% of the time on P mode, the same could be achieve on a much lower priced cameras. Bottom line, you go with what you can afford and grow with it.

P mode ... Arrrrgh! P mode is disabled on my 1Ds3!

I agree with your "bottom line" - however - if you flip that around, your going to have many who can afford to buy pro-grade gear right from the start, and - again, personally - I don't have a problem with that. I like to think of it as being a bit like "learning to drive in a Ferrari". I jumped from a 20D straight to a 1D3 and would do the same again in a heartbeat.

[Amberglass]

P mode ... Arrrrgh! P mode is disabled on my 1Ds3!

I agree with your "bottom line" - however - if you flip that around, your going to have many who can afford to buy pro-grade gear right from the start, and - again, personally - I don't have a problem with that. I like to think of it as being a bit like "learning to drive in a Ferrari". I jumped from a 20D straight to a 1D3 and would do the same again in a heartbeat.

Glad to hear it, Colin. As long as the owner learns and grows to master their camera and photographic skills, I don't have problem with it either. It's the ones who don't and continuously upgrades (or flip flops among systems) in hoping that the camera will improve their photography that I seriously do not understands.