5D vs 5D Mark II

[mercho]

Hey Guys,

Did a bit of a search on the topic and couldn't really find anything so here goes...

I am after a bit of advice from AP members, I know there are a lot of people on the forum that have upgraded from a 5d to a 5D Mark II, and I wanted to get some opinions..

I have seriously been considering upgrading to a 5D MKII (feel free to talk me out of it! ) or a 5D Mk1. I really want a full frame body..

I currently have a 50D, 17-40, 24-70 and 100mm macro, all EF lenses (as I have planned to eventually go FF), and I have been considering buying an UWA in place of my 17-40, however I would also like better ISO performance. I have found anywhere over 400iso on the 50D is pretty bad, and I have heard the 5D's are a lot better (especially the MKII)...
Hence rather than buying a new lens, i thought I may as well make the jump to FF if that make sense, from what i can see there are a lot of benefits?

My question is, do you guys think I am better off going straight to the 5D MKII, or will I notice an improvement (mainly ISO) with just the MK1. Which ever way I go I plan on keeping the 50D as a backup body... Or do you think I should just forget it and keep the 50D?

Sorry I know this topic comes up a fair bit, but just wanted to get some opinions

Sorry if this is all over the place as well, its too early

Cheers

[coolie21]

Go straight to mkii. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Seriously, it is worth it for the iso performance (fantastic), for live view (could not now live without it for on tripod focussing) and for video ( I believe - haven't done much with it myself yet)

[mercho]

Go straight to mkii. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Seriously, it is worth it for the iso performance (fantastic), for live view (could not now live without it for on tripod focussing) and for video ( I believe - haven't done much with it myself yet)

haha yeah my bank account will hate me though

But I agree, the MKII does seem like a hell of a lot better camera. In saying that the video functionality is something I really don't need...

[Jules]

I've been giving this quite a lot of thought lately Brad and I'm going to go straight to the MkII, precisely for the reasons Alan outlined above. I need clean high ISO for the shooting I'm doing and I'll be using ISO 3200+ quite a lot, so the MkII has the edge there. I also want the extra MP and the video functionality of the MkII, and I really wouldn't want to give up Live View.

It all depends on your style of shooting though - do you need really high ISO, or just clean ISO in the 400-1600 range? Do you want/need Live View? Do you want the extra MP of the Mk II? The 5D is apparently a gorgeous camera and would be a considerable upgrade on the 50D, so I guess you just need to decide if you need the extra functionality of the MkII.

I guess another element would be that if you get the original 5D, there'd be some money left over for new glass...

[mercho]

I've been giving this quite a lot of thought lately Brad and I'm going to go straight to the MkII, precisely for the reasons Alan outlined above. I need clean high ISO for the shooting I'm doing and I'll be using ISO 3200+ quite a lot, so the MkII has the edge there. I also want the extra MP and the video functionality of the MkII, and I really wouldn't want to give up Live View.

It all depends on your style of shooting though - do you need really high ISO, or just clean ISO in the 400-1600 range? Do you want/need Live View? Do you want the extra MP of the Mk II? The 5D is apparently a gorgeous camera and would be a considerable upgrade on the 50D, so I guess you just need to decide if you need the extra functionality of the MkII.

I guess another element would be that if you get the original 5D, there'd be some money left over for new glass...

Yeah some good points Jules!

I am really after clean ISO in the 400-1600 range, is the 5D Mk1 that much less superior in that range than the mk2? Live view would also be something that I would miss after having it on the 50D, good in tricky situations..

Decisions...

[Wayne]

I wouldn't buy the now old tech in the MKi.

do a bit of future proofing if you are going to spend the beans. I haven't looked but what is the price difference between a used MKi (assuming you don't know where to get a new one these days) and a used/new MKII?

[James T]

If you're not shooting video or at 3200+ ISO all the time, then the 5D classic will do you proud. I still shoot with one every day alongside my 1D mk IV. I'd take one over two 50Ds any day.

With the price of the mk II now though, you may as well just go for it if you have the cash. It's a seriously good buy.

Bear in mind if you go for the mk II, the files are huge. You need some serious computing power for it not to drive you round the bend trying to process them. It takes me noticeably longer to get through a set when I've borrowed a mk II, just waiting for my Mac to churn through the images.

[Jules]

...Bear in mind if you go for the mk II, the files are huge. You need some serious computing power for it not to drive you round the bend trying to process them. It takes me noticeably longer to get through a set when I've borrowed a mk II, just waiting for my Mac to churn through the images.

James make a good point there. Depending what your setup is at present, you might also need to factor in some computer upgrades as well as the cost of the new MkII.

[gh0st]

I had 50D, sold it and upgraded to 5D II, very happy - the only thing I am missing very rarely is the crop factor for the long lenses (you can still crop on 5D II but pixel wise is not the same). I have 200mm, which on crop factor becomes 320mm, plus 1.4x converter is mighty 450mm. On my 5D II even with the converter is 280mm, quite a difference for these long shots.

[mercho]

Thanks guys, the crop factor isn't an issue because I will keep the 50D as a backup... ISO performance is really what I am after, Im tempted to get a new 5DMKII...

[JM Tran]

Thanks guys, the crop factor isn't an issue because I will keep the 50D as a backup... ISO performance is really what I am after, Im tempted to get a new 5DMKII...

wait until end of June for the end of financial yr sales mate, always heaps of good offers, if u are after Aus retail stock that is. Otherwise, grey import will always be cheaper

[mercho]

wait until end of June for the end of financial yr sales mate, always heaps of good offers, if u are after Aus retail stock that is. Otherwise, grey import will always be cheaper

Thanks Jackie, I think I prob will. Yeah I want Aus stock and a bit of local warranty

[mercho]

Yeah good points, i have a fair bit of Pc power/storage so that's not an issue... What's the classic like at 1600? Really torn at the momnt, and I dont want to be double upgrading lol

[mercho]

Yeah good points, i have a fair bit of Pc power/storage so that's not an issue... What's the classic like at 1600? Really torn at the momnt, and I dont want to be double upgrading lol

[JM Tran]

You will be fine regarding power of your desktop unless you are using a laptop. Even though the files are larger, processing time isnt that much longer - theyre not 300mb TIFF files so its alright. You honestly dont need serious PC or Mac power - Ive got a 3 yr old comp here, 2 gigs of ram, duo core, and some older components. The difference between my 1DsMKII files and 5DMKII file processing times on Lightroom is not that much noticeable between the 2. Unless I open them up in ACR for CS4 then it drags on a bit longer, due to it being a ram hungry hog.

Re. ISO you will notice a big diff at 1600 between the MKII and classic. The MKII high ISO is more smoother and has less chroma noise also. Another point is that the classic is sharper right out of the camera - due to having a weak AA filter, that and the original 1Ds produces some of the sharpest photos with the right lenses for Canon due to having the weakest AA filters.

[DAdeGroot]

I went through that last year and opted for the 5d MkII. You'll have buckleys finding a new MkI these days.

Although video may not be something you think you'll need, it is very handy to have it available.

[wattsgallery]

Agree with Dave. I spent a while looking for a really good 5D classic but they are rare and people know they are worth a bit which narrows the gap enough on a new 5DII.

[bort]

I spent a while looking for a really good 5D classic but they are rare and people know they are worth a bit which narrows the gap enough on a new 5DII.

I was looking (impatiently...) for a 5d classic, by the time I bought it, I could have spent a little extra and got the mark 2.

Didnt need video (got a 7d for that if I wanted to use it)

[mercho]

Thanks for the info guys, might have to be a 5D MKII if the bank allows it :P

[chrisprendergast]

5dmkII for sure i have one, i also had a 1dsmkII which could also be a option ? if ur not shooting video or using high iso i was happy with the image quality of the 1dsmk2, others on here may disagree but hey