Did I make a mistake buying the 5D MKii?

photodk · Sep 13, 2012

Long story short, I thought my 30D was broken, so I bought a 5D MKii.

I since fixed my 30D...

I'm reading now that the 5D MKii is pretty antiquated. The new Nikon, for example, is a lot better at the same price. While I'm too heavily invested in lenses to make the switch... maybe I'm better off returning the MKii and waiting for whatever Canon brings out in the ~$2000 slot?

I have a few days left to return the 5D. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks.

ps- fwiw, I don't care in the least bit about video capabilities. I'm in it for the stills.

thosewhotell · Sep 13, 2012

If you are/were happy with the 30D then stick with it until you feel limited by it. Take a short vacation instead...

photodk · Sep 13, 2012

I've wanted to replace it for a while, but hte 5DMkii doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, feature-wise. Yeah, the pictures look a lot better and FF is nice but... the camera itself, is very samey.

I'd hate to spend 2k on this, and then in October, have a camera come out for that price that's tons better.

TheBiles · Sep 13, 2012

The image-quality of the 5D2 blows away the 30D. Just because it's an older body doesn't mean that it isn't far ahead of your current setup. You can wait 5 days for Photokina, see if Canon announces a 6D, and then make your decision from there. Either way, I'd stick with full-frame.

jhenry330 · Sep 13, 2012

photodk said:
I've wanted to replace it for a while, but hte 5DMkii doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, feature-wise. Yeah, the pictures look a lot better and FF is nice but... the camera itself, is very samey.

I'd hate to spend 2k on this, and then in October, have a camera come out for that price that's tons better.

You say the pics look better??? Sounds like a plus. If you are in it for stills only, what could be improved on a 6d for stills? I guess that's the real question...

MLeeK · Sep 13, 2012

It's not antiquated. The 30D is.
It all depends upon what you will be shooting and plan to shoot in the future. For us to make that decision we need to know more about your needs and what you expect down the road.

photodk · Sep 13, 2012

I don't do sports photography. I mostly take pictures of things that are relatively still. Landscape, a few portraits, buildings, candid, that sort of thing.

One thing that has me wondering is the multi-AF points. People complain about the 5D, but it isn't 'worse' than the 30D for focusing.

I almost always just use the center focus point, focus, then drag the camera to compose the shot. Am I missing out on something awesome by not having the "93 focus points with 8 cross-type focus?"

What about image noise? Everyone is talking about new sensors being so much cleaner. The 5Dmkii is miles ahead of the 30d in noise, but what am I potentially missing?

I want a camera that lasts me 5-6 years.

my lenses are
nifty 50
24-105l
70-200l

totally happy with my lenses.

KmH · Sep 13, 2012

Antiquated? :biglaugh:

The Canon 30D and the 5D MKII are both still very capable DSLR cameras.

:biglaugh:

Antiquated? :biglaugh:

The first DSLRs appeared just 12 or 13 years ago. I used a 5.2 MP Nikon D1X (circa 2001 AD - 2004 AD) until late 2010 .

photodk · Sep 13, 2012

Yeah, I work in IT. Any rapidly evolving technology over 3 years old is an artifact to me.

MLeeK · Sep 13, 2012

photodk said:
I don't do sports photography. I mostly take pictures of things that are relatively still. Landscape, a few portraits, buildings, candid, that sort of thing.

One thing that has me wondering is the multi-AF points. People complain about the 5D, but it isn't 'worse' than the 30D for focusing.

I almost always just use the center focus point, focus, then drag the camera to compose the shot. Am I missing out on something awesome by not having the "93 focus points with 8 cross-type focus?"

What about image noise? Everyone is talking about new sensors being so much cleaner. The 5Dmkii is miles ahead of the 30d in noise, but what am I potentially missing?

I want a camera that lasts me 5-6 years.

my lenses are
nifty 50
24-105l
70-200l

totally happy with my lenses.

You don't appear to be using the focus system in any way that you'd feel the pinch of it. How could you be missing out on the focus points if you aren't going to be using them anyway?
For an improvement in image noise the 5d2 will be incredible over your 30D. YOu have it in your hands. Push the ISO and see for yourself how it performs when compared to your 30D

photodk · Sep 13, 2012

Yeah, I was shooting at 4000 iso the other day. Looked as good as 800 on the 30, I think.

I don't know if i'm missing out on the focus points. SHOULD I be doing it differently?

Derrel · Sep 13, 2012

I think good old Ken Rockwell's word of obsolete in the better choice. Obsolete as in, "there are better cameras that can achieve the same things,easier, and with higher reliability." Obsolete as in the sense that, "A newer, better model has been released, and this gear is now no longer the cutting edge." I dunno...d-slr cameras as KmH mentioned, have only been around for a relatively SHORT time period. The 5D-II's biggest weaknesses are the AF system, which is HIGHLY central, and was borrowed from the 30D 1.6x body, and the sensor, which is no longer anywhere near as capable of being "pushed" as the sensors in newer cameras, and especially the newer Nikon FX cameras, which have very strongly eclipsed the Canon 5D series sensors when the files need to be "pushed". The 5D-II's sensor will show pattern noise when the shadows are "lifted" more than a normal amount in post-processing. COmpare the even-newer 5D-III versus the Nikon D800 here, side by side, by Fred Miranda himself:Canon 5D Mark III - Nikon D800 Review

The thing is...the 5D-II sensor is still, however, pretty good. Quite good. But its technology is "obsolete"--when compared against what is state of the art TODAY. The 5D-II is what? Is it now four years old??? I think if you payed say $2199 for the 5D-II, you basically are going to have a camera that performs WORSE than the much newer Nikon D600, which is also a $2,199 camera that is much newer. But then, that's a Nikon. I dunno...if you need to be on that cutting edge, you no longer are. But still--the 5D-II is a pretty good camera. Not an excellent camera, but a pretty darned good one. Not state-of-the-art for Canon, nor for Nikon, but still...

photodk · Sep 13, 2012

I got it for 1850. I don';t know what you mean by 'push' in terms of focus?

I just want to make sure my ~2000 is spent in the best way possible. And I have to stick to Canon anyway, because of my lenses...

but I guess that's the problem with technology and new models. Next thing is better. I'd hate to end up, in a month, finding out the 6d is much, much better than the 5d. I guess no one really knows that.

Ysarex · Sep 13, 2012

photodk said:
Yeah, I work in IT. Any rapidly evolving technology over 3 years old is an artifact to me.

Remember these? (photo below).

I'm using one now to type this post. I got it out of the trash about 12 years ago. Takes some effort to get it functioning with a modern computer but it's worth it. It's huge and it's heavy and the keys do this bizarre thing; they take some actual force to depress and they spring back with a click. I am personally antiquated now that I'm retired. I still practice this antique skill that I picked up when I was very young; it's called typing. To type well you need a keyboard that fits your hands, won't move on the desk and has responsive keys. To my knowledge, rapidly evolving technology has brought us to the point where only this comparable product is still available: Amazon.com: Das Keyboard Model S Professional Mechanical Keyboard: Computers & Accessories for $129.00. All the other keyboards that you can now purchase for as little as $10.95 (or an Apple keyboard for $79.00) are worthless garbage that will cease functioning long before my keyboard begins to show wear. Their keys are way too close together and either non-responsive or at best mushy. I'm trying to resist being dragged down to using the latest modern tech, my thumbs are just too big and slow.

I have a 5D mkII and it takes excellent photos. Back before electronics and computers were embedded in cameras I also developed this antiquated skill of being able to take a good photo without an electronic crutch. I can't say I'm missing much in the way of features in the 5D that compel me to want to replace it.

Joe