How much is 0.8 stop, really?

[amolitor]

For your application, just to make things even MORE fun, you might consider looking at the equivalent Nikon bodies. If you don't care about AF, maybe MF lenses would suit you fine, and you can get those for peanuts.

 

[unpopular]

Piss. I forgot about the ever unchanged F-mount ... which Nikon mid range bodies have pentaprisms?

 

[Derrel]

You gotta figure that those GIANT pixels on the 5D sensor have to give you some kind of win on the noise rejection down in the shadows, but the test shots on dpreview are probably gonna tell the tale more than some idiot on the internet speculating.

Pixel well size *is* a factor, and FF bodies do win on sheer size, BUT--that "win"is predicated on the sensor AND the read electronics and the noise reduction and the entire electronic "routine". Where the 5D's sensor falls down is its sheer AGE...big pixels versus small pixels means a win for the FF camera when comparing sensors from the same era. The newer APS-C sensors edge out the 5D classic in usable DR...the new Nikon D800 with its TINY pixels and 36 MP count is FAR better at noise control than a 2005-era FF 5D ever could even hope to be...and the same goers for the new Pentax K-7 and the Nikon D7000; the sensor in those two APS-C cameras allow the user to "lift" the shadows up INCREDIBLY: as in, shooting an image with the camera set to ISO 200, but JACKING the shutter speed to the equivalent of over ISO 50,000 (yes fifty thousand), and then lifting the shadows in post to make a "quite decent"image.

For a camera in the $600 price range, a 5D Classic is still a good camera...but from the files I have seen on shoots done side-by-side with the 60D, the 60D's sensor is better. And the light metering of the 5D--very primitive, color-blind, and prone to MASSIVE over-exposure in fishing and marine type scenarios...like going from a proper Av exposure of apprx 1/5000 to 1/6000 second at f/11 on ocean water in July, down to to 1/60 second at f/11 as a fish is brought into the boat on the shadowed side, and completely totally effing up the pictures your fishing partner shoots of you with the biggest salmon of the day...with MASIVE unrecoverable total, WHITE, BLOW-OUT overexposures (yeah...true story). Just very "dumb" metering for run-n-gun shooting without a very experienced shooter at the tiller...

 

[unpopular]

Well, you know I spot meter exclusively.

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Looking at the D90 - that live view looks amazing...

 

[o hey tyler]

yeah, and I am not seeing a whole hell of a lot of advantage. the a700 is a pretty low noise body, at least at the ISO's I use. One thing I am seeing is that weird pixely/moire you get on crop sensors with fine diagonal detail, but I am not sure that this matters a whole lot in the long run.

I'm so back and forth on this, I like the idea of full frame, but I am just not sure I want to go that route, especially if it means buying new lenses and adapters, with an 8 year old body. Then there is also the IS issue, which I have avoided even thinking about.

IS isn't even necessary. I didn't find it to work all that well on the A200.

Why are you so concerned with buying an old body anyway? It's not a death sentence.

 

[unpopular]

I don't have much money, it's a pretty big purchase ATM, and whatever it will be I'll be stuck with for at least a year before I can buy something more permanent.

And seriously, if I use the a350 much longer it WILL be a death sentence.

As for IS, it's not a huge concern. I never had it before, I don't think i'll miss it later.

 

[Derrel]

Well, you know I spot meter exclusively.

---

Looking at the D90 - that live view looks amazing...

Ah, yes, I had totally forgotten about you and your extremely fastidious exposure metering ways! I seldom use full-on spot metering...as to IS not being good in the SOny A200 that Tyler mentioned: in-body IS is regarded by many people to be inferior to in-lens stabilizing; in-LENS stabilizing has proven to me to be worthy its weight in...well, valuable exchange commodities!!! The BEST thing about Canon EOS cameras is their ability to use lenses from seven other lens mount families with adapters!!!!!

 

[unpopular]

Yeah, with corrective glass ... halo and ghosting ftw!

If lens compatability is the key factor, it's going to be NEX or Canon EOS-M, and the NEX 7 and 6 are definitely high on my radar.

 

[Derrel]

Yeah, with corrective glass ... halo and ghosting ftw!

If lens compatability is the key factor, it's going to be NEX or Canon EOS-M, and the NEX 7 and 6 are definitely high on my radar.

No--with NO corrective glass needed...no halos, no ghosting...Leica-R on Canon, Nikkor on Canon, M42 on Canon...NO Corrective lenses needed...Nikon 200 f/2 VR on Canon 5D...FTW!!!!!!!

 

[unpopular]

hmm. that is interesting, and may change some things.

But what do you think - will the 5D fit my needs for the next year or two before I can afford a 1D/5D mk II/III or D3/4 or should I hold off on full frame and get a more modern APS-C body, like the a700. If i stick with small format, i'll probably just go with the a700 and deal with new lenses and adapters when I upgrade to full frame.