Should I buy a new camera?

[Solarflare]

The 5D Mark II is already one of the best cameras money can buy, ideal for people and landscape. Getting anything much better is impossible, getting something slightly better, like the successor 5D Mark III, will be very expensive.

The only reason why images are dark are because the camera has been configured that way. The 5D Mark II is a modern camera, so it has automatics in place that can meter images by themselves. Very likely your father has disabled these settings, or set the camera in a way that it intentionally will shoot very dark pictures.

For example he could have put in a strong negative exposure compensation, which causes ALL pictures to go dark, except if you shoot something very white.

A modern camera is a powerful tool, you'll need some time to learn using it.

 

[sabbath999]

I would like to know if some of you have any experience with this camera or maybe have an idea to what camera I should get instead?

If the camera is fully functional, you absolutely do NOT need a new camera.

At such point in time that you have enough experience and skill as a photographer to exceed the abilites of that camera, you will have all the information you need in your head to have answered this question yourself.

This is a GREAT camera with amazing capabilities. Eventually? You may wish to upgrade, but until you exceed the capacities of this one, absolutely not.

Learn how to shoot this baby in all circumstances, under all conditions, and ENJOY! It's a great camera.

PS: This advice goes to any newer user about pretty much ANY DSLR made by Canon or Nikon in the last 10 years (with the exception of the absolutely horrid Nikon D3000).