Comments on: My Initial Thoughts on the Canon 5D Mark II After 24 Hours http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:09:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: William Storage http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-64 William Storage Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:39:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-64 I've been enjoying shooting with the 5D MkII quite a bit also. I've seen some complaints about medium and high ISO noise for this camera, so tonight I walked out to the Bay Bridge and took some test shots. I can’t see how anyone who ever shot film or the last 10 years of digital wouldn’t be thrilled by the ISO 800-1600 performance of the Mk2. Identical shots at ISO 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 are here: http://www.bstorage.com/temp/5D/IsoTest/ . I think this is a decent test of image noise (dark fog) and the black-pixel issue (bright bridge lights). I’m now able to shoot with a long lens at small apertures in low light, getting sharp, no-flash shots of hummingbirds in flight (ISO 800-1600) – this is a first for me: http://www.bstorage.com/photo/us/ca/hummingbirds/ . I’ve been enjoying shooting with the 5D MkII quite a bit also. I’ve seen some complaints about medium and high ISO noise for this camera, so tonight I walked out to the Bay Bridge and took some test shots. I can’t see how anyone who ever shot film or the last 10 years of digital wouldn’t be thrilled by the ISO 800-1600 performance of the Mk2. Identical shots at ISO 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 are here: http://www.bstorage.com/temp/5D/IsoTest/ . I think this is a decent test of image noise (dark fog) and the black-pixel issue (bright bridge lights). I’m now able to shoot with a long lens at small apertures in low light, getting sharp, no-flash shots of hummingbirds in flight (ISO 800-1600) – this is a first for me: http://www.bstorage.com/photo/us/ca/hummingbirds/ .

]]> By: Bernard Siao http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-65 Bernard Siao Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:58:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-65 Thomas,<br /><br />The internal battery for the 5D is the CR2016. <br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Lithium-Coin-Battery-CR2016/dp/B0001MQUO2<br /><br />Here is an article that has a diagram of where the battery is located:<br /><br />http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2008.12.31/canon-err99 Thomas,

The internal battery for the 5D is the CR2016.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Lithium-Coin-Battery-CR2016/dp/B0001MQUO2

Here is an article that has a diagram of where the battery is located:

http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2008.12.31/canon-err99

]]> By: Dave http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-66 Dave Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:37:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-66 I recently upgraded from a 300D (the original Digital Rebel) to the 5D MkII. What an upgrade it's been! I've been very happy with it over the last month or so since getting it, and have really enjoyed the learning curve involved.<br /><br />I'll second your observation about taking fewer shots, it's surprising how fast the card fills up if you're shooting RAW. The increased storage space on my hard disks was definitely a consideration before I upgraded, but I ended up deciding that something is always limiting, and in this case I didn't want it to be the camera.<br /><br />Downloading RAW files is actually much faster than what I'm used to with the old camera, something I attribute to the faster CF card and faster data transfer from the camera. On my 2.5 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, Lightroom is a bit slower generating previews of the RAW files, and exporting to JPEGs, but editing the photos seems to be about as fast as with the 300D files.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to your further impressions on it. I recently upgraded from a 300D (the original Digital Rebel) to the 5D MkII. What an upgrade it’s been! I’ve been very happy with it over the last month or so since getting it, and have really enjoyed the learning curve involved.

I’ll second your observation about taking fewer shots, it’s surprising how fast the card fills up if you’re shooting RAW. The increased storage space on my hard disks was definitely a consideration before I upgraded, but I ended up deciding that something is always limiting, and in this case I didn’t want it to be the camera.

Downloading RAW files is actually much faster than what I’m used to with the old camera, something I attribute to the faster CF card and faster data transfer from the camera. On my 2.5 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, Lightroom is a bit slower generating previews of the RAW files, and exporting to JPEGs, but editing the photos seems to be about as fast as with the 300D files.

I’m looking forward to your further impressions on it.

]]> By: aviva5271 http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-67 aviva5271 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:41:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-67 Thomas - long time fan, first time commenter: I went from a 1D MIII to the 5D MII (had the original 5D before the 1D) and am noticing that I'm pressing the delete button instead of play a lot - but that's because it's in the same place as the play button on the 1D! Thankfully it asks if you're sure before you go deleting stuff, so that's nice.<br /><br />I'm so happy with the images from my 5D MII - and agree with your other assessments as well....but yeah, they are BIG. I'm getting a PowerMac in '09 (upgrading from my maxed-out iMac). Thomas – long time fan, first time commenter: I went from a 1D MIII to the 5D MII (had the original 5D before the 1D) and am noticing that I’m pressing the delete button instead of play a lot – but that’s because it’s in the same place as the play button on the 1D! Thankfully it asks if you’re sure before you go deleting stuff, so that’s nice.

I’m so happy with the images from my 5D MII – and agree with your other assessments as well….but yeah, they are BIG. I’m getting a PowerMac in ’09 (upgrading from my maxed-out iMac).

]]> By: Bryan Campbell http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-68 Bryan Campbell Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:39:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-68 I'm glad you finally got your mk II. I have been really enjoying mine, but I'm coming from a 40d.<br /><br />One thing you may notice is that it's very easy to over sharpen 5d Mark II RAWs. I use both Lightroom 2 and DPP and you have to be extra careful in Lightroom. In DPP the sharpness setting '1' is usually enough, I use 2 for softer photos, but beyond that things get nasty.<br /><br />Also, Lightroom 2 runs fine on my first gen Macbook with Mark II RAWs but it takes about 10 seconds per file to convert to JPG. I doubt you will have any issues with performance on your Mac. I’m glad you finally got your mk II. I have been really enjoying mine, but I’m coming from a 40d.

One thing you may notice is that it’s very easy to over sharpen 5d Mark II RAWs. I use both Lightroom 2 and DPP and you have to be extra careful in Lightroom. In DPP the sharpness setting ’1′ is usually enough, I use 2 for softer photos, but beyond that things get nasty.

Also, Lightroom 2 runs fine on my first gen Macbook with Mark II RAWs but it takes about 10 seconds per file to convert to JPG. I doubt you will have any issues with performance on your Mac.

]]> By: JeffH http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-69 JeffH Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:17:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-69 @Justin, I'm up for a meet up if someone wants to arrange one in the South SF Bay Area. @Justin, I’m up for a meet up if someone wants to arrange one in the South SF Bay Area.

]]> By: Rich Harris http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-70 Rich Harris Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:35:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-70 Thanks for posting some info about this and your thoughts. I just go the new 50D and am excited to eventually master it and move up to a full frame camera.<br /><br />Peace,<br />Rich Thanks for posting some info about this and your thoughts. I just go the new 50D and am excited to eventually master it and move up to a full frame camera.

Peace,
Rich

]]> By: Justin Korn http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-71 Justin Korn Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-71 SOOO jealous! We have to meet up sometime soon so I can at least watch you play with it :) SOOO jealous! We have to meet up sometime soon so I can at least watch you play with it :)

]]> By: William Beem http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-72 William Beem Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:26:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-72 I think taking fewer shots is a good thing. I've noticed the same feeling since getting my Nikon D700, though I'm not experiencing a major change in file size from my D200, as you are.<br /><br />Still, something about switching bodies made me realize that I want to think more about my compositions, spend more time planning than reacting, and that leads to fewer (and I hope better) shots. I think taking fewer shots is a good thing. I’ve noticed the same feeling since getting my Nikon D700, though I’m not experiencing a major change in file size from my D200, as you are.

Still, something about switching bodies made me realize that I want to think more about my compositions, spend more time planning than reacting, and that leads to fewer (and I hope better) shots.

]]> By: JeffH http://thomashawk.com/2009/01/my-initial-thoughts-on-canon-5d-mark-ii.html/comment-page-1#comment-73 JeffH Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/thomashawk/?p=19#comment-73 Thanks for your quick review! Looking forward to hearing what you think about the images once you process some of them. My shooting experience has been very similar to yours. I noticed that the AF seems a little quicker and possibly more accurate when using the center focus point, which I do most of the time. I also noticed when using live view a lot or shooting video that the battery drains a lot quicker than the old 5D. Thanks for your quick review! Looking forward to hearing what you think about the images once you process some of them. My shooting experience has been very similar to yours. I noticed that the AF seems a little quicker and possibly more accurate when using the center focus point, which I do most of the time. I also noticed when using live view a lot or shooting video that the battery drains a lot quicker than the old 5D.

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