I picked my Mark II up yesterday. Haven't had a chance to shoot anything interesting...still learning the new features. A model is swinging by tomorrow...so I should capture some nice stuff with it.
Having played with the 24-70 f/2.8 lens on the new camera, I can now say that the 5DII feels just as responsive as the old 5D as far as focusing is concerned. And judging by the focus on the shots I'm getting, it seems pretty much equal to the 5D. (I'd say slightly better, but I'm not sure if I'm biasing that judgment)
One thing is for sure ... video is a game changer. It's a whole new world. And it's not as simple as it sounds! Especially if you're playing with shallow DOF and needing to put the focus on a specific individual out of a group of people. I didn't discover the AF controls for the video until I read the manual. There are three modes: Quick AF, AF Live and AF Face Recognition.
Quick AF slaps the mirror back down, uses the normal AF focusing points to quickly focus and then brings the mirror back up. Obviously you can only do this at the start of a video otherwise Quick AF would interrupt the video.
AF Live lets you place a square anywhere on the image and it will use contrast detection to focus (it does this at the time you press the AF-ON button). You need to keep in mind that the camera may decide to totally de-focus and refocus the lens. Not necessarily a good thing if it's in the middle of an action sequence.
AF Face Recognition lets the camera try to pick out a face in the scene and focus on the face. The trouble you may run into here is if you have multiple faces in view, and one of them is more important than the others to keep in focus. The camera may not pick the face you want. It also may move back and forth between faces on its own.
Manual focusing is always active -- assuming you have a lens that lets you focus while AF is engaged (all of my Canon lenses let me do this). The trouble is, if I hold the camera far enough away so I can see the LCD to determine what is in focus, then I'm more likely to bounce the camera around while I'm recording.
Like I said ... video is going to be a challenge. And shallow DOF only makes it more so.
Here is a video from yesterday's birthday party where I was using AF Face Recognition to focus the camera.
The trouble you may run into here is if you have multiple faces in view, and one of them is more important than the others to keep in focus. The camera may not pick the face you want.
Canon has been bragging so much about the AI of the new DIGIC 4 and it doesn't even know enough to automagically focus on the most important face in a crowd of faces?!? Sheesh! :P
Hmm... While the Vincent Laforet's of the world may be able to produce amazing, artsy short films, I'm beginning to wonder if video mode will be useful for amateurs like myself. Looking at some of the video samples posted:
- video will require a tripod or other steadying equipment (VL used a gyro in the helicopter shot)
- video focus will definitely require some practice
- processing/editing video will require software. I've heard Sony Vegas Pro 8 is the best, but runs $400+
This is starting to sound really expensive... I wonder if I'm not better off just picking up somebody's used 5D. DrAchoo, didn't you have some deal for me. ;)
Or, if someone's considering switching systems from Nikon, I'd consider the D700 and trading glass.
Just wondering if any UK DPCers fancy taking my 5D off me. asking £890
How old is it? seems a bit pricey :)
Nah, not considering the history attached to it. Get him to sign it in silver pen as well.. the one off Alex Saberi signature model.. and get a certificate of autheticity chucked in as well.
This is starting to sound really expensive... I wonder if I'm not better off just picking up somebody's used 5D. DrAchoo, didn't you have some deal for me. ;)
I'll be selling mine in the next 2-3 months. Keep an eye out. :)
So many people are flooding the market with the original 5D right now its unreal. The price is plummeting to the point I wont give mine away for what they are selling for. I'd wait a while to see the prices stabilize if I were selling, however if I were buying I'd jump now.
I'm tempted to drive to Cedar Rapids and pick one up. Porters Camera has several in stock. I said I would wait til Spring so I'm gonna try and adhere to my own word no matter how difficult it is.
I'm tempted to drive to Cedar Rapids and pick one up. Porters Camera has several in stock. I said I would wait til Spring so I'm gonna try and adhere to my own word no matter how difficult it is.
Oh, it is very hard indeed. Cedar rapids is only 4 hours from my place, and in fact I have a friend coming up from Cedar next week. Must... not... succumb!
I just noticed DPReview is alive with reports of "black dot" problems with the 5D Mark II - pixels around blown highlights that seem to be clipping to pure black.
I guess we've yet to see if the problem is truly widespread, but wow - I really thought Canon would be more careful with quality control after the auto-focus issues with the 1D series... and in a soft economy... and given the recent FF competition...
