Comments on: Canon 5D2: so long

By: Taikonaut

Taikonaut — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:05:43 +0000

Gray, if your work is mainly fashion and still life I would recommend the 5DMk2 dues to its larger MP, better DR and better quality screen to check focus or use it to manually focus. It is closer in quality IQ wise to your digital back. You won’t need the advance AF of the 1D range which only really benefit if you are shooting continously moving subjects such as sport were the AF need to track.

By: AFS

AFS — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:28:42 +0000

Hey Gray, I would say it comes down to a few important factors (IMO.) The 5D2 has better dynamic range (by a stop or so) but it’s build quality is not as good as the 1Ds2. And the 5D2 is obviously smaller and lighter, smaller batteries, etc.

On the other hand, the 1Ds2 has far superior AF and weather sealing and the like. If you focus manually a lot of the time, try the 5D2. Otherwise, I would be tempted to get the 1Ds2, which can be had for a little over $2K in minty condition on Craigslist here in NYC – there are tons of them listed.

By: Gray

Gray — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:41:22 +0000

Hi,
I am seeking advice, and this seems like the right place for it. A majority of my work is fashion, beauty & still life for advertising and editorial. I shoot mainly with my leaf 22mp back on the Contax 645. I need a camera that is close in quality to my digital back but I do not want to drop another 5k on equipment so the Mark 3 is probably not what i want. I am between a Mark 2 & 5d Mark 2. The fashion work i shoot is similar to photographers on this website http://www.calikartel.com/. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

By: taikonaut

taikonaut — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:08:05 +0000

This may sound strange but try this. Use the AF ON button to focus. I find it slightly more reliable than the half pressed on the shutter focus when using the EF 85mm f1.8 lens.

By: taikonaut

taikonaut — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:36:32 +0000

Works beautifully and reliably with my EF 50 f1.4 in all AF points in low light wide open.

By: AFS

AFS — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:16:08 +0000

Thanks taikonaut , but there are no such focus issues with this 85 1.8 lens when using the 1Ds3 camera. And furthermore the AF inconsistencies in the dark with the 5D2 is across all lenses in my experience. Not just this 85…it also happened with the 85 1.2, 70-200 2.8, 50 1.4, etc., etc.

By: taikonaut

taikonaut — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:11:57 +0000

I had a chance to test my EF 85 f1.8 lens over the weekend and found AF in low light is not as reliable as my EF 50 f1.4. I have tested both lens on my 5DMk2 and 40D the results were the same on both bodies.
This may also explains why you are getting AF problem when shooting in low light with this lens and why it is so cheap compared to the 85 f1.2L.

By: taikonaut

taikonaut — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:16:55 +0000

I actually recieved my EF 85 f1.8 yesterday and done a few low ligght test indoors. I havent got the picture but was able to get AF to lock using the outermost AF points boith using focus asssist and without. What I also found was if you play around with microadjustment it upset this lens AF adjustment, you have to switch off the camera and take the battery out or take the lens off the body and put it back onto the body. I notice same with my EF-S lens on my 40D too.
When using AF the AF light flash with a positive bleep, sometimes a quieter bleep followed which causes focussing to go way off. Do not shoot when the quieter bleep comes on.
Have you tried AF Assist using a Speedlight?

By: AFS

AFS — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:34:33 +0000

Hi taikonaut, thanks for your feedback. (your links are not working though, so I can’t see what it is that you shoot.) I do know that if you are shooting at 35mm and f4 you are not likely to see the AF issues I am talking about. I often shoot at 85mm or longer and at 1.8 or 2.8, which means I am shooting at a MUCH more narrow depth of field than the setup you have described above. Thus even minor misses in AF will show in my shots, and they will not with a 35mm set at f4 or slower.
Have you used the outer AF points in the dark with an 85mm or 100mm wide open? How about the 70-200 2.8 at the long end wide open? That’s where the problems arise in my experience. (And I have had 3 of these 5D2 bodies by the way, and I still have two of the original 5D bodies, so I am pretty sure I do understand the techniques involved in getting sharp images.)

Also, the main reason I would choose to use the 5D2 instead of my 1Ds3 is because of the size and weight. Thus I don’t intend to use it with a flash on it all the time just to achieve accurate focus. I’d much sooner just use the 1Ds3

By: taikonaut

taikonaut — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:12:41 +0000

AFS. I also uses the 5DMk2 and have no problem with the AF using outerpoints. I put this down to technique.
Even shooting at relatively low light in a studio using the EF 24-105 f4 L lens setting 35mm at f4 using the outer most AF point they are spot on, see example

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3438469105_a65ee8e15e_o.jpg

at 100% crop

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3438384805_d52f82edb1_o.jpg

so it is either you have a bad copy or your technique?

You said you had problems with AF in low light. Have you tried using AF Assist via a Speedlight with flash disabled? Here Canon AF Assist works on all focus points manually selectable while Nikon only works on centre AF point.