Amateur to Semi Pro 5Dmk2 Body. Advice Required

[kwokstar]

Hi everyone,

Im in a certain conundrum where I cannot decide on whether to purchase a new camera after growing old of my PENTAX K200D.

I have thoroughly researched upon options and have settled on the 5d MK2 (split between that and the NIKON D700 [still iffy about this choice, advice on that would be great as well!]).

However, after deciding on the 5DMK2, I'm afraid that when i purchase it, not long after, a new body will come out MUCH like the Canon 7D but Full Frame.

So should i wait for a new body to come out, or stick with my choice ? and with the Nikon and Canon debate, could you weigh the pros and cons and why i should stick to Canon..

Sorry about the demands guys...
But Thanks a bunch if you help!

[CaptainNH]

The 5D3 has being rumoured for a long time now, but there's nothing from Canon to suggest that it's imminent. They probably need to get a 1Ds4 out first.

If the Canon dSLR Timeline is anything to go by, a 5D3 might be "due" in 2011. Then again, it might not.

That doesn't help much does it

Personally, if I were looking for another full frame body now, I'd happy splash cash on another 5D2 - it's a great camera now, and will still be a great camera if and when a 5D3 arrives.

[wmdjameson]

The 5d3 still has no release date that I've found, but the question is do you NEED the newest model, or just a great camera? There's always going to be something new coming, but do you have the unlimited funds available to upgrade for every new release?

[CanonChickyBabe]

If you're always waiting for the newest of this or that to come out, you're going to miss out on some great photos... get the 5DII, you can always upgrade later. ;-)

[kwokstar]

Originally Posted by CaptainNH

Personally, if I were looking for another full frame body now, I'd happy splash cash on another 5D2 - it's a great camera now, and will still be a great camera if and when a 5D3 arrives.

I know this is a Canon Forum, but how about the NIKON D700 Body, surely there is debate on which is the more advanced.

Originally Posted by wmdjameson

The 5d3 still has no release date that I've found, but the question is do you NEED the newest model, or just a great camera? There's always going to be something new coming, but do you have the unlimited funds available to upgrade for every new release?

The thing is, i'm afraid of splashing the large amount of money on the 5DII, being a student aquiring these large sums is difficult. Oh, and being in a Australia doesn't make it any better with the up pricing of cameras!

Originally Posted by CanonChickyBabe

If you're always waiting for the newest of this or that to come out, you're going to miss out on some great photos... get the 5DII, you can always upgrade later. ;-)

haha, that's a true fact, however the fact that i can "upgrade" scares me, and to be honest the body isn't very affordable ..

Thanks for all the quick feedback guys, its much appreciated!

Aswell, sorry, the full-frame is an advantage for the DoF right ? So this is great for portraits? Then how about the 7D apparently many 5DII users are outraged at the more affordable version.

[wmdjameson]

The 7D is more affordable, but it's still a crop-frame camera. Meaning your wide angles won't be as wide, and the DoF is still not quite as good, but still more than acceptable. If money is the concern, the 7D is a GREAT camera, with loads of features. One could certainly use it for a long time and take wonderful pics, provided that you accept the CF sensor, and don't let the media convince you that one must have a FF camera to take pro quality shots.

[kwokstar]

So you're saying the 7D is good, but the 5DMK2 is better if you have the money to purchase it?
Or are you saying the 7D is a good camera and compared to the 5D theres not much difference apart from the price tag?

[wmdjameson]

There is enough difference to make it worth the extra money if you can afford to buy the 5d2. But YOU have to decide what applications you are going to be using the camera for. If it's larger sized prints, go for the 5d2, if all you are going to be doing is web images or standard size prints, the 7D will give you what you want. From they way you are talking, my personal opinion is that if you "settle" for the 7D based on price alone, it won't be 6 months before you're wanting to upgrade again. FF is the way to go if you have the cash.

As for your questions about the D700, Nikon has always made good cameras, but compared to the 5d2, it's only 12MP where the 5d is 21 so your max print sizes will be smaller, image quality is comparable, I have found the canon focuses just a little faster, canons max burst rate tends to be a little better and I find the canon battery life using the standard batteries tends to be a little longer.

So why pay more for less???

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by kwokstar

So you're saying the 7D is good, but the 5DMK2 is better if you have the money to purchase it?
Or are you saying the 7D is a good camera and compared to the 5D theres not much difference apart from the price tag?

THe two cameras are also rather different in terms of speciality. It's almost like comparing a 1D-series to a 1Ds-series. The 7D is lower res and smaller sensor, but has a considerably higher framerate (7fps) than the 5D2 (3.2fps). That being said, if you're doing studio work, the framerate means nothing, and the full-frame sensor and higher resolution will be of more use.

[kwokstar]

Originally Posted by wmdjameson

If it's larger sized prints, go for the 5d2, if all you are going to be doing is web images or standard size prints, the 7D will give you what you want. From they way you are talking, my personal opinion is that if you "settle" for the 7D based on price alone, it won't be 6 months before you're wanting to upgrade again. FF is the way to go if you have the cash.

Thanks for the input wmdjameson! It is true that I want to purchase a better camera to make it future proof for further work down the track, and from what you've said, I think I'll grab the 5dMKII, a solid camera, solid price, should be good still when a future model is released.

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

THe two cameras are also rather different in terms of speciality. It's almost like comparing a 1D-series to a 1Ds-series. The 7D is lower res and smaller sensor, but has a considerably higher framerate (7fps) than the 5D2 (3.2fps). That being said, if you're doing studio work, the framerate means nothing, and the full-frame sensor and higher resolution will be of more use.

Hmm, so the 7D is more suited to action photography, but in terms of portraiture on either pets and human subjects, the 5DMKII will produce beautiful results I'm sure then! Just a little iffy about the autofocus system, but surely its faster than my current K200D !