Canon EOS 5D MKII

[tarczy]

Just picked up a copy of this bad boy . . .

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Camera%20Gear/5DMKIIFront.jpg

Very much fun!

Next (after the damned recession goes away), I will pick up the Ikelite housing. Until then, I'ma gonna be practicing with the camera shooting land-based images.

[sorvju-f]

Just picked up a copy of this bad boy . . .

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Camera%20Gear/5DMKIIFront.jpg

Very much fun!

Next (after the damned recession goes away), I will pick up the Ikelite housing. Until then, I'ma gonna be practicing with the camera shooting land-based images.

How it feels!

Do you have some new lens ideas or are you happy with your existing ones?

Jukka

[tarczy]

How it feels!

Do you have some new lens ideas or are you happy with your existing ones?

Jukka


Well . . . I've only had it for a few days, and haven't read the instruction manual yet. However, it's basically the same feel as the original 5D, but with many internal improvements.

In manual mode, you can set the ISO to "Auto." I'm just playing with this new feature at the moment, but I'm thinking this will improve exposures. I like the automatic sensor cleaning feature. Haven't played with the movie mode, nor the "Live View."

I will say that the 21 mega-pixel sensor is absolutely phenomenal. It's the chief reason I upgraded from the 5D.

As it relates to lenses . . . I really have no desire to change (or add to) my current lens collection, except that when times get better I might acquire one of Canon's tilt shift lenses to shoot architectural building portraits (since my primary business is real estate). :rolleyes:

Hope you are well, Jukka!

Mark

[Andrew]

Wow a new 21 MP :eek: shiny toy... very jealous. Looking forward to seeing some above water shots in anticipation of the end of the credit crunch and the new housing being purchased!

Andrew

[Jonathan Bird]

Do you have stock in a hard drive company?? ;)

[solisti]

I'm currently asking for quotes from film companies to make a marketing video of our production plant (industrial enzymes) and a safety video.

I got the first one today and can you guess what they listed as their equipment? (I suppose you can if you read the topic... ;) )

Yes, they offer these two videos and they would shoot them with 5d mkII! :eek:

I havent yet received their showreel, but they seem to be serious. What do you guys think, can it be done professionally with 5d mkII? (well, professionally enough and cheap I guess is the requirement in this case so I suppose it is possible...)

[Andrew]

I haven't got the new 5d, but that seems odd that a film company would use a digital camera for film work rather than a video camera meant for the purpose... :confused: A HD video camera must have better quality and numerous advantages with settings etc.

Andrew

[tkelly]

I always think it's the talent not the tool. ;)

[tarczy]

Do you have stock in a hard drive company?? ;)


Ha ha!!

My 16GB Compact Flash card from Sandisk holds about 600 RAW images from my Canon EOS 5D MKII. I'm nowhere near filling up my 1 terrabyte hard drive from Iomega.

And yes, I was an early investor in Sandisk . . . Iomega too, but I sold my Iomega shares just after they reached their peak. Still hold my Sandisk shares though. ;)

[Carl]

Mark, Jukka,

Could you list the lenses that you use the most in 2 groups:

On land and their best application(s).

Underwater and their best applications(s)

If you could indicate what you like about each lens and anything you don't like.

Am "rebuilding" a collection of lenses (someone you know has a bunch of mine! Damn kids ! ) and would appreciate your inputs on this as you are Canon users and not that other cheap trashy brand that fits in very expensive housings.

Caaarrrrrrrllllllllllllll

[tarczy]

Carl-

Happy to help out!

First, remember that I'm shooting a 5D, which means that I'm shooting full frame. If you're shooting an APS sensor (the smaller one), then your line-up of lenses would be different.

So here are mah favs . . .

LAND

EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=11924) - This lens is, without a doubt, my all time favorite walkin' around lens.

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=7344) - This lens picks up where the 24-105mm leaves off. I call it my Papparazzo Lens. I love it!!

EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=148&modelid=14907) - I do a lot of interior shots of office space as well as exterior building shots for my work, so I need an ultra-wide zoom. Sometimes, when I'm feeling adventurous, I'll use this lens underwater behind an 8" dome. It's a b**ch because the width of the lens is something like 82mm (way oversized), which means you have to do some tricky workarounds to add a +2 diopter and to load it on your camera while the camera is in the housing. Not recommended for the underwater photographer unless you really want to increase the complexity of your life.

UNDERWATER

EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=151&modelid=17623) - I really love this lens for big animal photography underwater.

EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7323) - For shooting fish portraits and larger macro stuff.

EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=19091) - I jsut got this lens for the teeny tiny macro stuff. I used to have this one (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7400), but I like my new 100mm L series macro lens better.

EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=151&modelid=7321) - Everybody needs a fisheye. I sometimes use this on land too.

That's about it, my friend. I have a bunch more lenses which I use from time to time, but the above lenses are my workhorses. I would imagine that if I did a lot of portrait work, I'd obtain a copy of the Canon EF 50mm f / 1.2L USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=152&modelid=14259) and the EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=152&modelid=12926), but I don't want to work that hard, so no portrait work for me. :D

Hope this helps.

Mark

[sorvju-f]

Mark, Jukka,

Could you list the lenses that you use the most in 2 groups:

On land and their best application(s).

Underwater and their best applications(s)

If you could indicate what you like about each lens and anything you don't like.

Am "rebuilding" a collection of lenses (someone you know has a bunch of mine! Damn kids ! ) and would appreciate your inputs on this as you are Canon users and not that other cheap trashy brand that fits in very expensive housings.

Caaarrrrrrrllllllllllllll

I have still Olympus lenses, but moving soon to Nikon. But the basic rules are the same. I can divide lens to two groups " must to have" and "nice to have".

Must top side:

A Common purposes: I have 12-54 mm...can be used UW also but zooming gives more backscatter to picture. Zooming can be bigger to level 100 mm.

B Wideangle : I have 7-14 mm...really work horse I use a lot both topside and UW...if not landscapes subject have to be REALLY close.

C Macro ( Actually, depending on your need if you want to take close up pics this is in the boarder must/nice to have ) I have to say that I am using it rather often topside: I have 50 mm...you can also get pics from little big bigger subjects. Jonathan likes also 35 mm macro as it gives wider area of subject sizes.

Must UW:

( A ) + B + C

Nice to have topside:

Topside I have 50-200 mm and I can add 1,4x or 2x teleconverter to it...to get papparazi effect...very offen this 2x + 200 gives unsharp pictures when for example you are in moving boat or there is waves...start to be tripod use area.

Nice to have UW:

I like UW fish-eye with 1,4 teleconverter...gives wide angle close focus pics.

Everybody have also level 100 mm macro...but I have noticed that I use it very seldom.

I know that you and your family likes motor bikes pics and then one important thing is speed of focusing and use of serial pics now a days I think cameras are taking 7-10 frames per second with highest quality.

Remember that I have used cropped frame camera and Mark lately full frame camera ( and i have understood that he don't want to jump back to cropped frames and on the other side you can not get Jonathan to jum to full frame camera....opinions....opinions ).

Jukka

[Andrew]

Hi Carl,

Not wanting to but in, as a Canon user I thought I would add in my thoughts...

Underwater:

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM - This is a new lens for me, but have fallen in love with it.

Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro - Fantastic all round lens from small Nudi's to fish portraits. Most useful lens I have ever bought.

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro - For small small stuff. Not much use in water yet but lots out of water. Great lens, but there is now an L lens out which if like the other in the L series will be even sharper!

Tokina 10-17mm f3.5-4.5 AT-X DX - nice solidly build lens, not sure how much use will get now that I have the 10-22.


Above water:

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC Macro - All round lens which stays on my camera most of time. Fast and sharp pictures.

Canon EF 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 DO IS USM - When you don't want to look like the paparazzi or become a target for having your camera stolen, this is a great lens for travelling around as it doesnt stand out like the white L lenses, but gives great pictures.

Canon EF 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 L IS USM - New lens only tested out in garden but already packed in my bag for Africa next month. The range appealed to me rather than switching lenses in dusty atmospheres, also an L lens so will have superb optics.

Macros - the two above get a good workout above water as I love trying to master macro photography (but a long way off!)

That's about it and covers most eventualities for me. :D

Andrew

[tarczy]

Canon EF 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 L IS USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=150&modelid=9802#reviews)- New lens only tested out in garden but already packed in my bag for Africa next month. The range appealed to me rather than switching lenses in dusty atmospheres, also an L lens so will have superb optics.



Andrew . . . I've been lookin' at that 28 - 300mm lens. I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts and see some images upon your return from Africa. Have a great trip!!

Mark

[Andrew]

Will keep you posted Mark. It seems like a great lens, but will know after a few good days testing on Safari!

Andrew

[Carl]

Guys,

Thanks for the lists and apps. I will look it all over and run some commonality amongst the recommendations.

Jukka, you still have Olympus lenses but I know for sure one of your Olympus bodies is now a part of the underwater architecture of the Galapagos. Olympus will live on in the realm of Neptune !
Going Nikon huh ? The Birdman must have gotten to you ! Gosh, he got me to get some weird Ikelite contraption too !

BTW, as I am excited by some of the relative simplicity of the Ikelite for the FX7 as a housing, I am looking into cast acrylic tubing and plates and may play at a couple arts and crafts projects. One, an electronics controlled housing using the arms from my VH2000. Two, some LED lights with various off the shelf electronic components. Much is going on in the automotive and motorcycle custom lighting area using electronics suppliers for sourcing. The FIXLED1000 rates as 1000 lumen and Jonathan is interested in when the LED units get to 2000 lumens. Easy, build a custom box. While I am at it, maybe I'll build that custom 800 gallon fish tank I always wanted ! After that a fully acrylic house... Better buy Brenda some new robes I guess !

Caarrrrrllllllllll

[Jonathan Bird]

I won't chime in with my lenses because I use that OTHER brand! :D