5 Reasons I'm Holding Out on Canon's 5D Mark II

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Kurtis Kronk
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Feb. 12, 2009

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5 Reasons I'm Holding Out on Canon's 5D Mark II

...and 5 Reasons I Can't Wait to Stop Waiting!

After months and months of rumors and a little bit of teasing, Canon unveiled the successor to the Canon 5D on September 17, 2008: the Canon 5D Mark II. The original 5D was a very exciting camera when it was launched because it finally meant a full-frame 35mm camera at a price-point below their professional 1-series bodies. This was an all new flavor of Kool-Aid when it was launched, and as soon as they announced their Fall double rebate program, I drank it up. And it changed my life.

The Canon 5D Mark II brought with it another revolution, though it wasn't quite as universally praised, and it also wasn't the first. Video. In a DSLR. Nikon's D90 was first to this game, but Canon seems to have done a better job of it and with a full-frame camera to boot. There's more to it than just video, of course, but here's...

5 Reasons I'm Holding Out on Canon's 5D Mark II

Back-order. Even if I wanted to buy a 5D Mark II right now, I couldn't. And I'm not really the type that pays for things before I know when I'll get it.

The early-adopter curse. Being among the first to buy anything is usually a bad idea. Manufacturing processes and quality control aren't perfect, and you're likely to have some 'special features' in your early unit that later units won't have - these are almost universally undesirable features, and while they're often remedied via firmware, sometimes new hardware is required. Either way, you put yourself in the position of using equipment which may be inferior when you could have just waited.

The high price of impatience. One of the wonderful things about being an early adopter is that you get to pay the highest prices. There's no discount for beta-testing a company's first run of a new product, unfortunately.

Rebate sauce. Say what you will about rebates and how they're just a scam, but I've gotten some significant deals because of rebates. And Canon's double rebates are icing on my photographic cake. I don't know what's going to come of future rebates after Canon's rebate processor bit the dust, but I'm hopeful that they run a double rebate promo in the fall so I can make out like a bandit as I did when I purchased the original 5D.

Gimme my ReallyRightStuff! I use RRS gear for when I'm working on a tripod, and I keep my L-Bracket on my 5D at all times. Unfortunately, the RRS gear that's compatible with the 5D Mark II is all on back-order, just like the camera.

...and 5 Reasons I Can't Wait to Stop Waiting

Sensitivity. Not like, emotionally. My 5D can only go up to ISO 3,200, and you really only get good results up to 1,600 (3,200 is usable, but only in a pinch). The 5D Mark II can go up to ISO 25,600. That's three full stops of light gathering ability. Even if only up to, say, 6,400 is usable, that's still two full stops above the 5D's highest usable ISO setting. I use the word 'usable' loosely, btw, as that's subjective and it also depends on the specific shoot's requirements and the necessary output. Bottom line, I could've used a higher ISO when I was shooting in the streets of NYC at night, even with my Canon 50mm f/1.4.

sRAW! I shoot exclusively in RAW (and keep the original of every photo I take), and there are many occasions where I simply do not need a full-res RAW file, such as product shots for TheTechLounge. I've got the biggest possible hard drive I can squeeze into my Macbook Pro (500GB, self-installed), and I've only got 70GB left. Granted, the file size of the large RAW files would probably more than offset the savings I'd achieve with the sRAW files, but it will still make me feel better to save space with the less important stuff.

Higher resolution. I know, I know, megapixels aren't everything. But since I bought my HP Z3200 24" large format printer, I figure I can make use of the extra resolution. The 5D is sufficient, but more pixels wouldn't be wasted on me.

Live-View / new LCD. For studio work, or really any work on a tripod, live view would be great to ensure optimal focus. And the newly improved LCD is a huge difference: 3" 920k pixels vs. 2.5" 230k pixels... 306.67 vs 92 ppi. Wow. I always was disappointed with the quality of the LCD display on my 5D (and the 20D I had before it), so this would be a very welcome change.

Video. Maybe it's not suitable for professional use, but that doesn't mean I won't have some fun with it. It would, at the very least, make the old camcorder I've got obsolete, which means one less thing to take on vacations and to family parties etc.

How About You?

What about you - are you waiting to buy the 5D Mark II? Already took the plunge? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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9 User Comments

1 - Posted by joepro on February 13, 2009 - 2:19 pm

I've read a lot of stuff (pro and con) about the 5D2 but this article comes closest to expressing my reasons for wanting but waiting for it. I would however add 2 more reasons to your "Can't Wait" list. I would not have thought so initially, but after having an opportunity to try a 50D, I found that I really appreciated the dust reduction and lens MF features.

2 - Posted by Kurtis on February 13, 2009 - 2:52 pm

Mmm... I hear you on the dust-reduction. For my that isn't terribly important because I wet-clean my sensor anyways with Sensor Swabs. I've never owned a camera body with anti-dust features, but from the things I've read it's only moderately useful and doesn't come close to wet-cleaning (which even that usually takes multiple passes to get everything off).

The manual focus adjustments for up to -x- number of lenses is pretty cool, though I have no idea how useful it really is. Would be interesting to test that out though and see if it improves backfocusing on a couple of my lenses.

3 - Posted by CJM on February 15, 2009 - 12:40 pm

I made the plunge a few weeks ago, and have no complaints. Except maybe that my 1Ds II isn't getting as much use anymore!

It took only 5 days for my friendly & respectable camera store (Sydney, Australia) to get a unit for me. And they said recently all of their 160 back-orders have now been met.
Which makes me tempted to suggest that if your supplier is having trouble getting a 5D now, maybe try elsewhere.

Having also owned the 5D I, which I still love. I can attest that the 5DII is on an entirely new level. The new ISO thresholds being something I'm particularly impressed with. Shooting at night, 6500 ISO is very usable, and I reckon about equal in clarity to 1600 ISO on the old 5D. Even 25600 ISO is fine if you were to use for small prints. I could go on...

If I were to have a choice now, I would never have bought the 1Ds II. Sure it's still a damn fine camera but the 5DII is all I need for the majority of my work - Street, Portrait, Documentary, Events, Land/Urban-scapes.

My suggestion is to take the plunge if you can afford it. Sure it'll become cheaper eventually, but by then the price you paid for it will be irrelevant.

4 - Posted by Kurtis on February 15, 2009 - 2:38 pm

I think before I make my next photo trip I'll probably pull the trigger despite any reasons I may have to wait. I know without a doubt I'll use the extra resolution with my 24" printer, and the high-ISOs would be a huge advantage for me.

Not sure whether I want to sell my 1st gen 5D or not... I could maybe use it as a backup camera since I'm planning to shoot more weddings soon, but I hate to have so much money tied up into a 'backup' which will likely never be used. Guess it's one of those things you just have to do though, like it or not.

5 - Posted by planetMitch on February 15, 2009 - 3:27 pm

not only did i make the switch, but i created the best 5d wiki on the planet - http://planet5d.com

the problem is that I'm taking so many photos and videos that i can't keep up with all of them!

they are getting easier to find - tho if you're having trouble, keep an eye on my blog http://bit.ly/Fh1Bx as I'm updating it regularly on who has stock

6 - Posted by pep9454 on February 19, 2009 - 11:49 pm

Too bad you've waited. I got my 5DII right away as I was second on a list from Samy's in LA. I've had no trouble with it and here in the states, it's now $700 MORE than when I bought it. I could say now that I basically got my 24-105mm L lens for $100, because the kit was only $800 more!!! Sometimes waiting is very expensive!

7 - Posted by Kurtis on February 20, 2009 - 3:53 pm

What was the pre-order price you picked it up at? It's $700 more at Samy's now, or everywhere?

8 - Posted by Jackie on August 12, 2009 - 8:38 am

I took the Plunge like 4 weeks ago (mid July) and I still haven't gotten my camera. This will be my "first" pro camera. I currently own a Canon Rebel XTi and I'm very excited to get it. The only reason I'm "patiently" waiting is because I got a huge discount getting it from my a vendor that my job uses and I'm saving over $500. I'm just getting worried if maybe the price was too go to be true though. I'm hoping that I'll least get it by the end of August. But my CC isn't being charged till it actually ships so technically I haven't paid for it yet. We'll see what happens. I'll keep you posted. I did get it with the Kit Lense.

9 - Posted by Kurtis on August 14, 2009 - 7:53 pm

The 5D Mark II is still on backorder everywhere, so it's probably on its way, albeit slowly... If your CC isn't charged until it ships I'd say you're in the clear.

You'll enjoy the 24-105 f/4L IS lens as well... it's the only lens I've ever seen as a kit lens that doesn't completely blow. (I bought it on its own and it's one of my favorites for its versatility... and I've got some really nice glass)

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