All this talk about the M9 has me looking at 5Ds [Archive]

nightfly

09-11-2009, 05:10

With all the full frame comparison stuff floating around I started looking at used Canon 5Ds. Bodies are pretty inexpensive now. Never really have been impressed by digital but I've seen some images shot with a 5D that look a lot more impressive to me than the usual digital stuff. Files look just richer.

What would be the smallest, lightest, 28-35-50 lens kit you could put together for a 5D that would yield a good street and travel kit?

I guess with converters you could use Olympus or other manufacturer glass as well, which is fine if it's not a big hassle. Lenses with hyperfocal marks would be good for the way I'd use it in the street.

Thinking all used stuff.

jvan01

09-11-2009, 05:20

28/1.8
35/2
50/1.4

These are all light and compact and give great IQ. The 35 is sort of the weak link, being an older motor driven AF and so is noisy focusing. You could go to the 35/1.4 but it's a lot larger.

filmfan

09-11-2009, 05:34

I was thinking the same thing about the 5D/D700...

kshapero

09-11-2009, 05:39

StaaleS

09-11-2009, 05:54

All things are relative. Compared to a 1D-series with L primes on it... :)

jonmanjiro

09-11-2009, 06:03

hehe interesting to read this thread. ever since the M9 release i've been checking prices on used D700s :rolleyes:

Keith

09-11-2009, 06:04

I think a 5D with a fast manual focus 50mm and 35mm would be my choice of kit if my M8 died ... I sure as hell can't afford an M9 but I need something to work with in low light and being able to work at higher ISO's than my current M8 and 35mm Nokton setup would be useful. It's ironic in some ways that as good as the M9 appears to be you can pretty well match it's perfomance with a four year old DSLR for not a lot of money!

f16sunshine

09-11-2009, 06:06

Using adapted lenses on a 5D is a breeze.
I use both Contax and Leica R.
Recently more the latter.
The adapter for Leica R can be left in the camera.
This basically turns the camera into a 5DR only with manual focus and stopped down metering.
The eBay seller "happypagehk" has an adapter with a programmable af chip.
You will have full use ofmetering modes and, be able to program exif data for different lenes.

snausages

09-11-2009, 06:19

...as good as the M9 appears to be you can pretty well match it's perfomance with a four year old DSLR for not a lot of money!

The M9 seems to put a $5,000 premium on its 300 gram advantage over the 5d II.

Keith

09-11-2009, 06:20

Image quality is only part of the equation. A 5D is still a SLR.

I think I would more likely revert to a Canon G11 to back-up my Leicas rather than a 5D and selection of glass. My current G10 wears a CV 28mm VF and is not a bad camera when ISO is limited to 400, the G11 is reported to have better IQ at higher ISO's with the same glass. It's worth a look as a backup to a Leica. And the Canon G9, 10 & 11 are not just quiet, they are SILENT. Something even the "Discreet Mode" doesn't offer. Live view for accurate framing and the ability to make video don't hurt either.

Nothing matches my M8's discreet profile in a crowded gallery though ... this is where a 5D may be a hinderance! I'd like to compare though.

I photograph people at very close quarters in this environment and they are well aware they're being photographed ... would having a DSLR pointed at them really make that much difference ... and the shutter of my M8 is hardly quiet, it definitely makes a few of them blink! :p

snausages

09-11-2009, 06:37

Nothing matches my M8's discreet profile in a crowded gallery though ... this is where a 5D may be a hinderance! I'd like to compare though.

I photograph people at very close quarters in this environment and they are well aware they're being photographed ... would having a DSLR pointed at them really make that much difference ... and the shutter of my M8 is hardly quiet, it definitely makes a few of them blink! :p

In my experience in the US, a Leica or a Mamiya draws more attention than a DSLR. People are so used to seeing big digital cameras. Rangefinders are anything but inconspicuous, then, despite the fantasy of stealth. Doesn't mean I want a DSLR, but digital cameras are generally more taken for granted in Western urban areas...

nightfly

09-11-2009, 06:41

Was just sorta thinking out loud. I've not really gotten along with any of the digitals I've had- a Canon A series, a Ricoh GRD and a GX100 but mostly because the image quality didn't grab me although looking back at some images the Canon A series did have some nice colors.

Will probably stick to my M4P, Yashica T4 and Ricoh GR (not digital) for the time being but lure of digital will probably grab me again sometime.

Seems like the digital world is finally moving in the right direction toward bigger sensor with less mega pixels and cameras that can be used without too much futzing.

Those 5d images though really look compelling...

PatrickT

09-11-2009, 06:51

I love using my 5D with a variety of Olympus OM lenses. I currently use a Zuiko 28/3.5, 35/2, 50/1.8, 50/1.4 and I'm looking to get an 85/2.

These lenses are all very small and have great image quality. The 28/3.5 and 50/1.8 are particularly tiny, almost pancake-esque. I'm also looking to get the 35/2.8 which is similarly small.

http://www.pbase.com/weezintrumpeteer/image/117141093.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/weezintrumpeteer/image/117141094.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/weezintrumpeteer/image/117141095.jpg

Apologies for the crappy photos...

gavinlg

09-11-2009, 06:59

The 5d is one of those digital cameras that will still be taking amazing pics in 5 years time from now, already 4 years on from it's introduction. It's still at the top of the heap in image quality. It's simple, has only what's needed, rugged, and canons cheap primes are small/light and very high quality in optics (despite the plasticky build).

Seriously good camera.

The shutter sound isn't very loud, but it's a muffled/subdued sort of sound rather than the metallic sound of the nikons. I quite like it actually.

nightfly

09-11-2009, 07:01

Keith

09-11-2009, 07:05

Seeing that Canon with the Zuiko lenses has me thinking ... I have lots of very nice Zuiko glass ... my 50mm f1.2 comes to mind! :D

Gid

09-11-2009, 07:05

The 5D is a bargain. I use one with a 50 1.4 as a walk around. Its not as light as an M8 with a 35 (which is what I used to shoot mainly), but it is not so heavy as to become troublesome. As to shutter noise, the 5D is relatively quiet - probably due more to it being a low frequency thunk.

f16sunshine

09-11-2009, 07:13

Seeing that Canon with the Zuiko lenses has me thinking ... I have lots of very nice Zuiko glass ... my 50mm f1.2 comes to mind! :D

The Zuiko adapter is also very easy to use.
You can leave it in the camera as well since the lens release for OM in on the lens.
Super handy. Pick your legacy reflex lens mount. The 5D works with all but MD and FD.
It's a Killer with a Cron 2/35mm :D

PatrickT

09-11-2009, 07:19

Now we're talking ^^. Those Olympus lenses look like they would make it pretty doable as a street camera.

I have no idea how this sorta thing works. You just put on an adapter and boom it works but you loose some automatic functions?

If you are used to not using a meter and just hyperfocusing could you just use it like that? Set the shutter speed, focus and aperture by hand and shoot away?

How do the Olympus 28 3.5 and 2.0 compare to the Canon 1.8 in image quality and ease of use?

Yep, just buy an adapter as mentioned above, pop it on the lens and start shooting. I normally shoot wide open or close to it, but if you want to stop down, you have to use stop down metering. That means when the aperture ring is turned on the lens, the viewfinder will become darker accordingly and that is how the camera meters. Kind of a pain when you want to shoot at f8 or whatever (because the viewfinder becomes fairly dark) but not a big deal at all when you shoot close to wide open. I have some focus-confirm adapters which will actually tell you when the image is in focus, just like your Canon lenses would. Of course, you have to manually focus (which I like).

But yeah, you can use aperture priority or manual, focus and shoot away. It's great.

I haven't used my Oly 50/1.8 much as I tend to use the 50/1.4 more (although it's slightly bigger and heavier). It is one of my most used lenses and I love it. I'm not a pixel peeper but I'd say it compares favorably to the Canon alternative.

The 28/3.5 vignettes wide open but when you stop it down a tad it really shines. Another lens I'm going to grab soon is the Oly 24/2.8 which was rated one of the best 24mm lenses ever by 16-9.net. Oh, and it's tiny too :).

Feel free to check my flickr gallery for a ton of photos with some of these Oly lenses on my 5D. I shoot a lot of models and mainly use my 50/1.4 for them wide open. See for yourself, just search 50/1.4 in my photostream.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weezintrumpeteer/

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!

Patrick

Oh and Keith, let me know if you want to get rid of any of the Zuiko glass :)

CK Dexter Haven

09-11-2009, 07:22

There is also a Canon 28mm f2.8 lens - smaller than the 1.8 version.

Personally, i'd just use the Canon lenses and not bother with adapting other brands. I've tried that route, but always came away frustrated and without any tangible benefits. For one thing, the dSLR viewing screen is not ideal for manual focusing. You can get an alternate screen, which is supposed to be optimized for that purpose, but it's not a very significant upgrade. Secondly, i've had issues with focus consistency when using manual focus lenses on both the original 5D and 5DMkII. With both standard and focus confirmation adapters, i'll see it in focus in the viewfinder, but the LCD review shows it (somehow/mysteriously) out of focus. I've never been able to explain that, and i've seen the same comments from others online. Doesn't matter, either, what brand of lens i'm using. I've adapted Nikon, Contax, Pentax, and Leica-R.

The hassles, also, of shooting with stop-down metering are also notable. I suppose that, and maybe the focus/viewscreen issues, are moot, though, if you're going to scale focus and shoot from the hip, but are you really going to do that 100% of the time?

A 5D and one of those smaller non-L primes is not heavy. An M7 with any non-pancakey lens feels denser. I think, also, as pointed out above, that most people are so accustomed to seeing dSLRs that they are now quite inconspicuous. I don't think anyone is going to 'blend in' to the background and become 'invisible' - Leica or no Leica. A Leica user is bound to be perceived as a person shooting a big compact digicam. No more or less common than an SLR.

I've never used either of the Canon 28s. I used to have the 35/2, but now have the 35L. The 35L is a fantastic lens. But, it's big. The 35/2 i compared to the Leica-R 35/2 and found them to be even. Bokeh is pretty good. The L, though is better on all accounts. The 50/1.4 is a really nice lens. I always thought the bokeh was excellent, until the Sigma 50/1.4 came out. The Sigma is also pretty big, but bokeh-wise, it's amazing. I wouldn't advise getting one, though, unless you get the 5DMkII (or any of the other, newer Canons that have in-camera AF micro focus adjustments). Same with the Canon 50L - another huge lens. I have this now. Again, great bokeh (still, i think the Sigma's is better), but it requires the micro adjustment feature.

I haven't tried the zeiss for EOS line. I wanted to buy the set, though, as i've loved the Zeiss lenses on the Contax Aria/RX, G2, Contax N1, and Hasselblad/Rolleiflex, etc. But, i've hated the bokeh in just about every relevant Zeiss ZF (for Nikon) 50/1.4 shot i've seen. I've read it's the same formula for Canon. The 85/1.4, though, looks very nice. But, then, there's the Canon 85/1.2L, which still beats it....

Here's the thing, though: If you were impressed by "all the full frame comparison stuff," you could still stick with Leica, if you already have M-mount glass. Wouldn't an M8 with really fast CV glass like the 35/1.2 or 50/1.1 give you the same kind of DOF as a full frame 5D with 35/2 or 50/1.4? Not that i'm advocating the M8. I never bought one, as i also was only interested in full frame.... But, that's a thought, if the DOF thing is the primary concern. I would suggest, though, that if you're scale focusing and shooting street stuff, that's not really where you're going to see the benefits of full frame (5D/M9 versus M8).

nightfly

09-11-2009, 07:28

Patrick thanks for the info. I like your model shots with the 50 1.4. The vignetting works for you.

David_Manning

09-11-2009, 07:31

The D700 is an outstanding camera...a fantasy for SLR shooters. It will squeeze the best technical image out of any situation, and that's important when somebody else is paying you to get that shot. Even it's jpegs are finer than most RAW files from two years ago. That being said, an SLR is different from a rangefinder, much less a Leica.

I find my Leica quiet, smallish, and fairly discreet. I feel more in tune with the whole photographic process shooting and developing Tri-X. Shooting my M6 is simple, but requires adherence to a few photographic rules.

For pure form-factor, if your subjects are aware of your photography, the D700 really wins out. If you are trying to be discreet, an M-body wins. This is just my opinion.

A book I just finished photographing for will be published September 26th. It was shot with Nikon D2X and D300. The images are fantastic, and I was a hired gun. Some situations challenged one, or both, cameras. Technical image quality was very important to the publisher. I couldn't/wouldn't try to shoot that job with an M-body...not enough flexibility.

But when I kick around the city, it's an M and film.

PatrickT

09-11-2009, 07:35

Patrick thanks for the info. I like your model shots with the 50 1.4. The vignetting works for you.

Thanks! Just to clarify, most of that vignetting was added in post. There's not much of it (if any) to begin with.

Mcary

09-11-2009, 07:37

dfoo

09-11-2009, 07:42

In my experience manually focusing lenses on my 5D was practically impossible, assuming you are using a large aperture.

PatrickT

09-11-2009, 07:43

An FYI those not familiar with Canon all the EOS lens allow manual focusing and in fact a lot of them have full time manual override which allows you to manually focus even it the lens is set on auto focus.
Also when actually shooting the only difference between the 5D and most 35mm film SLR is the aperture controls are on the body instead of the lens, and no you don't need a menu to access them.

This is true, although for the most part, it is only the lenses equipped with USM (typically the bigger and more expensive ones) that will allow you to manually focus after you have auto focused.

The beauty of the Olympus OM lenses is that you get a tiny lens, with great (sometimes world class) image quality for not a lot of money (depending on the lens). For example, I got my 35/2 and 50/1.4 for $50 each at the local camera shop, the 28/3.5 for about $30 on ebay, and the 50/1.8 for about $30 on ebay. That's a whole lot less money than the Canon alternatives (aside from the 50/1.8).

Can you tell that I'm addicted to this? :)

nksyoon

09-11-2009, 07:50

One thing I've found is that exposure with adapted lenses can be inconsistent if I used the standard metering vs spot or centre-weighted. For example with the Leica 35-70/4, exposure at f4 is good but gets progressively underexposed as I use smaller apertures. Not sure why this is so.

Prosaic™

09-11-2009, 08:09

mfunnell

09-11-2009, 08:11

Same with the Canon 50L - another huge lens. I have this now. Again, great bokeh (still, i think the Sigma's is better), but it requires the micro adjustment feature.I use the 50L on an old 5D (mark I, with no micro-adjustment) and the focus is spot-on. I may just be lucky, but somehow I don't think so. My EF and EF-S lenses have always focused as they should on a succession of Canon bodies and think that's likely the rule rather than the exception.

...Mike

f16sunshine

09-11-2009, 08:13

Canon has a high contrast screen "EES" that you can purchase on ebay or at B+H for $35.
It makes manual focus a breeze.
Another route and I took this one. Contax RTS screens fit perfectly into the 5D.
You simply sand down a 1mm tab of the screen and pop it in.
I have a microcollar split screen in one of my Fivers from a Contax RTS.
With this I can Manually focus a Rokkor 1.2/58mm on a hair if there is enough light to see it. You won't do that with the 50L and AF.
These are cheap and easy DIY upgrades.
Even if you never shoot anything but USM and L glass..... Upgrade the screen.
The "A" screen that comes in the 5D is a joke for manual focus whether it be a native EOS lens or not.

Thardy

09-11-2009, 08:19

The M9 is introduced with much pomp and fanfare, but a canon 5D love-fest breaks out. :D

rxmd

09-11-2009, 08:24

There is also a Canon 28mm f2.8 lens - smaller than the 1.8 version.

Yes, but it has the old-style slow and noisy AF and is more than a stop slower. Over here the price difference is about 180 vs. 300 EUR, the difference is worth it in my book.

The Zeiss 50mm 1.4 for Canon looks really compelling. Rich, creamy Zeiss bokeh on a FF sensor for >$1k.

If you consider the Zeiss 50's bokeh "rich and creamy", you've probably only looked at bokeh shots that had no highlights in them; highlights get distorted ovally from coma and have a sharply deliminated border that makes them stand out in a rather non-creamy way. Without highlights any fast lens has creamy bokeh, it's as soon as there's light in the background that it gets interesting.

snausages

09-11-2009, 08:25

Maybe the M9 is just a marketing ploy by Canon to make the 5D seem like a bargain.

Peter S

09-11-2009, 08:28

Another 5D fan chiming in. Use my M6's for B+W, but whenever I feel like shooting color or land/city scapes I use my canon 5D with 24/2.8, 50/1.4 or 85/1.8. Image quality is so good, no idea what they did, but the files have something special about them. A certain freshness, lightness, airiness. No reason to buy the 5Dii, would just try to grab a minty 5D instead, more than enough mpix.

Gid

09-11-2009, 08:28

Maybe the M9 is just a marketing ploy by Canon to make the 5D seem like a bargain.

The M8 did that. The sapphire LCD cover for the M9 will probably be more than a 5D ;)

David_Manning

09-11-2009, 09:19

Prosaic, I only have Nikon experience. That being said, it's a fact that the D700 is down on resolution. As far as punchiness, although RAW processing will allow for as punchy as necessary, I've always thought that 5D files were "too" punchy...not realistic. I've always thought that Nikon colors were more natural...more filmic. But once again, I can process a Nikon D700 file to look like crap. I have a bit of practical experience in this :)

ulrikft

09-11-2009, 09:23

I found the D700 to be quite behind the 5D in resolution and "punch". I owned both cameras and high end lenses.

That sounds like canonist gospel and not... close to fact.. :) The d700 is, objectively speaking from most tests avilable, resolving more than the 5d mk1, and punch? well, define "punch"...

Gid

09-11-2009, 10:14

That sounds like canonist gospel and not... close to fact.. :) The d700 is, objectively speaking from most tests avilable, resolving more than the 5d mk1, and punch? well, define "punch"...

I don't know about most tests, but that was not the opinion of dpreview (and they seem to like Nikon) (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond700/page31.asp) Any real difference is moot and probably lens, user and situation dependent. By the time you take all variables into account I imagine it would be difficult to tell the 5D and D700 apart or from most other offerings in the same ball park except when its pitch black ;)

samoksner

09-11-2009, 11:07

The 5D is like a king of compatibility with other manufacture's glass, I've used Nikon F Manual and autofocus, Contax, Leica R, Zeiss ZF and ZE, olympus and pentax screw mount, it's strange at first but you can pick from a huge set of lens to match your budget, image quality desires and size.

At one point or another, I had a Contax Distagon 35mm f1.4 a Leica R 50mm 1.4, a Nikkor 85mm f1.4 , a Zeiss ZM 100mm f2 Makro, a Zeiss ZE 21mm f2.8 and an olympus 24mm f3.5 shift lens. That's apart from the Canon 24mm f1.4 and the 70-200 f2.8 IS and the sigma 12-24 f3.5-4.5. It was a weird kit, I never had all these things at once, and often ended up selling the lens' since i didn't really needed them, it was stuff i bought for a good price, used for a couple month and turned around to sell, but the 5D stayed.

It's fun to go through some images and try to recognize which lens took what, sometimes i can tell, like the Leica 50 and the contax 35 are easy to find. The ZM 100 makro is also very distinct (mostly from it's ridiculous revolving power).

The one thing i suggest you do if you're interested in shooting manual focus glass is to get yourself a split prism screen from an aftermarket dealers. They can be hard to find but the ones i found from japan (i forget the site) where modified 1D series screens, cut to fit a 5D, they helped a lot with the fasted glass and to deal with the slight imperfections that might have been in the adapters.

wintoid

09-11-2009, 11:12

I've had the D700 and now have the 5D2 which I prefer. This is personal and down to ergonomics more than anything. As some have mentioned Olympus glass, here's a shot taken with the 5D2 and the Olympus 50mm f1.2 lens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/3489152747/). I'm now using the Zeiss ZE lens, which is also superb, see example here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintoid/3508209580/).

Sam N

09-11-2009, 11:16

I knew a guy who carried the following 5D kit around with him on his bike:

5D
28/2.8
35/2
50/1.4
85/1.8
550ex flash with index card and rubber band for bouncing.

He put rings on the 52mm threads to make them 58mm like the other lenses and only carried a single set of filters.

It sounds like a lot of stuff, but it was surprising how nicely he could pack it up into a compact bag. His photos were good indoors and out, so I guess this kit worked pretty well for him. All of the lenses are very small (for AF SLR lenses).

If I were doing the same thing it would be:
5D mark II
24/2.8
35/2
85/1.8

I'd prefer a 24/2 or a higher quality 35/2, but those are the only AF choices canon has unless you want to go for the huge (but extremely nice) f1.4 L lenses.

Currently, I often use the above kit but without the 24/2.8 and with a 35/1.4L instead of the 35/2. I'll also throw in an OM 21/2 sometimes. The 35/1.4 is a dream, but it's not fun to carry around for long periods of time.

Interesting tidbit: The 35/1.4L weighs about the same as the Voigtlander 35/1.2.

nobbylon

09-11-2009, 11:29

I've used both, own a D700 and I can only say that image wise they are so close, I think the Canon's default in camera sharpening is too high which is probably why I liked the D700 more. It gives a much more film like image if you like. Obviously the sharpening can be set higher. Where the Nikon knocks the pants of everything else though is in the upper iso levels. 6400 and 2 more stops to go. Thats a 3 stop advantage over the Canon and for a lot of what I like to photograph it makes a difference. 12800 and 25600 need a little post with dfine or similar but are perfectly usable.

oscroft

09-11-2009, 11:34

Hi nightfly,

A lot of good stuff has already been said, but I hope you don't mind me chipping in with my thoughts...

After years of really not liking the idea of digital, I finally got a 5DII last month. It was largely due to friend who has had a 5D since they were released, and the quality of his shots are quite superb - as you say, there was a quality there that I hadn't seen with other digitals.

So, I think your plan is a winner.

I got my 5DII with the kit 24-105L lens, and it's optically pretty impressive, but it's very big and bulky. So I got a Canon 50/1.4 too, and the beast is much easier to handle with that - I plan to add a 28/1.8 and an 85/1.8 when funds allow. (I had a look at a 28/2.8, but it feels really nasty and plastic, is slow and noisy to focus, and doesn't have full-time-manual focusing).

I also got an Olympus adapter, for £10 (~$16) from Hong Kong, and all my Olympus Zuiko lenses work fine with that - so far I've been out shooting with my 85/2 and 21/3.5, and I've had great results.

So yes, I'm repeating myself, but the plan of getting a 5D and thinking of sticking Zuiko lenses on it is a winner, in my opinion.

Cheers,

nightfly

09-11-2009, 11:39

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I have a friend who recently got one and I'm going to see if I can try it out. And I think my dad has an OM2N with a coupla Zuiko lenses that hasn't seen the light of day since the Regan administration which I could probably "borrow".

This is the reason I really like this forum. Lots of informed, interesting opinions that go way beyond pixel count and features. Thanks everyone.

shadowfox

09-11-2009, 11:45

My wife is a Canon 5D user. Me Olympus.

5D wins in cleanliness, high ISO. Olympus creams it in color accuracy (my wife admitted that herself, and she's not a "kool-aid" drinker off any brand)

Although high quality, the 5D tends to produce images that are too warm for me. For fall sceneries, it's awesome, for others, not so much.

Nikon is more neutral (that's probably why some people calls it lacking "punch").

I'm checking out D700, especially when I found out that I can use Leica R lenses on it with infinity focus by modifying the mount (reversible). Glorious!

Keith

09-11-2009, 15:37

Yep, just buy an adapter as mentioned above, pop it on the lens and start shooting. I normally shoot wide open or close to it, but if you want to stop down, you have to use stop down metering. That means when the aperture ring is turned on the lens, the viewfinder will become darker accordingly and that is how the camera meters. Kind of a pain when you want to shoot at f8 or whatever (because the viewfinder becomes fairly dark) but not a big deal at all when you shoot close to wide open. I have some focus-confirm adapters which will actually tell you when the image is in focus, just like your Canon lenses would. Of course, you have to manually focus (which I like).

But yeah, you can use aperture priority or manual, focus and shoot away. It's great.

I haven't used my Oly 50/1.8 much as I tend to use the 50/1.4 more (although it's slightly bigger and heavier). It is one of my most used lenses and I love it. I'm not a pixel peeper but I'd say it compares favorably to the Canon alternative.

The 28/3.5 vignettes wide open but when you stop it down a tad it really shines. Another lens I'm going to grab soon is the Oly 24/2.8 which was rated one of the best 24mm lenses ever by 16-9.net. Oh, and it's tiny too :).

Feel free to check my flickr gallery for a ton of photos with some of these Oly lenses on my 5D. I shoot a lot of models and mainly use my 50/1.4 for them wide open. See for yourself, just search 50/1.4 in my photostream.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weezintrumpeteer/

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!

Patrick

Oh and Keith, let me know if you want to get rid of any of the Zuiko glass :)

Not bloody likely! :p

My 24mm f2.8 Zuiko is on my black OM-1 with a roll od Velvia in it as we speak. I also love my 85mm f2 and my early 50mm 1.4 has impressed me a lot lately. I always used to chose the much more expensive 1.2 over it but lately the 1.4 seems to have favour. The OOF areas of the 1.2 can be a little insane at times! :eek:

I'm almost beginning to suspect there may be a second hand 5D and OM adapter in my future! What does one pay for the OM adapter for the Canon and who sells it?

Keith

09-11-2009, 15:50

The M9 is introduced with much pomp and fanfare, but a canon 5D love-fest breaks out. :D

I hadn't considered the irony of this situation ... but you're right! :p

And I'm getting some serious 5D gas here ... my M8 is looking nervously at me but my Zuiko lenses seem to have an air of expectation! :D

PatrickT

09-11-2009, 17:32

Not bloody likely! :p

My 24mm f2.8 Zuiko is on my black OM-1 with a roll od Velvia in it as we speak. I also love my 85mm f2 and my early 50mm 1.4 has impressed me a lot lately. I always used to chose the much more expensive 1.2 over it but lately the 1.4 seems to have favour. The OOF areas of the 1.2 can be a little insane at times! :eek:

I'm almost beginning to suspect there may be a second hand 5D and OM adapter in my future! What does one pay for the OM adapter for the Canon and who sells it?

Damn. 3 of the 4 lenses you mentioned are ones I'm looking out for (24/2.8, 85/2, 50/1.2). Oh well, I'll keep looking :)

gavinlg

09-11-2009, 17:55

I hadn't considered the irony of this situation ... but you're right! :p

And I'm getting some serious 5D gas here ... my M8 is looking nervously at me but my Zuiko lenses seem to have an air of expectation! :D

I tried to find you some photos taken with both a 55mm 1.2 zuiko and a 28mm f3.5 zuiko but I couldn't... Pity because they were really impressive lenses on the 5d. Even the clumsy 55mm 1.2, which was far from technically perfect.
One thing you need to do with the 5d is get either the EE-S focussing screen or a katz eye split screen for use with MF lenses, it's not easy with the standard screen to get good focus all the time.

I actually went through the process of using old MF lenses on my 5d - I had zuikos and a Zeiss ZF 50mm. I ended up just going back to the canon AF primes - even the cheapest ones are either equal or better to MF glass in image quality, and the AF makes life a lot easier. The ZF zeiss was a dissapointment - just wasn't really as good as I thought it would be. The canon 50mm 1.8 is sharper at wide apertures, and has nicer bokeh.

Although, in saying that, I'd love to get some Leica R lenses on a 5d with a split screen - thats gotta be pretty close to the ultimate digital MF slr.

ramosa

09-11-2009, 18:16

this thread makes me laugh--at myself. i have checked on it a few times today. i have no interest in buying a new camera--and no money for it!--but this thread sure makes the 5D mark ii look appealing! if i were to opt out of the M system, it'd be darn tempting ...

Kin Lau

09-11-2009, 18:18

I tried to find you some photos taken with both a 55mm 1.2 zuiko and a 28mm f3.5 zuiko but I couldn't....

I have both of those, but no 5D. I'm shooting them on a 1Ds classic.

Keith

09-11-2009, 18:35

OT ... it just occured to me ... are two 5D's the same as ten double D's?

Because I had this girlfriend once who told me she had ten double D's ... I thought it must have meant she had two Canons which was strange because she appeared to have no interest in photography?

My god ... that sounds even worse! :p

Jamie Pillers

09-11-2009, 18:44

They make adapters to allow use of Nikkor lenses on Canon bodies (but not the other way around). So check out the Nikkor AF-S 35/1.8. Small, cheap, and brilliant image quality across the frame.

Jamie Pillers

09-11-2009, 18:47

5D weighs in at about 900g (2 lbs), the D700 is about 1100g. The bodies are similar in size.. the 5D is just a bit wider, a bid thinner, and a bit shorter than the D700. See data at dpreview.com.

mfunnell

09-11-2009, 19:53

i have no interest in buying a new camera--and no money for it!--but this thread sure makes the 5D mark ii look appealing!I had no interest in a 5DmkII and still don't - but I'm very glad Canon released it as I was able to pick up a 5D quite cheaply from someone who just had to dump his to pick up the mkII right now. I wasn't even sure I intended to hold on to it, but the 5D pairs up so nicely with a couple of my prime lenses that its a real keeper. 12Mpx is plenty for the sizes I print (up to 19"x13"), so the oldie is a goodie as far as I'm concerned.

...Mike

PatrickT

09-11-2009, 19:55

They make adapters to allow use of Nikkor lenses on Canon bodies (but not the other way around). So check out the Nikkor AF-S 35/1.8. Small, cheap, and brilliant image quality across the frame.

It's true that the lens will mount, but you won't be able to adjust the aperture. Also, that lens is designed for a smaller, APS-C sensor, so you will not get the full image on a full frame sensor. There will be severe vignetting.

I'm not sure how that would work with selecting the apertures actually. You might jsut be able to shoot it wide open all the time?

crusius

09-11-2009, 20:11

What would be the smallest, lightest, 28-35-50 lens kit you could put together for a 5D that would yield a good street and travel kit?

I don't know what would happen in the full frame 5D, but in my 10D I tested the 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 side by side, and the 50/1.8 won. The 50/1.4 went back to B&H. The 1.8 is smaller and much cheaper.

You could try the 1.8 first and go for the 1.4 if unsatisfied. AF is noisy though, and the lens looks terrible. If you want hyperfocal marks you would need to find out a "Mk I" version of the lens (much nicer construction too). One auction going on:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-EF-50MM-1-8-METAL-MT-4-LOW-LIGHT-PORTRAIT-INDOORS_W0QQitemZ250494610095QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCa mera_Lenses?hash=item3a52a46aaf&_trksid=p4999.c0.m14

That's the version I have, BTW.

Edit: another auction

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-50mm-f-1-8-Mk-I-Metal-Mount_W0QQitemZ160362039659QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCame ra_Lenses?hash=item255652896b&_trksid=p4999.c0.m14

- Cesar