Posted by Mark Green on September 4, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Does anyone on here use a 5D MK2 camera for wildlife. and if so , how do they find the AF performance, and overall how do you find the camera for wildlife photography ??
Mark.G
Posted by Brett Lewis on September 4, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Hi Mark,
I think I may have mentioned when we met that I use the 5D MkII? I find it particularly good for the macro work and low light photography. I was really impressed by the overall gain in dynamic range that it offers at lower light levels and even when used at ISO 2000 recently it offered an image that had very little noise and great colour rendition.
The lower frame rate certainly wont put you at an advantage for 'in-flight' stuff really but overall it is a great camera, although I must say that the recently released 7D would be my choice if I were to go for it again.. For that very reason. However, the pixel density is less but at that level who really cares!
I'd squeeze the extra cash and go for the 7D if I were to buy one right now..
Kind regards,
Brett
Posted by Mike Smith on September 4, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Its just like choosing a car, for some people a 4x4 is indespensible, for others an estate, others fuel economy, there is no right answer, everyones needs differ. (And medallion man always goes for the BMW M5 but doesn't know how to drive it....), The same is true for buying a specialist camera body
Start with a blank sheet of paper and list the things you will be photographing in the main, including the type of weather/light conditions etc (do you pack up or continue shooting in low light conditions as an example or when it rains etc etc)
Then list the things you need on the body to achieve those photos ie
body crop an advantage for telephoto work - eg bird photography
AF sensitivity ie 2x converters and F5.6 vs F8 AF issue
AF speed
AF area coverage (1.3 area vs FF area differences wider coverage is better for birds in flight)
FPS rate
Weather sealing
Dropability
Shutter life
orientation, ie second shutter button between portrait and landscape orientations
long exposure handling
The list is pretty long and what is important for your shooting style is not necessarily good for another nature photographer.
Discussion
2 repliesMark.G
I think I may have mentioned when we met that I use the 5D MkII? I find it particularly good for the macro work and low light photography. I was really impressed by the overall gain in dynamic range that it offers at lower light levels and even when used at ISO 2000 recently it offered an image that had very little noise and great colour rendition.
The lower frame rate certainly wont put you at an advantage for 'in-flight' stuff really but overall it is a great camera, although I must say that the recently released 7D would be my choice if I were to go for it again.. For that very reason. However, the pixel density is less but at that level who really cares!
I'd squeeze the extra cash and go for the 7D if I were to buy one right now..
Kind regards,
Brett
Start with a blank sheet of paper and list the things you will be photographing in the main, including the type of weather/light conditions etc (do you pack up or continue shooting in low light conditions as an example or when it rains etc etc)
Then list the things you need on the body to achieve those photos ie
body crop an advantage for telephoto work - eg bird photography
AF sensitivity ie 2x converters and F5.6 vs F8 AF issue
AF speed
AF area coverage (1.3 area vs FF area differences wider coverage is better for birds in flight)
FPS rate
Weather sealing
Dropability
Shutter life
orientation, ie second shutter button between portrait and landscape orientations
long exposure handling
The list is pretty long and what is important for your shooting style is not necessarily good for another nature photographer.
Mike