Canon D5

I know we have a few pros here ( preiffer, downhillski and others) and a fair few amateur enthusiasts but I need some objective opinions on the D5 . Dragonbaby is currently undertaking a BA in documentary photography and has returned home tonight for the weekend toting said camera and raving about it ( I have to say it does look pretty cool even for a technophobe like me ). She says the MK 2 has just been replaced by the MK 3 so it makes the MK 2 a good purchase currently. She wants Mr DL and I to fork out for it for her Christmas/ birthday ( in January) present. Opinions please?
Ta muchly.
DL

Let me start by saying I am no pro and other people's opinions may hold more weight than mine!!

Is this to be your daughters first DSLR? I ask as this would be a big jump into the unknown for a first DSLR

I don't have any hands on experience of this model but depending on her experience a full frame DSLR might be jumping in the deep end, and for most photographers I would say you could obtain similar/nearly the same shots from more affordable slightly less complicated models, something like the 650D is a very good camera and in the hands of all but the very best photographers would provide shots of near equal quality, another consideration is lens cost, I have found in my (not extensive) experience that lenses for full frame cameras tend to be more pricey than there non full frame counterparts, that being said I think canon only make fisheye lenses for full frame cameras so that may need to be a consideration.

My point would be best read as this, you'd be amazed by the results you could get from cheaper (not cheap) models, and unless you are moving up from a previous SLR I wouldn't see the need to jump right in at the deep end with a full frame camera, if anything it could hinder not help!

Just my 2p and ill say again I'm no pro and others may have better advice to offer!

[preiffer]

I have the EOS 5D mk2 and mk3 bodies, and use both quite a bit along with a couple of others. (The mk2 is the one I take out when I have a feeling I may trash my camera...!)

To be honest, the image quality of the mk2 is (and always has been) great. The 3 is slightly better, but that doesn't make the mk2 a bad camera.

If you want any sample images (what sort of photography are you doing?) from both bodies, just send me a PM. But bear in mind - it's a slippery slope. The camera body can only capture images as good as the glass in front will allow. For every £1k you spend on body, you'll end up spending at least £3k on lenses once you get started...

(the good news is, if you stick with the same EOS-mount, in the case of Canon, you can keep your lenses with you ;-) If you want a cheaper option, Canon have also announced a full-frame sensor 6D which is also the lightest FF body they make. For travel photography, that *might* be a better option, and the reviews so far are excellent...

PS for a quick view of how good *both* cameras can be - this came from a Mark 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

and this from a Mark 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

Thanks both for the replies.
Trevski - this won't be her first DSLR. She's had a Nikon D5000 (which did her for her previous college course) for a couple of years. She'd always preferred the Nikon but her view has now changed
preiffer- she's doing a documentary course and I'd like something that will hopefully see her through to the end of the course. I'll ask her to have a look at the lightweight option though. I know ( or rather my bank balance knows) that it's a slippery slope . Fabulous images by the way .
Thanks again.
DL

PS for a quick view of how good *both* cameras can be - this came from a Mark 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

and this from a Mark 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

Awesome photographs Paul

Great shots Paul!!

PS for a quick view of how good *both* cameras can be - this came from a Mark 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

and this from a Mark 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

Awesome photographs Paul

Ditto...

Just had a look around your site too, some of those landscapes are amazing

PS for a quick view of how good *both* cameras can be - this came from a Mark 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

and this from a Mark 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulreiffe ... /lightbox/

Awesome photographs Paul

Ditto...

Doubled! I particularly like the shots from Arizona.

[Darren Wheeler]

One thing to remember, Canon do 2 'types' of lens. The EF and the EF-S. You can use an EF lens on any Canon EOS, but you can only use a EF-S on the cropped frame EOS (1100D, 650D, 60D, 7D). Unsurprisingly, the EF-S lenses tend to be the cheaper models.

[preiffer]

Darren's on the money there - if there was one single piece of advice I could give Canon users it would be the following:

But a DECENT (not the BEST) body for what you need (if you NEED full frame, then a 6D, 5D, 1 series - if not, any of the others) but ONLY by EF lenses, not EF-S. If you buy EF-S (cheaper) lenses, you're stuck with the short back system and/or throwing money away in future.

And don't forget : SOMEtimes, a cropped sensor has some benefits. 1.3x/1.6x depending on the body can be a massive benefit : it turns your 400mm lens into a 640mm lens with no additional cost. (Yes, I know there are pixel count comparison issues, blah blah blah, but in essence, it's a good move). If shooting landscape/streetscape images though, it may be that a full frame is a key necessity.

Good luck with the course! (on her behalf!)

Good luck with the course! (on her behalf!)

Thank you -I'll pass that on to her and also the other info as it's all a bit beyond me lol... I've also had to google Martin Parr as she's been wittering on about him (he's one of her visiting lecturers) and I had no idea who he was .
DL

And when it comes to lenses, please do take a look at my website

www.lensfettish.com

Why buy? Rent instead!

[preiffer]

Hmmm.

Not used "Lensfettish" before, but I have used these guys for a specific trip: http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/ and they were excellent.

They seem to have better availability and range than the link above too...?

Hiring lenses is a good idea though, especially when it's a one-off need as many of them stretch to £4k+ each.

You can rent camera lenses? I never knew.

Mind I suppose you can rent anything these days!

[Darren Wheeler]

I have to admit the new 6D is tickling my fancy. Replace my 50D with it when it comes available.

Mind I suppose you can rent anything these days!

Hiring (high end) handbags is very popular nowadays

Hi Preiffer

Yes lenses for hire do currently have a larger range, they have been trading for 3.5yrs now, whereas we have been trading for just over a year now but we are growing rapidly.

We have added at least 30 lenses in the last 2 months alone. I've just ordered several Sigma 50-500mm's today, to increase our range. They should hopefully be with us and live on the website by Monday.

We currently have a Christmas offer running - hire for 1 week and we'll give you 2 weeks free. They are booking up fast (as you'd imagine) but if you fancy having a go with something new this Christmas then take a look

www.lensfettish.com

Why buy, rent instead!

[Decker]

Was the correct spelling of fetish in a domain taken already?

Cracking pictures as always Paul. However you are likely to make mini nh very giddy with your Olly Murs shots, when I show her later!!!......

NH.

[preiffer]

Not on the same class as the D5, but is this a bargain in the Black Friday sales?

http://www.target.com/p/canon-t3-18-55i ... =large_1_3

Pretty good deal, yup

Was the correct spelling of fetish in a domain taken already?

Ha ha ha nice spot decker, appears not..

Got to say though, when typing it in, I was half expecting some weird camera porn as opposed to a site for sale notice.

Clearly not a big enough market for the comparing of lenses