How to proceed?

[elflord]

I was thinking a lot about getting the 5D Mark II used for 1500$, but I don't know if I would be satisfied with the camera. It's getting old and it's still expensive for my taste.

It's cheaper than the 5DIII. I don't really follow the part about it "getting old". It is an older release, but if you compare it with the 5DIII, in terms of both features and performance, the only thing that is showing its age is the AF system.

I already had a 5DII when the 5DIII was released, and I just couldn't get excited about the 5DIII largely because I didn't have any need for the new AF capabilities.

That's what I forgot to mention! I ruled out the 5Dc, because I would miss Magic Lantern, it's very handy...

The thing about the 5DII is, if I go full frame, why not spend 2000$ more for the 5DIII?

Assuming that you don't have unlimited funds, the answer is "because you could buy the 135L AND the Sigma 85mm for the same amount of money".

You need to weigh what you would get for that $2000 with what you could do with the money otherwise. The most compelling enhancement on the 5DIII is the AF system. However, the "bad AF" on the 5DII is actually quite good unless you make heavy use of servo mode (e.g. birds in flight, sports). It was and still is the camera of choice for many wedding photographers who need AF to work in demanding conditions (the key is that they are conditions where servo mode is not required or even optimal)

 

[funkboy]

I agree with Archangelrichard.

• Stick with your current camera. The 60D is really nice. That fold-out screen counts for a lot. It's unlikely that the camera is holding you back.
• Sink the money into lenses. Make sure any lenses that you put any real money into can be used on FF.
• Review decision in a year when you're a better photographer and 5DIII is cheaper

 

[Dylan777]

Ignore the option of the 5D3

for the kind of photography you do the 5D2 is the perfect option and is in a reasonable price range.

I've used both in a studio situation and I can personally say that right now at this point in time I could never justify spending all that extra cash on a 5D3 when they perform identically (literally) in a studio setting. It's just not worth it when the 5D2 is still a bloody fantastic camera - sure the 5D2 is famous for its not-so-great AF system but for me that's not an issue since I manual focus 99% of the time.
Sure, you're not doing studio work but you are doing landscape and macro - neither of which you need an excellent AF system for and nor do you need it for architecture. People & Street - maybe, but still, the AF system is perfectly adequate for this kind of work and getting a 5D3 just for the better AF system isn't necessarily going to better your chances of getting "the shot" - that comes down to practice, practice, practice.

5D2 is the best option for you to go full frame, the cost is excellent for brand new bodies as used bodies are within a few hundred $$$ of that price anyway.

Don't get lured into the 5D3 by all these guys that have jumped the gun! (Most of them have been complaining about the camera in other threads anyway )

This is where the 5D III is shine: indoor and outdoor & day or night & still or fast shooting.

I had 5D II for 3-4 months. I couldn't stand the AF system and fixed 400 Auto ISO in M mode.

 

[Tcapp]

Will buying all this gear help put an end to obsessive day dreaming? No.

Haha. +1. Very true. I love my 5d3, and i wouldn't ever want to shoot a wedding with a D800, but I still wouldnt mind having a d800. It would be fun to play with.

 

[criza]

Alright, I think I owe an update to all answerer to my post. I even almost stopped my "obsessive day dreaming" 8).

In the mean time I bought a 5Dc, shot 1500 pictures in 4 weeks, and sold it with a nice profit last week. I was more than heavily excited by the pictures the 5Dc offered me. I F______ loved it! I even didn't miss the AutoISO of my 60D at all..

What's next? I will buy an used 5DII, because I don't want to use my 60D any more, after seeing what the 5Dc is able to produce. The shallower depth of field of my first full frame was enough to let me think no more about what kind of camera I want to shoot with. A FF camera comes very handy, as I own only primes, and none has a higher aperture number than 2.8. I also own two manual focus lenses, and only because of that I give a S___ about the antique AF system of the 5DII.

Maybe somebody is wondering why I didn't keep the 5Dc instead of getting a 5DII? Good question, I think it was because I want to shoot video occasionally as well, and the back screen of the 5Dc was just horrible. Also I couldn't hold myself back to sell the 5Dc with profit. Not to forget the lack of AFMA on the 5Dc (still the auto focus of my 5Dc was surprisingly accurate on all of my lenses..)

And yes, I got me a 135mm f/2 lens I was talking about. But not the "modern" EF one, but the old nFD, and already converted it to EF with the kit of Edmika. This happened this week, so I only had the time to go outside with it once (and only using it on the 60D) and honestly speaking, I am somehow surprised by the fair amount of CA. Accurate focusing with it is a another story. And there comes the second thing I liked most about the 5Dc, the large viewfinder! Every time I look through the viewfinder of my 60D now, I am just terribly disappointed. I am looking forward to use the 5DII (after I found one for a fair price) with my new 135mm f/2 lens! The converted lens has AF confirmation, but after my shooting I found out that it's not really reliable, a lot of shots where the AF point was blinking on the non moving subject turned out to be not sharp (at all). On my other converted lens the AF confirmation is much more reliable, and I am not sure why. I also tried the to use the manual focus lens with the ML focus trap feature, and it worked quite good, but it's not really helpful when shooting moving subjects (at least not for my shooting situations), and for non moving ones you mostly have enough time to focus.

One thing I am (or was) still wondering about, how much influence the pixel size has to the IQ of a camera? I know the 5Dc has the highest of all canon cameras! But after looking it up on the inter web, I guess everything above 4, or maybe 5µm makes no difference any more...

Thanks for reading, every further comment is appreciated!

 

[KKCFamilyman]

5D2 or 5D3? 5D3 certainly.
Will the 5D3 deliver better "picture quality" than the 60D? For the most part yes.Will buying all this gear help put an end to obsessive day dreaming? No.

My 2cents.... NOT most part. 5D III is better than 60D in everything, from chassis, IQ, AF, speed etc.

Yes I had the 60d with 17-55 2.8 and now I have the 5d3 with 24-70 ii and its better in everyway. Never regretted my decision. I do not shoot professionally so I could have considered the soon to be released 6d which may be an option for you but the 5d iii is just a great body like dual cards af system etc. great iso performance.