Opinion: 5dii or wait for 5Diii

[BSido]

Okay, I'm struggling...

I studied video and college and picked up stills as I was finishing up, so the DSLR revolution has been wonderful for me.

Anyway, I have a t1i right now and want to upgrade for video and photo purposes. I have had my eye on the 5Dii, but honestly, I'm waiting for the 5Diii.

Does anyone think the 5Diii will be available before the 1D X in March? I'm a big tech and specs guy, but I'm also realizing that I'm also losing valuable learning and experience time if I'm just sitting on my hands waiting for the better technology to be released. Photos and video are made by the person behind the camera too, not just the technology itself.

Just wanted to see what experienced people think about this.

Thanks!

 

[Edwin Herdman]

Nobody knows how long we are in for a wait until the release of a replacement for the 5D Mark II - today's announcement of the EOS 1D X (which is in a totally different line and price bracket) doesn't seem to make it likely we'll see a 5D Mark III or similar any time soon. The newly announced camera won't be seen until next year - March 2012 is the projected shipping date. I'd like to see a 5D Mark III next year, and it could happen - it's "due" (by some estimates) for a replacement, but the current camera is still great, and most importantly it was on sale many places (last I checked).

 

[gleb86]

You can get a refurbished one from Canon Direct for $1600 if you use the Canon loyalty program promotion if it still exists.

 

[LukieLauXD]

If you can invest more into photography, I'd suggest putting the 1D4 onto the list of considerations. I don't know, but from what I've heard 5D2 has really good still video while 7D compromises that by making it "EH" for both moving and stationary video.

 

[Picsfor]

no brainer - get the 5D2 while the price is right.

Nothing is coming out before the 1Dx, not gonna happen. Canon want their monies worth before they unleash a 5D3 or 7D2 on the market.

And why should you wait and miss out on all that experience? And maybe even a chance to earn a few bucks?

The 1D series has now been amalgamated into a single body. Canon needs a new megapixel beast, and they aren't gonna release it yet - cos the 5D2 is still serving that market. It's proven, it still has amongst the largest ff sensor, and has the best video capabilities of a DSLR.

 

[iaind]

With the launch of the 1DX I don't expect to see announcement of 5DIII before 2012 unless they sneak it in the November Hollywood event. If it is a cut down version of 1DX expect price to be between $3-4000.
If you need it now go for 5DII, prices are currently at their lowest.

 

[Fuzzypiggy]

In much the same boat about 2 months ago. I had a 550D and some money burning a hole in my pocket, with my birthday coming up my Missus got sick of me going on about the 5D she asked to just sort out what I wanted.

I thought long and hard, for about 3 weeks, weighing whether to get the MkII or wait. In the end the same old advice came back in my head, you wait for the never-never and you will waste all that precious Autumn weather shooting time and I just got up one Saturday drove 120 miles to dealer and just bought it with a 20-70mm ( they were giving away a free BG-E6 grip which clinched it for me ).

Personally I am so glad I didn't waste time and just went for the MkII and got on with the business of shooting, it's really given me the kick up the ass I needed. I now spend all week day-dreaming about Saturday rolling around so I can get out with it. I've even convinced a fellow snapper at work to commit to getting a MkII after he borrowed mine for day.

The MkII has a solid rep as damn fine video camera, I think Canon will beef up that side of things more than the stills side, video holds not interest for me so I'm glad I didn't wait. By the time the MkIII comes out ( sometime 2015 as this rate, LOL! ) I won't feel so bad as the MkII sales pitches come out and I realise how much I could have saved, LOL!

 

[Bateman75]

Buy know and sell it when the mk3 comes out. It will not drop that much and you can consider the money you lose an buying and selling a lease.

 

[gene_can_sing]

I would say just buy a t3i or something inexpensive. The video and photos is essentially the same as the other APS-C cameras, and then when the 5D3 comes out, get it.

Personally, I wouldn't buy the 5D2 just because of how long Canon has made us wait. One of the reasons sited by those in the know is because the 5D2 still sells good, so why release the 5D3 when there are more profits to be made? Remember, the 5D2 is based on 2007 tech. Really old in the scheme of things.

Good for Canon, sucks for us. So yes, the more the 5D2 sells, the longer we are all going to have to wait for the 5D3.

And when the 5D3 comes out, you can just keep the cheapo T3i and have a good 2nd camera and also one with a 1.6x crop for when you need reach.

 

[kkoster]

I had this same question in March 2010. I'm sure glad I didn't wait! My 5D2 is nearly worn out with use.

It's a brilliant camera and has served me well through many a project, although I am itching to get faster frames for slow motion and bemoan the aliasing and moire. I just hope to god they get it right for the next version. I see the 1DX as a bit of a disappointment for filmmakers, but then I realise it isn't aimed at us.

Fingers crossed for a decent 5D3 that increases fps rates, sorts out the moire and aliasing issues. Or I will be selling a heck of a lot of glass and will need to upgrade to something else.

Here's holding out for a hero!

 

[kubelik]

Does anyone think the 5Diii will be available before the 1D X in March?

nearly 99.9% sure that the 5D Mark III will not show up before the 1D X starts shipping in March. For one thing, there is a logical order to the announcement schedule, so if the 1D X is announced first, it will most likely appear in stores first. For another, Canon wants people to buy the 1D X first, and then consider also buying a 5D III ... not buy the 5D III and forget about the 1D X.

 

[Canon 14-24]

Depends on your budget. If you need the 60fps for video possibly get a 7d instead of 5d2. Regardless I can't see a newer model of either 5d3/x or 7d2/x released (not announced) until March/May 2012 onwards (based upon past model release history) - not to say if you'll be fortunate to get an initial one before having to wait or month or so due to being out of stock on most big retailers.

Like others have mentioned, just buy used and sell used and you won't lose out on much. Spend the $ on a nice video setup or some nice glass in the mean time if you have $$$ to burn.

 

[Picsfor]

Ah, back to the old technology argument.

The 5D2 is priced for its age - which is odd, because realistically, no one has still got a camera that can touch it for its price.

I recently availed myself of a 2nd 5D2 body. Why? because it was at such a good price and cos i do not expect to see a 5D3 to actually buy much before next June (2012). Having already owned 1 for 2 years, i knew what i was buying...

Plus, what on earth would i do with 36mp? 21mp can cause enough problems some times. And as for the video, just had a play and how impressed was i? Almost tempted to get into the video big time. Almost...

 

[kkoster]

When I had a little more money in the coffers, I bought the 60D as a 2nd camera to compliment my 5D2 purchased last year.

Why? The reason I *nearly* went for the 7D instead of the 5D2 last time was the 60fps. Just that alone made me prefer the 7D. I need to be able to slow my footage. (But the FF sensor won the battle - ).

A year on, this time round, the 60D looked a better offering than the 7D. Better LCD, cheaper price, manual audio levels, identical video quality. I could forego the magnesium alloy body as I already have my weather-proof main camera.

The two cameras compliment each other nicely in my kit bag and I'm happy with the decision.

 

[Loswr]

So yes, the more the 5D2 sells, the longer we are all going to have to wait for the 5D3.

Woah. Déjà vu!!

 

[gleb86]

Buy know and sell it when the mk3 comes out. It will not drop that much and you can consider the money you lose an buying and selling a lease.

Really? I would think the value would plummet since the market will be flooded with the MKII.

 

[Axilrod]

You can get a 5d2 for $1999 right now, that's a deal regardless of how good the next one is.

 

[Isaac]

It's very simple - you should wait!

The 5D3 will be released within months and there will be at max a 10% increase in price however the improvements made to the 5D3 will be at least a 200% increase in the buyers satisfaction.

I'd say hang in there and you won't be disappointed!

 

[te4o]

Just read "What's next" from CR: a funny sentence is - "One of them will NOT be the 5D3"... Logic and wish tells me the rest.
There are many reasons to wait at least until Nov 3rd -
1. Patience is important feature of character
2. A chance to read more about techniques and experiences of other people and with other devices (not only Canon) and compare.
3. Save money, more money
4. Much better peace of mind is to buy when no one expects further announcements in the year.

 

[theuserjohnny]

Just read "What's next" from CR: a funny sentence is - "One of them will NOT be the 5D3"... Logic and wish tells me the rest.
There are many reasons to wait at least until Nov 3rd -
1. Patience is important feature of character
2. A chance to read more about techniques and experiences of other people and with other devices (not only Canon) and compare.
3. Save money, more money
4. Much better peace of mind is to buy when no one expects further announcements in the year.

You misread it. The November 3rd announcement is rumored to have 2 cameras... one of them will be a professional camera will the other one will NOT be a 5D3. Everyone just needs to stop taking everything as a signal to the 5D3, the 5D3 will not be until next year around this time.

Get the 5D2 now, its a great camera and since your using it for video the tech in this cam (9AF) will not matter. Sure you'll have some issues with artificial artifacts in the video but there are ways to work around it (then again all cameras including the newly announced 1Dx have these issues).

The only way to not have these issues is to have an actual 4k camera... all digital video have their faults and the 5D2 is included.

I'm using the 5D2 for video and if you pair it with the right color correction software such as magic bullet looks you'll be in great hands... all that you are limited to is your mind and imagination.