Still waiting for 5d mkiii but should I be?

[keithfullermusic]

I'm one of those guys who has been wanting to upgrade to full frame from a 550d but decided to wait for the 5d mk III...

Given the fact that you have waited for that long, DO NOT BUY THE MKII until a mkiii is announced. Just wait a couple of months. You have a great camera and a great lens, there is no need to hurry.

I would say I agree if you don't really really really want a full frame. But if you do - buy it. It's a sweet camera. It's a lot of people's favorite camera.

Every time I look on Flickr I instantly can tell if a picture was taken with a 5D - they have an amazing look to them that I haven't really seen other cameras produce.

I still say buy the #$%*ing thing. Sell it when/if the iii comes out. You will still get a good price for it.

 

[elflord]

Let the assault of the "just buy a 5d mkii and youll no regret it" and "this has been covered so many times... will you please shut up!" comments begin...

The reason for these comments is that people have been wishing for/dreaming about the Mark III for years, so it's not really a new camera any more.

I'd say you should give serious consideration to the upcoming 5D Mark IV which has unknown yet very impressive specifications, and whose release date will be subject to speculation the day the Mark III is announced. That way you stay ahead of the curve.

In answer to your question about the kit lens: if you want a general purpose zoom, then it makes sense. As you point out, the 17-40 is very wide on full frame.

Also, f/4 is not all that slow on full frame -- similar dof and low light capability to f/2.5 on a crop. So on a full frame, the 24-105 is a pretty respectable kit lens. The only reason not to get it is if you have your heart set on either the 24-70 or some primes.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Canon has likely been wanting to see the results of the 1DX announcement. I've seen people reporting that pre-orders have far exceeded estimates.

I think that this means they will proceed with a modest MP count sensor. As to the timing, it could happen any time, they have a plan, but they are not telling, and we won't know until a week or two at most before the announcement. Anyone who claims they know is likely just making it up.

 

[00Q]

Its all a trap. we want the MKIII not because we need it, but because it is an EXTRA.

put it this way. Are you happy with your MKII? Are you happy with the pictures you take? Do they look like what the pros take? Do you realise that with MKII you can take pictures like the pros and they will look amazing?

So imagine in another world, there is no MKIII or no future canon announcments. YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY with your MKII and you know it.

Only buy the MKIII if you really need that edge. Otherwise you are just buying it because what you have now is not the biggest, fastest, juicest fruit. And thats not the reason to spend you hard earnt money.

 

[Axilrod]

I am nikon crop sensor user for past 3 years, then i decided too jump to fullframe 5d markii, i choose canon because i found most "L" lens is cheaper to "N" lens.. I personally did not take the kit, i choose the 24-70mm f2.8L. but if you are the person who like take video, the 24-105mm is great choice. for still image, f2.8 is better..

I think you've got it backwards, f/2.8 is crucial for video, f/4 is just begging for more noise in low-light situations. The 24-105IS is great for stills because the IS allows you to shoot with a slower shutter speed, which allows you to shoot at a lower ISO.

With video, sure the IS may stabilize it a bit, but it does absolutely nothing in terms of allowing you to shoot at a lower ISO.

It's personal preference, I like the 24-105 as a walk around lens for stills, but for video I'd take the 24-70 over it any day.

 

[Axilrod]

The only cost to waiting is an intangible "oppertunity" cost.

I agree with everything you said, but it's "opportunity"

 

[gmrza]

I cant see the 5dIII being announced until the 1Dx hits the shelves. It may be as late as Photokina.
The current kit price of 5DII is less than the launch price of body only. If you can wait until 2013 hold back otherwise get the 5dII kit now

I would not be surprised if Canon is keeping an announcement for 1 March - the 25th anniversary of the EOS 650 (and of the EOS system). There's no guarantee that Canon will announce the 5DIII then - Photokina is an equally good platform.

I agree on the comment of waiting a while after launch - Canon knows that there will be an initial surge of demand from gearheads and people who have been putting off upgrades. Also, if you are shooting landscapes or doing studio work at ISO100, I doubt that the 5DIII will give you a big improvement (if any) over the 5DII - especially if the 5DIII stays with a 18-21MP sensor - which I think is likely to achieve benefits of manufacturing scale. It is no coincidence that Canon is using the same sensor across most of its line of APS-C cameras.

 

[SomeGuyInNewJersey]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Lots of very valid points. Some of you have put down my feelings on some aspects better than I did. However, I still have not reached a decision.

Unless he is a professional, a $2K - 3K investment in a body near the end of its cycle is a big deal AND a long term commitment. He will probably have this body for years. It only makes sense for the average person to think hard about it. The 5D Mark II has been out for years, if he has gone this long without it then the odds are are that he can make it another 6 - 12 months. The only cost to waiting is an intangible "oppertunity" cost. The cost of purchasing now and then finding out that maybe he could have gotten the new model that might have more pixels, better low light performance, less noise, video autofocusing, etc would be substantial. Although reselling is an option, it is a pain, in addition to being it's own cost / loss.

I'm not a professional but last year I did start selling my photography at craft fairs and in a local art store. My stuff can be seen at http://www.someguy-in-newjersey.com if you are interested. My stuff is mainly landscapes but my wife is getting asked for me to do photoshoots for her friends families because of the outdoor portrait and candid shots she is posting on Facebook that I get of our kids when we are out (for example... apple picking http://www.flickr.com/photos/57223374@N05/sets/72157627707435158/). So I'm not a pro but I'm making some money from photography.


So Penn was right with the comment I quote above... much as I desire to upgrade and keep improving the 5d Mkii or wait for the mkiii choice is a big one for me. I want a more serious camera than a T2i. Perhaps its just me lacking in confidence but when I do start shooting other families, I'd rather the kids didnt have a better camera than me!

With my landscape work I am selling 12x18 prints (framed to 18x24) and even get blown up to 20x30 but that really does start to push the limits of the T2i. I want to go even bigger, cityscapes look amazing when they get 20x30 and much bigger. Its great to be able to get closer to the print and see the detail keeps on coming. But not being made of money a Hasselblad or a Phase One are not and never will be an option.

I cant see the 5dIII being announced until the 1Dx hits the shelves.

It may be as late as Photokina.

The current kit price of 5DII is less than the launch price of body only. If you can wait until 2013 hold back otherwise get the 5dII kit now

If they get the 1dx out in hands by March and announce a 30mp+ (with superb IQ for those 30mp+) 5d MkIII same time for an in my hand date of early summer then I would have been happy to wait but if I have to wait until 2013 to get a 5d MkIII (especially if its no huge leap forward from the 5d MkII especially when blowing up huge) then I really will feel I have wasted a year when I could have been getting better shots. Especially if I take a trip somewhere good later this year.


In order to add some more information to the swirling pros and cons list in head...

What do people reckon the price of the 5d mkiii will be? Body and kit? Is a 24-70 f/2.8L II thought be a possible new kit lens for it? Or could they be sticking with the 24-105 f/4?

The cost of the mk iii at release and what the kits lenses are compared the current mk ii cost may make later upgrading an option. For instance if the 5dmkiii is $3500 at release and goes down to $2700 inside a year of release and the 5d mkii is currently $2200 and can be resold for around $1400 then an upgrade from 5d mkii to 5d mkiii could be a made a year after the 5d mkiii comes out for $1300.

I would not be surprised if Canon is keeping an announcement for 1 March - the 25th anniversary of the EOS 650 (and of the EOS system). There's no guarantee that Canon will announce the 5DIII then - Photokina is an equally good platform.

I thought the 25th Anniversary was probably why they are getting the 1dx in hands then... perhaps come March 1st if they havent managed to sort out the rumored battery issues and other troubles with the 1dx then they will be forced to announce the 5d mkiii!

Every time I look on Flickr I instantly can tell if a picture was taken with a 5D - they have an amazing look to them that I haven't really seen other cameras produce.

One thing that has me tempted is the IQ on the 5d Mkii is great and I have seen many great images taken by it on online friends sites that I almost dont want to miss out on having owned one before the 5d mkiii takes its place.

Apologies to those who dont get people getting themselves so worked up over the mkii or mkiii thing... but then those sort of people probably wont have got to the end of this post to read that anyways...

I'll shut up now...

 

[briansquibb]

The hidden cost of moving from 1.6 to ff - ensure you factor that into your budget.

For example the 24-70 is a great portrait lens on a 1.6 - but on a ff it is a little short so the next size is a 70-200

So if on your 1.6 your favourite lens is the 70-200, this suddenly needs replacing with what? there is no direct replacement. The same applies to the 100-400 if you use the long end a lot on your 1.6

Just something to watch out for.

 

[smirkypants]

I think at this point it's pretty simple: wait. Wait to see how much the new ones cost. Wait to see what features it will have. Wait and maybe the price of the 5D2 drop another couple hundred bucks with the new model. Additionally, others will have the same idea and try to unload a used 5D2 to finance the upgrade. I know I'm going to be trolling eBay when the 5D3 is released.

 

[K-amps]

If you make money off your work... it would make sense to go to a FF now. The consensus seems to be that the 5D3 will not be a high MP body (though no one knows for sure); it makes sense that Canon pulls back from the MP race and use the 18mp sensor on the 1dx.

So it will be a slight step back in total resolution from the 5d2, but you will gain in ISO / clarity... In your case it does make sense for you to get a 5d2 now, as for you time is money!

 

[Maui5150]

The issues are quite simple.

The come down to wants, needs, abilities, and availabilities

-- You can get an MK II now, and while not perfect, is far from a flawed camera. It is a step up and then some from what you have as well as going from crop to full frame there is some adjustment. Lenses will be different, and you start seeing things differently.

-- There is not much of an opportunity cost. I got my MK II with extras with almost no use for $1800. I can sell it today and probably get close to the same amount out. Obviously when the MK III comes out, the MK II will take a little bit of a hit, but seeing what the MK I currently sells for, its age, and the fact that the MK II is now close to three years out, the bodies still hold their value pretty will, especially if you consider that the MK I has a successor out and a new successor on the horizon.

Worst Case Scenario I:

You buy an MK II, you use it, a month later MK III is announced, still likely 3 or more months before you can get it, as well as it will be at the top of the pricing curve. You lose $200 - $400 selling your MK II body over what you paid, but in the end you likely got 6 or more months of shooting out of it, so it nets out to $30 - $60 / a month for use of the MK II. Let me ask you this. If someone offered to RENT you an MK II for 6 months and $200 - $300 would you do it? If you are already feeling you are hitting the limits on your current body, would 6 months of a better body help your photography?

Worst Case Scenario II.

You wait. MK III is not announced to PhotoTinka, Limited supply for the holidays, and you really cannot get it for a year from now, as well as it is priced higher than you expect. If you have to wait another year for the MK III will you be happy? Or will you see more and more that your current body is holding you back?

Best Case Scenario - Which is what I bet on...

Find a cherry used MK II. Pay no more than $1800 for it. Use it for a year / year and a half. Sell it for $1400 - $1500 down the line, and especially if the MK III is anywhere $3K, that is very reasonable. Pick up a new MK III during one of the sales - either the holiday push, or there also seems to be a summer sale. Firmware and any early issues should be resolved, initial demand spike should have eased, and price should have eased a little. The net result should be maybe $200 savings on buying an MK III out of the gate, a $300 - $400 loss on the turn over of the MK II, which will net to a cost difference of $100 - $200 over 12 - 18 months.

My net cost for the MK II will be about $10 - $15 a month, even less if I hold on to the body for closer to 2 years, and the opportunity cost is a better body for at least 6 months to possibly a year, and an outdated body for possibly 6 months or longer.

In fact, looking at the eBay prices right now... I can sell my MK II and probably MAKE $100 over what I paid.

I also think there will be a "sweet spot" in timing where the price of a used MK II body post release of the MK III and the drop in price of the MK III body post release will be close to ZERO. It will probably take about a 8 months to a year post release, but in the end the money I lose on the usage of the MK II I will save on the lower price on the MK III, and the question becomes how long is that time frame where my MK II has a successor.

Your mileage may vary, but I am betting my usage of my MK II will be close to FREE... yes FREE by the time I turn it over and the money difference purchase price minus sale price compared to the savings of buying the MK III after it has been out more then 6 months.

Money difference nets to ZERO. Image quality improvements over my T2i is realized EVERY day I shoot.

 

[skmedia]

Can you even afford the 5d Mk III?

No doubt the 5D MK III will be better and more capable than the MK II, but it does come down to cost (if the kit is $3900 are you still interest???) and availability (if it takes another 8 months to get it in your hands, are you happy with what you have?

+1

I too was in a very similar position. And like the OP had gotten obsessive with checking prices daily, even hourly as well as hitting refresh on CR to see if my waiting would pay off. In the end I got fed up. I needed to upgrade my 5+ year old 400D (Xti) and decided to pull the trigger. I'm not saying you need to buy a MkII now, but to me it ended up feeling right.

The other issue (for me personally) with people saying 'maybe wait another 3 or so months and see if anything gets announced...' is that for me personally the longer I wait, the less sense it make to buy, as every day that goes by you are in fact a day closer to some sort of announcement of an update. This to me makes it harder and harder to ever purchase the damn thing. And even worse, every day that goes by is another day lost without a better camera.

Also, there's nothing saying you couldn't buy a 5DII today and sell it once the MkIII is a few months out of the gates... Yes, you will probably lose some of your investment, but with prices being as low as they are, I wouldn't think it will be too bad. Just have a look at how much a classic 5D still goes for on ebay today, even years and years down the line from its release.

Just my $0.02

New is not necessarily better. I was in the same boat. I just decided to go for it. I have not regretted it. Luv the 5D. http://www.skmediagroup.com

 

[K-amps]

Great Post Maui5150.

Bottom line, if OP is making money from Photography; he should get a 5d/5dii.

If not bread & Butter then, better to wait for 5diii announcement and see if it justify's the extra money.

 

[skye-snaps]

Hi, new to this forum - and at the risk of offending anyone here, I was actually going for the Sony A77. However, the supply situation has made me reassess the situation! I am now seriously considering the 5D2, it's not that much more expensive. You know what it's like, you see a camera you like, then just have a look at the next one up the range and so on..... Anyway, Just wanted to let you know I feel exactly the same - should or shouldn't I wait for 5D3??? And will I be able to afford it when it surfaces?

 

[K-amps]

Hi, new to this forum - and at the risk of offending anyone here, I was actually going for the Sony A77. However, the supply situation has made me reassess the situation! I am now seriously considering the 5D2, it's not that much more expensive. You know what it's like, you see a camera you like, then just have a look at the next one up the range and so on..... Anyway, Just wanted to let you know I feel exactly the same - should or shouldn't I wait for 5D3??? And will I be able to afford it when it surfaces?

Welcome to CR!

Are you hoping the 5d3 will have more than 24mp?

The Sony 24mp sensor is not bad, however it's the glass why most of us are with Canon. A 1080p TV monitor is 2mp. Even if you were to do a 4 to 1 pixel bin, an 8 mp sensor would be enough resolution for most uses provided the noise performance was good. The 5d2 is a FF sensor, the lenses are pricier than the EF-S lenses. So factor that in as well. The 5d2 Kit comes with a 24-105 L lens, thats equivalent to 15-85mm on crop sensors like the Sony. What is your lens budget and what kind of photography are you into? You need to make a decision based on several factors... the body you get will eventually fall low in the priority of things once you think this through.

 

[skye-snaps]

Well, got caught up in the MP race - but not so much anymore. I would like at least 20, as I'm into landscapes, and would want to blow it up. However, I'm still working out exactly what my priorities are. Don't think I need high ISO (which would rule out the Sony), don't really need a wide variety of lenses, the majority is done at a quite wide angle. I think a lot of it is just me wanting the latest and greatest, pretty sure I could get most of my needs covered by a, say, A65 or 600D. But I need a camera that can live with me, and a lot of exposure, so build quality is extremely important

 

[wickidwombat]

If you primarily shoot landscape then a 5Dmk2 and a 16-35 f2.8L will provide you with outstanding value for money its one of my favourite lenses. you could also look at the 17-40 f4L but i personally think the 16-35 is worth the extra money.

 

[skye-snaps]

Is the 24-105mm kit lens any use? Seems very good value

 

[wickidwombat]

Is the 24-105mm kit lens any use? Seems very good value

yes this lens is also excellent value for money i have it too, you just may find it not quite wide enough compared to the 16-35 (really depends how wide you like to go for your landscapes. You also have to consider the 5D3 will cost more than current 5D2 prices and will have a hell of a wait due to demand for it. If you can get a good deal on the 5D2 kit with the 24-105 you will be happy with it. the other benefit of just going with the kit for now is if you decide you really need to go wider later you could look at a dedicated ultrawide prime these get expensive though. what focal lengths do you shoot with on what body at the moment?