Does it make sense to buy the 5D now ? (with a very good lens)...

Does it make sense to buy the 5D now ? I have already saved all the $$$ I need (for a 5D + a 24-70 f2,8 lens), so I could buy the stuff right away....BUT

is there a possibility, that the 5D prices will be even more lower ? That means - should I wait or should I buy it now ? What would you do ?

Grrr, I wanted to buy a DSLR already 6 month ago, but then I upgraded myself from a 400D to a 40D and then once more to a 5D (after knowing all the Full Frame advantages).

ANOTHER QUESTION: Or should I buy the new machine with some crappy lens first and buy a better lens later? I do not have the 1000 € + another 2700€ for the body, so I can either buy a 5D with the superb 24-70 or the new one (I assume, the price will be similar to the price of the D700 Nikon), but then, I would have to buy some 50 1.4 or 85mm 1.8 prime lens only.

And, because - in september my school starts and I won't be able to work on full-time, I would have to wait another year for a decent lens. What would you do, guys ?

I assume, the 5D with a superb lens is always a better solution that the new body (when it comes out) with some crappy lens, isnt't it ?

Is the 5D display really that bad ? I mean, I don't use the display very much anyway - only to controll the exposure etc, but is the display usable in the outdoor (under direct sun etc.). I have heard, that it is not very bright and the colours of the display are also somewhat "washed out". Does the latest 5Ds still have that crappy display ?

Thank You

... then get the 5DmarkII or buy the old 5D THEN at a much lower price.
thomas

--
visit my homepage http://thomas.im
portrait - studio - streetlife

So keep it for a month and a half and see what will be unveiled September 17th, the end of Canon's embargo according to credible sources.

The 5D is a great cam but obviously the newest one will be better, and possibly priced around 3000$.

The 5D price will once again dive and you will be able to find TONS of 5D on Ebay with little clicks if any for a better price.

I would wait and retink my strategy. You could get a mint 5D for maybe 1200$, even less if the 5D's sequel is great "on paper"

Will you be able to have fun with a simple plastic fantastic 50 f1,8 for one year popped on the latest body, it's up to you to answer. I do love glass and could wait using the 5D which is a superb tool in trained hands...

--
Ludo from Paris
Tankers of tools, thimbles of talent
BestOf http://ludo.smugmug.com/gallery/1158249

Hi Ludo,

thank you very much for your answer. I see, some of your photos were shot with a 5D - what do you think about the display ?

Is it usable for basic quality judgement (so I can at least delete some of the worst shots, or check the exposure etc) ? What would you say ?

--
Martin Mintal

Very nice shots, by the way....

I see, many of them were shot with the old 20D - and honestly, I see no quality difference between them and some photos from the newest bodies (provided u use high quality glass).

Nice greetings to France

--
Martin Mintal
Slovak Republic

Even if you can't see it from the shots posted. I have both and since the 5D, 3 years in September, I almost completely stopped using the 20D, it's now my backup body and in a couple of months it will be used as a P&S with a 50 f1,8

The 5D offers a better high ISO quality, a better RAW headroom, a better smoothness in the tonal gradations, a better handling, a larger and brighter viewfinder and above all a better dynamic and resistance to the highlights.

The lenses will work with their real range and once again, the rendition of many lenses made for FF will be way better. Check Andy Westlake's 70-200 IS test on DPR and you will get my point immediately.

The 20D is a good cam but totally outdated now, the 5D not yet as it's really a benchmark in terms of sharpness (weaker AA filter) and noise free images.

--
Ludo from Paris
Tankers of tools, thimbles of talent
BestOf http://ludo.smugmug.com/gallery/1158249

martinmintal said:

I assume, the 5D with a superb lens is always a better solution that the new body (when it comes out) with some crappy lens, isnt't it ?

Click to expand...

5D doesn't come with crappy lens, 24-105L is only 5D one kit I know and it is very good L lens.

I would get 5D now if you care about final IQ more than anything else. New one most likely will not beat current 5D in this. You will get bunch of bells and toys but nothing more than this.

--



My page: http://www.pbase.com/breitling65/shots_i_like_the_most

No, I mean, I can either buy a 5D with a very good lens (fe 24-70 - if I get a good sample) OR the new camera (5D Mark II) with a basic lens (because I don't have 4000 € for the new body PLUS a good lens).

--
Martin Mintal

The 5D's sequel will likely offer

1 additionally stop
14 bit
highlight priority
Digic III
and..and some more Mpix

Add to this the auto cleaner and the new cam will of course be better than the current 5D. I can't say that those are only toys...

Of course we will have to test the noise control at 1600 and 3200, the little smearing of the 40D at high ISO don't please me at all, and we will have also to check the RAW headroom as the 5D is really a champion in this specific domain with up to 2 stops recoverable in case of blown highlights and 3 in the shadows if needed.

--
Ludo from Paris
Tankers of tools, thimbles of talent
BestOf http://ludo.smugmug.com/gallery/1158249

martinmintal said:

Does it make sense to buy the 5D now ? I have already saved all the
$$$ I need (for a 5D + a 24-70 f2,8 lens), so I could buy the stuff
right away....BUT
is there a possibility, that the 5D prices will be even more lower ?
That means - should I wait or should I buy it now ? What would you do

Click to expand...

If you need it now, buy it now, simple as that!

martinmintal said:

ANOTHER QUESTION: Or should I buy the new machine with some crappy
lens first and buy a better lens later? I do not have the 1000 € +
another 2700€ for the body, so I can either buy a 5D with the superb
24-70 or the new one (I assume, the price will be similar to the
price of the D700 Nikon), but then, I would have to buy some 50 1.4
or 85mm 1.8 prime lens only.

Click to expand...

The 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 aren't crappy!

martinmintal said:

And, because - in september my school starts and I won't be able to
work on full-time, I would have to wait another year for a decent
lens. What would you do, guys ?

I assume, the 5D with a superb lens is always a better solution that
the new body (when it comes out) with some crappy lens, isnt't it ?

Click to expand...

I would say so, but again the primes you suggested are far from crappy

martinmintal said:

Is the 5D display really that bad ? I mean, I don't use the display
very much anyway - only to controll the exposure etc, but is the
display usable in the outdoor (under direct sun etc.). I have heard,
that it is not very bright and the colours of the display are also
somewhat "washed out". Does the latest 5Ds still have that crappy
display ?

Click to expand...

The display is hard to see in bright sunslight, but I don't see a problem with the colours. There's no guarantee the new one will be any better.

I just replace my 5D with another 5D recently (last month). I dsay do it - there will always be a better camera but who cares? That's like not buying a 5D because the 1D exists.

The 5D is a great camera and after a MkII comes out, the 5D will STILL be a great camera.

And you save money you can then use for lenses. THAT is where you spend!

Michael

Is like any 3 years old display. Not visible in the bright sun, not eough detailed for critical sharpness check and barely good for the color check.

I would anyway suggest that this screen is not to be used for any critical judgement..

A last little note, it takes 3 seconds to reach the full zoom on the files so, once again, it's safer to shoot and discard later on than judjing and deciding "on the fly" which shot is good and wich one is to be deleted.

Hope the 5D's sequel will sport an oled display or at least a hi-res model

--
Ludo from Paris
Tankers of tools, thimbles of talent
BestOf http://ludo.smugmug.com/gallery/1158249

YES and no...

I'd buy it now if you had an assingment or project to do ( like a wedding etc.

Of course, you could wait for the 5dmkII to be released...BUT...

there is absloutley NOTHING to suggest that this is a consumer line canon have any intention of continuing with so far.

I wouldnt be at all surprised if canon still place the 5d in its 'prosumer' range until it dies a natural death and then concentrate purley on amature and pro bodies only..it isnt clear if they seem to be concerned one iota about the advances Nikon&Sony have made in a very potentially lucrative market that canon on current evidence seem to be blatantly ignoring.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dipak49ers/sets/72157602470636767/

Martin,

I would listen to Ludo.

Wait!

It's a few more weeks.

Then decide.

If the new 5D Mark II comes in September like what Ludo says, then look for its key features. If they are not that great for you, then I guess you should buy the 5D. I think the 5D's price will drop even more by then....but not to zero okay? Hehehe!

To me the 5D was an excellent camera then (3 years ago)....and it is still an excellent camera now...and even if the 5D Mark II arrives, the 5D will still be an excellent camera. That doesn't change.

Will the new 5D Mark II camera be revolutionary? I honestly don't think so. It will be a step above the 5D...but how big a step I don't know. I still believe in planned obsolescence by companies. They thrive on people buying new and newer gear. I think it's intentional that the "improvements" are rather incremental and not so much revolutionary.

Martin...please don't read this paragraph....I am just being a gearhead here. I think the 5D will be an excellent bargain. Maybe I should get one as a second....ahem...third body. Nah! If I do that (being a gearhead) I will be kicking myself everyday for not getting a 5D Mark II.

Danny Tuason

Ludovic Monchat said:

So keep it for a month and a half and see what will be unveiled
September 17th, the end of Canon's embargo according to credible
sources.

The 5D is a great cam but obviously the newest one will be better,
and possibly priced around 3000$.

The 5D price will once again dive and you will be able to find TONS
of 5D on Ebay with little clicks if any for a better price.

I would wait and retink my strategy. You could get a mint 5D for
maybe 1200$, even less if the 5D's sequel is great "on paper"

Will you be able to have fun with a simple plastic fantastic 50 f1,8
for one year popped on the latest body, it's up to you to answer. I
do love glass and could wait using the 5D which is a superb tool in
trained hands...

--
Ludo from Paris
Tankers of tools, thimbles of talent
BestOf http://ludo.smugmug.com/gallery/1158249

Click to expand...

--
http://www.scandinavius.com/sweden/sesongs.html#anchor1139692

Thank You, Danny.

Yes, it's hard (after 1/2 year), but I will contain myself, resist the temptation and shift the buy on September.

--
Martin Mintal

If you know for sure you won't be able to afford the 5d2 with a proper lens, I'd say you should skip it. Now, the issue is, that we don't know how many 5d2's there will be (3d/7d rumours, etc) and we don't know how much will they cost (rumours from $2k to $3.5k).

On the other hand you can be quite sure, that the price of the 5d will fall when the successor appears on the market. If there will be any on stock by that time.

--
br
ZapE

Ludovic Monchat said:

1 additionally stop
14 bit
highlight priority
Digic III

Click to expand...

We see this already in 40D/mkIII etc, still can't beat 5D.....

--



My page: http://www.pbase.com/breitling65/shots_i_like_the_most

My hunch is as follows:

If your financial situation is such that you can barely afford the 5D at the current prices, while the 5D price will perhaps go down a bit with the introduction of a newer model it probably won't go a lot lower than the best deals you can find now. In addition, the odds are the the replacement will cost somewhere in the $3000 range and that no discounts will be available for a while, and that it may well not actually be available for some time after an announcement.

If you cannot wait and/or if you cannot afford more than the price of a current 5D it may not pay to wait much.

On the other hand, if you are not price sensitive and if you already have a camera body that is at least quite decent, of all the times to wait a bit this is probably one of the better ones.

Oh, one other option. I bought my 5D used a couple years ago. The price was a few hundred lower than the price for a new one and it was in fine condition. You might consider a used body.

Dan

--
---
G Dan Mitchell
SF Bay Area
Blog: http://www.gdanmitchell.com/
Gallery: http://www.gdanmitchell.com/wpg2-3/

Yes it does.

martinmintal said:

Grrr, I wanted to buy a DSLR already 6 month ago, but then I upgraded
myself from a 400D to a 40D and then once more to a 5D (after knowing
all the Full Frame advantages).

And, because - in september my school starts and I won't be able to
work on full-time, I would have to wait another year for a decent
lens. What would you do, guys ?

I assume, the 5D with a superb lens is always a better solution that
the new body (when it comes out) with some crappy lens, isnt't it ?

Click to expand...

I think that lenses are more significant than the difference between a 400D and a 5D. I think that buying a 5D is a poor decision for someone with limitied funds unless they have an urgent (presumably professional) need for the perhaps one stop better light sensitivity that you get from full frame. But if I did decide to buy a 5D, I would wait until the end of August unless I had an urgent immediate need for the camera. I think the 5D's replacement is going to arrive and I would want to see it before I made my buying decision.
--
David Jacobson
http://www.pbase.com/dnjake