Question for S5 wedding folks using the Canon 5D as well ?

[David Grabowski]

How is the shutter lag ? I tried out a 5D today in low light ( ISO 1600 50th second at F4 with the 24-85 3.5-4.5 lens on it, could be part of the problem this lens) and it was slow to focus but positive, I didn't expect the shutter lag it pulled on me by any means. The lag was very noticable. I guess if I were using this camera for wedding dance shots I might miss a shot or two here and there ( like an unexpected dip) compared to my Nikon bodies. I love the files, the full frame etc. though.

So how are you guys getting along with the S5 overall to include shutter lag ( for wedding coverage) ? The store I was in doesn't sell Fuji or at least doesn't stock Fuji and truth be known I went there to try out the 5D in available light anyway.

I've used a D200 before, I know how that works, lag is basically not there but heck my D100 is faster than this 5D I tried today.

David

 

[Walter S Matthews]

David

You know, the speed you are talking about is the only real issue, for me, in how fast a camera is. If it can shoot 9 frames per second but gives me .2 seconds delay before firing, then it is a slow camera for what I want. Not much is mentioned about this variable and for my kind of shooting it is the only parameter.

That having been said, I do use the 5d only in low light only professionally, (and for landscapes, bridges, etc. recreationally) and yes, you are correct there is a shutter lag which can be terrible if you have a subject that doesn't register with the focusing mechanism. My solution/fix is to constantly tap the exposure button just enough to keep the camera in focus and I have even developed an unchonsious habit of hitting focus on the camera and listening for the beep even when I am not really ready to shoot a frame. If you are in focus it will fire immediately with no lag but if you are even a little out, it will lag while it verifies that focus has been achieved.

 

[David Grabowski]

You just saved me 3 grand, because I couldn't live with that feature in my wedding camera. As much as I like it's resolution and it's full frameness ( I know, it's not a real word !) but what the heck, even my D100 will fire quickly by comparison. Like you, I need it to work right now, not 6 times in a row but at that cridical moment.

Thanks again. How about the S5 though?

David

David

You know, the speed you are talking about is the only real issue,
for me, in how fast a camera is. If it can shoot 9 frames per
second but gives me .2 seconds delay before firing, then it is a
slow camera for what I want. Not much is mentioned about this
variable and for my kind of shooting it is the only parameter.

That having been said, I do use the 5d only in low light only
professionally, (and for landscapes, bridges, etc. recreationally)
and yes, you are correct there is a shutter lag which can be
terrible if you have a subject that doesn't register with the
focusing mechanism. My solution/fix is to constantly tap the
exposure button just enough to keep the camera in focus and I have
even developed an unchonsious habit of hitting focus on the camera
and listening for the beep even when I am not really ready to shoot
a frame. If you are in focus it will fire immediately with no lag
but if you are even a little out, it will lag while it verifies
that focus has been achieved.

 

[Walter S Matthews]

The S5 is definitely better but in low light it too will stutter and hesitate if the camera cannot find focus. It doesn't happen to me in church level of illumination but at receptions where there is barely enough to see by the camera will sometimes either fail to focus or hunt for focus. I put it the same as the D200 for searching for focus, both better than the D80 and both a lot worse than the D2X which is the best I have ever used for finding focus in coal mines. By the way, the S3 and the S2 are a lot worse than the D80 for focus in low light.

 

[fibbo]

How is the shutter lag ?

my experience with the 5D is: That thing is for accurate work... i have a 400D that is much faster.. and less lag. but the focus is out sometimes. The 5D is more exact. I tested this with my 100-400 L USM IS and some others and with fast moving objects.

Therefore i bought a Fuji S5pro. It doesnt lag, equal like the D200, compared to all other DSLRs less than 2000 Euros (not comparable with D2x of course). The focus is good, working with manual ais lenses also, it works pretty good with my SB-400 and it nearly gives me the resolution and quality of a 5D in low light situations. But with some advantages, like the crop and more natural looking jpgs ready to use. As some people write they use both cameras for different reasons, and i think thats the thing. Both are great Bodies/Systems. And maybe one should buy both if used professionally.

fibbo

 

[David Grabowski]

How is the shutter lag ?

my experience with the 5D is: That thing is for accurate work... i
have a 400D that is much faster.. and less lag. but the focus is
out sometimes. The 5D is more exact. I tested this with my 100-400
L USM IS and some others and with fast moving objects.

Therefore i bought a Fuji S5pro. It doesnt lag, equal like the
D200, compared to all other DSLRs less than 2000 Euros (not
comparable with D2x of course). The focus is good, working with
manual ais lenses also, it works pretty good with my SB-400 and it
nearly gives me the resolution and quality of a 5D in low light
situations. But with some advantages, like the crop and more
natural looking jpgs ready to use. As some people write they use
both cameras for different reasons, and i think thats the thing.
Both are great Bodies/Systems. And maybe one should buy both if
used professionally.

fibbo