5D mkII has arrived but...

[Slo40]

So I decided to go for it and purchased the 5D mkII last week. I'm amazed at the quality compared to my 40D, but have a noticed a few things that I will have to get used to...

I've definitely noticed the low light AF performance that many have complained about, but what surprised me the most was the flash performance with my 430EX. When I compare this body to my 40d when using my external flash in low light indoors, I find I have to use 400 ISO or higher to get a reasonable shutter speed. Is this normal, or have I missed something in setting it up? Is my flash maybe just too small for FF? Using the same flash on the 40D I have no problems getting great results at 200 ISO.

One other thing I noticed was alot of dust inside straight out of the package that had to be cleaned before anything. You'd think a high end camera would be a little cleaner than this one was, after all, it was brand new :(

Although I haven't had a chance to take any serious photos with the 5D, but I love this thing already, and can hardly wait to get out and shoot more with it.

[Csae]

DOF is shallower on FF, but it shouldn't translate into going from iso200 to iso400 for the same photo, unless your increasing the aperture to make your photos as overall "sharp" as the 40D ?

Are you using the flash on manual or auto, if auto, the metering is probably different... I still don't think this should happen though...

Going from 40D to a 5Dm2 also means that if you are using the same lenses, you are further away, that increased distance would translate into a loss of power from your flash, but by closing the gap and getting the same framing you had on your 40D, it would have to be the same.

Then getting some cameras are slightly underexposed, and some are slightly overexposed, if your 40D was slightly overexposed, and your 5Dm2 underexposed, the two together might add up to a 2x iso increase, but thats pretty rare really.

We're talking fabrication limits, +/- 0.1, i know my 5Dm1 gets a +0.2 calibration on my light meter.

Could also be the different profiles...

But this is just theory, you should provide pictures from a relatively controled environment, im pretty curious now :)

[gotocin]

i aslo want to buy a 5d mark ll,haha,and i just learnt the newest price is 2500$,
and maybe a little cut on black friday,do you think so?
http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?type=id&q=d14935&ru=2860009

[VTEC_EATER]

Did you have the flash set up for rear curtain sync?

If it is at the default settings (front curtain) I would think the flash is set up for 1/60 no matter what the ISO or aperture are. The camera would adjust the flash. On rear curtain the camera would try to expose the background with long shutter speeds and balance the foreground with flash. At least that's how Nikon does it.

If you are in rear curtain, then I can see why you have to up the ISO to 400 to get hand holdable shutter speeds.

[Slo40]

I was running the flash in 1st curtain auto mode for both bodies. Even at f/2.8 I was ending up with near 1 second shutter speeds. I will try to get some direct comparison shots.

I know its always tough when starting out with a new body, it took me a while to get used to the 40D from the rebel too. I love the DOF, and I actually get some barrel distortion at 24mm with 24-70 now. The AF is so fast and precise in good light that I can finally take advantage of my 2 best lenses.

[VTEC_EATER]

What are the settings for your first curtain flash shutter speeds? It should be an adjustable option in the camera menu. Default is usually 1/60. Maybe that setting is turned off on the mkII. Check the menu and see what your flash settings are. 1 second shutter speeds for first curtain is not right.

[adam75south]

congrats on the purchase, i'm not sure i could be much more happy with the camera. i've been in love with it since day one and nothing has changed.

[Slo40]

The old 430EX flash is not body adjustable, you must have the EXII model for that.

[cdifoto]

The old 430EX flash is not body adjustable, you must have the EXII model for that.
The 430EX and 430EX II can both be adjusted on the camera or the flash itself. It's the 420EX that does not allow adjustment on the flash but does allow adjustment on the body.

[Slo40]

Sorry I should have been more clear, some things may be adjusted on the body for the 430EX but not the 2nd curtain option as they are greyed out and not selectable.

[cdifoto]

Sorry I should have been more clear, some things may be adjusted on the body for the 430EX but not the 2nd curtain option as they are greyed out and not selectable.
Oh I thought you were talking about Exposure Compensation.

My bad. :)

[Slo40]

I was shooting in Av, and my "C.Fn 1-7 Flash Sync. Speed in Av Mode" is set to auto, if I set this to 1/200-1/60 sec. auto I have a feeling it might fix my problem. I will try this as soon as I get home.

[Slo40]

Changed that setting and everything is perfect. I can shoot in near darkness now and have perfectly exposed shots. What a relief!

[te1221]

I have no problems with low light focusing with the 5D. The center point focus has proven to be very reliable.

[adam75south]

i'll have to post up some shots, but i rarely use center point and my focus is dead on....tracking in dim light is another story.