Gave myself an early Christmas present

[rpcrowe]

I have been playing with the idea of a FF camera for a long while. Although I do love my 7D cameras, my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens is too tight for some of my dog portraits because within the space in which I shoot, I cannot get back far enough to cover a relatively larger dog at 70mm. Additionally, my 17-55mm lens at 55mm is not quite long enough for tight head shots without getting too close with the risk of distortion. My old 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens would be a good focal range but the IQ is not quite what I desire. I figured that the full frame camera with the 70-200mm lens would give me a bit of leeway.

I found a Canon 5D Mark II on eBay with about 15,000 actuations at a very decent price. I figure that I can play with it for a while and if I like it, I will keep it. If it doesn't suit me (or is not worth the price to me) I can sell it without losing much money.

I priced renting this camera and I know that if I want to resell it, I will save money by going this route...

I didn't want to go to the expense of purchasing the Mark III version which would have cost almost twice as much as what I paid for this camera. The Mark II (in fact even the 5D Classic) would be good enough for what I want to shoot with it. The camera is being sold from a seller with 100% satisfactory feedback for almost one thousand sales.

[Donald]

Have fun with it, Richard.

[Shadowman]

Enjoy.

[NorthernFocus]

Enjoy, Richard. I predict you're going to love that body for your doggie portraits.

[rpcrowe]

Actually, this has been sort of an impulse purchase; although I have been considering a 5Dii for several months now. I don't really NEED this body, I just WANTED it. Granted it will be a bit easier to shoot with but, I have been shooting 1.6 crop cameras for years and have been satisfied with the results. I did like the 15,565 shutter count which was certified at a Canon USA Facility.

It may be that I play with the camera for a few months and then place it up for sale again. Who knows?

[Mike Buckley]

If nothing else, you'll enjoy the process of determining whether you want to keep the camera.

[Polar01]

Look at it this way Richard, it is not that you wanted it, however it is the tool that you need to do the job.

Cheers: Allan

[Cantab]

Richard, this sounds like a good idea! I'll look forward to seeing and reading about some of the results of this necessary purchase.

[doomed forever]

Enjoy your new tool, Richard. Perhaps you might want to check, consider a mint condition Tamron 28-75/2.8 as Zoom, it can be bought as low as around 170 bucks, and it's from IQ very close to the 24-7o/2.8 L USM Mark I...only drawbacks, 28 instead of 24mm Wideangle, old DC Motor AF drive...Optics are still fine. I use it on my 5D. I do love the old 5D, will being departed from me when the shutter dies. The 24-105/4 L USM does have IS, albeit a bit slower at F4, but a good all-purpose zoom onto the 5D Series.

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Good idea! Did you see the DigitalRev article on how to get a cheap full frame camera with the 5D? I am suspecting that prices might creep up for a while after that. You bought at the right time.

[IzzieK]

Look at it this way Richard, it is not that you wanted it, however it is the tool that you need to do the job.

Cheers: Allan

Now if you cannot call this advice good enough for you to spend the money on, what else can one say to you to convince you that you do need to buy this camera? Does it come with a lens?

[rpcrowe]

No, it doesn't come with a lens. However, I have many EF lenses (in fact all of my lenses are EF except for the EFS 17-55mm f/2.8 IS). I don't have a modern mid-range zoom but have a lot of primes, including the 40mm f/2.8 pancake, 50mm f/1.8 MkI, 90mm Tamron Macro and the 300mm f/4L IS and 400mm f/5.6L telephotos. I think that I will like the 40mm lens better on a full frame camera than on a crop camera. 64mm equivalent is an odd focal length.

I will even play with my 12-24mm f/4 Tokina which I have heard will work from 18mm to 24mm since it is designed for 1.6 format cameras but, is an EF mount.

Good idea regarding the 28-75 mm Tamron. I don't think that I will need one but, I will keep it in mind.

[rpcrowe]

This was a double post by mistake - sorry!

[doomed forever]

Good idea! Did you see the DigitalRev article on how to get a cheap full frame camera with the 5D? I am suspecting that prices might creep up for a while after that. You bought at the right time.

Yes in fact i was really XXXXXX...sorry for the language, because Kai (i know they're quite joking always - which is often funny, too) but Kai really threated the 5D like ****...without respect, and that Camera was 10 years ago Semi-Pro, 2nd FF DSLR only under the 16 MP 1Ds Mk. II. I have two 5D. All decent condition.

[doomed forever]

Good idea regarding the 28-75 mm Tamron. I don't think that I will need one but, I will keep it in mind.

For the 2nd Hand asking price - nothing beats that Tamron, especially it's a F/2.8 Zoom, mine came broken for free with a 50D used Body, particular as "Body Cap", but i've shipped it to Tamron for repair, costed 160 bucks..and now it's perfect, like new...better, because AF system is perfectly aligned. For the same 160-170 bucks you get it in decent condition 2nd
hand.