Buy 5D mk II now or wait till update

<p>Hi,<br>

I'm in a little bit of a dilema at the moment, I'm in the position where I would really like to get a video camera before June. (I'm going to E3 - and right now the only device I have is a 400D + a flip). I also do a fair amount of Wedding work so the regular camera that I hire every wedding is the 5D so I'm very farmilliar with it.</p>

<p>My question is this:<br>

Should I wait for the 5D mk III (bare in mind that I am a student and it takes me a while to save up for these cameras) or should I get a 5D mk II now so I can have it for E3?</p>

<p>One of the deciding factors is what do you think the Mk III will have that the mk II doesn't have?<br>

- Higher megapixels (doens't really matter to me much)<br>

- Better video settings (Magic lanturn can do most? I haven't used it)<br>

- Autofocus (this is a big thing - not to sure if its the higher place I go to's camera or all 5Ds have that problem, but it does get a little annoying especially as my 400D focuses better)<br>

- Headphone jack (its a good feature to have but its not crucial)<br>

- better noise reduction (anythings better then my 400D).</p>

<p>Is there any features that you think the 5D mk III will probably have that will justify waiting? Or should I just get a mk II (even though its about 3 years old and at the end of its life almost).<br>

Thoughts?</p>

<p>This question has come up more than once recently.</p>

<p>It doesn't matter what anyone here thinks the 5D Mark III will have or not have. It's all just wild speculation. You won't know anything until Canon makes an announcement.</p>

<p>If you need to buy a camera before June, well, I doubt the Mark III will be announced before then, much less be widely available.</p>

<p>If the 5D Mark II seems to you like a camera that will satisfy you, go for it and don't worry about what might come out in the future. Otherwise, look at the competition or wait for the Mark III and hope that it will be what you want.</p>

<p>This question has been asked several times these past few weeks, and many times the during the last year. The below mentioned speculations are extensive (& largely meaningless) but you may find them entertaining. You wanna cruise through the recent threads and search a wee bit.</p>

<p>I must say, my 5D2 focuses a lot better than my old Rebel XTi (400D) did and this was very apparent in low light and using AI servo (with 6 "invisible AF assist points enabled). Although the 5D and 5D2 have basically the same AF system I found the 5D2 a bit more surefooted. For example, my 50 1.2L would not focus worth a damn with the outer points, even in pretty good light (other lenses were okay). Oddly they work fine with this lens on my 5D2. So some tweaking musta happened. The only new feature that would make me reach for my credit card is ECF. Otherwise the 5D2 pretty much propels me into freakin' hog heaven...</p>

<p>With all respect, what does it matter what others think of an intangible camera? Buy what is available today and then sell it if you are no longer satisfied with it.</p>

<p>The autofocus on my 5DII works very well. I don't see any need for improvement.</p>

<p>What if the new model isn't available for two more years? What if it's released in the Fall of 2012 and virtually unavailable until the spring of 2013? That COULD happen. Can you wait that long? When the 5D3 comes out, will you be one of those (MANY) people who will claim immediately that they're waiting for the 5D4?</p>

<p>Do you need a full-frame camera NOW? Or DON'T you? That's really all that matters.</p>

<p>Just clarifying I've only ever used the hire model of the 5D mk II which struggled quite a bit with the 85mm 1.2 - especially in the church and the getting ready shots (the 50 1.8 worked well, and my other lens the 24 TS-E also worked well, minus the FF learning curve). I think the hire model might be the reason why? But if you think its quite good then aweosme! <- I think thats sold me the mk II...</p>

<p>I might just get a 5D mk II - however the other thing that will come into account is will the price of the mk II be lower then the mk III (like $1000 differnce), did that happen with many other models before? With the '00's series, they don't seem to drop that much significantly in price for older models but with the 5d mk III would that do something to the price?</p>

<p>The EF 85mm f/1.2L is infamous for its slow AF. The II version is said to be better, but still not all that fast. The camera is not to blame for this.</p>

<p>The outer AF points in the 5D2 are so bad that I no longer use them. Shooting wide open with this camera using anything other than the centre AF point is now a big no no for me. Thankfully the centre AF point is superb. It's quick, accurate and works well in low light.</p>

<p>I think it'll be at least a year before we see the 5D3 and I have no intention of buying it.</p>

<p>If you need it now, get it now. We don't even know if the next model will be worse.</p>

<p>The introductory price of new cameras tends to be about 20% higher then the planned long term price and the price of the outgoing camera drops about 20%. While I do not think that there will be a $1000 difference, you are still going to save quite a 5D II now rather than a 5D III when it comes out. </p>

<p>Your other option is to buy a used 5D II and save about $1000 now. A well taken care of 2 or 3 year old DSLR is still very good. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>"I would really like to get a video camera before June."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>If you need a "video camera" consider a camcorder. Shooting video with a DSLR has a whole set of obstacles users must overcome, including the need for a powerful computer to process the damanding video files (without frame drop.)</p>

<p>Lack of auto-focus during video and composing on the LCD can make shooting video on a DSLR difficult.</p>

<p>Unless you have an "in" with a camera retailer, I doubt you would even be able to buy a 5dmkIII for 6-9months if they hit the market tomorrow. I was a preferred customer of the retailer I frequented, but by the time I decided to put my name on the list for my 1ds, it was probably 8 months before I got it. The same for the 5dII that I bought--which they actually broke open a kit to sell me (kits were in stock but not just bodies).</p>

<p>These sorts of decisions are very difficult, especially when it isn't how you make your living and need to scrape together the coin to make such purchases. I don't have an answer except that the 5dmkII is a great camera--the rest is up to you.</p>

<p>As we've said on the many previous occasions when virtually the same question has been asked, and asked, and asked ......<br>

There is only one reliable source on Canon's internal plans. Trust it (<a href="http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi">link</a>), it's as good a source as anyone here at P.net or on the WWW altogether.</p>

<p>JDM, I asked it, "When will Canon release the 5D Mark III?" and it said "My sources say no." Rather ominous!</p>

<p>Wait, wait, wait...</p>

<p>Given the effects of last months earthquake it is unlikely any company in Japan will be able to get back to full puroduction until mid summer at the earliest. Any plans Canon had for releasing new cameras this year have likely been shelved because they won't be able to make anything in volume for some time. </p>

<p>Buy the 5D MKII now. You won't see the MKIII until late 2012 at the earliest.</p>

<p>Hi Izzy,<br>

I was asking myself the same question last year in the Fall before buying my 5dMkII... the rumours were vague... and then I notice, searching on this forum, that the price drop is never that big after an update comes out. <br>

Having set myself a limited budget, I knew that the "new" version of the 5d would be a lot more expensive and with no due date... I finally bought my camera with the kit lens (24-70mm 2.8) through an online store and have not regretted it since !<br>

So don't wait and buy it ! </p>

<p>@Craig, I know its not my lens (even though yes the autofocus is slow but its no biggy on the 400D, the quarel that I have with the 5D is it spends alot of time hunting / searching for the point to focus on which at fast paced wedding is a tad annoying). I've used my lens quite a bit and i've had no problems with it (using it on a 400D, 500D, 550D, 5D mk 1 (fine) and 5D mk II (which was by far the worst)).</p>

<p>@Jamie - ooh thats interesting, that might be why I was having such a bad experience, I generally set the camera's up to the outer left point I think.</p>

<p>Okay if its only 20% cheaper i think I'll defiantly get it now! (I was thinking the price would flutuate like computer hardware...), the used option had crossed my mind but I do like the idea of having a 3 year warrenty with it (which is what all my lenses have), even though I treat it carefully it makes me feel that sligthly less nervous :)</p>

<p>@J. Harrington, unfortunatly most camcorders that I like are either a little bit to expensive or do the same job as my flip - at least with the mk II I can use all of my lenses - which I love filming with the more creative lenses like a tilt shift or a 1.2 which do not exsist for cam corders (and I am getting the feel to focusing it at the lower fstops). (I'm also a comp sci student so the computer shouldn't be an issue at all :3)</p>

<p>@John A - I had no idea what the waiting list was like! Though I am releltively lucky coming from a smallish city overflowing with camera shops, however in the last few years (not to sure if its a good thing or not) but photography has become extreeemly popular and every man and his dog now owns an SLR.</p>

<p>@JDM hahaha, yes... it see's all</p>

<p>@Alexander, ahhh wow theres been rumours since last year? geez...</p>

<p>Anyway I think that settles that I will buy a mk II (hopefulyl soon)</p>

<p>Use the canon loyalty program to trade in your old 400D for a refurb 5D Mark ii. You won't be unhappy.<br>

Saving for a camera that you don't even know if you'll want because you have no idea what features it will have or what it will cost is a rather silly approach. If we all did that no one would be taking pictures, we'd all be sitting around saying "I can't wait till the 1D Mark X arrives in 14 years, THEN I'll be able to have the camera I want!"</p>

<blockquote>

<p>John Crowe:<br /> Your other option is to buy a used 5D II and save about $1000 now. A well taken care of 2 or 3 year old DSLR is still very good.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Where have you seen a used 5D2 for $1,000 less than the price tag of a new one?<br>

<br />Someone in the imaging industry told me recently that camera manufacturers are going to jack their prices up (again), and this time due to short supply created by the Japan tsunami. Any truth in this speculation?</p>