richard thompson www.fotoz

I found the combination to be pretty poor.

The DO needs to be stopped down to f8 at 300mm to get acceptable sharpness for a 700 GBP lens, and with the teleconverter, f11 or even f16.

Although I would be far more worried by the fact I clicked on your name to check out your photos, you didn't have any. So I clicked on your personal homepage, which brough up your resume. On top of that has your full address. So anyone knows where your 1Ds MK2 and L lenses reside !

I'd take that link off quick smart !

I've taken 10Kg of Canon camera equipment worth GBP 6,000 ($10000) on 60+ flights in the last 12 months. Never, ever would I check it in...

And even more importantly are the photos. They never leave my side !

It's just as likely to go missing on a journey from London to NYC as it is from La Paz to Lima.

Appologies for calling you "a prat". Im just sick of the attitude on this forum, have stopped posting here generally, and gone elsewhere.

The tone of a lot of peoples messages is far from constructive. I guess I was sticking up for the original poster and took my offence to general attitude on this board out on you, which was unfair. Sorry.

<i> What's the point? It's not a terribly exciting image (to me), nor is it particularly technically great. Are you trying to convey some interesting impression of this combination of lens and body? If so, perhaps you should tell us rather than make us guess... </i>

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Typically encoraging statement you get from photo.net these days. Its a shame half the posters are big headed, obnoxious and rude. What a prat.

<i> Richard? Do you own a 70-300 DO? I do and I also owned a 70-200 2.8 L. I was so satisfied with the DO lens that I sold the L lens. The DO is every bit as good as the L lens from 70-200 and better from 200-300 ;) . Granted I miss the 2.8 to 5.6 performance but I rarly used it at those F stops. I dont miss the wgt. and size. I have never had the ghosting or flare issue arise and i use if for sunsets. I did have the old 75-300 IS and was unhappy with it. But since I will be using the 1.6 crop for years to come, I have made all my lenses that much better. </i>

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Yes I've tried 2 copies of the DO. I agree that at f8 between 70-200, its as sharp as the 70-200 L. However contrast and saturation isn't the same. Every image needs more PP to bring it in line with the L.

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I trialed it alongside a 70-200/4L and I got better results from the L. I even got better results handholding, even with the IS of the DO.

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It's images just dont have that L pop.

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I now use a 100-400 L for when weight isn't an issue, and the older 100-300/5.6L for when I want to go light...

I think the 5D shutter noise is good - its nice and quiet.

The 20D's was aweful.

<i> You've told us everything except the shutter speed. Depending on the speed, camera shake might be a factor especially with hand-held shots. </i>

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David said he used a tripod.

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Mirror lock up isn't so much of a factor with the 17-40 L, although EF-S bodies do have a quite a mirror slap.

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I'd say it doesn't look too bad for a 100% crop.

Some other pros for the 5D if you travel.

Batteries smaller and last longer

Charger smaller and lighter

Screen is far superior - you can judge focus better on location.

I've been using a 17-40 L on a 5D for a week now. Very good performance. Yes, its a little soft in the corners viewed at 100%, but hell, its a super wide angle - what should you expect.

With the 5D, I've gone for 17-40L, 24-105L, 100-400L for zooms.

Get them to give you a Tamron 17-35 if they wont give you a canon.

Tamron has a far superior compatibility record.

I've shot over 250 lanscape images with mine over the weekend.

Very very impressed. With the larger screen, you can now judge focus a lot better.

The first 5 shots in my lens test folder are from the 5D here on photo.net

You got an excellent price - ?2200 !

AJPurdy now have stock in at the moment - ?2345.

Ive posted some samples from the weekend :

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5D and 24-105 L IS

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3759354&size=lg"> cliffs</a>

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5D and Tamron 90/2.8

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3759505&size=lg">Pebbles</a>

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100% crop

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3759509">crop</a>

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5D and 100-400 L IS

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<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3759498-lg.jpg">Cliff Jumpers</a>

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100% crop - AF is spot on. Very happy.

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<a href="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3759503-lg.jpg">crop here</a>

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Another 5d and 100-400 L IS shot

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3759501">Woods</a>

Hi Ronan - nice review.

I got my 5D and 24-105 last week also. A few further points and comments to your review.

- you say MLU is a pain. You can set this to the Custom function, so that you can use C (on the mode dial) to switch MLU on or off.

- You've come from a 1Ds and 10D. If you had come from a 20D, you'd probably like the joystick - once you get used to it, it quicker than buttons.

- You used it as the 'second body' for your weddings. Is that becuase you aren't used to it ? Surely with far superior noise control and slightly higher resolution (and it weighing half as much as a 1Ds), it should be the primary body ?

Im very happy with mine, I've only taken about 250 landscape images over the last few days. Very happy I went with a 5D and not a 1DsMk1. I'd say this is the BEST AVAILABLE camera for travel.

That was me, who you were quoting.

Mine came in on Thursday last week, I got it on Friday (along with a 24-105 L).

Took about 250 shots on the south coast of the UK over the weekend. I am very very impressed.

Hope you get availability soon in the US !

It used to be that in the UK / Western Europe we would get Canon's products weeks after the USA, Japan and Hong Kong. Now we are amoungst the first. I think the 10-22 efs was seen first in Holland or Germany.

Have you noticed that most press releases etc come out of Holland ? Perhaps for the western world, Canon speaks from here now. Someone probably knows a lot more than me about the company - do tell !

Its certainly nice being told by Canon that I will have my 5D next week, rather than October.... Even if we do have to pay rip off britian prices !

<i> According to Amazon.com, the 5D doesn't ship until "This item will be released on November 15, 2005. You may order it now and we will ship it to you when it arrives." </i>

Is Amazon the law then ? They are always the LAST company to get stock.

I've had it confirmed by three different UK dealers that the 5D will be available next week. I've been told mine will be on my doorstep on Wednesday or Thursday. Jessops has 540 units sat in their distribution centre right now...

Duty is about 5-9% depending on what it is.

Vat is 17.5%

"handling fee by courier" will be about ?10

If I were after a 70-200/4L right now, I would let someone else do the importing. Typical example - Ebay item 7546354777

To be honest I was pleasantly surprised when I saw ?2539 for a UK high street price.

I converted: E3500 / 1.4 = ?2500, and thought, I bet Cheeky Canon UK charge ?2749 or ?2999. Canon UK are, after all just an importing company who need to make a cut.

It means were paying roughly the same as the Continental Europeans.

If you can wait a month or two after general availability, I'd say you'd be able to get it for ?2000 in the UK.

I use primes for weddings and portraits (24/1.4, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 135/2.8). This will not change.

The 24-105 (if its very good optically) will make a great walkaround and landscape tool, where I shoot at f8-11 usually. The fact that it is 690g is a bonus - the 24-70 is just far to heavy for what it is.

Yes, I've tried two 70-300 DOs, and they were soft wide open, and soft from about 230-300mm.

You need to keep this lens at 200mm or under, and stop this lens down to f8 or f11 to get good results.

I was getting better results *hand held* with a 70-200/4L wide open at 200mm than a 70-300 DO IS at f8 with IS on. The DO went back and I kept the 70-200/4L