Sunrise on Canon’s New 5D MkII

After much speculation, the sun has finally risen on Canon’s upgraded, mid-line, full-frame DSLR. All the poop can be found here and here, or at the dedicated web site, here. From the preliminary info found on Canon’s site, it offers many of the same exciting features as the new 50D — Digic4; big, new display; live-view auto-focus; “Creative Auto” mode — and the same disappointments — still only 9 AF points. Canon have also included an HD movie recording mode while in live-view.

Body-only price is expected to be about U$2,700 (about U$1,400 more than the 50D), with initial shipments set for the end of November. It does not use the same accessories as the 40D/50D (battery, grip), and cannot use EF-S lenses, so my 12-24mm f/4 would be unusable.

So, what’s the big deal? That BIG sensor, more than anything else. It’s over 21 megapixels, yet still allows for larger photo-sites than a camera with an APS-C sensor, like the 40D or 50D. In theory, that means that it’s easier for each photo-site to gather light, with means less noise.

What I really don’t know is whether or not a full-frame sensor offers that much of an advantage for the kinds of shooting that I do. It’s certainly helpful at the wide-angle end (although, as I mention above, the 12-24mm lens is not usable), allowing the use of 24mm and 20mm prime lenses, as well as many other wonderful wide lenses.

Hmmm…

Honestly, it’s a disappointing upgrade. If I buy anything new, camera-wise, in the spring, it would more likely be a 50D, which I wrote about previously. [UPDATED: Okay, maybe not so disappointing! See my post of 23 September...]