Just call me 'flip flop'

[Paul Shields]

I made the mistake of reviewing some shots that I'd taken with the 5D prior to my returning it. There was something about them, especially when printed, that I just really liked (even with my current crappy lenses). Co-incidentally, an opportunity came along to pick one up at well below list price, and what do you know - I'm a 'Canon Guy' again (as well as an 'Olympus Guy' as I can't bear to get rid of the E-1 setup). I also have my 'Shanghai Special' EOS/OM adapter, so back to good old fashioned manual shooting with some fastish primes - it's great!

[metalstorm]

Hi Paul. Just curious, why did you return it the first time? 5D is definitely on my "to buy" list but I've decided to hold off until the purchase is painless for me.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by metalstorm

Hi Paul. Just curious, why did you return it the first time? 5D is definitely on my "to buy" list but I've decided to hold off until the purchase is painless for me.

I think a large part was just 'buyers remorse' - you know, the feeling that it didn't live up to your expectations. The retailer had a no-quibble return policy and so I took advantage of that. The issues were not earth shattering - I thought the image quality was exceptionally high, but there was a softness and vignetting in the corners, and I made the mistake of looking for dust spots and found them. I also had some banding in AF servo mode at high ISO, but I'm quite satisfied that was due to the lens and is not a general issue. I also thought the build quality did not live up to the list price (too used to the E-1 as my benchmark).

However, the IQ and high ISO capability is definitely seductive, and I was curious how it would work with my old manual focus OM lenses. I'll also take my time to understand it a bit more rather than making snap judgements based on using it with my old bargain bucket zoom lenses. I'm quite sure I'll get a lot of enjoyment from it (and hope I don't get the dust issues that do seem to be a bit of an issue with this model). It's now possible to pick up a 5D in the UK direct from Canon ('refurbished', but essentially as new and with full warranty) for around $1700 less than the original price, which makes it not that much more expensive than something like the D200, so I can live with it's imperfections a bit more than if I had paid what I had originally.

Hope that makes sense!

[Shortie]

Congrats Paul

[Mr. Pickles]

Want to know why Paul is like this?

Look at his current avatar (the little picture by his name on the left).

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

Want to know why Paul is like this?

Look at his current avatar (the little picture by his name on the left).

It's funny because it's true .

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by Paul

(and hope I don't get the dust issues that do seem to be a bit of an issue with this model).

Dust is an 'issue' with all current Canon DSLR's, the larger the sensor, the larger the chance that some dust will get on it...

IMHO the 'dust issue' is greatly overhyped with regard to the 5D.

I change lens often, sometimes VERY often, did a shoot this weekend that needed 24-70 for full body shots, then 70-200 for half-portrait and tight portrait (no space to move, organised shoot), so I think I changed about 6 times back and forth in about an hour...

On Sundayevening, I got the pecpads, the strip of creditcard-plastic and the Eclipse fluid, and cleaned the sensor in 5 minutes...

Once you know what you are doing and have done it a few times it is as easy, painless and 'routine' as changing and charging batteries...

...but as always, that's just *my* €0.02 worth, YMMV...

Kindest regards! (and congrats with your new 5D and on the great price for your 5D!)

Max@Home

[JKSeidel]

Originally Posted by Max@Home

IMHO the 'dust issue' is greatly overhyped with regard to the 5D.

I read a quote a month or so ago that was along the line of: "Combine a 5D with a dust sucker like the Canon 28-135mm and it will outperform a Hoover for general carpet cleaning needs.". I found that hilarious. Unfounded, but still hilarious.

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by Paul

I made the mistake of reviewing some shots that I'd taken with the 5D prior to my returning it. There was something about them, especially when printed, that I just really liked (even with my current crappy lenses). Co-incidentally, an opportunity came along to pick one up at well below list price, and what do you know - I'm a 'Canon Guy' again (as well as an 'Olympus Guy' as I can't bear to get rid of the E-1 setup). I also have my 'Shanghai Special' EOS/OM adapter, so back to good old fashioned manual shooting with some fastish primes - it's great!

Congrats on such a great deal!!!

[Paul Shields]

Cheers Kevin, and I promise I'll keep hold of this one a little longer .