Hi all, my name's Nick. I've been lurking in these forums (and this one in particular) for a while now, and there have been a lot of posts spouting rumour and hearsay as fact about the 5D Mark II black spot/white spot hardware/firmware problems. I just thought we should offset the negative vibes with a thread of posts from people who actually own one of these cameras, expressing how great a camera it actually is!I got mine from Jacobs with a free battery grip and second battery, so it's quite an intimidating looking beast now, but with the Sigma 105mm macro attached I'm getting some very impressive results; no spots of either colour, and some really nice high-ISO shots too. I have a set on flickr from a day I went to Borough Market in London and left the camera on ISO 3200 - you can see them athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nickminers/sets/72157611426252948/Who else has got one and never looked back?

I like my 5D mkII but I do not believe in plowing my head into the sand. Luckily, the dots issue does not affect my style of photography.The viewfinder information is even dimmer on the 5D mkII than the 5D in bright sunlight. Thank God for this implementation of Live View and the coated LCD (which I can get sort of giddy about).The 5D mkII includes a remore control sensor. Now I can now start using my beloved RC-5 once again.Obviously, much of what I can appreciate about the 5D mkII is usability.nickminerswrote:Hi all, my name's Nick. I've been lurking in these forums (and this one in particular) for a while now, and there have been a lot of posts spouting rumour and hearsay as fact about the 5D Mark II black spot/white spot hardware/firmware problems. I just thought we should offset the negative vibes with a thread of posts from people who actually own one of these cameras, expressing how great a camera it actually is!I got mine from Jacobs with a free battery grip and second battery, so it's quite an intimidating looking beast now, but with the Sigma 105mm macro attached I'm getting some very impressive results; no spots of either colour, and some really nice high-ISO shots too. I have a set on flickr from a day I went to Borough Market in London and left the camera on ISO 3200 - you can see them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickminers/sets/72157611426252948/Who else has got one and never looked back?

How come you got a free battery grip?

The free battery grip was one of the pre-order offers available at Jacobs. I ordered mine in September shortly after it was announced by Canon.

I had the same deal and ordered in September too. I think they stopped that deal when they realised how much in demand the camera was going to be! I was a bit upset that I didn't get it till after Xmas but it was definately worth the wait. I LOVE it!!! I have been using the 5D mk1 for the last 3 years but the mk2 is a whole new ball game. When you get it right (no easy task by the way) the video is stunning. -- Convergence is the future – accept or wither! G

very impressive results.. --My Pictures & Web Site:http://www.dltp.co.uk

I’m upgrading from the 30D, and this 5d2 is very nearly magic! My favorite feature is the auto-ISO setting. Combined with the 24-105/4 L IS it’s a marvelous combination.Major gripes – when is Canon coming out with the 24-70/2.8 L IS??? I miss my 17-55/2.8 IS :> )

I love my wife, but I love this camera on many levels that she will never touch. I believe this camera is a vision machine that sits at the top of an evolutionary technological ladder that in a way, I've been waiting for my whole life. It will allow me to continue as a still photographer while allowing me to produce outstanding professional quality moving images. In short this camera will allow me to grow in a way no camera has before. The 5DII is a milestone merging both stills and motion. How's that for praise?It's been a long evolutionary journey for me: Praktica > Canon AT-1 > Canon A-1, Canon F1, Mamiya 645 Super > 4X5 View Camera > Rebel 350/XT > Rebel 450/XSI > Canon 5D Mark II. The Road has been long and the rewards great.

M_Edgewrote:I’m upgrading from the 30D, and this 5d2 is very nearly magic! My favorite feature is the auto-ISO setting. Combined with the 24-105/4 L IS it’s a marvelous combination. Major gripes – when is Canon coming out with the 24-70/2.8 L IS??? I miss my 17-55/2.8 IS :> )May I ask how you could really be missing the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS when you have the EF 24-105 f4 on a FF?

Sorry, still don't know what you mean even after extensive Google searches!Moa?

nickminerswrote:Sorry, still don't know what you mean even after extensive Google searches!Moa? --I was wondering about that too. Perhaps he meant 'moi'?Moa is an extinct flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand. I do not think this really applies to Canon's latest.

Search for Moi insteadhe was answering the first post...'Me' in another language.Hence Moi for me too.Regardsnickminerswrote:Sorry, still don't know what you mean even after extensive Google searches!Moa? --

Lol - thanks, that makes more sense!

nickminerswrote:Lol - thanks, that makes more sense! --

May I ask how you could really be missing the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS when you have the EF 24-105 f4 on a FF?The 17-55, on my 30D1) The extra f-stop (2.8 vs. 4) gives me better subject isolation, particularly good for off-hand outdoors portraits,2) The f2.8 produces more accurate autofocusing, as the camera uses a different focusing mode for f-stops 2.8 and wider, 3) The wider f-stop allows better manual focusing and framing in low light,4) The IS is a later version, giving 4 stops vs. 3 stops on the 24-105, with 3 stopsThe 24-105/4 L IS on the 5D2 1) Has a wider zoom range (24-105 vs. 28-88) 2) Has that pretty little red ring, the 'mark of excellence' 3) Since it came with the body s the kit lens, it was cheaper than the 17-55

Were those all done with the Sigma 105 I have that lens and am looking to get the 5D MkII this week. Can't wait now after seeing those shots.Cheers Simon

Yes, they were all taken with that lens. It is a very good combination.

Fantastic, I have just placed my order for the camera, I just need a replacement for my Sigma 10-20 and I'm set. I'm going for the 17-40 L, but quickly before the price goes up again!nickminerswrote:Yes, they were all taken with that lens. It is a very good combination. --

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