Canon 5D mk2 + 24-105mm f4 L lens = Good combo?

[James J]

As some of you may have already read, I'm looking at going full frame after being without a camera for a few months now and missing taking photos greatly. Got a decent budget now set aside for a camera and I'm still deciding whether to go D700 or 5D mk2 as the new cameras are simply out of my price range.

However, I have some questions and a few concerns. The autofocus system on the 5d mk2 is exceptionally old, but is it actually decent? The D700 has a 51 point AF vs 9 on the 5D mk2 which is quite off putting. Also reviews say that the shadows on even 100 iso on the 5D mk2 are noisy, also putting me off slightly.

On the other hand its a lighter camera and the lens choices seem far more simple due to the L variants for full frame cameras (if I understand their nomenclature correctly).

My questions are as follows:

1 - is the 5D with the 24-105 F4 lens a good combination and how good is the lens in general? Is it good for things like wildlife photography with a fast focus on it or is it quite slow to get an object in proper focus? Also how good is the sharpness on it at F4?

2 - Whats a good 50mm prime lens for the 5D mk2 which doesn't break the bank but has good bokeh? Is there actually one available?

3 - Will the AF system or ISO performance on the mk2 ever limit what I do compared to the nikon D5100 camera I had previously? The nikon camera I had couldn't do over 800 iso without experience noise issues. Can this do better?

Opinions greatly appreciated.

 

[James J]

Good information guys so thanks for that. Swaying more over to the D700 as the D800 and the mk3 are just too expensive for me at the moment.

I'd want a good prime lens for portraits and a macro lens for very close up stuff. I'll get a telephoto down the line when I have more funds.

Any suggestions?

 

[James J]

This is kinda what worries me because if there are such strong opinions on these two products, it means that they are really quite different in their approach to different pictures.

Most of the photos I take are landscape or portrait, but I'm looking at doing macro work as I enjoy it. I tended to do quite a lot of night time photography or dusk landscapes, so good performance in low light is ideal really.

I was gonna do this all later this year but my girlfriend graduates soon and I want to give her and her family some good photos of the event so that they can remember it fondly. She's doing really well at uni and it'll be nice for me to have a proper camera again over the summer before I start my two years of hell on my course.

Will that 24-105mm F4 lens have enough reach for a graduation ceremony do you think or would I be better off buying the body only and getting something like a 70-200mm F4 instead?

This is assuming I was going down the canon route.

I also have another requirement and that is the ability to control an external flash for some creative lightning shots. Can the 5D mk2 do this as I believe the D700 can?

 

[James J]

I've been to 3 graduation ceremony and I have never seen anyone use telephoto lens, and I can't think of any more ackward sitatuation.

I got my mom to take my graduation ceremony with a 70mm lens on x1.5 crop body (105mm) and it came out perfectly fine.

The important question is do you really need upclose and personal shot of you receiving the award (buy the official photograph instead?) or afterward shots with your family, university colleagues and friends?

I would take the latter, and the 5D Mark II + 24-105mm would be perfect.

Unless your doing work for graduation ceremony, you would need the telephoto, plus a prime lens.

Nah I'm not doing any work for the uni with it, its just nice to have more than just the photos you have to buy from the professional they hire for it. My girlfriend is bulgarian and only her mother and sister can make it over because her dad has an important job and can't get the time off work. More for his benefit than hers as he'll at least get to see a bit more than the "official" photos show.