Camera upgrade/overhaul

[Discus-n00b]

I've spent many moons thinking about it. I finally pulled the trigger and did it. I've been using my old Canon 300D Digital Rebel (First generation) for years now, and they don't even make 300D's anymore. Its a great camera still, and will be used as a backup. I spent time debating Nikon, but I've always been a Canon user and fan and it wasn't worth having to sell my camera and lenses to replace it with Nikon gear. So I stayed loyal to Canon (which was my first choice anyway).

The new king in town arrives on my doorstep today. Its a huge chunk of cash, and probably more then most will put on a camera but hey...look at the thousands i've spent on discus over the years. Hobbies arn't cheap. I wanted to update my camera from a starter DSLR to a more professional model. Its a Canon 5D Mark II. HUGE upgrade over the 300D. I'm hoping to not only get great fish/aquarium pictures out of this, but also break into some landscapes/wildlife photography as well and maybe sell prints down the road or get published with something. AND the 5D Mark II has 1080p video...on a DSLR. Will be fun to play with. With it comes the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.

There will be plenty of pictures once it arrives don't worry, just wanted to share my excitement with everyone. ;) Especially since a group of Kenny's fish arrive tomorrow!

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/assets/22864.jpg

[David Rose]

And I thought I had it bad when I got the 50D....LOL! Can't wait to see your works of art! :)

[Discus-n00b]

The 50D is really nice. It was in my final choices actually and came down to the 5D MK II or the 50D, and I chose the 5D MK II. I love the feel of the 5D compared to my 300D. Does Canon even make DSLRs in silver anymore? LOL The first time I looked through the viewfinder I pulled back and said WOW before I looked again. Its so much larger then the 300D! Full frame!

Lens on the 5DMKII is the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Lens on the 300D is the VERY useful, dependable, and highly recommended by me Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/5DMKII3.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/5DMKII2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/5DMKII1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/5DMKII4.jpg

[David Rose]

I've run into a lot of folks that have the Rebel and love them! I love my 50D and have so much to learn about it still. I see the body frames look the same between the 5D and 50D? The only thing I didn't do up front is make sure I was getting Cannon lenses, so that's still on my wish list and they cost as much or more than the camera...LOL! I've been looking at few of the IS USM lenses and sample shots that they can produce...truly spectacular.

One of these days! :p

[jball1125]

Nice upgrade! Cant wait to see all the pics of your fish. :D

[roclement]

so what camera are you using to take pictures of your cameras? :)

I sold my Canon 5D a couple of months back, it is a hell of a tool for photography, I agree that you need to buy the 100 f2.8 macro, it is not even the "L" series lens but so great! It is a sharp piece of glass!

Rod

[Discus-n00b]

Haha a small sony cybershot!

The battery should be about done charging hmm. And the White Butterflies do have a batch of eggs right now...

[2075turner]

so what camera are you using to take pictures of your cameras? :)

I sold my Canon 5D a couple of months back, it is a hell of a tool for photography, I agree that you need to buy the 100 f2.8 macro, it is not even the "L" series lens but so great! It is a sharp piece of glass!

Rod

lol, that's what I was thinking when I started to read the thread:D

[2075turner]

Very nice camera. I have thought on and off about getting a camera, like you said they are a big investment and I'm doing things to get my basement up and going so that's where my cash goes for now. One of these days I'm hoping to get a nice camera;)

[Discus-n00b]

Couple of pics, these are basically without doing anything. Pretty much out of the box, minor adjustments. Flashes are a little bright, but I can hone that in. Focus is great, very happy.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/WB1-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/group1-2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo3.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo2-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo1-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/ABDt1.jpg

[rickztahone]

that's ridiculously clear pictures. great upgrade. i was thinking of selling my DSLR and getting this one as well. if i sold my tank and discus i might be in the market, lol. then i would have to save for the lens as well, lol. great pics though, and like you said, that's out of the box! imagine when you start messing with ISO/shutters speed/appature and such. truely awesome!

[pcsb23]

Nice upgrade Matt. Surprised you even thought about changing to Nikon as you are a Canon user. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge Nikon fan and I use Nikon's. Just when you buy all the extra lenses etc, seems bonkers to change.

Very nice shots too, like thos a lot!

[Discus-n00b]

Thanks.

Paul, Nikon has some really good systems out. Worth the consideration even if its just for a few seconds. Just like the computer race between Intel and AMD, goes back and forth.

Check out video mode. This is pretty much same as the pictures, stock everything....no settings messed with, just flipped the video mode on and shot. Be sure to watch in 1080p. It was also done with manual focus, so I was controlling it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMVPSNGTBxA

[calihawker]

Those pics look great Matt! Oh and the fish look pretty good too!!!!

[rickztahone]

Thanks.

Paul, Nikon has some really good systems out. Worth the consideration even if its just for a few seconds. Just like the computer race between Intel and AMD, goes back and forth.

Check out video mode. This is pretty much same as the pictures, stock everything....no settings messed with, just flipped the video mode on and shot. Be sure to watch in 1080p. It was also done with manual focus, so I was controlling it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMVPSNGTBxA

that's better than my sony handycam hd camcorder. great buy dude.

[Eddie]

that's ridiculously clear pictures. great upgrade.


+1, some INSANE clarity! Great shots Matt!

Eddie

[Discus-n00b]

Care for some more? ;) Nothing fancy, still playing around. The bad thing about this camera is you can see EVERY scratch on my tank glass LOL gotta love detail I guess.

Some new fish from Kenny in the tank now. Moved a few out into other tanks to make some room.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Cturq6.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Cturq4.jpg

Flamingo red is crazy. Zero color corrections. What you see is what I see. Now whos running to order Flamingos from Kenny? :D hehe
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo4-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo5-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo6-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Flamingo7-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Group2-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/clemmatt/Discus/Group4-1.jpg

[2075turner]

Wow,
Now I want this camera:p Great pics:D

[jball1125]

Awesome pics and nice shipment from Kenny!

On two of the pics it looks like your cobalt is giving the spongefilter the "I want to lay eggs on you, so I need to clean you to death" look.. Am I right? :D

[Discus-n00b]

Thanks. Not sure what they liked about that sponge...but they've been picking at it and hanging by it a lot today.