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Tuesday 9 December 2008

Canon 5D MkII By Night

I've had my hands on a 5D MkII for over a week now as I'm reviewing it for the BJP's Christmas edition. Its going to be a sad day when I have to return the camera back to Canon.
The low light capabilities of this camera are absolutely astonishing. It almost makes you feel like you're cheating as it opens up possibilities where normally you would either:
a) have to get a tripod
b) use flash and kill the mood
c) leave and go home
The shot of the London Eye (above) is a nice shot by night. Not a difficult or demanding shot. However, you have to realise that it was taken hand held at 4000ASA! The picture's been taken using a Canon 45mm f2.8 TS-E (tilt and shift) which is quickly becoming a favourite lens for creative shooting.
The second picture of France's President Sarkozy (above) visiting Downing Street was taken yesterday after 4pm - basically it was almost pitch black. As my colleagues were forced to get their flashguns out and swap lenses to a 70-200 and hope the high gloss black door of number 10 wouldn't reflect too badly, I just stood there with a big smile, the 5D MkII and my 300mm f2.8L lens. I may have forgotten to mention that it was shot at 6400ASA! As I showed my colleagues the picture, an argument ensued - they were certain that I had used flash....until they realised there was no flash on the camera; oh what good fun!

8 comments:

  1. Yup, it definitely looks like it's a decent bit of kit! Great night shot.

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  2. Thanks mate; much appreciated.
    The camera is most definitely a very decent bit of kit!! It just opens up so many possibilities.

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  3. Stunning use of the camera capabilities to make some great pictures.

    I think that once a few more people get the camera in their hands we'll really be able to judge the nature of the beast. At the moment it seems that Canon had launched a low light video camera instead of a fine stills camera.

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  4. p4, you're absolutely right. The majority of people are focusing on the camera's video capabilities. I must admit, that I too am stunned by its abilities as a video camera. Its the first time in my career that I've taken an interest in video, and its purely based on this camera.
    However, moving onto stills, I have to say that I'm blown away by the quality of the image made by the camera - its stunning.

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  5. Great pics indeed... I had the 5D in my hands too, but only on a Canon discovery day here in Brussels, so not much time to test it. Anyway, I'm waiting mine for this week or next, really can't wait !!! Hope to have it for Xmas and enjoy the candles light !

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  6. Many thanks :-)
    You are definitely going to enjoy the candle light!
    If you put an f1.2 (like the 50 or 85mm) on the 5D MkII, I don't think there's any situation that you can see with your eye that you won't be able to photograph! Its that good.
    Have fun with it!!

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Sorry, so many mistakes in deleted comment...

    Thanks Edmond! I'll tell you when I'll took time to make some tests...
    Cheers !

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