Canon 5D MK11 - In da House!

A new Canon 5D MK11 w/ vertical grip arrived from Roberts Imaging today. Just a heads up to let you know I'll be doing extensive shooting with this camera over the next three or four weeks. I want to see exactly what it's capable of and that includes trying to get my head around the HD video mode.

I can tell you right off that the full frame feature is off the charts. I threw a Canon 16mm-35mm f/2.8 L series lens on it right out of the box. I'm hear to tell you... 16mm is WIDE. I'm going to need a pedicure before shooting with this thing down at the beach.

I've done a quick run through of the menus and so far, everything appears fairly straight forward. While this camera certainly packs a ton of "new" technology, there are a lot of little whistles and bells that I'd put under the category of "features" as opposed to true "benefits. But, none-the-less it's a nice layout.

First impression left me thinking the camera is bit louder than other Canon's I've owned. Pretty good bang out of the shutter and mirror and the knurled knob that controls the aperture, shutter and ISO settings has a pretty severe ratchet sound too. I don't know if it will bother me... but the sounds are different.

I'll get out and do some basic shooting with it this weekend and try to post up a few images. Hopefully before I head to Lime Rock for the ALMS event next month I'll have a handle on the video section and see if we can't put together a short feature/clip.

Buckle up... this should be fun!

Comments

[MrChad]

John you are going to be blown away by the new low light - high ISO options of this camera. I've had one since last fall and the kiddo is safe no where to hide from crazy dad with a camera. I'll be interested for your take on it's motorsport performance, I'm traveling to several ALMS races as a fan later this season and will likely be using this with a rented 500mm/4L I plan to share with a buddy over a few venues and I'm hoping for improved center Ai Servo tracking as apposed to prior 30/40D use.

The only downside, this camera has made my 2G CF cards worthless and a huge WD MyBook studio now a fixture on my desk and not an option. The dark side of huge 21MP Raw files.

[John Thawley]

I can tell you there are some things I like already.... like a full 16mm. That rocks!

I will still rely on the 40D for trackside shooting for the most part. I think the 5D MK11 will be applicable in some cases, but 3fps isn't good, and the AI Servo tracking doesn't appear to be as fast as the 40D. I don't what you've used (lens-wise) on your previous 30D / 40D, but my 500mm f/4 tracks beautifully with that lens and my 70-200 f/2.8. But, for pit, paddock, atmosphere and beauty shots, I think is going to get a work out.

Watch this space, as they say. :)

JT

[MrChad]

Thanks John, over all my 40D is much faster then my 5DII for total AF speed, but I can't say for sure if the 5DII is any worse then my prior 30D which I sold to spring for this jobber. I wasn't really happy with head-on Ai Servo with either my 30D or 40D ( I was using the 70-200/2.8L non-IS at the time), but I was hoping the 6 hidden AF sites on the 5DII may help that with center point Ai selection on a bigger tele. But I won't be able to try that until later in August as I won't be renting a prime tele lens until the Mid-Ohio race.

But over all I have zero complaints with my 5DII, and yes I love using my wide zoom - especially indoors. But I also love how close I can now focus and frame my 70-200 as well.