Canon 5DII anyone?

[desperoadie]

So a couple of weeks ago I decided to buy a 2nd hand Ikelite with one DS125 strobe for my wife's Canon 20D. To have a back-up I bought a 2nd 20D second hand.
I intend to try the set out soon but...
I saw a video of the Canon 5DII and was blown away! I'd love to have one! The cost would be steep and I haven't voiced this at home yet...
So is there anybody here who has used the 5DII u/w? How is the video u/w? The possibility to shoot stills and vido seems very nice.
And what housing to go with? I am not attached to the Ikelite housing but like it since it is not complicated and not too expensive, which is an issue as I don't dive that much.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[M_Bipartitus]

Wish I could help, really.
I was about to but the full set new camera and housing, but they couldn't get ma a housing in time for some trips I have, so I'm staking with a 5D in ikelite.

Having used the 5D mkII briefly I found the video quality to be very good, but also limited. Since the video is basically a full auto mode with the camera in control of everything you are a little limited in what changes you can do. The metering system takes over and shifts ISO, aperture and shutter speed while the video is going. White balance is more critical since you don't have a RAW-type video file.

As a more general comment, I think few still-photographers spend enough time thinking about how a video should be structured. Sure you can just turn on the camera and let it run for a few minutes then post the result on youtube, but to make an engaging film documenting your dives is an entirely different thing. If you go out an read a book on film editing you find how much though goes into exactly how and when the shots change and how it changes our perception of the moving image.

 

[gogums]

Wish I could help, really.
I was about to but the full set new camera and housing, but they couldn't get ma a housing in time for some trips I have, so I'm staking with a 5D in ikelite.

Having used the 5D mkII briefly I found the video quality to be very good, but also limited. Since the video is basically a full auto mode with the camera in control of everything you are a little limited in what changes you can do. The metering system takes over and shifts ISO, aperture and shutter speed while the video is going. White balance is more critical since you don't have a RAW-type video file.

As a more general comment, I think few still-photographers spend enough time thinking about how a video should be structured. Sure you can just turn on the camera and let it run for a few minutes then post the result on youtube, but to make an engaging film documenting your dives is an entirely different thing. If you go out an read a book on film editing you find how much though goes into exactly how and when the shots change and how it changes our perception of the moving image.

I too don't have the 5DmkII but I want one. I was initially intrigued by the mkII's video feature for UW stuff. After seeing many sample videos on the net I was really impressed (all topside stuff...haven't seen anything underwater).

However my lust subsided a bit when I learned that you can not auto focus while recording in LiveView mode. I guess if you are comfortable focusing in manual mode then it's not much of an issue, but for my interests I *think* I would prefer to have auto focus. I know you can go out of LiveView, auto focus on subject, go back into LiveView and record, but once in LiveView and recording you can not auto focus.

Also, for me, the most attractive aspect to shooting with a FF sensor is tapping into fast lenses for shallow DOF shots. I'm a shallow DOF who^e so the thought of having to manually focus razor thin DOF's for video doesn't get me too excited.

Of course I could stop the lens down to f/16 and not worry about DOF but then I'd wouldn't be quenching my addiction to shallow DOF.

M_Bipartitus: You mentioned in video mode the camera selects aperture and shutter speed. I was under the impression, although again I've never had one like you did, that you could set your aperture. Didn't know that it will auto adjust the f/stop of the lens.
Also, forgive my ignorance with video, but why would the camera control shutter speed while recording video? Isn't is all at something like 30fps?

 

[bvanant]

In the 5D Mark II if you run it in P mode then everything is automatic. You can of course capture video in aperture priority mode for DOF control, and the camera basically changes either capture speed (1/60 or 1/125 are the only two choices) or it changes ISO for constant exposure. If you shoot UW video you know that video cameras do the same thing right? How do you think they control exposure? In any case if you are wanting video and still better get big and strong because you will need strobes and HID lighting if you are serious. I haven't seen a 5DII housing yet, but Jean has shown the Aquatica pictures and it should be here soon.

Bill

 

[M_Bipartitus]

My impression was that aperture was also set by the camera, as all movies are in full auto mode. I don't have the camera, so I can't check and the manual is vague on this point. If you really want to know about it look over at

Fix My 5D (Mark II)

They are serious about the video mode being "broken." I understand some users have taken to workarounds such as using old manual lenses or preventing the camera from communicating with the lens.

 

[bvanant]

AFAIK, the video mode on the 5dMarkII certainly runs in aperture priority. If you are in aperture priority mode, the camera will first adjust the ISO, then the shutter speed. If both are wrong, then the camera will adjust the aperture for auto exposure. Since the joy of aperture control is very very shallow DOF if you are in very bright light then you might need an ND filter.