5D2 for Landscapes ?

[Jim Kranick]

Right now I'm shooting large Florida birds with a pair of Canon 7Ds and EF teles. I have the 10-22mm and 15-85mm that I use for casual landscapes ("That's a nice sunrise") and informal snapshots. I was planning to get some filters for them and start working on improving my landscapes.

But the new, low prices for the 5D2 have peaked my interest in going Full Frame now for landscapes. I would get the 24-105 kit lens and a 17-40mm, similar FOV to the 10-22 and 15-85 on my crop. I would keep the 7Ds and teles for my avian work. The 5D2 would be used for tripod mounted landscapes and some handheld landscapes. No people shots, no weddings, no events. Does this 5D2 kit sound reasonable for someone getting back into landscapes after many decades? I don't think the improved AF, frame rate, dual memory cards, etc. of the new 5D3 would help me very much with what I want to shoot and the $1800 price difference would just about buy a 24mm TS-E.

I was wondering what increase in IQ I would see over the 7D and EF-S lenses in 11x14 and 13x19 prints. Does anyone have an opinion?

Thank, Jim

[Roger Clark]

Jim,
I have a 7D and a 5D2. The full frame and 21 megapixels are great. I use the 5D2 for landscapes a lot. I've also used the 5D2 for birds and on safari as my primary camera. How low are prices? I might pick up another one. The 24-105 is great, but I would not use a 17-40. Whenever I need wider, I simply do a mosaic, even hand held.

Roger

[Jim Kranick]

Beach Camera (New Jersey) had the body only for $1799 and the kit for $2500 on their eBay store in the past three weeks. They have the 5D3 + 24-105 kit with a Canon bag, good CF card and other things for $4300 right now.

Canon has lowered the offical price to $2199 for the body and $2999 for the kit. And $1760 ? for a refurb body.

[arash_hazeghi]

another solid vote for 5D2. Best FF for the money, can't beat the quality for that price.

[David Stephens]

I own a 7D and a 5D2 and always reach for the 5D2 for landscapes.

[Melissa Groo]

I would say the 5d2 is the camera of choice (in terms of canon) for many if not most of today's top landscape photographers. Don't discount using it for birds either when you have something close and fairly stationary, the detail trumps all.

[Steve Uffman]

Jim,
I have a 7D and a 5D2. The full frame and 21 megapixels are great. I use the 5D2 for landscapes a lot. I've also used the 5D2 for birds and on safari as my primary camera. How low are prices? I might pick up another one. The 24-105 is great, but I would not use a 17-40. Whenever I need wider, I simply do a mosaic, even hand held.

Roger

I am with Roger on the 5dII for birds, bears, landscapes and Africa. I have the 7d and the 5dIII. I also had a 5dII that is like new (Aug 2011)which I got a great price to sell when I committed to the 5dIII....until they wanted another price adjustment when the price of the 5dII fell again. I said no thanks, I will keep it for my wife as it takes great images and I am headed to shoot black bears next month (crop factor can be a limiter there) and am going back to Africa. I find full frame to be a wonderful tool for a great many things...