I had my first real shoot with my new 5D Mark II. I paired it with a Canon 100mm macro lens and headed to Jenkin's Reserve Dog Park.
I went out into the garden today to play with my new buddy, Mark II. I popped the 100mm macro lens on and went searching. The macro always manages to turn something average into something special. I'm pleased to say I'm familiar with the controls now, so the camera was left on manual.
Because we're in the middle of winter, there's not a lot happening in my garden at the moment, however, the grevilleas were blooming and Mark (re)produced some brilliant colours. Last week I picked up my new Canon 5D Mark II camera body. Up until then I was shooting through a Canon 450D. The 450D is a good camera and produces nice images, but I felt I'd outgrown it. Plus, I've got a couple of lenses that (I think) deserve to be on a more professional body.
Getting the new body also means saying goodbye to two lenses that I knew wouldn't function on the Mark II. One is the (rather average) 18-55mm that came as part of the 450D kit. The other is my Sigma 10-20mm. I've only used the Sigma a handful of times and was put off by the distorted edges. I could've worked around/with it but it's too late now. I only have two lenses that fit the new body: a Canon 100mm macro, and a Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L. The macro is my favourite and has been ever since I bought it. I use it for close-ups (sometimes teamed with extension rings) and portraits. It takes stunning portrait shots. I'm hoping now it's on the Mark II, it'll take uber-stunning portraits. I also found out that I needed to buy new, CF memory cards. The numerous, expensive SD cards I'd bought for the 450D don't fit the Mark II. The Mark II doesn't have an onboard flash, either, but luckily an old flash I used with my (film) Praktica fits it. I'm all set to go. Now I just need to find something or someone to shoot. Watch this space! I've just bought myself a new Canon 5D Mark II camera (that's it, above). Join me as I get to know and love my new body.
|