Long story short: I'm taking a two week trip to Vietnam in a couple of months. I intend to shoot a short documentary while there, potentially just for personal use. Might get some good shots (landscapes, etc.)

Now to the problem: My production camera weighs nearly 20lbs, plus tripod, plus extra lenses, equipment, bags, etc... It's a lot to take for one, but perhaps more importantly, it's hard to carry a 20lb camera around the streets of Saigon without eliciting a little too much attention, which could cause problems--never mind the practical concern of actually lugging the thing around with me.

Which draws me to my point. I'm considering purchasing the 5D Mark II.

My primary still camera right now is and has been the 20D for the last... whenever the bloody thing came out. 7? 8 years? I love the camera, and as far as still photos go, the only thing that's ever motivated me to upgrade is the fact that it's a crop body.

Does it seem worth it to go for the 5Dii as opposed to the 7D? I want to feel like this purchase will provide a significant still camera upgrade as well...

Any thoughts? Recommendations?

 

What lenses do you currently own?

 

28-105mm USM
10-22mm Ultra-Wide USM
50mm Prime 1.4
70-200mm 2.8L
70-300mm (BAD)
Old Kit lens

+FD Lenses (Applies to the production camera which can film with FDs)

 

Well, given the 10-22 is designed for the crop body, I would say 7d.

 

I mean how much do you think I'm loosing by going with the 7D's crop?
I don't remember your whole camera line... do you use any crop bodies when shooting?

(Also, it's not like I'm tossing the 20D, so the 10-22 wouldn't be a loss.)

 

^ I own 2, 1Ds MKIII and 2, 40D's

You have to think of it 2 ways, with a crop your gaining on the telephoto end and loosing on the wide end. Your 10-22mm solves the loss on the wide end with a crop body but if you go FF the widest lens you have at that point is your 50mm 1.4. Remember your EFS 10-22mm will not mount to a FF body.

So ask yourself if you get the FF, do you want to buy a 16-35 or equiv along with it to get the wide back? Or are you ok with 50mm being your widest lens?

Edit, just re-read your lens list i notice you have the 28-80mm but its not a very good lens the 5DII will out-resolve this lens. So I dont think you will be happy with the shots that lens will produce on a 5DII and honestly 28mm is not very wide especially if your thinking your going to shoot some landscapes.

 

Sounds like you're right then; 7D is the way to go. I think I just had convinced myself I needed FF.

Thanks for the advice!

Don't suppose you've had any experience with the "Movie Mode" on the 7D/5D?

 

^ Nope, honestly I abhor video on still cameras.

 

I would typically agree with you--in fact, my first reaction to the feature on the 7D/5D was disgust... but it turns out they produce about the best 35mm digital video you can get for the price--and certainly for the size.

Thanks for your advice!

 

^ Your welcome Glad to help.