I was trying to take a shot (rather crudely) with my 5D tonight and I just couldn’t get it to come out the way I wanted it to. I couldn’t get it sharp for a start, and I was using my macro lens, not the 24-105, so I guess it’s not just that lens. It’s like the focus points are lying. In the end I got the shot I wanted with the D90 more or less first go. Nothing spectacular, but still.
I also got to look at some of the other shots I’d taken during the day with both cameras and the ones from the D90 are just better out of camera. I’m sure I could tweak the 5D’s to match but that’s not really the point.
Anyway, I’ve come to the conclusion that in every area except high ISO noise (800 and above) the D90 is a just better. And, if you take the sensor out of the equation, and in terms of just the handling, then the D90 is a much better camera, and that’s not even with Nikon’s full ergonomics that’s on the D300 and above. I’m reluctant to leave my Canon system behind, but seen as they’ve changed virtually none of the issues I’m having on the 5D with the 5DII (ergonomics, focusing and metering) I can’t justify getting one, 21 megapixels or not.
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Didn’t Canon change to Digic IV and new menus?
just left a post on the ‘Four weeks and counting’ entry and followed a link here.
One major consideration. The 5D is full frame whilst the D90 is FX or cropped format. This means that the depth of field is about 5 times greater with the D90 which tempts you to think that it is giving sharper pics versus the 5D whereas it’s only perceived sharpness rather than actual sharpness. Another point to consider – because of the reduced DOF on full frame cameras, lens defects, particularly front and rear focussing calibration is very important. It is entirely possible you have a lens suffering from this problem. Adjustments can be made at service centers since it’s a relatively common defect arising from factory settings being applied to a product with varying manufacturing tolerances.
“This means that the depth of field is about 5 times greater with the D90 which tempts you to think that it is giving sharper pics versus the 5D whereas it’s only perceived sharpness rather than actual sharpness.”
I’m not imagining it – they are sharper pictures. If I can perceive that one image is sharper than the other then it is sharper. Whether perceived or actual it’s still sharper. Yes the D90 has an unfair advantage – but a very expensive L series lens should be able to take pictures as sharp as a very cheap kit lens – despite the additional depth of field.
You could be right about the lens needing calibration, but again, it’s happening on more than one lens, and I’ve read about others having this issue too.