Gannet on Blue

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO

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This review discusses four pieces of camera equipment:  the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Single Lens Reflex camera, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens, the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO lens, and the Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO lens.

This equipment now makes up my camera kit and was assembled in the last week of May, 2009, just prior to my participation in a Photo Travel Review seminar at the Isle of Arran, Scotland, and at Northumberland, England, during June 3 through June 24, 2009.

I have always wanted a camera system that produces high quality images in a package that is small, light weight, and durable.  So, some months ago I assessed my camera kit, and through the sale of my older equipment, I finally acquired the system discussed herein.  My choices for each part of the kit were formed after reviewing the comments and images of photographers I respect and admire.

After traveling nearly 15,000 miles and shooting under extreme weather conditions in remote locations, I am assessing how the system performed and have formed some conclusions about each part of the kit for your consideration.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II

The technical specifications for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II can be found at Canon’s Official Website.  Let’s just say, there is lots packed into this small camera.  My particular interest is the 36.0mm x 24.0mm (35mm Full-frame) sensor, delivering approximately 21.1 megapixels in resolution.  After having used the 1Ds Mark II, the difference in resolution was, for me, a WOW, delivering amazing details, as in this shot of a Gannet in flight done with the Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO.

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In the field, I found the camera a joy to use.  The “live view” function allowed me to fine tune exposures, this was especially useful because once the exposure is set, I was free to concentrate on composition and action.

As was the case with the original 5D, images have a “creamy” texture to them.  It is difficult to explain, it’s like shooting with fine grain film.  While images require a tad extra sharpening when post processing, the overall appearance of images is simply stunning.

As in this image of Bamburgh Castle, done with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens.

Bamburgh Castle in Blue

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And in this one, done with the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-6.6 DO lens.

Behold

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What I very much appreciate about the EOS 5D Mark II is it’s size, especially when coupled with the 70-300mm DO lens.  What a joy to shoot birds in flight with the combination.  My arms don’t tire out, I can move rapidly, and the two systems, camera and lens, are wonderfully fast at focus.

This is not to say that the camera is without fault.  There are issues.  Weather sealing is my biggest gripe.  Canon could have made the camera with better seals around the CF compartment and the battery door.  When you work in rain, snow, sleet, hail, and salt water environments, weather sealing is a constant worry.  And despite Canon’s claim of providing better sealing than the original 5D, it still is not a professional grade body.  I also worry about handling a large lens with the camera attached.  One must never pick up the 5D II with a 400mm lens attached, one must pick up the lens instead!  I also found mode selection wheel to be an issue, when placing the camera in a back pack it is likely to change settings unnoticed.  I found that happen several times during my trip.  As well, the camera on/off switch on my camera is rubbing the finish off the body at the end of the switch.  Meaning I must return it to Canon for repair.

But despite these nits, the EOS 5D Mark II is a special camera indeed.  And, as my trip to the Isle of Arran in Scotland and Northumberland in England progressed, I began to appreciate more and more all of the technical advances that the EOS 5D Mark II has on board.

Machrie Moor Stone Circle, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO

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Sometimes getting to a place to do photography is an adventure in itself.  My journey to Bass Rock in a small fishing boat was, to put it politely, interesting.  But, the trip was one that I shall never forget.  The trip was arranged through the Scottish Seabird Centre, a charity dedicated to inspiring people to appreciate and care for wildlife and the environment.  My colleague and I from Photo Travel Review were very fortunate to make a landing on Bass Rock.  Tides and weather affect landings.  Some of my friends have tried as many as five times to make a landing. As we approached Bass Rock, the team from the Seabird Centre began “chumming,” that is, tossing small fish remains into the sea along the side of our small boat.  Soon, the sky was filled with Gannets and gulls and I had my EF 24-105mm f/4 set to 24mm and f/16 ready to capture the action.

Bass Rock Chumming

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L

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In sum, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera produced wonderful images for me over a three-week period.  Yes, it does have some issues, but frankly I do not know of a better camera for the money on the market today.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L Lens

If I could own only one lens, it would be the EF 24-105mm f/4L.  I have used the lens in dozens of locations across the world, always with more than satisfactory results.  It is perfectly matched with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, providing a wonderful balance between lens and camera.  Its range gives one the ability to do landscapes and portraits, and is perfect for travel photography.

Lindisfarne Castle and Garden, Northumberland, England

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Bamburgh Castle in Magenta Light

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The Canon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO Lens

This lens is known in the photography community as a “love/hate”lens.  I fall on the side of the “love” group.  What I love about the lens is its size and its incredible image quality.  When mounted on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, it is perfectly balanced and an absolute joy to use.  I have to laugh when some photographers state that the lens is useless for wildlife photography, that it is slow to focus, that its images are soft.  Baloney!

Here is a small gallery of shots done at Bass Rock using the lens.  Judge for yourself.

Head On

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Gannet Love

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Gannet Outreach

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Nesting Gannet

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Love on the Arch

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Gannet Diagonal

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The Landing

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Gannet Kiss

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I don’t think I have ever used a more responsive or sharper lens in all my years of doing photography.  This lens is simply fantastic.  I was able to acquire, focus, and capture nearly 90% of all my flight shots at Bass Rock with no problems.  The other 10% were my fault, not the fault of the lens.

I enjoy too the versatility of the lens.  Here is a shot done from a Ferry Boat on my way to the Isle of Arran.

Windmills at Stevenson

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The Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO Lens

I am primarily a wildlife photographer.  A 400mm lens is an absolute necessity if one does this form of photography.  And through the years I have used many lens combinations to reach 400mm.  I have used the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L, the Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS, and the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lenses all with great results.

My trip to Scotland and Northumberland was my first opportunity to use the EF 400mm f/4 DO lens in the field.  And I was not disappointed.

Here is a small gallery of shots done with the lens:

Curves

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Puffin with Sand Eels

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Puffin Landing

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Headed Home With Dinner

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Artic Tern with Sand Eel

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Bottom line with me is that this lens will be with me on all my future wildlife photography adventures.  I can’t wait to use it in Africa, my next photographic trip.

I like the lens for many reasons, the main issue being that I can shoot with it handheld with no issues because of its light weight.  It is incredibly sharp.  Even with a 1.4x attached, giving me a 560mm lens, the images are sharp as a razor.

Summary And Conclusions

The Canon EOS 5d Mark II Camera

Pros:

Superb images, the best there is.

Size and weight.

Excellent menu layout and user interface.

Live view.

Fast auto focus.

Cons:

Build quality.  Charge me more money but give me a professional grade body with decent weather sealing!

Mode dial moves to easily.

Camera on/off switch rubs the camera body.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L

Pros:

Superb image resolution at all f-stops.

Build quality is excellent.

Excellent range, the perfect travel lens.

Cons:

Wish it were a 18-105mm!

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO

Pros:

Small, light weight, easy to maneuver.

Sharp.

Fast auto focus.

Cons:

Expensive.

No weather sealing.

Lens creep.

Build Quality is not “L” grade.

The Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO

Pros:

Superb image resolution and sharpness.

Light weight.

Fast auto focus.

Cons:

Hate the lens hood.

Expensive.

In the weeks ahead, I will be posting photographs taken on this latest photographic adventure on my website.  Look for images under new works and by tag categories.

And, I have not discussed the fantastic video capabilities of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.  I will be posting a separate review of this aspect of the camera in a later post.