Chris Borchert is a lucky guy. According to the Exif on these files he shoots a Canon 5D and he was at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I’m assuming the camera is an MK1 version based on the Exif and this shot (he also has great taste in clothing) but I’m Nikon so I can’t be sure. Perhaps Chris can fill in the blanks (I found his work through a comment he made on this blog so I’m guessing he might read this). These shots really have a beautiful tone to them and that second ski jumper is just begging to be a poster. So yeah, I’m definitely falling for Canon; especially after Alex’s recent acquisition.
I’ve pretty much made up my mind that — barring any major developments on the Nikon side (which I suppose are relatively likely) — my next camera will be a 5D MK2/3. But I’ve put photography aside for a while to focus on some other things so this is a ways off. It’s nice to see stuff like this in the meantime to tide me over.
Check out his site for more photos
P.S. I’m curious, how many of you have taken the plunge with the 5D MKII? I feel like I’ve been seeing them a lot lately which is pretty interesting considering the price. I guess it’s a testament to the quality of the camera; people feel it’s worth it.
Well i touched 5DMKII couple of times 😀 I’m so lucky!
But seriously i realy think it’s worth it’s price. I’m also rather advanced amateur, since i don’t earn with photography – but it’s my passion i try to consequentlu evolve. So the 5D MKII/III realy seems to be the exact tool to evolve – or even revolve!
I’m a proud 5d2 owner. Sold my APS-C camera with 3 lenses lenses to buy 5dmk2 with only one – 50mm f/1.2 L. And you know what? It was worth it :).
This is just one of those lenses you don’t get rid of and you give it to your grandson when dying. Eventually your last wish to get buried with it.
Yeah go for 5dmkII with some killer lens like 35 f/1.4, 24 f/1.4mkII, 50 f/1.2 or 85 f/1.2.
You won’t believe the results you get 🙂
Best Regards,
Tom
Unfortunately, I am not lucky enough to own a 5D II myself, but we recently demoed one for work. I am pretty much a Nikon shooter, currently rock’n the D90. I will say that I was very impressed with the 5D. We were primarily testing the 5D for video to pick up some more “artistic video shots.” The depth of field, high ISO capabilities, and light weight when placed on a glide-cam system allow you to do some incredible things with video capture.
I am only a noob to video shooting, but rank myself as an advanced amateur still photographer. I will say the full sensor is pure sweetness. The 21MP images are gorgeous. For the demo we got to play with Canon’s 16-35mm II, which is an amazing wide angle lens when placed on a full sensor camera.
As for 5D’s still image production, I think that its bread and butter is color capture. I did find the images to be a little softer then the Nikons, but I think Nikon excels at making affordable sharp glass. I felt the menu structure and camera controls on the 5D were much simpler then Nikon, but not necessarily as intuitive. Nikon seems to have multi-layers of menu items that can get overwhelming, were Canon simplification seems to save on headaches. 5D can produce some amazing colors in-camera. I like the various color profiles they provide and think they add quite a bit to final image output.
Combine the video capabilities of the 5D with the stills and you have one heck of a camera at slightly higher then I would expect price for prosumer. After looking at accessory prices, I think at the level of the 5D, Nikon might have them beat on affordability, but then again your getting a HD Video camera too so maybe it all equals out in the end.
Unfortunately, I am not lucky enough to own a 5D II myself, but we recently demoed one for work. I am pretty much a Nikon shooter, currently rock’n the D90. I will say that I was very impressed with the 5D. We were primarily testing the 5D for video to pick up some more “artistic video shots.” The depth of field, high ISO capabilities, and light weight when placed on a glide-cam system allow you to do some incredible things with video capture.
I am only a noob to video shooting, but rank myself as an advanced amateur still photographer. I will say the full sensor is pure sweetness. The 21MP images are gorgeous. For the demo we got to play with Canon’s 16-35mm II, which is an amazing wide angle lens when placed on a full sensor camera.
As for 5D’s still image production, I think that its bread and butter is color capture. I did find the images to be a little softer then the Nikons, but I think Nikon excels at making affordable sharp glass. I felt the menu structure and camera controls on the 5D were much simpler then Nikon, but not necessarily as intuitive. Nikon seems to have multi-layers of menu items that can get overwhelming, were Canon simplification seems to save on headaches. 5D can produce some amazing colors in-camera. I like the various color profiles they provide and think they add quite a bit to final image output.
Combine the video capabilities of the 5D with the stills and you have one heck of a camera at slightly higher then I would expect price for prosumer. After looking at accessory prices, I think at the level of the 5D, Nikon might have them beat on affordability, but then again your getting a HD Video camera too so maybe it all equals out in the end.
i havent bought one yet, but i’ve been working with one for several projects and i just love it. Shooting with a rig for video is a big plus, and now that different framerates are supported makes life just a little bit easier and more time on my hands.
When it comes to photography, thats when i really love the 5D best. The viewfinder feels enormous, body feels great and its image quality is just a huge advantege over the cheaper dslr that i currently own.
Oh, and another thing: its really not that big. its not problem to just carry it in your backpack with a simple 35mm lens. A huge plus for me.
I just bought the 5D MKII with 3 lenses – 50mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm. The Canon 70-200mm lens is the nicest bit of glass I’ve ever used I think. Stunning DOF and the IS is incredible on it.
I came to the 5D MKII from a Nikon D90, and previous to that the Nikon D80 and D70.
So far I am utterly convinced I made the right decision, my photos feel crisper, deeper, more colourful and less noisy. This of course all came at a price, for the whole kit including memory cards and bag I spent £5000, so you’d hope I’d get better results.
Stills aside however the most amazing thing about this camera is the video. Combined with the lovely full frame lenses, it is just incredible. I wish I had more time and ideas to fully realise what it’s capable of, but so far everything I have shot on it has looked like something you could easily watch at a cinema and not even question it. The new firmware allowing 24/25p is another welcome bonus to the camera’s arsenal of features.
Basically Scott I reckon you’ll be very happy when you swap over. Just remember that the lenses are not cheap, my 70-200mm was £1500, with the 24-70mm a cool £1000. Both lenses are IMO a necessity for the 5D though, any pro photographer that shoots full frame Canon will own these.
Cheers
I picked up the 7D shortly after it was released. Amazing camera. After a month, I somehow convinced myself that I needed the 5D MKII. With the photo projects I’m working, I will be printing large and uncropped, so the higher res and full frame sensor make sense to me. And, it just feels good!
Haven’t updated this lately, but some examples here http://www.heavyasananchor.com. And thanks for the Squarespace tip a while back!
Chip
Greetings!
As a video maker, the Canon 5D appeals to my work since its lenses are the closest to a 35mm professional cinema camera. The new MK II can also record at 24p, which is just great.
If you get the right lenses on it, you can get some great effects and results. (adding some color correction later on with Color)
Best,
Jairo
The 5d MkII is definitely worth it, even to advanced amateurs, if you value the full frame aspects of the camera. I’ve been shooting Phase One and Imacon (Hasse) backs on MF cameras for about six years now and a friend recently brought in his 5d MkII. I compared it to my H3Dii, which is about the same pixel count as the 5d Mkii. I have to say, I was really impressed with the 5d’s results. My work is specialized so it isn’t right for me, but I think just about any photographer, professional or amateur, could pick it up and be happy with it for years.
The 5D2 is great, but as a still camera the Nikon D700 blows it out of the water. Seriously. But, having video on the 5D2 is a huge selling point. Really, though. The D700 is a far superior still cam. The auto focus system is years ahead of the 5D2. The controls are better. Sensor handles low light better. Ability to work with strobes is better. Etc. Etc. If you’re not planning to shoot video I’d say go give the D700 a test. Or, just wait for the next generation version which I’m sure will have video.
I jumped right into the 5D II as soon as it came out. Even when it only had it’s automated video controls, it was still a blast to work with. Now that it’s got all the new added control and frame rate options, it’s really quite amazing. Although Nikon has some pretty great gear as of lately. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds of Photo and Video tho, the 5D II is definately the best bet.
W
Those last two shots are amazing. Not that the rest aren’t. Posts like this have a way of making my camera feel like an artifact. Great work!
As an amateur photographer, I’d love to own the 5D MkII, but my two 20Ds are still ticking away, without a problem. So I’ll probably wait until one of them finally bites the dust before I take the plunge. The tough question for me is the 5D MkII vs the 7D. Both cameras are amazing, and the 7D is considerably less expensive. Decisions, Decisions!
Dude, seriously, get the 5d Mark II. You will not be disappointed! My wife (http://youandmeworld.com/blog) and I have been shooting with it for roughly a year now and I would not trade it for anything. We decided to make the jump up to the Mark II after using the 20d for some time and the full frame is a must if you want to get the most out of your lenses.
I’ve also shot some promo video stuff and the HD quality looks amazing.
For what it’s worth I mostly use a Nikon at work, granted it’s only a D70, but it’s a toy compared to the Mark II.
@Jay: do you do more photography or video? If you do more video, go with the 7d, but for photography, the 5d is a better camera.
It sounds like you are more into the photography thing so the full frame sensor would be a true asset for you. To me, going from the 20d to the 7d wouldn’t be thaaat big of a jump; but, going from the 20d to the Mark II would give you notable results, right away.
Note: I own a 20d and a Mark II. I’ve only had limited exposure to the 7D.
I have the 5DII. It’s an amazing piece of technology.
If you want to try it out, shoot me an email. We can meet somewhere in the city and photowalk.
I’ve shot a few events with Chris and he definitely knows what he’s doing! In his case, I think it’s all about the excellent photographer and great eye while shooting and post processing, and less about the camera. When I first saw his photos he was using a Sony DSLR and there was still something subtle and great about the tones in his photos, definitely due to the photographer I would say.
That being said, the 5D MKII is awesome, two of my friends have them. BUT, I use a Nikon D700 and have to say that I absolutely LOVE it ;).
I’ve considered selling my soul many times to upgrade my camera. But I figured that I’ll need my soul in the long run.
And yeah, that skier profile shot is really begging to be on a poster. Awesome job Chris!
The 5D Mark II is so champion. Just buy it.
I apologize for the delayed response. I discovered this post shortly after I woke up this morning, and I was so taken aback and excited that I nearly went to my morning lecture (I’m an undergraduate student at UBC Vancouver, Canada) unaccompanied by my pants. Will post my real reply as soon as I can!
Chris, Really enjoyed checking out your pictures and well-stylized website. Nice treatment and mellowness to everything. Not overdone.
Chris is my roommate at UBC and I can attest to this pantless morning. Wonderful pictures. Well deserved feature on this site. Thanks to Scott or ISO50 for making his year! =)
The 5D MkII has a Terrible focusing system for anything in a dark setting. But for studio or day time its pretty good. Consider spending the extra coin and getting 1Ds MkIV
If you are interested in another photographers Olympic pictures, my good friend Dan Himbrechts was over there representing the Aussie journos. He shoots with a Nikon :
http://www.danhimbrechts.com/blog/2010/02/20/winter-olympics-part-1/#more-600
http://www.danhimbrechts.com/blog/2010/03/08/winter-olympics-wrap-up/#more-703
Just for the irrelevant record, the jumper on the second photograph is AntonÃn Hájek. This site is one of those places where I would really not expect to see men from the Czech national ski jumping team. I´m looking forward to that poster though.
This is Chris Borchert (on Yuri’s computer) trying to unveil the internet’s discrimination against my comments.
I bought the 5D mark II a while back, and haven’t looked back. I owned the 400D before that, so it was a pretty big jump in terms of quality. The new firmware (just released) lets you shoot at 24p, which is a godsend!
As good as a photographer as Chris is, he does most of his shooting without his pants on. Very unprofessional.
Man, I still in love with my Canon 400d + 50mm 1.8 combo… (but I have a secret desire for a 5D II… actually we are already flirting).
I am happy with my 5D mk I + 24-105/4 + 50/1.4. I don’t think mk II is different enough for me to justify an upgrade. Unless of course I’d do video.
My 5D MKII gets me hot chicks and fast hand jobs.
Working primarily with Video… I’m kinda stuck right now between the 5D/7D/ & Panasonic’s GH1 (micro 4/3). I believe all of them shoot 24p. The GH1 has a flip-out LCD… and it’s half the price of the 5dmkii. Hopefully this Zacuto Shootout Series can help me make a decision.
Scott,
I will say that the 5D & 5D MKII are exceptional cameras. The MKII has really revolutionized the way video and photography can come together.
If you’d like to see some other exceptional work shot with the 5D, might I recommend you check out these friends of mine:
Ryan Booth
Eric Ryan Anderson
Andrew Ryan Shepherd
Shaun Menary
Much love to you and the ISO50 crew.
Canon > Nikon
As for as photo wise, it think they are about the same, it’s just preference, but video wise there is no comparison. Canon seems to be at least a whole year ahead of Nikon in that dept.
I made the switch from Nikon to Canon in early 09.
I’ve been having some computer problems lately that prevented me from responding, to my great frustration! So I will try to keep this shorter (perhaps a ‘bot’ is recognizing some of my text and preventing the comment from submitting?). Thank you everyone for the kind words, it is a huge honour to have had my photography featured on a blog that I hold in such high esteem. I am an undergraduate student in Canada, and recently upgraded to the Canon 5D MK1 from a Sony Alpha system. I had heard fantastic things about the 5D from this blog and countless photographers, and its price drop following the release of the MK2 sealed the deal. I generally try to buy my equipment used and it has been my experience that it is easier to find second-hand pro-series Canon lenses (and other gear for that matter) than the same from Nikon. I am a big fan of Color Efex Pro (from Nik Software; for Adobe Lightroom 2), and I usually process my photos with multiple layers from this plugin before further editing in Lightroom or Photoshop.
-Chris Borchert
IT WORKED! 🙂
Whatever canon you get… mate a 135 F2 L with it. Bodies come and go… but great glass you will keep forever!
I just got the 5D Mark II recently and so far I have to say the camera is really great to work with. That being said it was an upgrade from my Canon 10D which is like a dinosaur camera now. I haven’t used the video feature too much but the quality of it from what I have shot is quite suburb.
Brilliant-ness aside with this work and how rad Canon DSLRs are, I really appreciate how Chris has put his signature/watermark on all of his photos. I see so many awesome photos with a shitty obtrusive watermark taking up 3/4 of the bottom that it totally ruin it for me.
Nice work, Chris.
Just taking the plunge myself, just ordered and am waiting for delivery. Upgrading from a 50D to the 5D2. Not waiting any longer. Even if the 5D3 comes out soon the 2 is still a great camera. Found this blog looking for some info on how to use iso50, is it available in the menu’s?
Thanks
Brian Carey
I feel you Scott. The Canon MKII is everywhere. Personally, I use a Lumix dmc-fz20 for shots for my blog. I’m not a photographer but Panasonic definitely does the trick for me, however, when I do decide to pursue photography further, the MKII is definitely what I’m gonna go for…..either that or whatever the 15 yr old kid is using lol(Olivia Bee)….she’s dope
Got my 50D2 and all I can say is that I’m very impressed! Here’s an example of my first night out……………
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianpcarey/4498602158/
and my first wedding a few days ago………..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianpcarey/4532013885/in/set-72157622407249151/
Brian