Digital BW, The Print

I love my Mkii (I don't have a 5d).

For the noise,
Check out the bottom of
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_5D_mkii_review_3.html

I turned Auto Lighting Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority off
and the noise went way down.

Mike J.

-----Original Message-----
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Myron
Gochnauer
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8:11 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: OT: Who loves their 5D Mk II (and who
doesn't)...and why?

I bought the 5D-II as soon as it was available in Canada.  I had been
using a 5D.

Under normal circumstances I find the 5D-II to be a significant
improvement over the 5D, which was pretty good. It's difficult to
quantify, but the 5D-II is good enough that I can "relax" with the
technology, in the way that I can relax with a Leica M or when using
an Apo-Symmar lens on a Linhof.  I am using "enlarging" and noise
reductions plugins much less frequently.

I have two concerns, though.

1) The brightness range of the sensor is perhaps better than color
film, but it falls short of a good film like Tri-X or TMY. It is at
least as good as the 5D, although I haven't tested them side-by-side.
It seems record image data deeper into the shadows than I expected.

2) The 5D-II (with the BIOS up to date) shows a window-screen-like
pattern of noise when shades are pushed a great deal.  This shows up
only when I have not given enough exposure to a photo of one of my
black dogs, and I must really get everything I can out of the shadows
in the raw file.  This has occurred even at ISO 400, underexposed by
perhaps 1.5 stops. (Yeah, I know. Expose properly. But accidents
happen... and sometimes the bad exposure is the perfect moment.)
Random, grain-like noise doesn't bother me. I frequently add simulated
grain to images. But patterns are a different matter.  I hasten to add
that this screen-pattern noise is very subdued, appears only when the
shadows are brought up a great deal and, probably, only when the image
contains patterns or textures that all me to recognize subtle patterns.

Anyway, I love the camera.  ...well, it's not a Leica M with Tri-X,
but it's hard to be disappointed with it!  Now, if only I could find
lenses good enough!

Myron