Downgrade 5D Mark III to SL1 (or wait for SL2)

[Policar]

I shoot video (mostly as a hobby) much more than I shoot photos (only as a hobby), and I replaced my 5D Mark III, which I used for both and which is still pretty good for video, with a video-specific camera with a smaller crop chip.

The 5D is my favorite camera I've owned, but I don't use it much. The pixel count does nicely correlate with 11X17 at 300DPI, which is why I'm hesitant to downgrade to an 18MP chip.

How bad are the viewfinder and AF on the SL1? A smaller camera would be really cool for me, but I like a good optical finder. The 7D has a great one but the t2i's was just ok and the old Rebel XT has too bad an optical finder for me. I can't stand EVFs or LCDs.

Autofocus matters much less, but it's so great on the 5D.

I'll also miss the 50mm f1.8. A gem with no APS-C counterpart.

 

[AQUADock]

I wish canon made a 35mm 1.8 similar to nikon, the closes thing is the 40mm pancake. Regarding the sl1, its a crop camera you will notice a big difference between the two, the viewfinders are the same in rebel cameras. I wouldn't recommend doing that you would be better off keeping the 5d and getting a small mirrorless to compliment the 5d.

 

[MCAsan]

Get a Panasonic GH4.

 

[Policar]

Get a Panasonic GH4.

Why? I already own about $5,000 in Canon glass and I prefer a camera with an optical finder. For video it looks better, for stills I can't see the advantage. If the stills are better, too, and the autofocus is as fast with a speedbooster EF adapter, the GH4 does look really nice!

I wish canon made a 35mm 1.8 similar to nikon, the closes thing is the 40mm pancake. Regarding the sl1, its a crop camera you will notice a big difference between the two, the viewfinders are the same in rebel cameras. I wouldn't recommend doing that you would be better off keeping the 5d and getting a small mirrorless to compliment the 5d.

What mirrorless do you recommend that supports EF mount. I have about $5000 invested in EF mount glass, and most of it is APS-C, which is why I figure I should sell the 5D and get an APS-C camera instead, but I want something small.

 

[The Bad Guy]

You've spent 5k on EF-S lenses??

 

[Policar]

You've spent 5k on EF-S lenses??

No, on EF mount lenses, as I wrote above. Most are EF-S (or APS-C EF mount third party lenses), though, so 5D Mark III is hard to justify. That said, I've probably spent $5k on EF-S lenses in the past or nearly as much, but have sold many off.

I'm currently down to:
11-16mm Tokina (going to upgrade to the 11-20mm Tokina as the flare is awful on the 11-16mm)
18-35mm f1.8 Sigma
50mm f1.8 STM (my favorite lens on my 5D by far, it will be missed and has no adequate equivalent)
70-200mm f2.8 II

And I'm adding the 24mm STM eventually, I expect, and the 10-18mm STM.

I've sold off most of my kit already or am selling it off, just sold my second copy of the 17-55mm f2.8 IS and am in the process of selling off a few thousand worth of fast MF primes I no longer own, as well as my 50mm f1.4 Sigma and 17-40mm L. Too much money invested in stuff I never use. But the above stuff stays.

I'm sure the Nikon MF lenses I own cost far more. The Iscorama and 200mm f2 ED AI were brutal on their own. They all cover FF, but I don't use them for stills much, more for video, and when shooting film.

I really don't shoot much anymore. I guess I just feel like I need a dSLR if I own all that EF glass. But what I can't really give up from the 5D is the optical finder (I'm sure the SL1 will really feel awful by comparison here) and the good autofocus, but I'm kind of broke and need to finance some expensive purchases. Maybe I should just get out of stills entirely or just go back to 4x5 and 135.

 

[jerwin]

SL1: Pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87 magnification, 9 focus points.
Rebel XT: Pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.8 magnification, 7 focus points
70D: Pentaprism, 98% viewfinder coverage, 0.95x magnification, 19 focus points
7D Mark II: Pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.0 magnification, 65 focus points

5D Mark III: Pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71 magnification. 61 focus points (It's actually a physically huge viewfinder-- but it covers a wider field of view-- so... maybe that's why the magnification is so low).

I'd say that the SL1 is much closer to the Rebel XT than you are comfortable with. Small, dim, and only a basic autofocusing system. This is where a real camera store has advantages over anything electronic.

I have a Nikon D7000 (0.94x pentaprism, 100% coverage) and a D3100 ( 0.80x, 95% Pentamirror). In practical terms, the D7000's VF is significantly better.

 

[Policar]

Thanks.... why didn't I look that up myself? Dumb.

t6s is pentamirror 95% 0.82 magnification. Which is even worse! 19 focus points, though. Love that it has the top LCD and dual dials, though.

I had a t2i before the 5D and it was ok, seems like it had the same pentamirror set up as the SL1. Any worse than that and you might be better off with an EVF it seems.

70D looks nice for the money. Just with the video quality were better on that one.

 

[jerwin]

DigitalRev's review of a 70D, (partially) filmed on a 70D.

 

[Policar]

Looks pretty darned nice. $900 refurbished with an 18-135mm STM. Not bad...

Claims that video is "the same" on all Canon dSLRs are unfounded. There are clearly differences there but they all lack detail, a shame. 70D seems to have nicer video than the SL1 by a hair. The autofocus looks wonderful.

 

[Policar]

Anyone have both a 70D and a 5D Mark III? How do you like the 70D? The viewfinder/AF looks pretty good... on paper.

 

[jerwin]

I don't suppose you have one of these around your neighborhood?

My Best Buy has a very nice camera shop. All the Nikons except the D4. All the Canons except the 1D. A little diorama that you can shoot. Pro lenses.

 

[Policar]

Don't have a Best Buy nearby. That is hilarious, though.

I've used the 7D pretty extensively. If the 70D has as good a finder and as good AF, as it appears to, I'm sold.

Love the 5D Mark III but I never use it. Except to take photos of stuff I also never use and sell that on eBay lol.

The video doesn't look like that big a downgrade, either.

 

[tgara]

I have a 5DIII and the SL1. I got the SL1 as a lightweight setup, and since it accepts all my Canon lenses, flashes, and GPS unit, getting it was a no-brainer and a much better choice for me than a mirrorless.

Keep in mind, the SL1 is basically a smaller Rebel. That means the ergonomics are not the same as the 5DIII, but it is lighter and easy to handle. I love my SL1 a lot, and it's great with the 18-55 kit lens and 55-250 zoom, but my one complaint is the AF point selection. After using my 5DIII with the "joystick" that moves the AF points, I got spoiled. The SL1 doesn't have that so selecting points is a bit slower. If you can live with that, you'll be pleased. I get great pictures from mine, and that's what really counts.

Some kitties from the National Zoo in May. SL1 with EF-S 55-250 f/4 STM Lens.

 

[Miltz]

Honestly if you're going to get a cropped sensor Canon Camera the New T6S or T6i are the best options with the least amount of compromises. The Tilt and swivel LCD will be great for video and the 24MP will make you miss your 5D less.

 

[Unami]

What mirrorless do you recommend that supports EF mount.

there are adaptors that fit your EF mount lenses on a mirrorless body (e.g. sony nex, M43,... ) - they also make the FOV of the lense wider again.

e.g.: http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_SPEF-m43-BM1

http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_SPEF-E-BT2

 

[Policar]

there are adaptors that fit your EF mount lenses on a mirrorless body (e.g. sony nex, M43,... ) - they also make the FOV of the lense wider again.

e.g.: http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_SPEF-m43-BM1

http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_SPEF-E-BT2

How fast is the AF on these guys and how many points does it focus with? I'd be sold on the SL1 (which would make an ideal secondary camera I think) except for the viewfinder and lack of easily switched AF points.

Leaning towards the 70D as it seems to be about the same price as the new rebels and 4 megapixels is pretty irrelevant.

 

[tgara]

How fast is the AF on these guys and how many points does it focus with? I'd be sold on the SL1 (which would make an ideal secondary camera I think) except for the viewfinder and lack of easily switched AF points.

Leaning towards the 70D as it seems to be about the same price as the new rebels and 4 megapixels is pretty irrelevant.

I'm pretty sure all the Rebels have the two-button AF point selection method, as I described for the SL1. If that's an issue for you, you won't want a Rebel. Get the 70D instead.

As for the viewfinder, as a general rule the larger cameras will have bigger and brighter viewfinders, which is probably why you liked the viewfinder on your 5D3. The Rebels are the smallest of the cameras you are considering, with the SL1 being the smallest. The 70D is medium sized, and should have a brighter viewfinder.

 

[Policar]

The 70D is down to like $650 new and I just sold off my 17-40mm and upgraded the 11-16mm f2.8 to the 11-20mm f2.8.

I feel like I have a 70D in my future.

 

[AroundTheFur922]

I own a 70D, 7D II, & a 6D. Of these, the 70D is the most versatile and definitely best for video. The control layout is much more comfortable than you'd find on an SL1 and the combination of a touch screen with dual-pixel AF is magical. For the price I'd say it's likely the best DSLR value on the market today.

 

[Policar]

I own a 70D, 7D II, & a 6D. Of these, the 70D is the most versatile and definitely best for video. The control layout is much more comfortable than you'd find on an SL1 and the combination of a touch screen with dual-pixel AF is magical. For the price I'd say it's likely the best DSLR value on the market today.

Can you focus via Wifi while shooting video? Dual pixel AF does sound tempting, especially for times I want to use my Ronin and not hire an AC.

 

[Policar]

Looks like you can't focus via Wifi for video on the 70D. Lovely camera, though.

Just bought an SL1.