Product Description
Compact, lightweight with environmental protection, EOS 5D successor boasts a newly-designed canon CMOS sensor, with ISO sensitivity up to 25,600 for shooting in near dark conditions. The new DIGIC 4 processor combines with the improved CMOS sensor to deliver medium format territory image quality at 3.9 frames per second, for up to 310 frames. Triggered from Live View Mode, HD video capture allows users to shoot uninterrupted at full 1080 resolution at 30fps — for amazing quality footage with outstanding levels of detail and realism. The integration of HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1-megapixel camera opens a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers. With its full frame CMOS sensor and outstanding ISO performance, the EOS 5D Mark II will appeal to any photographer in search of the finest camera equipment available — from studio and wedding to nature and travel photographers.
I’m elated with this camera, which is my first purchase of a digital SLR with detachable lenses (not point and shoot).
As I was about to take a vacation to a far-off land, I wanted the camera right away. Yet the EOS 5D Mark II was not immediately available at full retail. By paying a premium over retail from a vendor using Amazon as a store front, I was able to get the camera in time for my trip.
There’s been enough reviews on this camera so this isn’t a camera review it concerns sending my new 5D Mark 2 in for cleaning.
Canon no longer cleans the sensor, mirror, or focus screen for free if it’s still under warranty. They told me they changed that and it is now $100 for cleaning. The California center is less friendly then the east coast center. The main dial on top of the camera, the one for manual, AP, etc was loose as well. They wouldn’t tighten it unless I paid for the cleaning, they also wanted to replace the focus screen and wanted 200$ to do that. The focus screen cost 40$ and can be purchased through a number of qualified dealers and changed out by yourself in 10 mins.
I’ve dealt with Canon for years and it used to be that the service center charged nominal fees if anything at all, all that has changed.
It’s a wonderful product but be careful if you need to send it in, even if it is under warranty expect a bill. Call them first so you know what to expect.
Greg Lewandowski
I became adicted to photography with my 40D and after a year or so I started to see it’s limitations. So I made the leap and bought the 5Dm2 and have been in love ever since. There are many technical reviews here and I recommend reading them all. This camera is not for everyone.
Who this is for (in my humble opinion):
- Those that primarily shoot in low light situations.
- the benefits from full frame and the 5D’s amazing ISO
capabilities are amazing. I have pics at 3200 ISO with no noise.
- Portrait photographers.
- The picture quality is unbeatable (unless you tack on an
additional couple grand or more for the 1D)
- The 21.2 Mp gives you so much room to play with
Those who this may not be the best option:
- Sports photographers!
- I still use my 40D for those senarios where I want a lot
of fps. and reach. While the picture will always be better
with the 5Dm2, 3.9fps is very slow in my opinion. Just
something to consider.
- The full frame vs crop factor is interesting and you will
see it first hand when you put your lenses on this baby.
My 70-200 just became a walk around lense and has forced
me to beg my wife to buy the 100-400 and a 2x extender. My
17-40 just became an amazing wide angle.
Maybe it’s just me but it seems that all of my lenses are so much sharper than before.
So, that is my humble opinion. This camera is all that it’s cracked up to be and I haven’t even talked about the video capabilities. Definitely worth the money.
If you are heavily invested in Canon and own lots of their lenses, then your decision will be whether to buy the Canon 5D 1, or the new Canon 5D 2. In this regard, I would say the 5D 2 is the way to go because of increased ISO sensitivity, higher resolution, etc etc.
VIDEO?
PLEASE do not buy this camera because of the video because you will most assuredly be disappointed. I too was wowed by watching the various videos circulating on the web… but beware that the best quality video is that taken with fast prime lenses (e.g. max aperture f 1.4). The camera in indoor lighting often prefers to open the aperture wide allowing more light in… sounds great… problem is that its all manual focus.. so you have a paper thin depth of field.. which can create artistic effects, but for any real home video, you would spend all your time concentrating on focusing back and forth. If you are the type of person who is interested enough to spend a lot of time and effort to create short video clips (e.g. commercials etc), then this is nice… but if you’re thinking, great, I won’t need my camcorder… you’re going to have one sore focusing finger.
Not only that, I used to think the rolling shutter artifact was just people whining.. beware that it is not a minor artifact that bothers videophiles, it is a very real strange video artifact that can sometimes be very distracting and it can be present not just in panning, but also on still video.
Shutter is still loud as hell, same as the 5D 1. AF is still very obsolete, like the 5D 1.
That said, it is a great camera with wonderful quality, excellent resolution, and if you are a Canon guy/gal, you want this.
—-
If you are NOT a Canon guy/gal, consider the alternative. The Nikon D700. The advantage of the D700 is primarily in the greater more sophisticated 51 point 3d autofocus, which is essential for taking pics of moving objects well, such as kids. Even the most advanced camera in the world will be ridiculed if it can’t focus well (ahem, 1d mark iii initially).
Problems with the D700, choice of lenses is somewhat less than for Canon but obviously there are still plenty of lenses to choose from.. no video, that is minor since the video from the 5dii is not tremendously easy or useful.
PROS 5D II:
High megapixel for printing large posters
Stunning HD Video when its good
Wide choice of lenses
CONS 5D II:
HD video difficult to use due to manual focus, all other settings auto
Loud shutter, hard to blend into background when shutter is that obnoxious
AF horribly obsolete, same as old 5D, shame on you Canon
PROS D700:
Advanced modern AF, same as on top models
Quiet shutter
Reviews show better build quality and better ergonomics (I find both to be almost equal though)
CONS D700:
Lens choices slightly less
“Only” 12 megapixel, only problematic for very large posters
No video
——————-
In the end, I returned the 5D mark ii and bought a D700 because I take pictures of live moving subjects, and AF is crucial. I have been very pleased.
Picture quality of both cameras is equal (given that they are in focus). Before buying, please read other web reviews regarding 5DII ability to autofocus.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
After a few months of trial and light use, I took the 5D Mark II I bought in December abroad with me on a critical project. The 5D Mark II failed completely on the first day of the project, under good conditions and normal use. Canon Tech Support confirmed that the “blue screen of death” on the LCD screen indicated the camera was completely nonfunctional, and informed me that my only alternative was to wait until I returned to the U.S., and then ship the 5D Mark II to Canon for several weeks of repair.
I informed Canon Tech Support that the total failure of a new 5D Mark II was not what I expected from that camera or from Canon. According to Tech Support, the failure of my 5D Mark II was “the luck of the draw”, “everything fails”, and while I travelled abroad in past years with functioning Canon DSLRs “someone else’s Canon failed on the first day of their trip”. This is not comforting.
Although I had a (yes, Canon) backup camera, it does not have the low-light capabilities which are the distinctive marketing points of the 5D Mark II, and which were needed in some settings where I could not bring flash or tripod.
The unreliability of the 5D Mark II is extremely disappointing. It remains to be seen what Canon is able or willing to do to correct the problem.
I sold my Canon 1d Mark II on ebay and bought this one. Took various test shots and noticed that some shots were a bit out of focus. So i set up a grid at a 45 degree angle and noticed that the camera was focusing past the focus lock point. I tested with various back focusing test online and sure enough it was back focusing. A while ago i had this problem with my Canon 10d and had sent it to canon for repair 3 times and they said they could not fix it and i was too picky. Well if i am going to spend 2700 on a camera with 21 megapixels, darn tootin i am going to be picky.
5 stars to Amazon, i had the camera 25 days and they let me return it. I will always buy from Amazon just for this reason, a very good return policy, even on digital cameras where most give you only 10 days then a huge restocking fee.
What else can I say about this camera that hasn’t already been said here and in the hundreds of online and magazine reviews. Simply put, “It Rocks”. The low-light high-ISO low-noise performance of this camera is simply mind boggling.
Are you a photographer? Hard to beat this full-frame 21mp camera for the price. Do you like HD video with depth of field using great lenses? This is the only camera in existence that does it this well for the price. It’s not perfect, but very few things are when the first arrive on scene. That said, go surf the web and you’ll see the amazing work people are still able to do with it, even with all the imperfections. If you shoot video for paying clients, this may not be the camera for you, unless it is only to supplement other cameras in your collection. Otherwise, I’ve been waiting for this camera for a long time and it’s finally here.
Fabulous full frame pics. Colors are spot on.
Only nit is the slow focus.
I have the Classic 5D and waited 5 weeks before I found the 5DMKII on Amazon.
I considered buying another Canon body due to frustration from waiting, but I`m glad I waited. This camera is the best. On my first shoot I was able to capture a Hanger. Canon`s digital photo forum CC section gave my shot Keeper, Hanger and Sell it reviews. I couldn’t be happier with this camera.
About Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #86 in Camera & Photo
- Brand: Canon
- Model: EOS 5D Mark II
- Dimensions: 3.00″ h x 4.50″ w x 6.00″ l, 1.79 pounds
- Display size: 3
Features
- 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, wide range ISO setting 100-6400
- Body only; lenses sold separately
- DIGIC 4 Image Processor; high-performance 3.9 fps continuous shooting; Live View Function for stills
- Full HD video capture at 1920×1080 resolution for up to 4GB per clip ; HDMI output
- Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System specifically designed to work with a full-frame sensor
Read more Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
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Tags: Canon