Canon 5D Mark II Review

•  21.1 MP full-frame, 35mm CMOS sensor
• o 14-bit A/D conversion (16,384 colors of each 3 primary color)
• DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• ISO 100-6400 Native
• Expandable L: 50, H1: 12800, H2: 25600
• 3.9 FPS shooting
• 9 AF points, 6AF assist point, 1 cross type AF point
• 98% coverage viewfinder
• 3.0” clear view LCD (920,000 dots/VGA)
• With anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings for improved viewing and smudge resistance
• All magnesium body
• Full HD capture at 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at up to 4GB per file
• Next generation DIGIC 4 processor for faster processing of fine details, and amazing color reproduction

Some of The Box Contents

• EOS 5D Mark II Body
• Eyecup
• Wide Neck Strap (EW-EOS5DMKII)
• Stereo Video Cable (STV-250N)
• USB Interface Cable (IFC-200U)
• Battery Charger (LC-E6)
• Battery Pack (LP-E6)
• EOS Digital Solution Disk
• Software Instruction Manual

Live View

One of the most welcomed features to the 5D Mark II is “Live View” which allows to display what the sensor is seeing directly on the rear view LCD. This new feature coupled with a whole new high-resolution LCD gives tremendous benefit to photographers who shoot using a tripod. The new LCD is larger by 0.5”, which may not seem like a lot, but the difference is quite staggering. If the larger size was not enough, the pixel/dot count of the actual screen has gone up from the original 230,000 to 920,000. This gives an immense boost in the image quality that is displayed. One of the major gripes of 5D “Classic” owners was that the LCD was a bit small and that the image shown was not accurate in terms of colors. A major benefit of having Live View is the ability to accurately focus on your subject utilizing the 5x and 10x digital zoom feature. This is popular with those who want to shoot landscapes and want to ensure that key elements in the frame are in proper focus. This is usually done by putting the lens in manual focus and using the zoom feature to fine tune focus. Live view offers different focusing modes:

• Quick mode: dedicated AF sensor used to focus
• Live mode: image sensor used to focus
• Face detection live mode: same as Live Mode except the focus lock on to people’s faces

 Record Full HD 1080p Video

One of the main features that has attracted professional attention is the 5D’s remarkable ability to record videos in stunning 1080p. To enable video mode simply engage Live View mode and press the “set” button on the camera and recording will commence. The 5D Mark II can record video in 1080p and can be shot in 30, 25, and 24 FPS. An external microphone can be used for better audio recording, as the internal microphone in the camera is only a stereo mic. Video and picture can be output via the HDMI port of the camera, although this will have to be purchased separately.

 9-Point Auto Focus

If you ask the general population of 5D Mark II owners one of the common complaints about the camera is that the auto-focus system is lacking, and for some that may be a complete understatement. The Mark II features a 9-point AF system with only 1 cross type point, and uses 6 assist points that surround the central point. To build on the AF complaint, many users will hate to use the outer focus points that may lack in focus accuracy. A common technique that counters this “short coming” is known was “focus and recompose”. What this entails is users using the center point to lock focus and move the camera to adjust composition and take the shot. The problem with this is that it increases the probability of actually missing focus anyway because you are essentially adjusting the focusing plane.

What has been said in the above paragraph is a collective sentiment by a majority of 5D Mark II owners. From personal experience, I don’t believe the AF system to be lacking. While it is nowhere the sophistication of the 1D-series bodies or even the 7D, it gets the job done. Assuming very little user error, the AF performs as needed for most situations, by that I mean situation in which the subject is not moving very quickly through the frame. The performance will really be rated on a user’s need by need basis. While the 5D Mark II will not be the first on the list for a sport’s photographer, in the right hands this camera will get the job done.

Displays/Menu Interface

Information is relayed on the camera via the top LCD display which displays quick shooting setting such as aperture value, shutter speed, ISO speed, image quality, exposure compensation etc. Primary information is shown on the rear 3.0” LCD display which is used to display photos after they have been taken, and navigating the menu options. One of the subtle and welcomed improvements on the 5D Mark II is the revamped menu interface. The older one seemed very clunky and not very streamlined. The new menu is very easy to use and simple to navigate which makes adjusting settings and features on the camera simple.

Display Menus

ISO Performance

50D ISO Samples

5D Mark II ISO Samples

Vignetting

Canon 5D Mark II Vignetting Sample

Ever since the 5D Mark II was released by Canon it has been highly regarded as one of the best full-frame camera options on the market. The affordable pricing and amazing performance from the sensor have made it a great option for prosumers moving up from older crop-sensor bodies and professionals both taking and film making. Overall the camera offers many great improvements over the original 5D model with things such as 40% increase in resolution, bigger LCD display, better ISO performance, and the addition of HD video making this camera best bang for the buck, so the speak. While full frame options are available in the Canon 1Ds lineup and the Nikon D700, D3x, D3s, D4, all of which are way more expensive than the option from Canon.

With features ranging from rugged Magnesium-Alloy and weather sealing, to incredible ISO performance and HD recording capability this camera is a winner in your camera bag. Although the AF system may be lacking in comparison to other models but that is not to say that it does not get the job done. By far the greatest the aspect of this camera is the sensor. The images that are captured just ooze with quality. Due to the nature of a full frame sensor you will notice an increased boost in dynamic range (which means that more information will be captured) and an amazing ISO range is what makes this camera such an amazing upgrade. If you are looking for a camera that will take photos in really low light and are looking to get the most details out of your images, then the 5D Mark II is for you.

Canon 5D Mark II Sample Photo

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