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at DPReview.com Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR: Highly Recommended by dpreview.com
Back in August 2005 Canon defined a new DSLR category (their words) with the EOS 5D. Unlike any previous full frame sensor camera, the 5D was the first with a compact body (i.e. not having an integral vertical grip) and has since then proved to be very popular, perhaps because if you wanted a full frame DSLR to use with your Canon lenses and you didnt want the chunky EOS-1D style body then the EOS 5D has been your only choice. Three years on and two competitors have turned up in the shape of the Nikon D700 and Sony DSLR-A900, and Canon clearly believes its time for a refresh.
So here is the 5D Mark II, which punches high in terms of both resolution and features, headlining: 21 megapixels, 1080p video, 3.0-inch VGA LCD, Live view, higher capacity battery. In other words, a camera that aims to leapfrog both its direct rivals, either in terms of resolution (in the case of the D700) or features (in the case of the DSLR-A900). Full detail below.
Key features / improvements
- 21 megapixel CMOS sensor (very similar to the sensor in the EOS-1Ds Mark III)
- Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
- ISO 100 - 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 - 25600 expansion (1Ds Mark III & 5D max ISO 3200)
- Auto ISO (100 - 3200) in all modes except manual
- 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
- DIGIC 4 processor, new menus / interface as per the EOS 50D
- Image processing features: Highlight tone priority, Auto lighting optimizer (4 levels), High ISO noise reduction (4 levels), Lens peripheral illumination correction (vignetting correction)
- RAW and SRAW1 (10 MP) / SRAW2 (5 MP)
- RAW / JPEG selection made separately
- Permanent display of ISO on both top plate and viewfinder displays
- AF micro adjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
- Three custom modes on command dial, Creative Auto mode
- Image copyright metadata support
- 98% coverage viewfinder (0.71x magnification)
- 3.0" 920,000 dot LCD monitor with Clear View cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
- Automatic LCD brightness adjustment (ambient light sensor)
- Live view with three mode auto-focus (including face detection)
- No mirror-flip for exposures in Live View if contrast detect AF selected
- Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)
- Two mode silent shooting (in live view)
- New jump options in play mode
- HDMI and standard composite (AV) video out
- Full audio support: built-in mic and speaker, mic-in socket, audio-out over AV (although not HDMI)
- IrPort (supports IR remote shutter release using optional RC1 / RC5 controllers)
- UDMA CompactFlash support
- New 1800 mAh battery with improved battery information / logging
- New optional WFT-E4 WiFi / LAN / USB vertical grip
- Water resistance: 10 mm rain in 3 minutes >Read more at dpreview.com
Review from Wired.com
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at Wired.com Impressive Canon SLR Sports HD Video, 21-Megapixel Stills
Once in a great while, a sequel comes out that is so outstanding, it not only blows the original out of the water, it stands on its own as a paragon of excellence. Cases in point: The Empire Strikes Back, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.
Add the Canon 5D Mark II to that list. For the better part of a year, rumors abounded about an upgrade for Canons full-frame prosumer camera, the 5D, but nobody expected the awesome bomb that the Canon eventually dropped on us. No mere upgrade, the Canon 5D Mark II is a milestone in many ways, and its one of the best cameras weve tested yet. It features a massive 21 megapixel sensor, full high-definition video, a giant display and much more, setting a new high-water mark for digital single-lens reflex cameras.
For starters, Canon nearly doubled the resolution of the 12 megapixel 5D. Like its predecessor, the full-frame sensor in the 5D Mark II is equal in size to a 35 mm film negative, making it much larger than the sensors used in most consumer and prosumer cameras. The size confers two advantages: It gives the camera terrific low-light sensitivity, because the sensors for each pixel are larger, enabling them to collect more photons. And it allows you to use all the lenses in Canons EF line to their full potential , without any magnification -- an advantage especially useful for wide-angle shots. By contrast, smaller sensors effectively multiply the focal length of standard lenses, for instance converting a 28mm lens into the equivalent of a 56mm lens.
Canon also stuffed full-HD video recording into the 5D2, making it only the second SLR to record in HD (after Nikons impressive D90) and the only one to record in full 1080p glory. You can tell Canon didnt think this feature would get much play by how deeply they buried it in the menu system. Fortunately the 5D2 also features a dedicated live-view button which pre-arms the camera for movie recording.
Photographers and indie filmmakers have been drooling over the 5D2s video quality ever since Vincent Laforets demo movie hit the net in September. Most video cameras give a distinctly non-film look due to the poor depth of field produced by their small sensors and fixed lenses. Thanks to the full-frame sensor and Canons high-quality lenses, the video from the 5D2 looks a lot more like movies shot on film.
The 5D2 is only slightly larger than the 5D and keeps roughly the same lines and look of its predecessor. Notable construction changes include weather-resistance and a tough-looking "parkerized" finish normally found on military firearms. The new 3-inch, 640x480-pixel display looks great even in bright light and is perfect for zooming in close to check out your shots.
The picture quality is terrific, even at ISO 1600 and 3200, but at 6400, 12800 and 25600 the resulting images are quite noisy. At ISO 100 the full-resolution shots are simply stunning.
There are a few problems with the 5D2, notably the mysterious appearance of black dots which appear when noise-reduction, light-optimizer and highlight-tone priority are all switched on. Switching these settings off fixes the problem. Since all of these features can be recreated later during processing on your computer, thats not a great loss.
The video mode is limited to 4GB per shot, which equates to 20-30 minutes of recording time. And unless youre planning on making a silent movie, plan on investing in some external microphones: the built in microphone is low-quality and monophonic, and it can pick up your lenses autofocus noise, messing up the audio track. Thankfully the 5D2 has a stereo mic input for high-quality audio recording.
The 5D Mark II is a game-changing 21 megapixel 1080p photographers dream. Its few flaws are greatly outweighed by amazing new features and huge sensor size.
But good luck getting one. Prompted in part by early teasers showing the stunning quality of video that the 5D Mark II is capable of producing, shutterbugs and pro photographers alike snapped up the camera as soon as it became available in early December. Unless you pre-ordered one a long time ago, youre out of luck until later in 2009.
RATING 9 out of 10
WIRED Kick-ass 21 megapixel, full-frame sensor. Full HD 1080p video. Weather-resistant enclosure. VGA resolution LCD display. Sexy parkerized finish.
TIRED Good luck getting one if you didnt pre-order. Annoying black spots with certain settings. Noisy at super-high ISO range. 4GB movie size limit.
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