A lens and memory card are not included with the camera.
Get the type of lens for the shot you need, and a high-capacity memory card so you don't get caught without memory.
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II (Body Only) improves upon the EOS 5D by increasing the resolution by about 40% to 21.1 megapixels and adds a Live View feature that allows users to preview shots on the camera's high resolution 3.0" LCD display. It even incorporates the ability to record full motion HD Video with sound, so you can capture the action as well as superb images.
The camera's 21.1MP, full-frame 35mm-format (24x36mm) CMOS sensor captures image files with incredible image quality and color accuracy, as either JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG files. The camera also incorporates Canon's acclaimed DIGIC 4 imaging processor that works in concert with a high-speed DDR-SDRAM buffer to ensure quick performance and fast image processing times. Performance enhancements enabled by the DIGIC 4 processor include an incredibly fast full-resolution frame rate of up to 3.9 fps, improved battery life, noticeably improved image quality at all ISO sensitivities, fast start-up and reaction times, and improved noise suppression at ISO sensitivities ranging from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, plus the camera's sensitivity is further expandable to a range of ISO 50 to ISO 25600.
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II incorporates a high-fidelity (920,000 dot) 3" LCD screen and includes a 'Live View' feature that permits the user to frame their shots on the LCD display, and adds framing functions that are not possible with a traditional SLR viewfinder, including the ability to zoom in and navigate the preview image to ensure proper focus, and a grid overlay to assist in proper composition. The Live View focusing system also enables focus modes such as Quick mode, Live mode and Face Detection Live mode. Furthermore, the Live View Feature enables HD video recording that can capture true HD-quality (1080p) video at a frame rate of 30 fps with Face Detection and sound.
The magnesium-alloy chassis of the EOS 5D Mark II ensures the durability of the camera so users can take it on safari or to a press junket and be assured that the camera can take it. In addition the camera body incorporates extensive dust and weatherproofing features including seals and gaskets where body panels and/or camera controls meet. To further keep the imaging sensor free from dust, Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake dust particles off of the sensor's low-pass filter each time you power up (or manually when needed). This ensures that your images will be spot free and reduces time needed for image retouching.
Other professional quality features found on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II include 14-bit A/D conversion, a bright viewfinder (with 98% image coverage), Auto Light Optimizer, Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction, 9-point AF plus 6-point assist AF, 25 Custom Functions with 71 settings, and 5 metering modes (35-Zone EV, 8% Partial Spot, 3.5% Spot, Center-Weighted, and Pre-Flash E-TTL II). Altogether, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been designed to serve the needs and interests of serious enthusiasts as well as professional photographers who are in pursuit of the perfect image.
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| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Camera Type | Digital SLR with Interchangeable lenses |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
| Camera Format | Full-Frame |
| Resolution |
Effective Pixels: 22.0 Megapixels |
| Sensor Type / Size | CMOS, 36 x 24 mm |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MOV |
| Bit Depth | 14-bit |
| Memory Card Type | CompactFlash |
| AV Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Video Clip Length | Up to 12 Minutes |
| Audio Recording | With Video |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | Auto & Manual |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder Type | Pentaprism |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 98% |
| Display Screen | 3" Rear Screen LCD (920000) |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | 100-6400 (High Sensitivity Mode: 50-25600) |
| Shutter |
Type: Electronic & Mechanical Speed: 30 - 1/8000 sec |
| Remote Control | N3-type remote (Optional) |
| Mirror Lock-Up | Yes |
| Metering Method | Spot metering, Center-weighted average metering, null |
| Exposure Modes | Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Kelvin, Manual, Shade, Tungsten |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Max Sync Speed | 1 / 200 sec |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 3.9 fps |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, PC Terminal |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Self Timer | 2 sec, 10 sec |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Connectivity | AV Output, HDMI C (Mini), USB 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi Capable (With Optional Transmitter) | Yes |
| Software Requirements |
Windows: 2000, XP, Vista Mac: OS X 10.3 or later |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1x LP-E6 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| AC Power Adapter | AC Adapter Kit ACK-E6 (Optional) |
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C) Humidity: 0 - 85% |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 6.0 x 4.5 x 3.0" / 15.24 x 11.43 x 7.62 cm |
| Weight | 28.6 oz / 811 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
Mixed Feelings about the 5D MkII
First the good...
If you're looking for an excellent, full-frame DSLR, the 5D Mk2 is very, very good. It's at least 1 full F-stop more sensitive to light than...Read complete review
First the good...
If you're looking for an excellent, full-frame DSLR, the 5D Mk2 is very, very good. It's at least 1 full F-stop more sensitive to light than my Canon 1DS Mk2. A setting of ASA 800 or 1000 yields about the same noise level as my older camera at ASA 400. It's autofocus system is very fast and accurate on single shot mode. (I don't think EF-L series lenses are capable of faster focus action.)
The new LCD screen is gorgeous. 3" diagonal with 900,000+ pixels. It's possibly the best quality LCD screen ever put on a DSLR. The menus are easier to understand and navigate than the 1DS Mk2's menus. "Live View" is an excellent way to do critical focusing. If you've never used a DSLR with live view, you'll love it. The only negative of live-view is that it really drains your battery and it can only be used for a certain length of time before the CMOS imager circuitry heats up, adding noise to the image. (In real-life typical shooting, overheating is not a problem and besides the camera will auto cancel live-view if it senses an over temperature condition.)
The huge 21 mega-pixel RAW images are excellent. The camera uses an updated variant on Canon's .CR2 RAW format so if you use an older version of Adobe's Lightroom or Photoshop for image processing, you'll need the latest Lightroom 2.2 or Photoshop CS4 to get the proper RAW converter. I've personally never liked the included software for RAW image processing, but many people are happy with it.
The auto-exposure system seems very accurate... more accurate than my 1DS Mk2.
I never experienced any "black dot" phenomenon. But I've only shot RAW images at less than 1200 ASA.
I ordered the camera with the optional BG-E6 battery grip. This grip makes the camera taller and easier to hold. It allows simultaneous use of 2 Canon lithium batteries or 6- AA alkaline or rechargeables. It's a very valuable accessory to consider.
Now the bad...
I primarily purchased the camera for its ability to shoot great looking 1080P HD video for commercial TV projects. I thought it would be a great source for "B-Roll" cutaways and inserts.
The biggest single problem in the video mode is that you have no control over iris, ISO setting, or shutter speed. There's an exposure lock button that will lock the exposure variables to whatever the LCD displays at the time you press the button. There are no on-screen indicators that show the settings that the camera has chosen for you. The only control you have is the color temperature setting. Basically, you pan the camera around in the scene and let the brightness float up and down. When you see what you think is a good exposure on the rear LCD screen, you press the lock button. Since the exposure lock resets after each scene or take, chances are you won't have consistent exposures over multiple takes of a particular scene.
Working with the auto exposure system can sometimes be difficult. I was shooting with my 85mm F1.2 lens. By looking at the iris, it appeared the camera had decided to only open the lens to about an F2.8 and use a much higher ISO setting than necessary to achieve proper exposure. By pointing the camera to some very dark shadows, the iris fully opened. I then panned back to my original scene which appeared to be much cleaner and free of noise. You really need to be able to manually set the ISO & F-stop when shooting video.
I adjusted the camera's custom settings to lower the detail enhancement and contrast. These controls effect the quality of jpeg stills but seem to have no effect on a video recording.
The camera only records at 30.00fps, not 29.97fps. This tiny .03fps difference means that you have to alter each file's header, using a program such as Apple Cinema Tools, before you can edit 5D footage into a normal, broadcast 1080P/1080i, 29.97fps timeline. Failure to do this header alteration requires setting up a 30.00fps timeline or rendering every 5D scene on your 29.97fps timeline which yields periodic skipped frames.
There is no 24P (23.98) setting. As far as I'm concerned, there is no logical reason that Canon chose 30.00fps instead of 29.97fps. No broadcast TV or film standard operates at 30.00fps. Maybe Canon will correct this with a future firmware update. Please note that if you're only shooting high quality videos for web release, the 30.00fps speed won't present a problem.
To simulate the film-like cadence of a movie camera's 180 degree shutter at 30.00fps, the 5D Mk2's shutter should be set to 1/60 of a second exposure time. There is no way to tell what shutter setting the camera is using during a scene. My gut feeling from looking at camera video is that the 5D Mk2 often uses 1/30 of a second.
The camera's LCD screen is blanked whenever an HDMI monitor is plugged in. If you're doing a commercial shoot with clients, this means that either the cameraman or the clients can see what's being shot, but not both at the same time... You could add an external HDMI active splitter, but this would also require adding and using an external monitor at the camera. If you only plan to shoot by yourself, this shouldn't present a problem.
To do manual follow-focusing using the rear LCD screen, consider purchasing Hoodman's 3" LCD viewer. It's available from B&H and other retailers and it works very well. Of course, you'll have to figure a custom way to attach it to the back of the 5D Mk2 using rubber bands or Velcro.
The 5D Mk2 records what I would call "memo quality" audio with it's internal, mono microphone. You really notice the AGC raising and lowering the recording volume. If someone claps their hands, coughs, or makes a loud sound, the audio level and background sound dives down, then very noticeably fades back up. There is no headphone output or on-screen audio display so there's no way to confirm the level of your audio. If you plug an external mic into the camera, there is no indication to confirm even the presence of an audio signal. The only thing you can do is record a scene, then playback and carefully listen to the recorded file. If you plan to use this camera on a professional sync-sound project, you'd really have to consider double system sound recording. Recoding the audio on a separate recorder adds a major level of increased hassle but it's the only way to insure excellent audio. The audio from the camera's recording can be used as a post-production sync reference.
Another audio question is why Canon chose to record audio at a sample rate of 44.1kz instead of the industry standard 48kz. Apple's Final Cut Pro can handle almost any sample rate but other NLE's can't. Once again, if you're only shooting video for web release, the CD sample rate of 44.1kz shouldn't present a problem.
In certain low light or low contrast scenes, the H.264 encoding block artifacts are noticeable. In my opinion, the 5D Mk2 artifacts are more noticeable than the H.264 encoding used in Canon's own HF10, 1080 video camera even though the 5D's recorded bit rate is higher.
The camera's signal-to-noise ratio is very good and very clean. It's a more noise-free video picture than my $80,000 Sony F900R HDCam... except for the color red. Red objects are noisy. Most colors in a scene seem noise free, except red. This is especially true with low brightness red objects such as those in shadow areas.
The 5D Mk2 exhibits no "rolling shutter" characteristics that are associated with Nikon's D90.
The 5D Mk2 has the characteristic of clipping to "flat-line" black very low-light or shadow details in an image. This yields a "gutsy" rich, excellent, "film-like" quality for many scenes, but you can't do any post-production recovery of lost low-light details. The camera does a pretty good job of rolling scene highlights off to a hard clip at 100 units of video.
Possibly, some of the video problems I've detailed here are related to the specific 5D Mk2 that I purchased (serial#0320105XXX) but I don't think this is the case. Hopefully, Canon will issue a firmware update to address the camera's video problems. New firmware could possibly add manual control to the video capture functions and slightly lower the frame rate to the standard 29.97fps.
All cameras at any price level have positives and negatives. I've never found or used the "perfect" camera. The Canon 5d Mk2 is an excellent still camera and in my opinion, "a not quite ready for prime time" HDTV video camera. Possibly the camera was rushed to market to compete (or cancel out) the much hyped video features of Nikon's "rolling shutter" D90. It is an excellent glimpse into the future of "hybrid" still & video DSLR cameras.
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Most Liked Negative Review
Major Image Sensor Quality Problems
Right up front you should be aware that if you shoot a lot of photos in low light conditions like in dark wedding ceremony or reception venues, you're going to have "hot pixels...Read complete review
Right up front you should be aware that if you shoot a lot of photos in low light conditions like in dark wedding ceremony or reception venues, you're going to have "hot pixels" and some to many random blank pixels show up in the blacks as white squares. I shot such a wedding this past Sunday 3/8/09 at ISO 1600 and am now taking a break from "fixing" over 1200 images. My 5D Mk2 body is currently at the Jamesburg reair facility along with the "masses" (Canon technician's term)of its brothers being repaired. Based on research I've done on the web this really is a common problem, and I believe that as summer approaches in North America it will get worse for us. This is because many of the photographers that reported these problems already are in warm climates, Australia for example. Secondly, the problem in my camera became progressively worse as the night went on, and the camera warmed up, but then dimimished the next day after the cool down period. By the way, I shot with Live View off, and 2 second (short) review set.
On the plus, ISO 1600 in the Mk2 is as noise free as ISO 800 in my two 5D bodies, so Canon delivered on this promise. This is the reason I wanted the camera in the first place. All of the other virtues of the 5D are there, and the images are smoother, and it seems to handle highlights much better even with highlight tone turned off. But with this pixel problem that's kind of like saying, well, yes Mrs. Lincoln, but it was a good play.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
This camera body is amazing!! Its not as heavy as I thought it would be. Settings are easy to get to know. The camera has great clarity with the 21.1 megapixels. Since switching to a canon (use to be a nikon person) my photos have been so amazing! I would tell everybody to buy this product!
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
Great camera for weddings and portraits! It's relatively light weight, full frame, and does really well in low light. It's worth the investment!
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
I am using this for my business. It takes great pictures, amazing quality. I am very pleased with it.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
Just as in the many reviews found all over the Internet, this is an outstanding camera. Just fantastic. Someday I hope to learn all of the features.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
This is an amazing camera. The iso settings are superb especially since this camera is a full frame. It's not as fast as my 40D and 7D but the quality is great! The images resolution and iso settings are amongst the many things I love about this camera.
***As a film maker this camera delivers the goods every time! I have created many great videos with this dslr camera. ***
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
Compare to others, this camera has a good price for good quality and features.You can enjoy a large 21mp FF sensor with [$]. May be, many of you think this camera does not have the perfection, but with me, it has enough.I suggest it for studio and fashion show photographer.Pros:21mp FF sensor gives very sharp and less noise image.Light metal and modern body design.Logical button.Long life time battery.And more...Cons:It does not have lowlight focus assistant.The difference of front and back camera can cause wrong focus.The exterior paint is easy to be scratched.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
I use this product for every type of photoshoot i do, it is a fantastic camera, with the ability to go to a iso of 50 and that it is full frame just astounding and easy to use.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
I have been working on my photography skills for over 7 years now. Progressed from film SLR to digital SLR and now to full frame DSLRs. I have used the 5d mark I, 1DS mark II and now have tried out the 5D mark II. I am very impressed with the still pictures capability. I don't shoot much video, but am pleased with what little I have shot. Given the fuctionalities I rate this as a pro camera - even though there are the ID and IDS series, I find this size of camera to be actually useful and handy in the field - especially if I am going on a 4 day backpack and weight vs performance matters, I'd choose the 5D mark II anytime.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
This was my first entry into a full framed sensor and I am most delighted with the 5DII. I am upgrading from a Canon 20D which will now become my backup body. The picture is beyond expectations. I am a Video and PhotoJournalist and this unit fits that need very well.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
This is for professional DSLR. Especially low light condition and big print for landscape.
When you need normal life pictures like sports/Action, travel and family photos, Get other camera like a 7D.
Happy shooting.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
Professionally used, Everything about it is great to this point. Minor Battery charger glitch, but A+ beyond that. East to use, great product!
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
5D is perfect for work in the studio, and life on the go. Outstanding in low light, superior picture quality, and video!
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
With the current price rebates, it's worth every penny. At 2200-2300 dollars... I would hesitate to purchsae this camera.
The autofocus system, as many have complained about, is not exemplary. It functions just fine, but has trouble in some situations. In the end, I often have to work around the AF system rather than being assisted by it.
The image quality is fantastic. Very little noise in the shadows in the low ISOs, and acceptable levels of noise upto around 1600 ISO (and I absolutely abhor noise in my images).
The construction of the camera is fine. With the Canon battery grip, the camera has a very solid, professional look and feel. The dust cleaning system is acceptable but not perfect. I suspect they will improve this next generation.
The LCD screen is great. Ergonomics are acceptable (coming from a Nikon, the ergonomics on that were significantly better). The backbutton focus function is a revelation.
Overall I recommend the camera, but only at a 2000 dollar price point, given the inevitable impending 5D3.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
Have only had the camera for one week so far but find it hard to put down. So far all my tests have met all expectations. Great quality images and easy to get creative with this camera.
I highly recommend this camera for anyone interested in using this for video or photo. either way you cannot go wrong.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
I love the camera, and I love Canon. The 5D is a big deal for me as it is a huge upgrade from my previous 2003 version of the popular Digital Rebel series, mainly due to the full-frame sensor which allows for a dramatic improvement in resolution and the ability to print much larger without loss. As a fine art photographer (see my work at davehebb.com), that is crucial to me. However, because of the larger sensor size, most EF lenses won't work, so I had to buy new lenses too. The old lenses for my Rebel will "work", but with incredible vignetting so as to make them virtually useless. The camera's interface works pretty well, although the menus have unnecessarily long titles, and they are not as intuitive as you might think - also, 2 dials and a 4-way joystick controller seem redundant. There are some good features like the mirror lock-up which along with the 2 second timer delay further eliminates any movement from long exposures. The biggest technical problem seems to be with the autofocus for the video camera - it is loud and really doesn't work as you change positions. I suggest using only manual focus when recording video. Overall quality is good, but forget using the canon software - after 9 years I would think they finally figured it out, but nope! The software will not work on the newest Mac Lion OS, and customer support said it will take at least 3 months for a compatible version! I was finally able to get it download my images on to my Mac, but it gives me lots of errors and now I can't download images from my old Rebel! Too many image editing features - Canon should quite trying to compete with Adobe and just make a streamlined interface that actually works!
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
... and I can tell you, they're worth every penny. They are great for low light situations, weddings, etc (up to about 3200 ISO). The image is sharp and the colors are nice, when you get them right. The autofocus doesn't have as many AF-points as a 1D body but that's to be expected. It also miscues sometimes. The 5D will produce some odd colors when using auto white balance and it tends to make things too warm but it certainly does the job in a pinch. I try to use Kelvin, whenever possible, that reduces my production time by a lot.
I'm also a fan of the custom functions and the 5D plays nice with a lot of accessories. This is the body to own for any weddinga or portrait pro from start up through about your first 5 years in business.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
this camera makes me look like a professional photographer
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
I have been waiting for a long time to purchase this camera. The 5D Mark II is everything and more that everyone else says it is. I am a semi-professional photographer and use the camera for portraits, landscapes, weddings, close-ups and more. The controls are well placed and allow the user everything from full automatic to full manual control. If I have any complaints about the camera, it is the autofocus in Live View when shooting videos. Canon needs to improve this function.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
I am an advanced amateur and focus mainly on nature and landscape. This is my 8th Cannon camera. I have never been disappointed. I bought the Mark II mainly for the increased resolution over my 5D and the video feature. I have been impressed by the increased ease of setting functions and the live view is helpful. I did not know that in video mode, there is no autofocus, and that makes the video a bit less useful.
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Comments about Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only):
The 5D Mark II is a great camera without a doubt. I ordered one from B&H and it got here without any problem and on time, except there was a problem with the camera and it would not focus. I called B&H and they sent me another one that day and issued me an RMA number to return the bad one. It is how a company handles a problem that shows their character and I do business with B&H because of their character. A great company. Thank You!
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