Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

High Performance for High Expectation
Canon's update to the wildly popular full frame EOS 5D is here, and it's better than ever. The EOS 5D Mark II has a stunning 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4 Image Processor, a vast ISO Range of 100-6400 (expandable to ISO L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600), plus EOS technologies like Auto Lighting Optimizer and Peripheral Illumination Correction. It supports Live View shooting, Live View HD videos, and more. It can shoot up to 3.9 fps, has 9 AF points plus 6 AF assist points, a new 98% coverage viewfinder, a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) and a rugged build. Full-frame shooters rejoice!

Canon announces the full frame, 21.1 Megapixel EOS 5D Mark II: the first EOS with full High Definition video capability.

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.
Other improvements to the EOS 5D include

* Addition of Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, with a new Fluorine coating on the low-pass filter
* Larger 3.0” Clear View LCD with VGA resolution, a 170° angle of view and anti-reflective coatings
* Improved menu system including Quick Control Screen for more direct access to common settings
* Automatic peripheral illumination correction, utilising detailed EF lens information to optimise JPEG images straight out of the camera
* Magnesium alloy construction with additional environmental protection
* UDMA memory card compatibility.

“Professional photojournalists and wedding photographers already choose the EOS 5D for its discrete size and outstanding image quality,” said Mogens Jensen, head of Canon Consumer Imaging. “The addition of HD movie recording opens a new chapter for EOS. It creates new possibilities for EOS photographers to capture and share their stories and to stay relevant in a rapidly changing digital landscape.”

When Canon introduced the EOS 5D in August 2005 it was one of only two full-frame digital SLRs available (along with Canon's own 1D Mark II). Three years later, though, Nikon and Sony both offer attractive full-frame alternatives that leave the 12.8-megapixel 5D looking a bit antique. Now Canon strikes back with the EOS 5D Mark II, ramping up resolution to 21.1 megapixels, jumping two processor generations ahead of its full-frame forefather and blazing a new trail as the first digital SLR to offer full 1080p video shooting. The 5D Mark II lists for $2699 for the body alone, or $3499 with the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM image-stabilized lens shown here. Overall we were much impressed with the 5D Mark II, which scored exceptionally well in our color and dynamic range testing, and produced excellent video quality (though without the level of control you'd expect from a dedicated camcorder). Less experienced photographers will be put off by the depth of controls and lack of training wheels (and we admit to wishing a pop-up flash was built in), but sophisticated users will prize the level of customizability and control offered by the 5D Mark II.