August 2009 – Updated to reflect the additional manual control over video exposure introduced with firmware 1.10.
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 didn’t 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 it’s 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″ 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
| street price (body only) |
• US: $ 2,699 • EU: € 2,499 • UK: £ 2,299 |
|---|---|
| List price (EF 24-105 L kit) |
• US: $ 3,499 • EU: € 3,299 • UK: £ 3,049 |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor * | • 36 x 24 mm CMOS sensor • Full 35 mm size frame • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 22.0 million total pixels • 21.1 million effective pixels • 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Lenses | • Canon EF lens mount (does not support EF-S lenses) • No field of view crop (1.0x) |
| Dust reduction | • “EOS Integrated Cleaning System” • Self-cleaning sensor unit (filter in front of sensor vibrates at high frequency at start-up and shutdown – can be disabled) • Dust Delete Data – Data from a test shot is used to ‘map’ dust spots and can be later removed using Canon DPP Software |
| Image processor * | DIGIC 4 |
| A/D conversion | 14 bit |
| Image sizes (JPEG) * | • 5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP) • 4080 x 2720 (11.1 MP) • 2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP) |
| Image sizes (RAW) * | • 5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP) • 3861 x 2574 (10.0 MP) • 2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP) |
| File formats * | • RAW (.CR2; 14-bit) • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) – Fine / Normal • RAW + JPEG (separate files) • sRAW1, sRAW2 (see above) * |
| Auto focus | • 9-point TTL CMOS sensor • 6 “Invisible Assist AF points” • Centre point cross type F5.6 or faster • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster • AF working range: -0.5 – 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) |
| Focus modes | • One shot AF • AI Servo AF • AI Focus AF • Manual focus |
| AF micro adjustment * | • Adjust all lenses by same amount (effectively body adjustment) • Adjust up to 20 lenses individually |
| AF point selection | • Auto • Manual |
| Predictive AF | • As close as 8 m (with 300 mm F2.8L lens at 50 kph) |
| AF assist | No (only with external flash) |
| Metering | • TTL full aperture metering 35 zone SPC • Metering range: 1.0 – 20 EV |
| Metering modes | • Evaluative 35 zone (linked to any AF point) • Partial (8% at center) • Spot metering (approx. 3.5% at center) • Center-weighted average |
| AE lock | • Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button |
| Exposure compensation | • +/-2.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments |
| Exposure bracketing | • +/- 2.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments |
| Sensitivity * | • ISO 100 – 6400 • 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • Auto ISO (100-3200) • Expansion options:  ISO 50 (L1)ISO 12800 (H1) ISO 25600 (H2) |
| Shutter | • Focal-plane shutter • 150,000 exposure durability • 30 – 1/8000 sec • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb |
| Aperture values | • F1.0 – F91 • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Actual aperture range depends on lens used |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom • Kelvin (2500 – 10000 K in 100 K steps) |
| WB bracketing | • +/-3 levels • 3 images • Blue / Amber or Magenta / Green bias |
| WB shift | • Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Picture style | • Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User def. 1 • User def. 2 • User def. 3 |
| Custom image parameters | • Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G |
| Image processing options * | • Highlight tone priority • Auto lighting optimizer (4 settings) • Long exposure noise reduction • High ISO noise reduction (4 settings) • Auto correction of lens peripheral illumination (vignetting) |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Viewfinder * | • Eye-level pentaprism • 98% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.71x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: Approx. 21 mm • Interchangeable focusing screen (3 other types optional) • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter |
| Mirror | • Quick-return half mirror (transmission:reflection ratio 40:60) • Mirror lock-up (once or multiple exposures) |
| Viewfinder info * | • AF information:AF pointsFocus confirmation light • Exposure information: Shutter speedAperture valueISO speed (always displayed)AE lockExposure level/compensationSpot metering circleExposure warningAEB• Flash information: Flash readyHigh-speed syncFE lockFlash exposure compensation• Image information: White balance correctionCF card informationMonochrome shootingMaximum burst (2 digit display)Highlight tone priority (D+) |
| LCD monitor * | • 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 920,000 pixels • Automatic 3 level brightness adjustment plus 7 manual levels • 170 ° viewing angle • Dual anti-reflection (‘Clear View’) |
| LCD Live view * | • Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage • 30 fps • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Silent mode • Grid optional (x2) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Three AF modes – Live mode / Quick mode / Face Detection • Live histogram (Luminance or RGB) • Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) |
| Movie recording * | • Available optionally during Live view mode • 1920 x 1080 (16:9) up to 12 mins (Quicktime 1080p H.264; 38.6 Mbits/sec) • 640 x 480 (4:3) up to 24 mins (Quicktime 480p H.264; 17.3 Mbits/sec) • Max file size 4 GB • Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video, PCM sound) • 30 fps |
| Record review | • Off • On (histogram via INFO button) • Display mode same as last used Play mode • 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold |
| Playback modes | 1. Single image with exposure, file number, storage slot 2. As 1 but also image count and quality 3. Detailed exposure information, thumbnail and luminance histogram 4. Less detailed exposure info., thumbnail, luminance and RGB histograms |
| Playback features | • Optional blinking highlight alert • Optional AF point display • Magnified view (up to 10x) • 2×2 or 3×3 thumbnail index • Jump (by 1, 10, 100 images, screen, date, folder, movies, stills)* • Delete / Protect |
| Flash | • No built-in flash unit • E-TTL II auto flash / metered manual • Flash compensation +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Hot-shoe & PC Terminal |
| External flash | • E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • In-camera flash configuration (currently only 580 EX II) • Wireless multi-flash support • PC Sync |
| Shooting modes | • Auto • Creative Auto * • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Custom 1 • Custom 2 * • Custom 3 * |
| Drive modes | • Single • Continuous: 3.9 fps * • Self-timer: 2 or 10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up) |
| Burst buffer | • Large/Fine JPEG: 78 frames (310 with UDMA card) * • RAW: 13 frames * |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Auto rotation | • On (recorded and LCD display) • On (recorded only) • Off |
| Custom functions * | 25 custom functions with 71 settings in 4 groups |
| Menu languages * | • 25 Languages • English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese |
| Firmware | User upgradable |
| Portrait grip | • Optional WFT-E4 (WiFi / LAN / USB mass storage) • Optional BG-E6 battery grip |
| Connectivity * | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out (video & audio *) • HDMI connector * • Microphone input * • PC Sync flash terminal • Communication terminal on base for WFT-E4 • InfraRed * |
| Storage * | • Compact Flash Type I or II (inc. FAT32) • Supports UDMA cards * • Copyright metatag support • Canon Original Data Security Kit supported (“Original Image Data”) |
| Power * | • Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery (supplied & charger) • CR1616 for date & settings • Approx. 850 shots at 20°C • Battery indication 6 levels & percentage (memorized) |
| Dimensions * | 152 x 114 x 75 mm (6.0 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) |
| Weight * | • No battery: 810 g (1.8 lb) |
| Accessories | • Viewfinder: Eyecup Eb, E-series Dioptric Adjustment Lens with Rubber Frame Eb, Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15, Focusing Screens Eg, Angle Finder C • Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E4 • Battery Grip BG-E6 • All EF lenses (excludes EF-S lenses) • Canon Speedlites (220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2) • Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-1, Remote Controller RC-5 • Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3 |
Seed Camera Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.