Canon EOS 5D Mark II

The 5D Mark II replaces the original 5D and is a significant upgrade in nearly every way. Now with a 21-megapixel image on a full-frame sensor captured at 14 bits, it provides image detail equal to any SLR camera available, including the 1Ds III. ISO has been expanded from 50 to 25,600. (FYI, our take is that ISO 6400 is very usable, anything higher is for emergencies only. This is also our opinion of the Nikon D3 and D700.)

The LCD has been upgraded to a 3-inch, 920,000 pixel display with an amazing 170 degree viewing angle, again the equal of anything available on any camera body. Burst capability is 3.9 frames per second, but it can continue that for up to 13 RAW images or 78 JPEGs, again a significant improvement over the original.

And, of course, there is the ability to record movies in 1080p HD (1920×1080) for up to 12 minute clips, a new sealed magnesium body, and an integrated cleaning system. Please note: the 5DMkII requires the new BG-E6 grip and LP-E6 battery. It is not compatible with older 5D grips and batteries.

All of our cameras ship with one fully charged battery, the battery charger and a bag. A lens does NOT come with the camera.
PLEASE NOTE: The Canon software included with a new camera is copyrighted and we cannot send it with rental cameras. You will need Photoshop or some type of image editing software to download and view your images.

A note about recording movies: an 8GB card will hold about 30 minutes of video. The camera itself will record a clip until it hits either a 4GB file size or a 30 minute limit. Then you can start another clip. A battery (at room temperature) will last about 80 minutes shooting 1080p video.

All of our 5DMkII’s have the most recent firmware update. This allows aperture to be set in movie mode among other updates.

To set the aperture in movie mode, simply follow these steps— Set the mode dial to Manual. Then set the ISO speed, Set the shutter speed and aperture, focus. Then start shooting using the Set button. Press the Set button again to stop shooting.

Roger’s Take: Full disclosure first: I loved the original 5D and shot with it more than any other camera. My first reaction to the 5DMkII was some amazement at how many megapixels Canon put in that sensor. I like the resolution, but then I like to make large prints. If you print at 8 X 10 or less you may want to consider using the original 5D, it is still a great camera. But if you print big, or want to be able to crop a lot and still make a decent size print, the resolution is worth it. People have hair-split and pixel peeped ad nauseum online but the practical bottom line is the camera is as good or a bit better than the 5D at ISO 1600 and shoots decent ISO 3200 shots. ISO 6400 is usable for web images or small prints.

It has a couple of huge advantages that aren’t talked about much: a self-cleaning sensor and the ability to adjust microfocus to tune the camera for your particular lenses (if you aren’t up to speed on the difference that can make, read This Lens is Soft and Other Myths ). The bottom line is for a photographer the camera is a clear upgrade to the 5D in many ways, particularly markedly increased resolution without increasing noise. But a lot of folks who want a full frame camera but don’t need the high resolution will be just fine with the 5D classic and we’ll continue to stock those too.

The Movie Mode is another kettle of fish entirely. For me I’ve enjoyed making some 30 second back yard clips. Some skilled videographers are doing amazing things with it, basically getting high definition video with top of the line lenses for a fraction of the cost of a professional video system. But if you want to shoot serious video you’ll need some serious video equipment, particularly good support (handheld ain’t happening folks) and a well-powered computer with some video editing software.

Works Well With:
For video work:
- Rode Stereo Video Mic or Sennheiser Shotgun Mic
- Beachtek DXA-5D audio adapter
- Litepanels Micro or MicroPro
- Cavision Shoulder Mount