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Canon EOS 5D Mark II reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 15 July 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 26 May 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 20 April 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 14 February 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 06 February 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 05 February 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 20 January 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 19 January 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 24 December 2008 - |
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- 0 |
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- 04 December 2008 - |
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- 5 |
Photography Review 's conclusion / rating - 15 July 2009 |
“ The Canon EOS 5D Mark II makes me think one thing - low light, low light, low light. Yes, the 1080p HD video is cool, but that’s not enough to get me to buy it. I’m a photographer not a filmmaker. I’d buy the 5D Mark II to shoot sunset and post-sunset action photos. I’d buy it so I never have to use a flash. I’d buy it so I can shoot at ISO 800 and make prints with no noise. And I’d buy it to make huge prints with tons of detail.
But as much as I love the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, I don’t think it’s the right camera for me and it might not be the right camera for you. I encourage people who are considering it to slow down, step back and really ponder the pros and cons. There’s a lot of hype about full-frame sensor cameras but full frame doesn’t automatically mean better. The 5D Mark II’s image quality is really wonderful and if you like to shoot handheld in low light, it’s truly a great camera. But you pay for that quality with weight, huge files, a slow frame rate and lots of money. The truth is most photographers will be better served with a camera a step or two below the 5D Mark II. If you have $2,700 burning a hole in your pocket, the 40D or 50D and a pro lens are probably a better way to spend your money. If you’re a professional sports photographer the EOS-1D Mark III is still the best Canon has to offer when it comes to speed and auto focus performance. However, for working commercial photographers who need a camera that can deliver awesome high-resolution images in all conditions, the 5D Mark II is a great investment... ”
Photography Review's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraReview 's conclusion / rating - 26 May 2009 |
“ When the original 5D was introduced, Canon made it possible for photographers with relatively modest budgets to purchase a full-frame DSLR. Now, for about the same price, photographers can easily put their hands on a full-frame, high resolution camera with HD video.
As appealing as the camera's HD video feature is (especially for wedding photographers, photojournalists, and underwater shooters), the 5D Mark II is, first and foremost, a digital still camera. Excellent image quality and a full feature set are the camera's two biggest selling points; HD video is the icing on the cake. Whether you're stepping up from another Canon DSLR or want a back-up for a higher Canon model, the 5D Mark II is certain to appeal to the most discerning photographer-even those who will never (or almost never) utilize the video feature... ”
DigitalCameraReview's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DCResource 's conclusion / rating - 20 April 2009 |
“ As always, I recommend a trip down to your local camera or electronics store to try out the EOS-5D Mark II and its competitors before you buy!There are some advantages and disadvantages of shooting movies on a digital SLR. On the plus side, you can use lens you own, from fisheye to super telephoto. You can zoom in and out as you please and if your lens has image stabilization, that's available too. You can fool around with Picture Styles, for unique color effects. There are a few downsides, though. For one, the camera is not focusing continuously while you're recording a movie. You can press the AF-on button to use contrast detect AF, but that results in slow focusing, clicking noises, and other weird effects. That means that if you adjust the focal length or your subject moves out of focus, you need to adjust the focus manually. That's a lot harder than it sounds -- it takes practice, for sure. The other thing to note is that you cannot control any manual settings (unless you count exposure compensation) in movie mode. If you've set the ISO, shutter speed, or aperture manually, they will be ignored as soon as the camera starts recording... ”
Complete review here
DPReview 's conclusion / rating - 14 February 2009 |
“ While there are still other cameras in its class with marginally higher resolution, marginally better high ISO performance, more advanced AF, faster performance, better weather sealing and more solid build quality - and the Sony A900's built-in anti-shake remains unique in the full frame arena - the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality - especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels. Canon has also wisely made only minor tweaks to the external interface, so that 5D users can jump right in and feel at home. Looking at the package as a whole the EOS 5D Mark II seems hard to beat.
We have always placed a heavy emphasis on image quality, and all other things aside this means the 5D Mark II has to receive our highest rating. When you consider the price of the EOS-1Ds Mark III, the 5D Mark II seems like quite a bargain. In our review of the original 5D we said 'only history will tell if the EOS 5D is the start of a full frame revolution or simply the first of a new niche format'. Now we have to wait to see if the 5D Mark II (and the Nikon D90) are the start of the convergence of high end video and still photography cameras. But even if you never shoot video, and consider Live View to be a pointless novelty, the EOS 5D Mark II has an awful lot to recommend it to the serious photographer... ”
Complete review here
DigitalCameraInfo 's conclusion / rating - 06 February 2009 |
“ The full-frame, 21.1-megapixel Canon 5D Mark II is in many ways an exceptional camera, and truly groundbreaking when it comes to video recording, where it not only holds sway as the first SLR to offer full 1080p movies, but delivers exceptionally high-quality results in the process. Considering its price ($2699 for the body alone, $3499 with the 24-105mm kit lens), size (over three pounds with lens) and lack of training-wheel features like preset scene modes and a pop-up flash, this is clearly not a camera for casual shooters. The sophisticated photographer, though, or those eager to fully explore their photographic potential will appreciate the wealth of capabilities and topnotch performance provided here. The full-frame sensor translates to superior flexibility when shooting wide-angle and panoramic scenes, the high megapixel count means more flexibility in cropping and editing files, and the extraordinary level of customizability allows users to tailor the camera features to precisely match their image style desires and shooting preferences... ”
DigitalCameraInfo's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
Photo.net 's conclusion / rating - 05 February 2009 |
“ The Canon EOS 5D MkII is a remarkably capable camera with excellent imaging capability, including the ability to shoot broadcast quality HD video and record sound in stereo. It represents an advance in features over the original EOS 5D and the overall image quality is generally higher—though that higher quality may only be revealed in large prints.
It’s not perfect of course. It still uses linear AF sensors for 8 out of the 9 visible AF zones, it doesn’t track focus or allow control of ISO and aperture when recording video, it’s not fully weather sealed and it doesn’t have a built-in flash or built-in image stabilization, but no camera is perfect and Canon has to save something for the EOS 5D MkIII as well as give users some reasons to choose the 1DS MkIII. When you consider it’s $300 less expensive than the original EOS 5D was when it was introduced, you can see how far things have come in the last 3 years.
Having shot with the EOS 5D MkII for a few weeks, I can certainly recommend it to anyone who wants a “state of the art” full frame DSLR. If I could afford one and I didn’t already have too many cameras, I’d buy one myself!... ”
Complete review here
Imaging Resource 's conclusion / rating - 20 January 2009 |
“ In the third paradigm-shifting announcement of the Summer, Canon's EOS 5D Mark II signals the beginning of the shift back to full-frame, 35mm-sized SLRs. For the first half of 2008, photographers were limited to two choices for full-frame: the Canon 5D and the Canon 1Ds series. Today there are three under-$3,000 choices on the market (or there will be by November) that offer full-frame sensors. That seems like a lot to those shopping for a modern Rebel-grade SLR that can be had for $800 or less, but some of us remember the Canon D30's starting price back in the year 2000: It was $3,500 without a lens. Now you can get a full-frame Canon 5D Mark II with a 24-105mm L lens for the same price.
The world of imaging further shifts with HD video capture through high-quality SLR glass, something that before this Summer was limited to very expensive Canon XL-series camcorders. The possibilities are intriguing, and the jury's still out on what effect digital SLR cameras like the Nikon D90 and Canon 5D Mark II will have on the movie industry and the YouTube crowd... ”
Imaging Resource's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
Steves Digicams 's conclusion / rating - 19 January 2009 |
“ The long awaited replacement to the Well respected EOS Digital 5D is finally here. Canon's new EOS Digital 5D Mark II builds off of all the features that made the 5D such a remarkable camera, adding the latest in technology that has been perfected over the past 3 years. With superb image quality and performance, the new 5DMk2 can confidently continue to fill the gap between Canon's entry/consumer-level and all out pro dSLR models. Just remember, that the camera body itself is only half of the equation to a great system. You need to make sure you get the best possible lenses you can afford to really appreciate the capabilities of this camera. That said, with an MSRP of US$2699 for the body only or US$3499 when mated with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens we used, I feel the Canon EOS 5DMk2 offers an outstanding value for such a capable photographic tool, and is sure to be a wise investment for the amateur to professional photographer... ”
Steves Digicams's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
Roland Lim 's conclusion / rating - 24 December 2008 |
“ It took Canon 3 years to come out with the 5D Mark II as a replacement for the 5D. Canon has also been seen to be lacking behind the competition, especially Nikon since just over a year ago whne Nikon came out with the ground breaking D3 and subsequently the D700. Many people have already written their opinion about the Canon 5D Mark II and I will add my own here.
As a replacement for the original 5D, I think it is a worthy camera. The image quality is simply amazing with very high resolution and very good high ISO performance. As far as image quality is concerned, I think most users would be more than pleased with the 5D Mark II. However, in areas such autofocus, Canon still lacks behind the competition. In fact Canon has not advanced at all during the last 3 years and the 5D Mark II still uses the exact same autofocus system as the original 5D. In my humble opinion, I think even the 40D and 50D have a better autofocus system than the 5D Mark II. Although, the 5D Mark II autofocus is adequate for most situation, it can be quite frustrating to use under low lighting and one wonders why Canon cannot come out with something better, or at least put the 50D autofocus system in the 5D Mark II.
If you are a Canon xxD use thinking of upgrading to a full frame camera, I think the 5D Mark II would be a no brainer and you should be very pleased with it.
Although, I have not owned the original 5D before (I have played with it in various occasions though), I think the 5D Mark II will be a very good upgrade as well, and you should be very pleased with the new features in the camera and the image quality should a nice upgrade too.
I have borrowed and used the 1Ds Mark III before, and from comparisons with images I made with the 1Ds Mark III, the image quality matched those from 1Ds Mark III very well. Purely for image quality, the 5D Mark II is a real bargain compared with the 1Ds Mark III.
Overall , it is a great camera and I love it. There some things that I hope Canon would improve in the future though, a better autofocus system, full environmental seals (even Pentax DSLR have them), viewfinder with 100% frame coverage, an additonal multi-controller on the battery grip would be great for portrait shooters, a dedicated mirror lock up button would be nice too... ”
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 04 December 2008 |
“ The high-end prosumer DSLR market is an interesting place right now, with three cameras - the Nikon D700, Sony A900 and the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II - all fighting it at a similar price-point. Your £2000 / $3000 purchasing decision is made much harder by the fact that all three cameras are quite different to each other, with the 12 megapixel D700 putting the emphasis on continuous shooting speed, the 24.5 megapixel Sony A900 on sheer resolution, and now the Canon EOS 5D Mark II throwing video into the mix.
The ability to shoot full HD video with a DSLR camera has gained the 5D Mark II a lot of press coverage in the weeks leading up to it shipping, fuelled by the release of some jaw-dropping video footage from independent film-makers. This is the key phrase - "film-makers" - that you need to consider if you're attracted by the 5D's video functionality. Experienced videographers will no doubt be chomping at the bit at the prospect of being able to use all those different lenses in combination with such a high-quality sensor, but for the rest of us mere mortals, it may actually prove more frustrating to get some decent footage of the kids than by using a dedicated video camera. The SLR format just doesn't lend itself very well to shooting video handheld, really requiring a sturdy tripod to achieve good results, which obviously limits where you can take the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and what you can achieve, plus the inability to auto-focus quickly and effectively using the contrast-AF system will frustrate most casual users.
Much more successful, and I think where the real strength of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II lies, is the amazing combination of high-resolution images with low-light performance. The new 21 megapixel CMOS sensor and expanded ISO range thankfully haven't compromised image quality in any way, quite the opposite in fact. There's virtually no visible noise at all from ISO 50 all the way up to ISO 3200, with even the three faster settings of 6400-25600 producing perfectly usable images. Canon seem to have matched the low-light performance of the Nikon D3 and D700 whilst substantially increasing the resolution. We haven't reviewed the Sony A900 just yet, but we hear on the grapevine that it starts to get noisy at around ISO 800, which means that the Canon EOS 5D Mark II would seem to offer the best of both worlds. All other image quality aspects are up to Canon's usual high standards, so top marks go to the 5D Mark II in this department... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 5 |
Complete review here
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