Canon EOS 5D Mark II In-depth Review
What's new / changed (key points) contd.
 |
 |
RAW available in Auto mode
As per the EOS 50D Canon has now enabled RAW shooting in Auto (green square) mode.
|
Expanded bracketing options
Exposure bracketing now provides a range up to +/-4 EV (when combined with exposure compensation). |
 |
 |
 |
Improved battery status information / memory
With the new battery comes better information including remaining capacity as a percentage, shutter count (how many exposures have been taken on this battery) and its recharge performance (aging). Additionally you can ask the camera to memorize battery status by serial number, allowing you to quickly review the status of batteries you may be carrying with you. |
|
 |
 |
Quick Control screen
Just like the EOS 50D you can now control everything on the screen using the joystick controller (taking a leaf out of Olympus and Sony's book).
|
Creative Auto Mode
A new variant on program mode takes care of focus and exposure and uses simple sliders to control background sharpness (depth of field) and AE compensation. |
|
 |
 |
Extra small sRAW / separate selection
You now have three JPEG and three RAW image size options combined with two JPEG compression levels. When selecting quality you now simply turn the front dial to select RAW quality and the main dial (rear) to select JPEG quality. |
Refreshed user interface
Courtesy of DIGIC 4 (and identical to the EOS 50D), the Mark II's interface has not only been given a stylish redesign; it's now got some very cool 'fades' between menu items. |
|
 |
 |
Image processing features
Thanks to its DIGIC 4 processor the Mark II gets highlight tone priority, auto lighting optimizer (4 levels), high ISO noise reduction (4 levels) and lens peripheral illumination correction (vignetting correction). |
New jump mode options
In addition to the 10/100/date/folder options we had on the EOS 5D we now get screen, date, movies, stills and '1 image' (?).
|
|
 |
 |
Two mode Live View silent shooting
Carried over from 40D and 50D comes silent shooting. This works by using an electronic shutter to start the exposure (electronic first curtain) and a the mechanical shutter to end the exposure. Mode 1 always re-cocks the shutter, Mode 2 doesn't re-cock until you release the shutter button. |
Copyright metadata
Using the supplied EOS Utility software you can define your own custom photographer name and copyright message which is automatically embedded in metadata for JPEG and RAW files.
|
|
 |
 |
WFT-E4 and BG-E6 grips
The WFT-E4 is effectively a 're-bodied' WFT-E3, it provides a vertical grip and controls as well as wireless image transfer to FTP or HTTP servers as well as remote wireless control using the EOS Utility software. It also provides connectivity for GPS and external USB Hard Disk (mass storage device). The BG-E6 also provides a vertical grip but additionally extra battery capacity (one more battery slot in effect).
|
Additional technical images
As usual Canon have supplied us with a range of technical images related to the camera, some of these are unchanged from the EOS 5D but may well still be of interest to potential buyers so we have included them below.
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2009
|
Dec 1, 2010
|
Oct 10, 2008
|
Sep 17, 2008
|
DPR regular Steve Badger says that there's 'no excuse to be bored' when there's a camera at hand. His love of photography began when he borrowed a friend's superzoom, and eventually invested in a DSLR system. His home on the east coast of Australia provides plenty of spectacular scenery, but he's eager to travel and grow as a photographer. See gallery
Canon has updated its Digital Photo Professional 4 (DPP) software to version 4.1.50. The update brings support for a couple of new lenses and several camera models, improvements to multiple functions, and compatibility with 64-bit native environments, among other things. The newest version, says Canon, incorporates feedback from both APS-C and older full-frame owners eager for 'the very latest Raw workflow solution'. Read more
A multimedia journalist by trade, Tim Matsui's still photography projects have taken him from native Alaskan villages to Brazilian Air Force training facilities. Matsui shares with us his journey in creating his latest documentary work, from its beginnings in still photography to the adaptations he made to turn it into a video production. Learn more about his work on 'The Long Night,' a documentary debuting this week that looks into human trafficking in Seattle. Read our Q&A
'What's in your bag?' is a question we ask a lot of photographers, because, well, we're nosy that way. Asking the very same question, photographer Thom Atkinson posed it (figuratively) to centuries of British soldiers. He's assembled what would have been the belongings and clothing of a dozen combatants, ranging from medieval to modern-day soldiers. Take a look and learn how it all came together in our Q&A. See gallery
George Probst has been fascinated with sharks his whole life, but it wasn't until he found himself newly single with some extra money in savings that his dream of diving with and photographing sharks became a reality. He hopes his photos will inspire others to see sharks in a light unlike their typical portrayal in movies and pop culture. Find out about his process and see his work. See gallery
The Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 (G110 in some regions) is a mirrorless camera designed for vlogging. Its 20MP Four Thirds sensor is paired with clever tracking audio technology, but we have our reservations.
The GFX 100S fits most of the capabilities of the GFX 100 into a smaller and more affordable body. We've tested what the camera offers to see who it might make sense for.
The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony's flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast action sports. Add in 8K video capture and you have a really impressive package.
The DJI Air 2S is exactly what many drone enthusiasts have been asking for: a consumerdrone with a 1"-type camera sensor that's budget-friendly. Does it live up to the hype? In our opinion, yes.
DxO has just released PureRaw, a simple, standalone program that can automatically apply its high-quality lens corrections and impressive noise-reduction algorithms to your Raw files, and then pass those Raw files off to your favorite editing app. We're pretty impressed by it – find out why in our review.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional productions or A-camera for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
What’s the best camera costing over $2500? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2500 and recommended the best.
If you want a camera that you can pick up and use without having to page through the manual first, then this guide is for you. We've selected seven cameras ranging from compacts to full-frame, all of which are easy to operate.
Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with friends or loved-ones in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.
If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that might be a bit older but still offer a lot of bang for the buck.
Comments