5D Mark II Unveiled

[sirius]

It's selling for $2,699.

It has HD video! and can capture stills while filming video! Weather sealing...Ah, the world is changing.

National Geographic likes it! http://ngm.typepad.com/digital_photography/2008/09/canon-5d-mk-ii.html

cheers all...

 

[sockeyed]

The original 5D (which I have) is still proving to be a very competive camera in terms of image quality. It will be interesting to see how the new one compares, given that they are cramming more MP onto the similar-sized sensor. Then again, the 40D and 50D proved you can have great IQ on an APS-C sensor, so we'll probably be pleasantly suprised.

For me, the saving grace for the MkII is the SRAW capability (5mp and 10mp RAW files). 21MP RAW files would kill me and my computer!

 

[LeicaM3]

Too bad about the AF... 21MP of not so sharp is still not so sharp.
Old 5D is looking better and better.

I was hoping for an improved AF, low light performance, weather sealed - looks as if they delivered more pixels which I don't need.

 

[LeicaM3]

They did improve the AF (via DiGIC IV) and low light performance (DiGIC IV, improved sensor, extended ISO range, highlight priority and other options) and finally, added weathersealing. Basically everything on your list. 😉

9 point center AF... not necessarily where I need them:bang:
I was hoping for real AF, 1D or nikon style

Thanks for the info - will check the low light performance. Did the introduce Auto ISO?

 

[tmfabian]

i somehow get the feeling canon had to drop the price on this based on sony's price...for $2699(according to the nat geo link), anyone who bought a 5dmk1 in the past few months is gonna be pretty ticked off.

 

[Al Patterson]

The best "feature" of the 5D MkII is that 5D MkI's should be under a grand on the used market before X-mas. 😀

I certainly don't need 21 megapixels to print 8 by 10s or make wallpaper for the computer, so I'll be looking for a lightly used 5D if I don't end up with a close out D80 first...

 

[Prosaic]

wow THIS is the one I have been waiting for. Bought a 350D two years ago and was quickly frustrated by the crappy handling, awful AF and postage stamp viewfinder. Been waiting for a killer FF at a decent price point to work interchangeably with my Eos 3 bodies. Now here is and with 21.1mp!!!

What was wrong with the original 5D???

 

[sojournerphoto]

Assuming the files are similar to, or slightly cleaner than, 1Ds3 files this is quite an improvement. I have both and the 1Ds3 output is lovely. The 5D output to me (based on the samples I've seen from 40D and 50D) still holds it's own or is better than the current crop of APS-C cameras.

The high iso settings should prove interesting, and the other improvements are worthwhile. I still value the 100% viewfinder and af of the 1 series, but otherwise what a great price. It's likely that 5D1 prices will fall slightly, but there's going to be a lag (credit crunch impacts excepted) as 5D1 bodies are currently around 1150 to 1200GBP new and 850ish sh in the UK. The new supply will disappear and then the gap to a 'better' camera will increase again for a while.

Probably not so good for used 1Ds2 or 3 prices, though the market will decide.

A last thought, from my point of view, the 1 series cameras are more comfortable to use than the 5D (but a bit heavy to lug all day) and a 5D 24-105 kit is not really compact to carry around. The Ikon (or GX100) is much better for that purpose. Now I'll avoid going to film v digital!

 

[dazedgonebye]

i somehow get the feeling canon had to drop the price on this based on sony's price...for $2699(according to the nat geo link), anyone who bought a 5dmk1 in the past few months is gonna be pretty ticked off.

Anyone who bought the original 5D in the last few months surely must have known a replacement was around the corner.
No one to be mad at but themselves.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

What was wrong with the original 5D???

The original WAS great. But, things change.

1. The LCD is small, compared to everything else that is current. And, a larger, hi-res LCD is a good thing.
2. The LCD was useless in bright sunshine.
3. More good pixels is a good thing. You can always shoot with lower resolution, or process RAWs to smaller sizes. There's a 32GB CF card now, for under $300. Hard drives are cheap.
4. "Sturdier" build and "environmental sealing" on the new one. Good. Good.
5. Video. It's a bonus. Don't use it if you don't want to. But, take a look at the sample videos. Shallow DOF. Full 1080p HD. I can see myself making little commercials and snazzy little travel documents and such, if the video can be edited with Final Cut.
6. 14-bit files. Should make gradients and tonality just a weensy bit smoother. And/or help with editing. More info is good.
7. Live view AF for 'stealthy' shooting. Put the mirror up, and it's almost silent.... Silent shutter, AF, 4-frames per second street shooting, with 21MP-worth of cropping potential. Shoot from the hip and re-orient/re-compose it later....

 

[David R Munson]

I'm buying one. Granted, I'm not sure when I'll be able to afford one, but still. This is the answer to everything I need for a digital body for my work (personal and commercial). I'm so excited to see this come out it's absurd.

 

[Celloman]

I presume it's the quality of the sensor and resulting high ISO quality that will attract buyers the most. If you don't care about MP, then that's what will bring it to the class and perhaps surpass the D700. I have a D700 and the high ISO quality is shocking. Worth the price of admission if you like available light photography.
Mike

The original WAS great. But, things change.

1. The LCD is small, compared to everything else that is current. And, a larger, hi-res LCD is a good thing.
2. The LCD was useless in bright sunshine.
3. More good pixels is a good thing. You can always shoot with lower resolution, or process RAWs to smaller sizes. There's a 32GB CF card now, for under $300. Hard drives are cheap.
4. "Sturdier" build and "environmental sealing" on the new one. Good. Good.
5. Video. It's a bonus. Don't use it if you don't want to. But, take a look at the sample videos. Shallow DOF. Full 1080p HD. I can see myself making little commercials and snazzy little travel documents and such, if the video can be edited with Final Cut.
6. 14-bit files. Should make gradients and tonality just a weensy bit smoother. And/or help with editing. More info is good.
7. Live view AF for 'stealthy' shooting. Put the mirror up, and it's almost silent.... Silent shutter, AF, 4-frames per second street shooting, with 21MP-worth of cropping potential. Shoot from the hip and re-orient/re-compose it later....

 

[punkromance]

Decidedly inconvenient.
I have a D80 with more dead sensor pixels than I care for and was looking to, at some time in the not too distant future, upgrade.
I was torn between the HD video of the D90, and the high ISO of the D700.
Then bam.
Canon decides to do one with both.
I don't want to have to switch to the crappy Canon lenses (by that I mean cheap ones. The Canon 50/1.8 is horrible compared to the Nikon, and sadly I can't afford the 1.2 L)

Oh well. By the time I've saved enough for either of them Nikon would have introduced a FF HD video one.

 

[user237428934]

In case someone is interested in the video capabilites:

Some german photographers did two nice and new videos with a pre production 5D.

http://www.stratenschulte.de/index.php?page=5dmkii

Very nice even if the videos are not at highest resolution.

 

[Fred Burton]

All I can say is Wow!