The Canon EOS 5D Mark II was quite possibly Canon’s most highly anticipated Digital SLR ever, and the scramble to get in a preorder line ensured that very few 5D IIs would be found in stock any time near their first availability date in early December 2008.

The original Canon EOS 5D was Canon’s first non-1-Series full-frame body. The 5D was affordable, was relatively small and light, and three years since it was introduced, still delivers image quality that rivals or surpasses many current (Jan 2009) DSLR models. It was a huge success in the industry.

Prior to at least the last three major pre-5D II Canon DSLR announcements (typically two per year), rumors were flying about the 5D’s anticipated replacement. As each announcement passed, I was even more sure the next one would include a 5D replacement – I bought a 5D a year prior to the 5D II’s announcement to be ready to make direct comparisons. And finally, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II has arrived.

And Canon has not let our anticipation down. From my perspective, the 5D II’s big news is the increased resolution – matching the 1Ds III’s 21.1-megapixel number.

Canon EOS Mark II, Released in 2008 for more click here

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 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
  • DIGIT 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 the top plate and viewfinder displays
  • AF micro adjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
  • Three custom modes on the 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 autofocus (including face detection)
  • No mirror-flip for exposures in Live View if contrast detects 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 Compact Flash 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

Canon 5D Mark II SUMMARY

The Canon EOS-5D Mark II raises the standards of the entire EOS line, as it is the first EOS digital SLR camera to offer both still and video capture. The Canon 5D Mark II also includes most of the hardware and software upgrades that the company introduced on the Canon 50D.

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