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Contents
Rumours
Real Stuff
The EOS 5D Mark IIInformation and news about Canon's 21MP EOS 5D Mk225th May - Firmware bumped to V2.0.7 Reviews, updates and general information about the 5D2.
EOS 5D Mark II Information/News
> marks latest update
5D2 Books
5d2 Reviews/samples
> marks latest update
5D Mk2 Video
5D Mk2 Accessories> marks latest update Latest 5D Mk2 news and information2010 May
March
5D Mk2 Firmware changesAdds or changes the following movie frame rates.
It is recommended that you use the latest Canon applications* to edit movies captured with EOS 5D Mark II cameras that have the latest firmware because some previous versions do not support movie-editing functions and the frame rates that are added or changed by the latest firmware. In addition to the enhancements to the movie function, the accompanying instruction manual has also been revised. Users are asked to download both the latest firmware and the latest instruction manual. *ZoomBrowser EX Version 6.5.0 or later (compatible operating systems : Windows XP/Vista/7) ImageBrowser Version 6.5.0 or later (compatible operating systems : Mac OS X v10.4/10.5/10.
February
January
2009 December
See towards the end of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmS6r4VnHmI October 20th Firmware update on its way
New wireless unit announced Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E4IIA
* Require firmware update
8th Excellent presentation by Tim Smith of Canon about 5D2 video September 20th Raw video recording options and a 5D2 firmware upgrade to give it the same video options as the 7D? 3rd Some good reasons why that firmware update may not be too soon [P5D] 2nd Suggestions that a firmware update is on its way for video? [C5D] August 28th Updated Canon info on frame rate conversion. July 26th Interesting comparison between D3X and 5D2 at C-labs 21st Want to see your 5D2 shutter in action? Video shot at 2000fps shows just what goes on when you hear that click. [SM] 13th We've just had a comment [thanks] that there is -not- another video features firmware upgrade in the works - this flatly contradicts one we had after the last firmware update that said it was effectively only 'part 1' of the video features updates. The US rebate scheme ends, but is extended for flashes and lenses until August 8th. $15 to $500 off a range of equipment EF 200mm f/2L IS USM $500 SPEEDLITE 580EX II $50 June 22nd For those wanting to risk their 5D Mk2 with different firmware... Magic Lantern Firmware
Just be sure to read all the warnings first! Magic Lantern firmware introduction from Trammell Hudson 20th Battery supplies easing? - now Amazon.com in the US claim to have the LP-E6 Battery Pack 16th Amazon (UK) claim to have stock of the 5D2 battery LP-E6 > Video links updated 12th Scott at Onsight has a useful article about using the 5d2 for night photography. 11th I'm told (thanks) that in the UK, b4udirect.com have batteries do a search for 'Canon 5D' to find them - as ever, check for 'real' stock first though ;-) 10th Latest CW tips has suggestions covering 5D2 video and flash use amongst other things. 9th A UK dealer comments that they have 50+ waiting for 5D Mk2 batteries, but Canon are sending stock very slowly. 7th Canon refurb 5D2s are seen on eBay here in the UK 2nd Firmware V1.1.0 is out and we've already had a number of positive reports.
1st We've been sent a link to a collection of underwater 5D2 images and video. No sign of the firmware update as yet... (noon GMT) May 28th 24FPS video may yet come to the 5D2 - some suggestions of why it's delayed at [CR] 27th Not to be outdone by casual software developers, Canon decides to announce its own firmware update for the 5D2. Sorry, I meant announce that one will be available in early June... (2nd)
Thanks to all the people letting me know of this. When it does come, it will be available at this Canon page. We're also hearing that quite a few vendors do not actually have 5D2 batteries in stock when their web sites say otherwise.
25th More firmware hacks are appearing, including a sample audio level meter [CR] A thread [DPR] on the risks (or not) connected with 3rd party batteries 19th In the 'highly experimental' category, comes news of ongoing 5D2 video firmware hacks. 14th - We're told that (at a price) Adorama and Amazon are showing stocks of batteries (but for how long?) Meanwhile I'm told that several of the larger UK suppliers have had intermittent stocks, although with the story we heard the other day, it pays to be certain that stock is for real... 10th Battery supplies are still pretty low [DPR] Do check that sellers really have them in stock, since we just heard from someone who ordered from Jacobs in the UK (web site showing stock - CC charge made), only to be told after a couple of weeks that 'they did have stock in but it was to backfill orders'. Looks very much like that all too common practice of taking orders when there actually isn't any stock, so as to prevent the customer going elsewhere. Suffice to say, the sales person's overall attitude has lost them one professional as a customer. > Underwater housings updated 7th > Reviews updated 6th Possibly connected with the video below - a purported comment [DV] made at NAB from a Canon rep. "A lot of people have asked for [the update]. When and if it's coming, all that's subjective. Some of the things we think we can do, while others we're not so sure of. Our engineers are working on what they can. There's no set date or firmware package that's coming any time soon. But we're working on it. I'd love to say we're going to fix this and this or modify that. Just stay on the boards and Web site. As soon as we've got something, you'll know." 4th An interesting video about the 5D2 filmed at the recent NAB conference. An interview with Tim Smith of Canon where amongst other things he points out that it was partly built to fit requirements from AP and Reuters, for their people to be able to shoot video and stills. Note comments at the end about 24fps and manual control from the Digital Cinema Society. April 30th > Reviews Updated 26th We're told (thanks) that new video firmware is out there under test, but the video features may not appear for the 5D2. The new advanced video features could well appear on the 1D4 (or 1Ds4), since that gives 5D2 users another 'good' reason to move to a 1 series body. There is a similar comment at C5D We've had comments in the past about the 1D4, suggesting that it will have very advanced video facilities. A second comment received today (thanks), this time from Germany, where a Canon rep alludes to better 1 series video and there will be an update 'soon'. 19th Batteries are appearing in stock, but in short supply, we've not heard of any stock lasting very long. > Reviews Updated 15th It's been some time since we had any reports about the expected 5D2 firmware update. Although lots of people might want uddated video functionality, it's worth noting that feature updates in Canon software are not known for offering big updates in functionality - that's what the next model is for ;-) That said, at CR they suggest that such an update is being tested (or not [CR]) 10th A new audio adapter is on its way from Beachtek. The DXA-5D adaptor for the Canon 5d MK II
From the manufactuers
9th An interesting test of the EG-a and EG-s focusing screens on a 5D2 at DPR Looking for a 5D2 in the UK? Trouble at Play.com? We're hearing that Play.com are telling people that they've just heard they won't be getting any more 5D2 coming in, and that they are cancelling people's orders, since the 5D2 has just been dropped from their product range. Might wash a bit better if one person told it today hadn't heard the exact same line given to a colleague a few weeks ago. We've now had several comments from people ordering the 5D2 from Play, that they've been given pretty shoddy service. Seems that in buying stuff from them YMMV considerably ;-) In the current climate, do make sure you pay for goods with a credit card in the UK - it gives much more protection should a retailer's excuses for non delivery turn into insolvency... 8th Chuck Westfall talk at CNET - inc 5D2 video. > Video links updated 1st We missed this one a while ago - a third party battery grip for the 5D2 March 30th In Australia the RRP for 5D Mk2 body only has risen from $4299 to $4799 (full list from Canon) > Reviews list updated... LL review: "It’s still a plastic computer hooked up to a system of solidly B+ lenses" 21st > Reviews list updated 18th Although still in short supply we're told that Amazon.com has stock. 7th > Video links updated 5th Further developments on the firmware front. The 5D2 white paper now reads... "Based on this success, it’s only natural that advanced users are looking for manual aperture control in movie mode, and Canon is listening to constructive comments and feature suggestions."[TE] Meanwhile at FM5, there is a comment that: "Originally full manual control was planned but they couldn’t finish it by the time of the release." > Reviews list updated 4th If you're travelling and don't mind warranty issues, I'm told that there are plenty of kits/bodies/grips and batteries available in Thailand and Malaysia. I'm also told that good battery deals (with chargers) were recently available on Amazon's (US) marketplace. 3rd New firmware in April? A comment at CR thinks so - this ties in with an email that someone received from Canon on Feb 10th [link to that day's item below] Supplies are still very patchy in the UK as some dealers suggest they won't be getting 24-105 kits until the end of this month. February 25th Supplies in the UK seem quite patchy. If you wanted to buy a 24-105, a battery grip, or even batteries, then no-one seems to have a good idea of when or what is available. I was just speaking to someone who'd been given estimates of April for any deliveries - whilst an attempt at asking Canon for info eventually got to CPS, where even they couldn't get hold of stuff. In the US, stocks seem patchy too, although I saw a comment that BestBuy could be found with some and that calling round local smaller shops seemed more productive than some of the big chains. Underwater use - see the Wetpixel link above > Accs. list updated 22nd I'm told that there are 5D2s in stock at some dealers at the Focus show in the UK. Since there are now 5D2 and D3x reviews on DPR, there is enough wiggle room for interminable 'discussions' about the minutiae [DPR]. If you are looking for objective information on a new camera, then do reserve a skeptical eye for a lot of what you read on forums ;-) Warning - long thread that may harm your will to live :-) > Reviews list updated 18th Looks like big price rises in Australia for March 9th [FLKR] 5D Mark II RRP jumps from 4199 to 4800 > Video links updated 17th In the US we've heard of Adorama having stock of kits every few days, whilst I hear of a US company ephotocraft with current stocks. 15th > Reviews list updated 13th DPReview publishes a long awaited review of the 5D Mk2 Well worth reading the 40 odd pages, but the conclusions from DPR are:
Conclusion - Pros
Conclusion - Cons
> Reviews list updated 12th Buy a lens and flash with your 5D2 and get a $200 rebate (US - until 1st March) - details on main Canon info page 11th Batteries seem to be in short supply all over the place - I've heard of several UK 5D2 users spending a long time on the phone trying to track any down. > Reviews list updated 10th Is 30 FPS only for video a pain? If so then complain to Canon. This response received from a UK 5D2 owner complaining that the UK uses 25 FPS for TV. "According to the information provided to us, you are experiencing a flicker effect when you film a TV or monitor screen. The TV or monitor screen in the frame will always have a flicker on its screen when you film it. The standard to which the EOS 5D MkII is set to that is sold in the UK is 30fps, which cannot be set to 25fps. Canon is aware of this as suggestions have been made to be able to set this manually and we are working on a functionality upgrade. " Firmware update on its way? 9th The fallout from the LL 5D2 comments continues... Indeed, I've just heard from someone who hired a 5D2 and found that slight dampness getting into the shutter button kept causing random shutter firings. Probably caused by wet fingers, even though the camera was protected from any direct rain. > Reviews list updated 8th As expected, a lot of noise from the LL article [FM] [DPR] [LL] 7th I was just looking at the Antarctic trip report on LL - it seems that 6 out of 25 5D Mk2 cameras experienced faults (3 terminal). Look for more cries of 'we need weather sealing' on the forums ;-) 6th If you are going to do a (good) technical evaluation and comparison between cameras, then you need to be very careful and methodical about your approach. One of the reasons we don't do really detailed comparisons between products in our reviews is that it's very difficult to do it in a meaningful way. I was just reading the print version of a British Journal of Photography comparison between the 5D2 and D3x. There is an online version in the reviews list above that wonderfully illustrates (IMHO) why lots of data does not automatically convey lots of information. Obviously a lot of work has been put into the piece, since the print version is full of little sample images and even charts. Unfortunately there is no discussion of the camera settings, nor even whether RAW or JPEG images were used. We read that the Canon scored '4' in one test and the Nikon '4.5' ... four point five what? Bananas? It's spurious techy guff like this that does the magazine a great dis-service. Perhaps someone there could apply some critical evaluation and editorial control before they print their next Anders Uschold 'review'? ;-) If you've come across this page on our site whilst looking for information on the 5D2 then I hope you find the resources I've collected of help. However, if you don't have a great technical background, then do be questioning towards what you read. If a review says that a camera scores '6' then what does this mean? What's the scale? is it 6 out of 6 or 6 out of 100? If a review says that noise reduction at ISO 12,800 is too agressive, then compared to what? In general, the more graphs, charts and numbers that appear, the more you have to ask what they mean, how were they obtained, and last of all do they actually make the slightest difference in the real world... If you are going to be technical, I like the Astrosurf article above (CANON 40D, 50D, 5D, 5D Mark II comparison in French - some parts in English) - this is real geek stuff, with mentions of 'well capacity' etc. Whilst most of this appeals to my distant engineering past, there is one particularly useful picture that shows the difference in dark images (300s exposure - lens cap on) between when the camera is first switched on and when it's been using liveview for 10 minutes. Parts of Christian Buil's test images.
> Reviews updated 5th Supplies are still quite patchy, although I've heard that the general Canon price rises have led to a number of peoples' orders being 'lost' or cancelled, with the result that cameras are then only available at new higher prices. > Reviews updated 4th We hear of a 5D2 owner who's mirror did indeed fall to bits when first used for continuous shooting. The UK firm Dabs then gave them the run around over replacement - so they've gone to a reputable dealer for the replacement.
I've just been watching the Dan Beruba video, made travelling up Highway 1 in California - reminded me of my own trip there in 2007. > Videos links updated 3rd Some 5D2 owners are getting a 5D service notice by mistake - see main rumours page for 5D mirror issues 1st In the UK, February seems to have brought price rises of around 10% for many Canon items UK RRP for the EOS 5D Mark II from £2,450 to £2,690 > Reviews updated January 30th Update - moved to backordered, doesn't look like it took long to shift that lot... I'm told that B&H have moved to 'accepting orders' status in the US - so there may be stock on its way? 29th Assorted Canon s/w updates for image processing - select Drivers & Downloads tab, then select your OS. Updater supports 5D2 firmware v1.0.7. Updater corrects a phenomenon where dark, low-contrast areas in sRAW1 and sRAW2 images that were captured by a camera equipped with firmware v1.0.6 or earlier may appear magenta. > Reviews updated 28th Some of the UK 'non-dealer' suppliers are still having difficulties meeting orders. I've heard of multiple shipping cancellations from the likes of Dabs. In the US many of the larger suppliers are showing no stock, but it seems much easier to find the camera than a few weeks ago. 27th As well as the UK shortage of batteries, many other items are now on back order - no doubt the flood gates will open once the February price rises hit... Plenty of batteries in the US I believe. (updated - many larger suppliers are now showing as out of stock) > Reviews updated 23rd I hear that there is a severe shortage of 5D Mk2 batteries in the UK, with at least one major UK dealer having over 80 back ordered. One dealer had even heard that the next big shipment wasn't due for months.... (see however price rise info on General Rumours page) DxO Optics Pro now supports the 5D2. I've been using this over the last few weeks (with a 1Ds3) and hope to get my review out in the next couple of weeks. > Reviews updated January 20th We're told that at the SWPP convention in the UK, during a presentation, a photographer stated that he's currently testing the pre-production version of the Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Mk II lens. He had the 5D Mk II camera pre-production model since November 08. Certainly would explain Canon's eagerness to push the kit versions of the 5D2 ;-) 19th Although we're mostly hearing of people getting their cameras at last, we've had several comments from people who've ordered with Ritz (US) and have ended up getting cameras from other sources after waiting too long. In the UK, lens prices seem to have jumped over the last week or so, but 5d2 body prices are still falling at some suppliers. 17th Canon's audio input design for the 5D2 is aparently causing problems for external device developers (the AGC can't be turned off). The picture below shows a -prototype- of the Beachtek DXA-5D. I'm told it should be available for the North American market by April.
16th Does the new firmware affect video quality? I had a comment from a 5D user (an HD video specialist) who noticed that horizontal aliasing seemed slightly worse after the update. Unfortunately there's no easy way to test by going back to the old firmware... so if somebody cares to shoot some test video before and after the update? 15th DxO publish their latest sensor data and it seems that the D3X is the 'best' yet... (site is v busy at the moment) I'm told that both Jessops and Jacobs in New Oxford St, London have largeish stocks of bodies and kits - this ties in with what I'm hearing from other locations around the world, with even the on-line stores and box shifters getting stocks. The firmware update has mostly silenced the armchair critics on the forums - and for those who actually take photos, it seems to have fixed the spot and banding problems. I'm also finding quite a few reviews and articles about the 5D2. I'm filtering out some of those that still look a bit too much like the Canon press information, but have added some new links above. Much as I value the work put in by sites such as DPR, it's always nice to read some of the impressions of 'real' users. I just don't have the patience to do rigourous methodical reviews, so where I've looked at a few cameras in the past [Reviews] I've always concentrated more on how it was to use for myself as a photographer.
2009 January 14th I'm told that the 5D2 is back on the Best Buy web site. Meanwhile a 5D2 is spotted on the shelf at a Jessops store in the UK, while further afield, one is seen on the shelf in a photo store in Nelspruit, South Africa... 13th Supply difficulties are easing somewhat - I've heard of one spotted on the shelf in a Paris shop. I've just heard of someone getting a 5D2 at a Best Buy store - they are in stock at selected stores. Possible reasons for them vanishing from the web site are a pricing change, supply levels or quite possibly the widespread appearance of a 10% discount code on the web - see more assorted guesses at DPR We were also sent (thanks) an article about NRK covering CES with a 5D2 [NRK- Norwegian, Google trans] 12th 5D2 at Best Buy? It seems that the 5D2 has vanished from the Best Buy web site. The top Canon camera listed there now is the 50D, but the Nikon D700 is listed. 11th Several comments about the flash sync - most saying that flash performance is not a problem and noting that the flash duration times of several popular units are long enough to limit speeds even on 1D series cameras. I don't generally do any studio work with flash, I can't personally comment on this one. 10th Prices in Canada are starting to fall somewhat, with several dealers offering around the $3000 mark. I was also sent a good example of real world (i.e. on a paying job ;-) use of high ISO on a 5D2 Are there sync speed issues with some studio equipment? The manual says 1/200th for max sync speed, but I've heard of people having difficulties with reaching this. - Update (thanks) I'm told that if you look further you will see that the manual points out that the flash sync speeds for studio flash could be as low as 1/30 sec as a result of the length of the flash duration. 9th I've had several people say that the firmware has fixed the dot problem [example] [DPR] but since no-one had commented on the banding, I'm assuming that not many people had actually tried sRAW. Given it needs DPP to process it, I can see why it has not been explored so much. 2009 January 8th New firmware V1.0.7 [Canon]. I've had one initial test report [AY], suggesting it's fixed the dot problem.
So much for extra features... The UK Canon info [CR] now has a RRP (inc. VAT) of £2450 although I've seen it round £1900 at the lowest. An Australian dealer also suggested that "Australian Canon prices would 'definitely' be going up in the near future" 6th Firmware delayed for more testing? [CR] Wishful thinking also suggests some new features in the firmware (not something Canon is famous for) - or even a hack [DPR] 5th I've had several people enquire, but no sign of any firmware update yet... CW has his latest tech tips available including this on 5D2 AF (it regualrly gets asked) "With EOS Digital SLRs, AF calculations and lens drive commands are typically executed by dedicated CPUs rather than the DIGIC processor itself. However, the overall speed of the AF system and many other camera functions depends on the speed of the DIGIC processor, or dual DIGIC processors in the case of the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark III." There is also some useful clarification on focus screen nomenclature. 3rd In Australia I notice that Nikon prices are due to rise by 10-20% at the start of February [NR] No firm news on Canon pricing yet, but in the UK lower end camera prices (1000/400/450/40/50) have been slipping down for a while [CPB] although I've been told that 10th January is when new Canon UK prices could come in. In Hong Kong, prices have dropped somewhat, now the camera is more widely available [RL] [NR] Video tutorial links added above 2nd What's happening with prices? Both Sony and Canon are looking to raise prices in Europe soon [FT] Meanwhile several UK dealers are showing lowered 5D2 prices - and stock. Both Adorama and B&H in the US also seem to be showing stock, but there are still some reports of people having
2009 January 1st Lots of UK stores now claiming to have the camera in stock. More too at various Best Buy stores (US) Video link added above
Post release info to the end of December 2008 is on the announcement archive page 5D Mark II accesories prices are now up on the Canon (US) site.
5D Mk2 Key Features
Press Info |
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(Amazon.com) 
(Amazon.com) 
(co.uk)
26th According to a conference slide in Poland [
Bent CF card pin? Just take apart the camera yourself 
| Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 17 September 2008: Canon announces the full frame, 21.1 Megapixel EOS 5D Mark II: the first EOS with full High Definition video capability.
Compact, lightweight with environmental protection, EOS 5D successor boasts a newly designed Canon CMOS sensor, with ISO sensitivity up to 25,600 for shooting in near dark conditions. The new DIGIC 4 processor combines with the improved CMOS sensor to deliver medium format territory image quality at 3.9 frames per second, for up to 310 frames. Triggered from Live View Mode, HD video capture allows users to shoot uninterrupted at full 1080 resolution at 30fps – for amazing quality footage with outstanding levels of detail and realism. The integration of HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera opens a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers. With its full frame CMOS sensor and outstanding ISO performance, the EOS 5D Mark II will appeal to any photographer in search of the finest camera equipment available – from studio and wedding to nature and travel photographers. Addition of Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, with a new Fluorine coating on the low-pass filter Key Specifications: New 21.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with improved EOS Integrated Cleaning System (E.I.C.S.) New CMOS sensor New DIGIC 4 processor HD video capture See everything
Control Accessories A new optional Wireless File Transmitter – Technologies Explained: CMOS Signal conversion in Canon’s CMOS sensors is handled by individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced, power consumption is limited and faster frame rate potential is increased. DIGIC DIGIC chips work with a high speed DDR-SDRAM image buffer – reading, processing, compressing and writing image data fast enough to keep the buffer clear during long continuous shooting bursts. And because DIGIC integrates all key processing functions, power consumption is kept to a minimum. EOS Integrated Cleaning System Reduce - Internal camera mechanisms are designed to minimise dust generation. The redesigned body cap prevents dust generation through wear on the cap itself. Picture Style The six pre-sets are: Standard – for crisp, vivid images that don’t require post-processing Digital Photo Professional supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, colourMatch RGB, Apple RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces. ICC (International Colour Consortium) profiles can be attached to TIFF or JPEG images when converted from RAW. This allows faithful reproduction of colours in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved as a recipe and applied. EOS Utility Picture Style Editor |
Precision focus and meteringCamera controls
| CANON U.S.A. INTRODUCES THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EOS 5D MARK II DSLR CAMERA FEATURING FULL-FRAME HD VIDEO CAPTURE The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Escalates Full-Frame Digital SLR Photography to the Next Level with HD Movie Recording Capabilities, DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, and 21.1 Megapixel Resolution LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 17, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today introduced the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera, the long-awaited successor to Canon's highly popular EOS 5D, introduced in 2005. Building upon the qualities that made the EOS 5D camera so successful, Canon has coupled the creative power of a full-frame CMOS sensor in a relatively compact and afford able camera body, together with groundbreaking HD video capture that opens the door to a much wider range of imaging possibilities for photographers. Along with the ability to capture full HD video clips at 1920 x 1080 resolution, Canon's EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera features a 21.1-megapixel full frame 24 x 36mm CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 imaging processor and significantly lower noise, with an expanded sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 25,600. "The anticipation surrounding the launch of this camera model has exceeded our greatest expectations, and we believe our loyal customers will be awed by the=2 0level of innovation and features built into the new EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR. Once they have the chance to experience the camera, we believe they will agree that it was worth the wait," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. Among the many advancements in Canon's new EOS 5D Mark II camera is the Company's proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor that powers the camera's fast 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion for smooth colour tones and exceptional gradation. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR offers a full-frame 24 x 36mm, 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and continuous shooting at 3.9 frames per second (fps) for an unlimited number of full-resolution JPEGs to the capacity of the memory card or up to 14 RAW images in a single burst when using a UDMA CF card. The camera includes a 15-point Autofocus (AF) sensor with nine selectable AF points plus six additional Assist AF points (three center AF points sensitive to f/2.8 lenses) with enhanced light source detection and AF microadjustment for greater autofocus performance. The EOS 5D Mark II camera also features a large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen with 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 5D camera's 2.5-inch screen, for enhanced clarity and colour when viewing images. The new camera is equipped with a high-performance, high-magnification optical viewfinder providing 98 percent coverage, giving a new dimension to the saying, "what you see is what you get." Professi onal photographers will also appreciate the enhanced 150,000-cycle shutter durability of the EOS 5D Mark II camera. Canon, the first company to introduce a full-frame digital camera, has improved the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera's newly developed full-frame CMOS image sensor. Utilizing proprietary Canon technology, the Company has reduced noise and expanded the sensitivity of the CMOS sensor up to ISO 25600, which is three full stops higher than the ISO 3200 limit of the original EOS 5D camera. Although the individual pixel dimensions of the EOS 5D Mark II camera are the same as the 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor used in the EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR, the new sensor incorporates an improved output amplifier and a more advanced colour filter that improves light transmission while retaining excellent colour reproduction. By applying the same kind of advancements in sensor design and image processing technology as the recently introduced EOS 50D camera, but at higher resolution and with larger pixels, the EOS 5D Mark II achieves the highest level of image quality of any EOS Digital SLR released to date. With the combination of its improved CMOS image sensor and the powerful new DIGIC 4 image processor, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 6400 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings - H1 and H2 - of ISO 12800 and ISO 25600, respectively, as well as a low-speed setting of ISO 50. The full-frame sensor maximizes the performance of Canon EF20lenses, the world's largest selection of autofocus lenses. HD and SD Video Capture The EOS 5D Mark II will record video20up to 4GB per clip or a maximum continuous movie capture time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds, whichever comes first. Depending on the level of detail in the scene, a 4GB memory card can record approximately 12 minutes of video at full HD resolution or approximately 24 minutes in standard definition.i Video clips are recorded in .MOV format using an MPEG-4 video compression and sound is recorded using linear PCMii without compression. The new camera features an input terminal for external stereo microphones as well as a built-in monaural microphone for convenience. To help show off those fantastic movies as well as still photos, the EOS 5D Mark II camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV. Live View Shooting Live mode uses contrast-detection AF with the image sensor and here, as with Quick mode, users can change the AF point using the Multi-controller. Face Detection Live mode uses contrast AF to recognize human faces. When multiple faces are detected, the largest face closest to the center of the frame is targeted as the AF point. While Live View is engaged users can still change settings including the AF mode (Quick, Live, Face Detection Live mode), drive mode, ISO speed, Picture style, White Balance, and more. Peripheral Illumination Correction Auto Lighting Optimizer Canon's New Creative Auto Mode Two Small RAW Formats Silent Shooting in Live View EOS Integrated Cleaning System Pricing and Availability New EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens |
| Key Features: · 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor with 21.1 megapixels · Live View movies in Full High Definition (industry first) · Live View shooting (AF mode: Quick, Live, Live Face Detection) · DiG!C 4 Image Processor · ISO speed range 100-6400 (expandable to 50-25600) (Canon first) · 3.9 frames per second (fps) with continuous shooting up to 78 shots in a single burst · Newly designed, high-performance viewfinder (viewfinder coverage 98%) · 3-inch, fine detail LCD monitor (920,000 dots, VGA) Sydney, 17 September 2008: Canon Australia today announced the highly-anticipated EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera, successor to Canon’s acclaimed EOS 5D. The new model sets the benchmark in full-frame Digital SLR cameras and is perfect for enthusiasts and professional photographers seeking unrivalled image quality and high performance. The EOS 5D Mark II boasts a range of new features, enabling users to take their photography to unprecedented levels, including Live View movies in Full High Definition (HD) and increased ISO capabilities to an incredible range of 50-25600. Packed with Canon’s core technologies, the EOS 5D Mark II ensures Canon users continue to achieve the superior quality and creative control that they have become accustomed to with the popular predecessor model. “Canon is pleased to announce the new EOS 5D Mark II, developed to push the boundaries of creative photography even further,” states Chris Macleod, Brand Manager – EOS, Consumer Imaging Products Group, Canon Australia. “Canon’s impressive 21.1 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, coupled with Live View Movies in Full HD and wider ISO capabilities, enables Canon to continually bring incredible performance to photographers.” Full Frame for Fine Detail and High Image Quality Central to the EOS 5D Mark II’s outstanding image quality is its high resolution 35mm full-frame, 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor. In addition, 14-bit A/D conversion results in finer tonal gradation. The EOS 5D Mark II offers the widest ISO speed range of any EOS digital camera <http://www.canon.com.au/eos/> , with a standard range of 100-6400, which can be extended to an incredible 50-25600 with ISO expansion (three stops more than its predecessor). Like never before, photographers are now able to capture incredible subject detail in extremely low light conditions. In addition, precise, low noise images can be achieved using the low ISO speeds – a must for professionals and high end enthusiasts who are producing large detailed images. The EOS 5D Mark II also features Canon’s newly developed DiG!C 4 Image Processor, recently announced in Canon’s new EOS 50D. Building on DiG!C III’s high-speed rendering of fine detail and natural colour reproduction, DiG!C 4 provides even faster signal processing. This detailed processing of large-volume data at extremely high speed satisfies professional demands for exceptional image quality and responsiveness in any shooting situation. New Features to Expand Shooting Possibilities The EOS 5D Mark II features Live View movies and boasts an industry first with Full HD recording quality. Canon incorporated this feature in response to photographer’s demands for a camera that could shoot both stills and video in High Definition. In any shooting mode users can capture still photos and movies in Full HD quality or standard TV quality (VGA), making this the ideal camera for photographers who need to efficiently capture stills and movies without compromising on quality. Like other Canon DSLR models, the EOS 5D Mark II features Live View shooting with Auto Focus capabilities. This allows photographers to preview images in real time on the 3.0-inch VGA LCD monitor with 920,000 dots for greater flexibility and creative composition. Similar to the recently announced EOS 50D, the EOS 5D Mark II also features live Face Detection mode in Live View shooting. By distinguishing human faces in each shot and adjusting the focus and exposure accordingly, Live Face Detection allows photographers to ensure their subjects are captured clearly and accurately. Compatible with Canon’s range of EF lenses (excluding EF-S lenses), the EOS 5D Mark II is the camera for serious enthusiasts and professional photographers who to take their photography further with no limitations. Canon Launches New High-Performance Wide Angle Lens To support its extensive EOS system, Canon has also announced a new high-grade, fast, wide angle lens for professional photographers, the EF24mm f/1.4L II USM (successor to the EF24mm f/1.4L USM). The new lens is the brightest large diameter f/1.4 high-performance wide-angle L lens in the 24mm class. Improvements have been made in the periphery area of the lens, a requirement brought about from the rapid advancement of high resolution sensors available in EOS DSLRs. The circular aperture in the new EF24mm f/1.4L II USM produces beautiful blur effects and the also offers high resistance to dust and water droplets. The Perfect DSLR Companion – the PowerShot G10 Canon also welcomed the PowerShot G10 to its second half 2008 line-up. Incorporating DSLR capabilities into a compact body, the PowerShot G10 makes the ideal companion to the EOS 5D Mark II. An upgrade from the highly acclaimed G9, the PowerShot G10 features Canon's new DiG!C 4 Image Processor, new 28mm wide lens and increased megapixels while retaining the prized RAW format mode. Canon’s PowerShot G10 will impress professionals or photo enthusiasts looking to support their DSLR gear with a more portable option. The EOS 5D Mark II body will be available in Body Only (RRP TBC), and as a Premium Kit with the EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens (RRP $TBC). These kits will all be available from December 2008 through Canon dealers nationally. For more information customers can contact Canon on 1800 021 167, or visit the website at canon.com.au. |
Canon EOS 5D Mark II specifications
| List price, (body only) | US: $ 2,699, EU: € 2,499, UK: £ 2,299 |
| List price, (EF 24-105 L kit) | US: $ 3,499, EU: € 3,299, UK: £ 3,049 |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor * | 36 x 24 mm CMOS sensor, Full 35 mm size frame, RGB colour Filter Array, Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit), 22.0 million total pixels, 21.1 million effective pixels, 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Lenses | Canon EF lens mount (does not support EF-S lenses), No field of view crop (1.0x) |
| Dust reduction | "EOS Integrated Cleaning System", Self-cleaning sensor unit (filter in front of sensor vibrates at high frequency at start-up and shutdown - can be disabled), Dust Delete Data - Data from a test shot is used to 'map' dust spots and can be later removed using Canon DPP Software |
| Image processor * | DIGIC 4 |
| A/D conversion | 14 bit |
| Image sizes (JPEG) * | 5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP), 4080 x 2720 (11.1 MP), 2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP) |
| Image sizes (RAW) * | 5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP), 3861 x 2574 (10.0 MP), 2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP) |
| File formats * |
RAW (.CR2; 14-bit) , JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine / Normal , RAW + JPEG (separate files), sRAW1, sRAW2 (see above) * |
| Auto focus | 9-point TTL CMOS sensor , 6 "Invisible Assist AF points", All points cross-type for lenses of F5.6 or faster, Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster, AF working range: -0.5 - 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) |
| Focus modes | One shot AF, AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focus |
| AF micro adjustment * |
Adjust all lenses by same amount (effectively body adjustment), Adjust up to 20 lenses individually |
| AF point selection | Auto, Manual |
| Predictive AF | As close as 8 m (with 300 mm F2.8L lens at 50 kph) |
| AF assist | No (only with external flash) |
| Metering | TTL full aperture metering 35 zone SPC, Metering range: 1.0 - 20 EV |
| Metering modes |
Evaluative 35 zone (linked to any AF point), Partial (8% at center), Spot metering (approx. 3.5% at center), Center-weighted average |
| AE lock | Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering, Manual: AE lock button |
| Exposure compensation | +/-2.0 EV, 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments |
| Exposure bracketing | +/- 2.0 EV, 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments |
| Sensitivity * |
ISO 100 - 6400, 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments , Auto ISO (100-3200), Expansion options:, ISO 50 (L1) , ISO 12800 (H1), ISO 25600 (H2) |
| Shutter | Focal-plane shutter, 150,000 exposure durability, 30 - 1/8000 sec, 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments, Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec , Bulb |
| Aperture values | F1.0 - F91, 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments , Actual aperture range depends on lens used |
| White balance | Auto, Daylight , Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom, Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K in 100 K steps) |
| WB bracketing | +/-3 levels, 3 images, Blue / Amber or Magenta / Green bias |
| WB shift | Blue (-9) To Amber (+9), Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Picture style | Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User def. 1 , User def. 2, User def. 3 |
| Custom image parameters | Sharpness: 0 to 7, Contrast: -4 to +4, Saturation: -4 to +4, colour tone: -4 to +4, B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G, B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G |
| Image processing options * |
Highlight tone priority, Auto lighting optimizer (4 settings), Long exposure noise reduction, High ISO noise reduction (4 settings), Auto correction of lens peripheral illumination (vignetting), |
| colour space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Viewfinder * | Eye-level pentaprism, 98% frame coverage, Magnification: 0.71x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity), Eyepoint: Approx. 21 mm, Interchangeable focusing screen (3 other types optional), Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter |
| Mirror | Quick-return half mirror (transmission:reflection ratio 40:60), Mirror lock-up (once or multiple exposures) |
| Viewfinder info * |
AF information:, AF points, Focus confirmation light, Exposure information:, Shutter speed, Aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, Exposure level/compensation, Spot metering circle, Exposure warning, AEB, Flash information:, Flash ready, High-speed sync, FE lock, Flash exposure compensation, Image information:, White balance correction, CF card information, Monochrome shooting, Maximum burst (2 digit display), Highlight tone priority (D+) |
| LCD monitor * | 3.0 " TFT LCD, 920,000 pixels, Automatic 3 level brightness adjustment plus 7 manual levels, 170 ° viewing angle, Dual anti-reflection ('Clear View') |
| LCD Live view * |
Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor, 100% frame coverage, 30 fps, Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor, Best view or exposure simulation, Silent mode, Grid optional (x2), Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point), Three AF modes - Live mode / Quick mode / Face Detection, Live histogram (Luminance or RGB), Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) |
| Movie recording * |
Available optionally during Live view mode, 1920 x 1080 (16:9) up to 12 mins (Quicktime 1080p H.264; 38.6 Mbits/sec), 640 x 480 (4:3) up to 24 mins (Quicktime 480p H.264; 17.3 Mbits/sec), Max file size 4 GB, Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video, PCM sound), 30 fps, |
| Record review | Off, On (histogram via INFO button), Display mode same as last used Play mode , 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold |
| Playback modes |
1. Single image with exposure, file number, storage slot , 2. As 1 but also image count and quality, 3. Detailed exposure information, thumbnail and luminance histogram, 4. Less detailed exposure info., thumbnail, luminance and RGB histograms, |
| Playback features | Optional blinking highlight alert, Optional AF point display, Magnified view (up to 10x) , 2x2 or 3x3 thumbnail index, Jump (by 1, 10, 100 images, screen, date, folder, movies, stills)*, Delete / Protect |
| Flash |
No built-in flash unit, E-TTL II auto flash / metered manual , Flash compensation +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments, X-Sync: 1/200 sec, Hot-shoe & PC Terminal |
| External flash | E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites, In-camera flash configuration (currently only 580 EX II), Wireless multi-flash support, PC Sync |
| Shooting modes |
Auto, Creative Auto *, Program AE (P), Shutter priority AE (Tv), Aperture priority AE (Av), Manual (M), Custom 1, Custom 2 *, Custom 3 *, |
| Drive modes |
Single, Continuous: 3.9 fps * , Self-timer: 2 or 10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up) |
| Burst buffer | Large/Fine JPEG: 78 frames (310 with UDMA card) *, RAW: 13 frames * |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Auto rotation | On (recorded and LCD display), On (recorded only) , Off |
| Custom functions * | 25 custom functions with 71 settings in 4 groups |
| Menu languages * |
25 Languages, English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese |
| Firmware | User upgradable |
| Portrait grip | Optional WFT-E4 (WiFi / LAN / USB mass storage), Optional BG-E6 battery grip |
| Connectivity * |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, AV out (video & audio *), HDMI connector *, Microphone input *, PC Sync flash terminal, Communication terminal on base for WFT-E4, InfraRed * |
| Storage * | Compact Flash Type I or II (inc. FAT32), Supports UDMA cards *, Copyright metatag support, Canon Original Data Security Kit supported ("Original Image Data") |
| Power * | Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery (supplied & charger), CR1616 for date & settings, Approx. 850 shots at 20°C, Battery indication 6 levels & percentage (memorized) |
| Dimensions * | 152 x 114 x 75 mm (6.0 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) |
| Weight * | No battery: 810 g (1.8 lb) |
| Accessories |
Viewfinder: Eyecup Eb, E-series Dioptric Adjustment Lens with Rubber Frame Eb, Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15, Focusing Screens Eg, Angle Finder C, Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E4, Battery Grip BG-E6, All EF lenses (excludes EF-S lenses), Canon Speedlites (220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2), Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-1, Remote Controller RC-5, Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3 |
Items below here are from the old rumours page
Post release info to end November 2008 is on the announcement archive page
Rumours from 1st June 2007 to 14th September 2008 are on our 5D2 archive page
Rumours from 1st December 2007 to 30th May 2008 are on our recent archive page
Rumours from before 1st December 2007 are archived on a second archive page.
Rumours about the 5D2 replacement are on the EOS 5D Mark 3 page
 The EOS 5D's full-frame CMOS sensor records 4,368 x 2,912 pixels-that's 12.8 Megapixels, larger than many other companies' top-of-the-line sensors. The same size as a 35mm image on a traditional camera, the sensor operates without a conversion factor. This is perfect for taking advantage of the spectacular optics in Canon's L-series, and will be a joy for wide-angle enthusiasts who can make the most of their wide-angle lenses. This new CMOS sensor, designed in-house by Canon, provides smooth, high-resolution images similar to the EOS-1Ds Mark II but in a more compact body. Two automatic noise reduction features maximize the effectiveness of the EOS 5D's on-chip noise reduction. Noise reduction can be activated when noise is detected or it will simply come into play on any exposure of 1 second or longer.
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Advanced 9-point AF with 6 additional Supplemental points