Don Wan, Phil Askey
(additional material by Simon Joinson, Andy Westlake and Richard Butler)
Review based on a production EOS 5D Mark II with firmware 1.0.7
August 2009 - Updated to reflect the additional manual control over video exposure introduced with firmware 1.10.
Back in August 2005 Canon 'defined a new DSLR category' (their words) with the EOS 5D. Unlike any previous 'full frame' sensor camera, the 5D was the first with a compact body (i.e. not having an integral vertical grip) and has since then proved to be very popular, perhaps because if you wanted a full frame DSLR to use with your Canon lenses and you didn't want the chunky EOS-1D style body then the EOS 5D has been your only choice. Three years on and two competitors have turned up in the shape of the Nikon D700 and Sony DSLR-A900, and Canon clearly believes it's time for a refresh.
So here is the 5D Mark II, which punches high in terms of both resolution and features, headlining: 21 megapixels, 1080p video, 3.0" VGA LCD, Live view, higher capacity battery. In other words, a camera that aims to leapfrog both its direct rivals, either in terms of resolution (in the case of the D700) or features (in the case of the DSLR-A900). Full detail below.
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
- DIGIC 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 top plate and viewfinder displays
- AF micro adjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
- Three custom modes on 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 auto-focus (including face detection)
- No mirror-flip for exposures in Live View if contrast detect 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 CompactFlash 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
Foreword / notes
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
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Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II specifications
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| street 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 Color 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) |
| Auto focus | • 9-point TTL CMOS sensor • 6 "Invisible Assist AF points" • Centre point cross type 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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 • Color 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 |
| Color 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: |
| 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 |
| Movie recording * | • Available optionally during Live view mode |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Drive modes | • Single |
| 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 |
| Firmware | User upgradable |
| Portrait grip | • Optional WFT-E4 (WiFi / LAN / USB mass storage) • Optional BG-E6 battery grip |
| Connectivity * | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
| 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 |
ISO 50 (L1) 
ISO 25600 (H2)* Changes or additions compared to the EOS 5D
What's new / changed (key points)
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| 21.1 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor The EOS 5D Mark II delivers an 8.3 megapixel jump in pixel count from the original 5D. This new sensor is said to be based on that of the EOS-1Ds Mark III (indeed it has exactly the same pixel count) but has several small changes, the hint being that it's actually slightly better. | DIGIC IV image processor, 14-bit ADC |
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Reduced micro lens gap | Expanded ISO sensitivity range Both the EOS 5D and EOS-1Ds Mark III have a 'calibrated range' of ISO 100 to 1600 with expansion of ISO 50 to 3200. Despite the smaller pixel pitch the 5D Mark II pushes the sensitivity envelope considerably further providing a calibrated range of 100 to 6400 with expansion of ISO 50 to ISO 25600. It will be interesting to see how it performs at the highest sensitivities. |
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Auto ISO in all modes except manual | No mirror flip in Live View with Contrast AF If you use contrast-detect AF (called 'live mode' by Canon) in Live View the Mark II doesn't need to drop the mirror between exposures, this means the lag between pressing the shutter release button and the exposure is much shorter (it also means that in this mode camera is metering using the main sensor). This also makes the exposure much quieter. |
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EOS Integrated Cleaning System | |
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| Continuous shooting up to 3.9 fps Being conservative (or perhaps bitten by previous claims) the Mark II has a specified continuous shooting rate of 3.9 frames per second. It can shoot a burst of up to 78 JPEG frames onto a normal CF card or up to 310 using a high-speed UDMA card. | Live view functionality with contrast-detect AF |
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| Movie recording in live view Perhaps one of the biggest 'news' items for the Mark II is the provision of movie recording in live view. You can define the size (1920 x 1080 or VGA) however other settings (such as frame rate; 30 fps and compression level) are fixed. The Mark II will record a movie clip for a maximum of 12 minutes at 1920 x 1080 and up to 24 minutes at VGA. Movies are recorded in Quicktime MOV format using H.264 codec for video and PCM for audio. At 1920 x 1080 the bitrate is 38.6 Mbits/sec (about 4.8 MBytes/sec) and at 640 x 480 the bitrate is 17.3 Mbits/sec (about 2.2 MBytes/sec). | |
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Clear View 3.0" LCD monitor | |
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| Automatic LCD brightness control Something unique (among Canon DSLRs) to the EOS 5D Mark II is a passive light detector which when enabled can automatically adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor to make the screen easier to see outdoors in bright light. However in use it doesn't always work perfectly, which can make images look darker on screen than they actually are. So if you are going to use this feature, then it is a good idea to keep the histogram displayed at all times. | Built-in Microphone and Speaker |
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| Microphone input socket Again in support of its new movie capabilities the 5D Mark II has a microphone input socket, as well as providing audio output via its A/V socket. The built in microphone is not very good in noisy environments, and sound quality is not fantastic overall. An external mic is required if sound is important. | HDMI output |
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| Command Dial positions The Mark II now has three more positions; two custom (C2 & C3) as well as the 'Creative Automatic' mode which is a carry over from the 50D and we wouldn't expect to make a big impact on the average 5D Mark II owner. | 98% coverage viewfinder Viewfinder frame coverage has increased two percentage points to 98% (over the EOS 5D) which is very good but has already been eclipsed by the frankly huge, bright view provided by the 100% coverage, higher magnification viewfinder on the Sony DSLR-A900. |
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| IrPort remote The new IrPort remote sensor provides InfraRed remote control using Canon's optional RC1 or RC5 remotes. | All new 1800 mAh battery The LP-E6 is the same size as the old BP batteries but provides 1800 mAh of capacity as well as more detailed charge and life information, it also features recessed power terminals perhaps to avoid accidental shorting and appease the various travel authorities. You'll probably also need that extra power to shoot movies. |
What's new / changed (key points) contd.
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| 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). |
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| 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. | |
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| 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. |
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Extra small sRAW / separate selection | 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. |
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Image processing features | 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' (?). |
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Two mode Live View silent shooting | 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. |
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| 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.
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| AF sensor assembly | AF sensor |
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| Exploded view of AF sensor assembly | Diagram of AF sensor functionality |
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| Diagram of the mirror & shutter mechanism | Diagram of the sensor filters / layers |
Design
At first glance the Mark II looks very similar to the original EOS 5D, and that's surely intentional, firstly there wasn't a huge amount wrong with the original design, secondly it's very "EOS family line" and finally it provides a clear upgrade path for 5D owners. In the recent XXD models, Canon have moved the menu and playback buttons to accommodate the rear LCD. With the new 5D, Canon have managed to keep the rear control layout almost the same, despite the larger LCD.
Design-wise there's been a squaring of the shoulders of the camera and the viewfinder chamber. The controls have undergone the same modifications we saw between the EOS 30D and 40D, with dedicated Picture Style and AF-ON buttons on the rear and a rearrangement of the function of the buttons on the top of the camera (mostly to facilitate easier change of ISO sensitivity). Apart from the obviously larger LCD monitor, the other changes are more subtle additions including the IR sensor and microphone on the front, and the ambient light sensor and speaker on the rear.
Construction and environmental seals
As you can see from the first image below the body is made up of three pieces of magnesium alloy, the only plastic elements being the sides and the base. With the advent of the Mark II Canon are finally talking about the dust / water resistance of the body, the second image below shows these seals, Canon's description: "The battery compartment, memory card door, LCD and the camera buttons are all fitted with sealing materials (indicated in red). In addition the adoption of high precision split-level alignment of the magnesium-alloy external covers, high precision dial construction and external rubber grip covers (indicated in green), has improved the camera's dust and water resistance."
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Side by side
As mentioned above the differences between the EOS 5D and Mark II are subtle but enough to bring it right up to date with the current EOS design DNA. The lines from the viewfinder chamber down the sides of the lens mount, for instance, look cleaner and help to counter the slightly top-heavy appearance of the old camera.
In your hand
The 'denser' build and slightly chunkier grip on the EOS 5D Mark II does make it feel that bit more substantial than the EOS 50D, you know there's something special about it from the moment you lift it. That said it's also lighter than an EOS-1D series (obviously) and therefore is more portable for it.
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LCD monitor
| As per the EOS 50D the Mark II now gets the same fantastic 3.0" 920,000 dot LCD monitor we first saw on the Nikon D3 / D300, this is a four times increase in resolution (or a doubling of horizontal and vertical resolution) compared to the old EOS 5D and it really shows. The Mark II's screen has Canon's 'Clear View' multi-layer anti-reflective coating which does appear to work quite well. The other addition is optional automatic brightness control thanks to an ambient light sensor. |
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LCD control panel
On top of the camera is a large LCD control panel which provides a wide range of information about camera settings and exposure. The main numeric section of the panel doubles up to provide other types of information such as the 'Busy' warning, AF point selection etc. Pressing the lamp button on the top of the camera illuminates the panel with an orange light for the metering timeout period. In line with the rest of the EOS range, ISO sensitivity is now permanently displayed.
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A breakdown of information displayed on the LCD panel can be found on the diagrams below.
| *1 | Shutter speed / Busy / AF point selection / Card full / Card error / No card / Error code / Cleaning |
| *2 | Shots remaining / Self-timer countdown / Bulb exposure time |
| *3 | Exposure level indicator / Card writing status |
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