Canon introduces the EOS 5D Mark II DSLR, 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 affordable 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.
With the problems Canon had with their 1DS III, aren't you a little worried that you might
end up with another problem with the new 5D, meaning sending your camera back and
forth for a fix?
Why not just wait to see if there any bugs in this new camera?
No not stupid - perhaps we are stupid - guess we will see. Anyway, the issue with the Mark III was the AF. THe same things this camera has that the Mark III's do (1Ds Sensor, 1D and 1Ds processor, lack of noise , etc.) have been problem free. The AF is 15 point with 9 selectable so I deduce not the same design as the Mark III.
I am willing to give it a tyr as I really need a high pixel count camera for doing landscape work and as a former 5D owner, really miss it.
Doug,
It's true that being an early adopter means that I'm taking a bit of a risk, but the pro-sumer bodies from Canon have been relatively unmarred (and I would expect the pressure is on at Canon not to have another botched launch). I own a 5D and love it, but it grows tiresome not to have sensor cleaning--my 5D, in stark contrast to my 1DII N--doesn't clean up with lens pens, so I have to use the ole wet method! Also, I'm in grad school for photojournalism and the video capabilities are really exciting to me, as is the ability to go to much higher ISO's than I could previously.
I have thought long and hard about this camera and although the 5D2 is not what I would consider an ideal camera for wildlife/bird photography, I do believe this camera has its merits.
For focal length limited situations (where you cannot walk up to the subject your are photographing and must shoot from a set distance), the resolution of the full-frame 21 MP sensor should have a slightly better resolving power when compared to the 1D Mark III. The 1D Mark III has a sensor that has a resolution of approximately 17MP if it were increased to a full 35mm size sensor.
This means that you should be able to crop the subject and still get better resolution that the 1D Mark III with a lower noise level.
The downside of course is the FPS and autofocus. The 1D Mark III certainly is much better with up to 10 FPS vs. 3.9 FPS and the autofocus for tracking BIF's should in theory be much better also.
Where I see this camera being used with regards to birds, is in low-light situations such as when photographing owls. The low-noise capability of this camera at ISO 1600-3200 is astoundingly better than anything I have seen on the market.
I am anxiously awaiting this camera to see how well it will perform in less than ideal lighting situations.
Canon 5D Mark 2
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