Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon also takes on the Nikon D3 and D700 with this new high-resolution sensor, as the 5D Mark II also offers a stretched ISO range from 50 to 25,600. While the former two cameras achieve 100 to 25,600 expanded, they do it at 12.1 megapixels.

Canon has also included the new DIGIC 4 processor, capable of handling the exceptionally large 14-bit RAW images at the new high speed of 3.9 frames per second.

The new 920,000-dot LCD introduced on the Canon 5D also makes it over to the new Canon EOS-5D Mark II, something the new 5D's competitors also have in their arsenal. The 5D Mark II also shares the Live View features found on the 50D, complete with contrast-detect autofocus and silent shutter modes.

Many of the other features that debuted on the Canon 50D are included in the 5D Mark II, but one most important new feature that almost certainly should have made it into the 50D makes its stand instead in the 5D Mark II: HD video capture. That's right; this high-end digital SLR can capture movies at 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. We'd have expected them to have this in the 50D basically to go up against Nikon's D90, which can do 720p video, but that'll have to wait until the next version, maybe.

The Canon EOS-5D Mark II is quite a camera, one that seems to trump the other two full-frame digital SLR cameras in this price range.
This is a camera expressly designed for those who are very serious about their photography, and who both want and can afford the very best.

* 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:
o Highlight tone priority
o Auto lighting optimizer (4 levels)
o High ISO noise reduction (4 levels)
o 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

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