Customer reviews from usa.canon.com
Canon - EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) - Black
Average customer rating
4.5
(383 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 383 reviews
5 Stars
253
4 Stars
87
3 Stars
24
2 Stars
8
1 Star
11
90%of customers recommend this product.
(
340 out of
377)
Customer Reviews for Canon - EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) - Black
Customer Rating
2
Good, but not enough - Movie Not well implemented
on February 25, 2009
Posted by: PV
I am a Pro Photographer, and Videographer too, that is why I mention Movie mode so many times. It was one of the main reasons why I wanted this camera, along with its High Resolution stills capability (21MP).
COMMENTS (Cons before, Pros later):
- My rating is not as high as it would be if the camera had full Manual settings in movie mode, as I expected when it was announced. OTHERWISE I would rate it with 4 stars.
-- The most exciting feature is the most frustrating one: Full HD Movie mode is not professionally implemented. It has NOT EVEN 1 (one) manual setting possible...
Everything in Movie mode is automatically set by the camera.
Everything in Movie mode is automatically set by the camera.
Even when the camera's whitepaper tells it provides amazing depth of field (and that is clearly aimed to Videographers), you can HARDLY achieve it -narrow depth of field- The Only way is to workaround with tricks that not always bring what you need or want, and some are not safe, or even need another manufacturer's lens
It also has no "Movie mode" direct access or Button. You have to activate LiveView and browse some menus to enable Movie mode.
It has all the potential to be used Professionally, but it does NOT offer you (so far) the option to set ANYTHING manually (as professionals or serious amateurs Videographers Require).
The camera can be used Professionally for stills, but really hard to use it that way for Videography work. It's a pitty and waste of potential packed inside, waiting to be delivered.
-- Besides the Movie mode: Burst Rate is not very fast, AF points are not so many as we expected in this 5D "upgrade".
-- Bracketing mode allows too few shots. It should (must) allow more shots.
-- It has no self-mapping feature (to map hot or defective pixels). So far, almost no camera has that feature, but it's so handy and important (and would also save tech service lot of money)
-- A LCD display protector can not be attached (there is no border to snap it)... nor any accesory related to it
-- The resolution is VERY High, and that is GREAT. You will need Good lenses to get the results you can achieve with this camera.
-- Noise level (for such high resolution) is GREAT, and not a problem (unless you need to shoot at very high ISOs)
-- Canon is ALWAYS INNOVATING, I love that. And its service great too (at least my experience). They also listen to suggestions, not many companies do that.
-- I like the top Mode dial a lot, easy accessible and very fast to use with just one move (and one hand)
-- I like the LCD resolution and high quality too. Although I would prefer it to be 3.5"
-- Good construction quality, but not "superior" quality.
-- I still do not like the directional controller in EOS cameras, I would prefer much more to have it "inside" the rear dial (like some Canon PowerShot, or other brands have it) Would be faster to use, and more handy.
-- CHECK well the camera when you buy it, if a hot pixel appears on Movie clips, I (if I was you) would return it and request another brand new copy. Hot pixels can not be remapped (hidden) in Movie clips.
-- OVERALL is a VERY GOOD camera, at a reasonable price (if I skip the movie mode feature).
--- SEVERAL features can be implemented or improved by Firmware update (Bracketing, MANUAL Settings for Movie mode, etc.).
I hope Canon DO it, and soon.
I hope Canon DO it, and soon.
This camera COULD be much Greater, and a competitors "killer" (in that camera segment), it has all the potential inside...
Pros: solid good design but not "superior build qual.", full hdvideo mode but very limited/full automatic, high resolution images, lot of lenses options available
Cons: no manual settings for movie mode. not even one!!, movie mode implemented as home camcorder, bit slow burst rate, slow liveview af / slow movie af
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
amazing Image quality
on August 23, 2009
Posted by: Satung
from NY
I have been using Canon EOS 5D markII for three weeks now. The image quality is industry leading. it is a great camera.
The only negative thing is the AF system seems to hunt a bit compared to Canon 50D which snap on the object a lot faster at low light.
great camera should come with great AF. there is no point of buying great camera with amazing low light sensor that can not even focus in low light.
The only negative thing is the AF system seems to hunt a bit compared to Canon 50D which snap on the object a lot faster at low light.
great camera should come with great AF. there is no point of buying great camera with amazing low light sensor that can not even focus in low light.
However , this is great tool which most of users will fall in love with its file quality.
Pros: excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, easy to use
Cons: Short battery life, af should be better
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Two steps forward One step Back!
on April 3, 2009
Posted by: idahoshooter
from Idaho Falls, ID
The image quality from this camera is out of this world, I have used many of Canons DSLR's and this is without a doubt the best image quality yet. The light gather capability of the new sensor combined with the DIGIC 4 is an amazing step forward ISO 1000 is virtually noise free especially in the final print product.
The extra resolution gives you so much flexibility to crop and crop and crop.
The build quality is awesome, it is fairly light, but feels solid in your hands, I have no fears about putting this camera into my professional work flow of both portrait and wedding work as well as wildlife and landscape work.
As much positive as I have spoken I do need to complain
I feel Canon cut a few corners on this product, first off the Autofocus selection area is way too small for a full frame camera, its like they ripped it out of a 1.6 crop factor camera and put it in a full frame machine. I can understand Canons desire to protect its legendary 45 point auto focus found in there flagship cameras but they could of at least spread the auto focus system out along a wider area on the 5dII
Secondly,
One of the big motivations for buying this camera were the videos by various masters of light doing some very impressive video work have been wanting to get into video but a huge hesitation has always been the dollar value of canon lenses for still photography i have
purchased. The prospects of a hybrid camera were HUGE to me. However I was hugely disappointed after purchasing the camera to find my video mode severely crippled and manual control taken away from me
One of the big motivations for buying this camera were the videos by various masters of light doing some very impressive video work have been wanting to get into video but a huge hesitation has always been the dollar value of canon lenses for still photography i have
purchased. The prospects of a hybrid camera were HUGE to me. However I was hugely disappointed after purchasing the camera to find my video mode severely crippled and manual control taken away from me
I trusted the professionals commentary to be indicative of a camera that had video features capable of a pro working environment. I was wrong and for that Im hugely disappointed in this camera.
Pros: excellent image quality, Solid Operation, amazing high iso, sharp vga display!, full raw reveiw!
Cons: Missing features/settings, Short battery life, dumbed down video mode, weak autofocus
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great upgrade from 40D
on December 15, 2008
Posted by: TMA11
from Phoenix, AZ
The image quality (sharpness and detail) coming from a 40D is just amazing. Bought 5D MARK II for full frame sensor and latest technology. Not so much interested at this point in video but will certainly be trying and using it. High ISO is a plus but not essential. Pictures taken thus far at 6400 are exceptional for that ISO. Have been able to duplicate the dreaded "black dot" issue, but this is not a showstopper for my shooting (nature landscape and portraiture). Stepping up from 40D from a controls perspective was a snap. Faster autofocus, fps and more aperture flexibility on video would be good improvements.
Pros: excellent image quality, Simple controls/menu, good battery life
Cons: Missing features/settings
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Good Camera, Potentially Great.
on March 2, 2009
Posted by: Turqy
from North Carolina
The still quality of this camera is fantastic and its low light capabilities are superior to many other cameras that I've used. But I primarily bought this camera primarily for its video features since they would allow me to branch out without having to purchase a whole new set of equipment.
Sadly the video seems to be missing some basic manual features which makes it difficult to get a consistent look through each scene. Much of this is due to the inability to adjust the shutter speed while filming. Another downside to this is that its hard to grab stills from the video as it defaults to a slow 1/30th sec shutter which results in blurry frames.
For now, on my trips, the camera will function as a second still camera which I can occasionally capture video with. Hopefully Canon will listen and release a software update to fix some of the missing video features. If they do, then I will gladly recommend this to coworkers and peers (and there are a great many who would upgrade to this immediately if the problems were addressed).
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Solid Operation, good battery life
Cons: Missing features/settings, needs more video support
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Good; but Canon needs to stretch for more features
on February 22, 2012
Posted by: Deke
from Colorado
Overall this is a very fine camera...I've taken many excellent images. But some ares I think Canon needs to improve in the next version:
1) Auto-exposure bracketing should be operable over a much larger range with more images selectable- I do alot of post processing of very high dynamic range scenes and the +/-2 stops available is not enough.
2) Low ISO should extend lower than 50. Lower ISO values would allow for long exposures without requiring an ND filter...would be a great advantage in the field.
3) I'd like to see an extendable LCD screen for setting up shots where I can't use the viewfinder nor can I see the fixed screen in Liveview.
4) Auto-ISO should be auto in Manual which would allow the user to set both aperture and shutter and allow the camera to find exposure by adjusting ISO. I've had several occasions where I wanted to do that but in Maual mode ISO defaults to 400...which is silly and useless.
1) Auto-exposure bracketing should be operable over a much larger range with more images selectable- I do alot of post processing of very high dynamic range scenes and the +/-2 stops available is not enough.
2) Low ISO should extend lower than 50. Lower ISO values would allow for long exposures without requiring an ND filter...would be a great advantage in the field.
3) I'd like to see an extendable LCD screen for setting up shots where I can't use the viewfinder nor can I see the fixed screen in Liveview.
4) Auto-ISO should be auto in Manual which would allow the user to set both aperture and shutter and allow the camera to find exposure by adjusting ISO. I've had several occasions where I wanted to do that but in Maual mode ISO defaults to 400...which is silly and useless.
Pros: great image quality even in low light
Cons: missing some features
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Black dots
on December 5, 2008
Posted by: GinoLT
Great image quality but has black dots which look like dead pixels if there are any small over exposed spots next to high contrast areas. An example is shooting a christmas tree. The lights will have black dots to the right of them.
This happens all all ISO's down to 400, maybe lower AND exposure time doesn't seem to affect the result.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, Lightweight/Portable
Cons: Short battery life
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great DSLR
on December 9, 2008
Posted by: AEP2
from SF Bay area
Great image quality, very low noise, solid build. Recommend it highly to advanced amateur or pro. Could use higher fps and better focusing. Auto ISO much better than previous attempts. Black dots near very small highlights are an nuisance rather than a problem and will not affect 99.9% of shooters.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life
Cons: noisy
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com