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
3
Amazing stills, video not as advertised
on February 20, 2009
Posted by: Anonymous
from NYC
Great still camera. But, Canon has fallen short in terms of video. It has great technology but the video control is lacking. Canon, where's our firmware update?
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Solid Operation
Cons: noisy, no manual video control
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
A worthy update to the classic 5D
on April 14, 2009
Posted by: inTempus
from Indiana
I bought this camera for studio work. It has an amazing image quality that really sets it apart from the competition. The camera is light, easy to use and inspires confidence.
I really like the new menuing system and the new LCD is simply to die for! I wish my 1D Mark III had this LCD.
The one big let down for me is the antiquated 9 point auto-focus system. I was really hoping Canon would adopt the 1D AF system, perhaps watered down a bit with fewer configuration options, for the new 5DMk2. As it stands the older 9 point AF system really isn't much different in practice from the system used in the older 5D. My 50D focuses faster and more accurately in less than ideal lighting conditions which is kind of depressing.
But in a studio, where I use it mostly, it's absolutely amazing. I really am glad the micro-adjustment feature found its way in to the new camera. This makes fine tuning the focus of your lenses a snap, no more boxing things up and sending it to Canon for calibration.
One other minor point is the "squeaky door" problem mine is afflicted with. It would appear, based upon an online poll on a popular Canon forum, that roughly 1/2 of the 5DMk2's out there have this minor problem. When holding the camera with your right hand, the CF card door creeks ever so slightly. I finally remedied the issue with some tape (non-obtrusive) inside where I found the plastic parts to be rubbing.
Would I buy this camera again? You bet. The image quality and the ease of use coupled with Canon's superior selection of L grade lenses is enough to keep me quite happy.
Pros: excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life
Cons: old 9 point af system, squeaky cf card door
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Watch the Noise
on May 10, 2009
Posted by: Astro3661
from Salt Lake city
Overall an terrific camera that is clearly a step up from the 50D/40D series cameras. However the Default Noise reduction setting (Standard) is too high and aggressive and results in un-sharp images , the camera performs better if you knock it down to Low or even Disable Noise Reduction all together. The Higher ISO are great to use but the camera performs better at the lower ISO's as you would expect. ISO 400 and lower is pretty clean. Apply the same basic rules of photography to this camera: low ISO's, use a tripod, first rate lenses and good basic photo skills and this camera will take outstanding photos of amazing detail and resolution. However if you try to use technology to bypass good photo skills the camera will detail your mistakes in very high resolution. On the down side I wish Canon could have upgraded the focusing system on the camera, surely there is room between 1D Series and the Pro-sumer 40D/50D series cameras for a better system. I have to pay more attention to the focusing system then I would like. If you like the video feature make sure you have a top notch video card in your computer. Jumps is video playback will occur if you do not. Otherwise a this a great camera.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Nice features/settings, Solid Operation, good battery life
Cons: Missing features/settings, Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Great Camera
on December 19, 2009
Posted by: Drew
from Bel Air, MD
The 5D mark II is arguably the best professional camera for its price. It is built very nicely and nothing is flimsy. The high-ISO performance is absolutely dominant.
However, the 5D2 is not perfect. The AF system is archaic and not even closely comparable to the 1D series (but for the price difference, it shouldn't be expected). I also wish the exposure bracketing feature was better, i.e. being able to take more than just 3 exposures.
Pros: excellent image quality, Superior build quality
Cons: noisy, poor autofocus
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent camera
on February 13, 2010
Posted by: Imalexhi
from Fountain valley
After 4 months of saving for this camera I was finally able to upgrade from my canon eps 50d. I was very satisfied by the result of this camera. I was using my 85mm 1.8 on my 50d for awhile and the pictures were just breathe taking. After putting this lens on my canon 5d mark ii I was very surprised. Not only I don't have to walk back because of the focal length but the image was atleast 5 times better.
The video function is pretty nice I have to say but I have a xl2 HD cam already so I don't really use it as much as I want to. Although this camera is pretty slow and not 5fps as the 1ds I am still impressed with the speed. The only one negative about this camera is that the AF is really bad, but I use spot metering for portraits so it isn't as bad as a lot of people make it. Still the AF isn't as good as my 50d.
Overall very happy with my beautiful expensive camera and plan to use it for a very very long time. If your getting this camera with the kit make sure to grab a 85mm 1.8 with it! Worth every penny.
Pros: quiet, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Solid Operation, easy to use
Cons: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Best camera I've ever owned
on February 14, 2009
Posted by: Anonymous
from Cleveland, OH
When I purchased the original Canon 5D, I told my friends I had the best camera I ever owned. Now I have to recant my statement since I upgraded to the 5D Mark II. The Mark II with it's larger, brighter LCD screen, better menu layout, Live view mode and expanded ISO range put the Mark II on a level all its' own.
On the down side, the Mark II is slow to focus in low light situations.If you're a serious video person, the lack of manual control of aperture, shutter and ISO and a poor internal microphone are turn offs. However the videos I've shot are spectacular. But, the Mark II is an image camera first with video capabilities built in.
The Mark II is a great camera. It's like a well know wrist watch, it takes a beating and keeps taking great images. Build quality is excellent, image quality is excellent, and battery life is good. Knowing what I do today about the 5D Mark II, I'd buy the Mark II again. It's a great camera. The best I've ever owned.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, Lightweight/Portable, 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
5
5D Mark II Rules
on August 7, 2009
Posted by: spacecadet
from Tucson, AZ
This replaces my 1Ds Mark II which is an excellent camera BUT a little big & heavy, and had lousy battery performance. The 5D batteries are so much better and smaller and the 5D charger is tiny compared to the 1Ds charger. Maybe a couple of changes: 1. Program setting dial could be less easy to turn and easier to read. 2. Variable angle LCD viewfinder for low angle, overhead shots. 3. I hate neck straps and like the hand strap that the 1Ds has- just add a strap holder to the lower right hand side.
The images are excellent and very detailed, The camera weight is good and the viewfinder clear and bright. Like the menus and displays, almost intuitive.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
My experience with my new 5DmkII
on December 6, 2009
Posted by: nuB2dSLR
from Nothern California
I made the jump from film SLR to DSLR in a big way with my purchase of the EOS 5DMKII.
This camera has been a bit of a learning curve but I am very impressed with the camera. Coming from a film SLR, the first thing I had to get used to was being able to switch ISO settings from one shot to the next to get the results I want. One thing that surprised me was having to use an ISO of 400 to get really good results with the 430 EX II flash I purchased with the camera. Lower settings sometimes leave darker areas near the bottom of the frame. Another thing I would add is that I purchased the 24-75mm L lense for this camera because of the extra f-stop. If I had it to do over I might go with the newer 24-105mm L because it is lighter and ha the image stabilization.
Lastly, I held out for this camera because I wanted full frame like I was used to on my film camera. If you are one of the last like me that is switching from a film SLR and have lenses you want to keep and have it look the same, this camera is for you.
This camera has been a bit of a learning curve but I am very impressed with the camera. Coming from a film SLR, the first thing I had to get used to was being able to switch ISO settings from one shot to the next to get the results I want. One thing that surprised me was having to use an ISO of 400 to get really good results with the 430 EX II flash I purchased with the camera. Lower settings sometimes leave darker areas near the bottom of the frame. Another thing I would add is that I purchased the 24-75mm L lense for this camera because of the extra f-stop. If I had it to do over I might go with the newer 24-105mm L because it is lighter and ha the image stabilization.
Lastly, I held out for this camera because I wanted full frame like I was used to on my film camera. If you are one of the last like me that is switching from a film SLR and have lenses you want to keep and have it look the same, this camera is for you.
Pros: good battery life, quiet, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, excellent image quality, Superior build quality, Solid Operation
Cons: Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com