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
5
Super camera! Super pictures!
on August 13, 2009
Posted by: Ang
from Anaheim, CA
Some people have complained that the battery doesn' t last long enough, others that the camera is loud, although they all agree that the 5D Mark II is a fantastic camera. Here is my take on it: I took over 1000 pictures and my battery is still 70% full... I take only RAW pictures, so each is over 22 MB in size. So why are there complaints about the battery? Most likely the CF card used is not fast enough!
I think that if you buy a CF card that has write speed of 600X, you will not have the short battery life problem! You will find that the camera is loud, however, but if that really bothers you, read the manual the camera comes with. There is a way to reduce the noise!
I personally never had a better camera before (I also own a 5D). I now take pictures that are truly sharp, clear, and I am able to capture fun blurred motions as well when my subjects (animals, nature's critters, and flowers) move too fast.
I recommend this camera strongly to anyone, even amateurs, because this will make amateur pictures look near-professional!
My only problem is that while the cameras are getting smaller and lighter, the good lenses are larger and heavier. This combination makes it quite hard to hold the camera comfortably with a telephoto lens, for example. I own EF 300 mm f/4L IS USM and when the hood is fully open, my small hands can barely hold the camera.
As it is not always possible to follow a speedy humming bird with a camera on tripod, I must hold it for extended time in my hands. It is rare that I am not sore or cramp up after 30 minutes of holding the camera with that lens.
CANON: I think a larger grip, a wrist band, or a bracket against the chest might work! Please look into that Canon!
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life
Cons: noisy, bigger grip to hold lens more comfortably
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Value per pixel is Tops
on June 12, 2009
Posted by: Max
from Albuquerque, NM
Most of the salient points concerning the 5D2 have been covered in previous reviews. Reviewers on many different websites have covered virtually every feature the camera has, so there is no need for that.
I have nothing but praise for the camera, and I’ve had dozens over six decades. There is no greater value per pixel on the market. Combined with Canon L lenses, no user will have an excuse for not creating more than one outstanding image on every photo shoot. <g>
No doubt there are cameras that will shoot more frames per second, have superior autofocus systems, total waterproofing, and so on. Users who need such features should buy one of those.
For users interested in the biggest bang for the buck including image quality, the 5D2 is “the one.” I’ve had two of them, almost since the day they were released. I’ve never enjoyed photography more.
I have nothing but praise for the camera, and I’ve had dozens over six decades. There is no greater value per pixel on the market. Combined with Canon L lenses, no user will have an excuse for not creating more than one outstanding image on every photo shoot. <g>
No doubt there are cameras that will shoot more frames per second, have superior autofocus systems, total waterproofing, and so on. Users who need such features should buy one of those.
For users interested in the biggest bang for the buck including image quality, the 5D2 is “the one.” I’ve had two of them, almost since the day they were released. I’ve never enjoyed photography more.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, good battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Prosumer FF dSLR
on December 24, 2008
Posted by: Lensman
from West of Raleigh, NC
I have had the camera over two weeks. I think images quality is excellent and the camera delivers results that I expected. Using it with correct settings for exposure it absolutely does great. Some have had issues with black dots which I have not unless I magnify to over 400% and even then find very few. Others have had some banding issues which I only notice in underexposed images when trying to lighten up the shadows. Canon has addressed both of these issues and I hope they will issue a firmware soon to correct these issues. I have not used the video much but what I have done with help of a panning head have been very good. I did not buy this camera for video and it is not a big deal with me.
The size files do not slow down my computer or post processing software that I notice which was a concern.
This is my 5th canon dSLR and I have been happy with all of them. This one brings the extra dimension of shooting in low light and I found that ISO 3200 is a very good ISO to use in low light with 6400 quite good if one does not need to crop the image.
Detail is terrific with the amount of pixels capturing the subject in the image. This is great for wildlife and macro cropped shots.
AF seems quite good but not up to my 1 series bodies, but what the heck. It still is not too bad and I have used AI Servo with running wildlife with pretty good success. For still life, the AF gets right on the target even in low light so no complaints there at all.
If used right, this is a great camera that produces terrific images. The price is very good for this camera and all it can do. I am very happy to have purchased it.
The size files do not slow down my computer or post processing software that I notice which was a concern.
This is my 5th canon dSLR and I have been happy with all of them. This one brings the extra dimension of shooting in low light and I found that ISO 3200 is a very good ISO to use in low light with 6400 quite good if one does not need to crop the image.
Detail is terrific with the amount of pixels capturing the subject in the image. This is great for wildlife and macro cropped shots.
AF seems quite good but not up to my 1 series bodies, but what the heck. It still is not too bad and I have used AI Servo with running wildlife with pretty good success. For still life, the AF gets right on the target even in low light so no complaints there at all.
If used right, this is a great camera that produces terrific images. The price is very good for this camera and all it can do. I am very happy to have purchased it.
Pros: excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Nice features/settings, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life
Cons: needs firmware for known issues.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
5D Mark II
on December 4, 2017
Posted by: hrmal
from Boston, MA, United States
I bought a Canon 5d Mark ii with a 50mm f1.8 lens six months ago and have absolutely loved this set up. The mark ii is an incredible tool for both photography and filmography. I am mainly a photographer, and have felt as though the camera has enabled me to more fully carry out my creative vision. The full frame sensor allows me to produce crisp images even in low-light conditions. I have even shot pushing my ISO to 6400 with negligible noise in dark conditions which is rather remarkable. As many others have pointed out, the autofocus feature can be a bit finicky. Yet, I mainly use manual focus so it doesn't affect my work much. If I am using autofocus it usually works as desired, but occasionally I have to play around with it a little bit, not a big deal. Also the DIGIC 4 Image Processor allows for quick processing with excellent attention to detail, color, and reduces image noise.This camera packs a hard punch, and is a video powerhouse.This camera includes full 1080P recording capabilities, and with this I have been able to produce professional grade films. This camera i 100% worth the investment and is considerably less expensive than it competitors. If you are debating between purchasing the Mark ii and the Mark iv i’d go with the ii any day.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
No Regrets!
on July 14, 2011
Posted by: Dave
I've been using the 5D Mk II for about 6 months, I consider myself a pseudo-pro photographer who has been shooting for a little over 3yrs and my passion for the art lives on everyday. I've shot thousands of portraits/landscapes/nature scenes as well as at over 100 weddings ad agencies. I purchased my 5D Mark II to replace my Rebel XSI (aka 450D) and though I love my XSI and will continue to use it also for many years to come, the 5D Mark II is phenomenal!
Equivalent image quality and overall camera build quality CANNOT be beat @ this price point. Though a long time Canon user i weighed heavily the available options before purchasing the 5D Mk II and found that its features, build quality, and overall image quality was beyond equivalent to its competition and around 6000$ less cost.
I am immensely pleased with the shots produced from my 5D Mark II. Don't know how to say it enough..
If there could be ONE thing which I am not entirely thrilled with about my 5D Mk II, it would be the LCD menu for changing shot settings (ISO, f-stop, white balance, etc.) I was used to preparing for a shot using the large LCD options menu with the XSI, and while this menu offers all he same features (and some additional ones), it is not as easy to access once you've engaged the auto-focus, it requires depressing a button which is on a pivot.. so it must be pressed exactly downward to bring the menu up. With some practice I've mastered how to achieve this quickly though it may be difficult for someone at first.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this camera over any other to anyone looking to expand their tool set. If this camera is still a bit out of your price range.. check out the 7D :)
Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Solid Operation, easy to use
Cons: Heavy/Bulky, Complicated controls/menu
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Generally fine, but a few glitches
on December 27, 2008
Posted by: Louis
from San Francisco Bay area
The camera is mostly great. I haven't gotten the black dot problem. I have run into the vertical banding issue, and trust Canon will fix it soon with a firmware upgrade.
Although Canon has stated: "Vertical banding noise does not occur if the recording format is set to RAW or JPEG," I have gotten the banding in RAW files at 1600 ISO. To be precise, I was set to RAW + jpeg medium.
Per earlier reviews, I have also gotten the jerky playback of 1080p video, on both a Mac G5 desktop and a MacBook Pro. The standard-res video looks great, however. To be usable professionally for video, the camera needs a manual audio level control. Auto gain control as the only option doesn't cut it.
Despite these flaws, I am glad to have the camera. The low-ISO quality is already great, and once the banding problem is resolved, this will be a great tool for available light in dim situations too.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
A Great Replacement
on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Koz
from Klamath Falls, Oregon
My first great Canon was a T-90. I shot as many as six rolls of film every weekend as a sports photographer. That was followed by the 20D until a month ago. The 20D was one of the best in all respects for its day. My intent was to purchase the 50D but exposure to the features of the 5D along with the HD video aspect, I decided to dig deep and purchase the 5D kit.
Honestly I was slow coming out with it since the cold and moisture outside was terrible. I hated to think of getting condensation even though I was accustomed to bring cold cameras inside after shooting. That left time for reading and experimenting with the controls as well as shooting indoors.
That gets me to the point of relaying some of my thoughts and impressions. (As to the point as possible)
1. The ISO range on the upper end still provide for great results without excessive noise or off colors.
2. The 3" LCD is superior to the 20D but is comparable to the best LCDs. Outside viewing is manageable
3. It's a challenge to use the HD video recorder, but will get easier with use. It will never be as easy as a camcorder, but WOW the results!
4. There was never a need for a second battery on the 20D, but the 5D is a user. I ended up purchasing the battery grip so I could throw in AA batteries to help with the problem. The only problem is that they don't put out the juice as long as the standard battery. Eventually they will go in favor of an additional standard battery.
5. That gets to the next thing and that is the cost of additional batteries - a bit on the extreme side and considering the cost already shelled out - this guy must wait awhile.
6. A great feature has do do with the lens peripheral light correction with any lens who correction data has been entered into the camera.
7. Copyright information can be used along with the Canon EOS utility.
8. Easy to use as an automatic or as complex as can be depending on how it is used. Just use it.
2. The 3" LCD is superior to the 20D but is comparable to the best LCDs. Outside viewing is manageable
3. It's a challenge to use the HD video recorder, but will get easier with use. It will never be as easy as a camcorder, but WOW the results!
4. There was never a need for a second battery on the 20D, but the 5D is a user. I ended up purchasing the battery grip so I could throw in AA batteries to help with the problem. The only problem is that they don't put out the juice as long as the standard battery. Eventually they will go in favor of an additional standard battery.
5. That gets to the next thing and that is the cost of additional batteries - a bit on the extreme side and considering the cost already shelled out - this guy must wait awhile.
6. A great feature has do do with the lens peripheral light correction with any lens who correction data has been entered into the camera.
7. Copyright information can be used along with the Canon EOS utility.
8. Easy to use as an automatic or as complex as can be depending on how it is used. Just use it.
No doubt there are a ton of features and uses that will never become second nature unless you shoot and experiment. It's a complicated beast but then that's what you get with a camera such as this - otherwise stick with a PowerShot. Use a nice lens and you won't be disappointed.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation
Cons: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Overall Satisfaction
on October 3, 2009
Posted by: Northern Sights
from Alaska
This is the second Canon Digital Camera I have owned. I can't say how many frames I have shot with both but well over 100,000. My other is a 20D.
First off for studio work this camera is unparalelled. Hands down best thing on the market in my opinon. Hand held it is average. I use all L Series lenses by the way. For wildlife I think cropped frame is better.
The picture quality is fabulous no doubt about it, the Raw and Jpegs both are incredible. I haven't and probably won't use the video feature as I am a still photographer and that is that at least for now. For portraits I will match this against anything on the market. The several choices of file size/resolution is great depending on what I am shooting, products or people whatever.
Now let's talk about autofocus, that is where this baby falls down. If you have a single color it simply will not focus, shooting a clear blue sky for stock background for instance you just have to go manual. A white board or solid color anything flat it hunts and hunts and just flat won't focus. My 20D locks on instantly in the same situation.
If Canon had put more autofocus points maybe that would have solved it. They should have warned users of this. Low light focus is a problem also. What use is the high ISO performance if it won't autofocus in low light?
Maybe the 7D with it's 21 or so autofocus points will solve this but the 5DMark2 hasn't.
Other than that the camera is outstanding. In good light it is fantastic. Images are incredibly detailed and working with shadows in B&W it blows you away.
The build is solid, the weight is decent, all the controls are easy to use and the live view comes in handy. I wish they would move the exposure lock out from under my thumb but other than that the build and layout is superior.
Some have complained about the LCD but I find it adequate.
All in all it is good but not great. Still shooting in the studio I will use it everyday.
First off for studio work this camera is unparalelled. Hands down best thing on the market in my opinon. Hand held it is average. I use all L Series lenses by the way. For wildlife I think cropped frame is better.
The picture quality is fabulous no doubt about it, the Raw and Jpegs both are incredible. I haven't and probably won't use the video feature as I am a still photographer and that is that at least for now. For portraits I will match this against anything on the market. The several choices of file size/resolution is great depending on what I am shooting, products or people whatever.
Now let's talk about autofocus, that is where this baby falls down. If you have a single color it simply will not focus, shooting a clear blue sky for stock background for instance you just have to go manual. A white board or solid color anything flat it hunts and hunts and just flat won't focus. My 20D locks on instantly in the same situation.
If Canon had put more autofocus points maybe that would have solved it. They should have warned users of this. Low light focus is a problem also. What use is the high ISO performance if it won't autofocus in low light?
Maybe the 7D with it's 21 or so autofocus points will solve this but the 5DMark2 hasn't.
Other than that the camera is outstanding. In good light it is fantastic. Images are incredibly detailed and working with shadows in B&W it blows you away.
The build is solid, the weight is decent, all the controls are easy to use and the live view comes in handy. I wish they would move the exposure lock out from under my thumb but other than that the build and layout is superior.
Some have complained about the LCD but I find it adequate.
All in all it is good but not great. Still shooting in the studio I will use it everyday.
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Simple controls/menu, quiet, Quick Start-up time, easy to use, good battery life
Cons: poor autofocus in low light, poor autofocus with single color
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com