Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera — Indepth Review
Make the right purchase decision by reading/watching these reviews (text and video) of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera before you buy if you want to ensure you are getting the best camera for your current needs and budget (If you want product description, specs, features and price, click here to get to the end of this post where you’ll find links to additional resources)…
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame Camera
Let’s first take a look at two different video reviews from two vastly experienced pro users. After that there is a third review (text) that is more or less a report based on the average feedback from a number of different levels of users (I believe that this will help you get to the pieces of information you really need to make a superior purchase decision faster)…
Review 1 (Video)…
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera
Review 2 (Video)…
Canon 5D Mark II 21.1MP
Review 3 (Text): Before I go into the review, it’s important that I give readers an idea of how I intend to approach it. I am NOT going to attempt to touch all the parts or features of the Canon 5D Mark II. Instead, I going to go through things I consider to be the strong points (pros) and things I consider the weak points (Cons). This way, I believe, readers will be able to quickly get the basic information they need to decide whether it makes sense for them at the moment or NOT. Call it an executive summary (with links for even more info). So let’s take a look at the things that I consider to be the high points of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera…
i. The ISO performance of this camera is quite high. Super low light high ISO photographic tool with 25,600 ISO! Low 50 ISO allows photos at F/1.2 aperture out in bright sunlight for shallow DOF.
ii. You get image quality that is very exceptional. If you have heard users rave about how great the MarK II’s low light performance is, I bet you will still be pleasantly surprised at it when you have the opportunity to try it out. It’s really top class. Thought a room was too dark to get a reasonably good picture? That’s if you are NOT using a 5D. It gets great shots in low light conditions you would have called impossible before it.
iii. It comes with one of the very best LCD screens I have seen on any DSLR — It’s simply awesome. Making a comparison between it and the 1DS MK 2 or 40D, you will find this one easier to use and navigate. The Live View feature on it is another thing that is quite very useful. You can know for sure how sharp your pictures would be in reality — Just check it in Live View and get that critical focusing you need.
iv. It has a solid and sturdy build. It has a texture that gives it a good grip.
v. The video quality delivered by this otherwise still camera is quite top class. I do know that some people are shooting serious stuff on video with it. Just make sure you use a tripod if you want to get something that you’d use for a serious video job. Yes, this isn’t a movie camera nor was it meant to be. However, do expect to be blown away by the things you can achieve on video with the 5D — It blows a lot of dedicated video cameras out of water.
vi. The battery life is good. It does a good job of holding up charge. There’s also an info screen that lets you know how your battery is doing. It take the guess work out of something as important as your battery — Definitely something every professional would be happy about.
vii. This isn’t the original 5D repackaged. This is a massive improvement from what you had. Let me just point out a few: The Mark II is definitely more weather-resistant — it comes with weather sealing and dust reduction features. You can shoot outdoors and other situations that you simply wouldn’t have imagined if you owned its older sibling.
Another upgrade you’ll discover is the extended ISO range. Just to help you grasp how much of an improvement has gone into this area, the ISO 5000 on the Mark II is equivalent to ISO 1600 on the original 5D. They’ve also dealt with the black dot issue that many people complained about thanks to a firmware update.
viii. Definitely a great price-to-value ratio. What you get with this camera compares with what you’d expect from cameras that cost far more — I mean by the hundreds of dollars.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Now let’s look at the areas some might NOT be happy with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP…
i. Even though pro photographers who really shoot at this level might NOT consider this a set back, the absence of a popup flash won’t please everyone.
ii. It shoots slower than another EOS like the 40D thus making it NOT to be ideal for high speed shoots like sporting events and so on.
iii. If you don’t have high quality lenses and don’t intend to start buying them, you won’t be pleased with the results you will get with the Mark II. It really brings out the best and worst in a lens. You must be willing to spend hundreds of dollars buying top class lenses.
iv. You just have to buy larger memory cards since it delivers huge files. For example, all an 8GB card can hold is just about 300 shots if you set the camera to shoot in RAW.
But Shooting in RAW means that you can try a lot of creative things even after you have done your shoots. RAW means you have your files in a format where you can really play with things and let the creative juices flow. So some might NOT want to call this a disadvantage but an acceptable compromise — I just didn’t know where to stick it so I put it here.
But if you don’t need the option for extra creativity and really do mind having huge files that require larger cards, then may be this camera isn’t the best fit for you.
Also, I’d strongly recommend that you buy it with the optional BG-E6 battery grip…
Canon 5D With BG-E6 Battery Grip
Buying it with the grip gives you some added advantages: The camera becomes taller and easier to hold and you can easily use 2 canon lithium batteries or similar batteries simultaneously. Click here to buy it or read more about it.
Would you like to read even more reviews from users of this EOS camera? If so, click here to do so now.
Are you ready to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera right away? If so, click here to buy yours at a great price now.
Do you own it? Would you like to share your experience using this camera? We’d like to read your indepth review as a real user — Few things are more helpful than the honest opinion of someone who actually uses a product in the real world.
Canon ACK-E6AC Adapter Kit for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR — Reviews From Real Users
Read these reviews of the Canon ACK-E6AC Adapter Kit for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR before you buy if you want to ensure you are buying the best kid for your camera (For product description, specs, features and price, scroll down to the end of this post where you’ll get links to additional resources)…
Canon ACK-E6AC Adapter Kit For Canon 5D
User 1: This is definitely a high quality adapter and works very well. I give it a five star rating. I didn’t have any problems with cabling. One good thing about Canon cables is that they neither stiffen nor get brittle at low temperatures. Now, this might NOT mean much to you but if you shoot outdoors and often in very low temperatures, you’ll appreciate this.
I have been using mine to a 12V-11V converter for powering my camera since batteries don’t last very long in cold temperatures. It has always worked fine with giving me any headaches. I definitely recommend it.
User 2: If you find yourself using your 5D a lot or have to download very large RAW files then this is one accessory you shouldn’t be without. It works as advertised. It has definitely made life easier while shooting.
User 3: This is a very useful accessory. It has been very helpful and I consider it a must-have for anyone who shoots a lot with the Canon 5D. If you don’t get this then you are going to spend quite some money on batteries. But with this all you have to do is plug it in.
If you find yourself shooting mostly RAW (Or like me, shooting totally RAW) then you definitely need this since that drains power a lot faster. While transferring RAW files you are also going to drain your batteries faster. If you use the Live View feature then you have to get this too as that feature drains batteries fast.
Simply put, if you want to get the best out of your 5D without spending a lot of money replacing batteries then this is one accessory that you shouldn’t be without. It has already save me a lot of money and will pay for itself in just a short while.
User 4: Like the saying goes: You get what you pay for. It is very true in the case of the Canon ACK-E6AC Adapter Kit. It is expensive like most top quality products are. It is reliable and so is something that every professional would love to have — It works perfectly all the time.
Would you like to read even more reviews from users of this adapter? If so, click here to do so now.
Are you ready to buy the Canon ACK-E6AC Adapter Kit for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR right away? If so, click here to buy it at a great price.
Do you own it? Then let’s know what your experience with it has been like. What are the pros and cons? Would you recommend it to a close friend? Are there things you’d like shoppers to be aware of before they buy it? Please, submit your detailed review via the comment box below. We look forward to your contribution — It will add a lot of value to our readers and they’ll be thankful to you for it.
Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender for EOS Cameras — User Reviews
Find out what current users of the Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender for EOS Cameras think about it from these reviews before you make your purchase (You can get product description, specs, features and price, here: The end of this post)…
Canon Eyepiece Extender
User 1: I was intent on having the viewing area of my camera oil free (And that’s quite hard with my noise pressing against the camera — My noise and cheeks oil up once I press them against anything). Now you can understand why I got this eyepiece extender.
So even though it is better than using NO eyepiece extender, I still haven’t managed to eliminate oil or sweet since I still get the press. I have had better results by just use a microfiber eyeglass cleaner and eyeglass solution.
One problem with this eyepiece extender is that it doesn’t lock down well enough. Another is that you can lose it quite easily. Something I’ve discovered: You might actually get better framing by using it with the rubber attached.
That said, this is one accessory that you can live without but if you have issues with oily cheeks/noise or have a large noise like me, you can try it out and see how it works out for you. At the price is sells it won’t break you financially (It’s less than 20 bucks).
Canon 5D With/Out Eyepiece Extender
User 2: I don’t rate this eyepiece extender quite highly. It doesn’t give you more than 2mm of extension. And for someone who doesn’t have a large nose (Actually, I have a small nose), I still find it difficult to focus especially at low light. It makes objects smaller since the viewfinder is about 3/10th smaller. I just end up having my nose pressed against the LCD screen — Which is one thing I had expected that it should prevent.
User 3: I have a Canon 20D and was getting my face pressed against my LCD display. The produced smudges and I wasn’t happy with that. I got the Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender and it has helped. It helps move my face far away enough from the screen and doesn’t disturb or obstruct my workflow.
Would you like to read even more reviews from users of this eyepiece extender? If so, click here now.
Would you like to buy the Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender for EOS Cameras right away? If so, click here to buy yours at a great price.
Do you own it? Have you used it long enough to give an informed review? If so, share your experience with the rest of us. Submit your review via the comment box below. We look forward to your contribution as it will help shoppers make more informed purchase decisions since they can factor in the experience of a real user and NOT just the manufacturer’s description.
Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera — A Concise Review
Get critical information (Text and video reviews) on the Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera (the good, the bad and the ugly) as it will help you make a superior purchase decision (Click here if you want product description, specs, features and price)…
Review 1 (Video Review): This is actually a review of the newer model of the Canon 5D…
To check out the more improved new version of the Canon 5D (the Mark II 21.1MP), click here.
Review 2 (Video Review)…
To get a Nikon DSLR camera instead, click here to do so now.
Review 3: Before we get into the meat of this review, I must point out that this review is going to take a different approach in that I will just go through things I consider to be the strong points of this 5D and things I think aren’t so good or are cons. So let’s get started…
Pros of the Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP…
i. For a full size sensor camera, it doesn’t come at a very high cost. It comes with enough features to take care of most projects you’ll handle. You don’t have to worry about crop factor when you go for those wide angle shots. What you get with this camera is truly wide angle photographs the way they should be. The image quality is lovely and, even when you make very large prints, the result remains excellent.
Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Camera
The hard-to-beat image quality is definitely one of the strongest selling points for folks who are into portrait photography. The results you get with the 5D is definitely as good as what you get from 1D’s — In fact, you will get even better pictures if you meet certain conditions.
ii. Shooting in RAW might leave you with very huge files but one thing it allows for is creativity. The Canon 5D allows you to shoot in RAW.
iii. It has very low ISO noise so making it a good camera for shooter who have to work in low light conditions most of the time. The low shutter noise also makes it very good for noise sensitive shoots. This is one area where it beats the Canon 20/30D.
iv. It comes solid and sturdy. Yes, it is heavy but that is to be expected when you are holding a top camera. So for some of us, the weight might simply be a reassurance that we a NOT carrying a cheapy but a top end camera. But that still doesn’t make it as heavy as other top quality cameras — Example, the IDS series.
v. For those photographers who already have either the Canon 20D or 30D, you’ll be happy to learn that the 5D’s battery is interchangeable with those.
vi. Compatibility with a host of 3rd party products is one thing that you definitely have to add as an advantage this camera boosts.
Canon EOS 5D-Showing Viewfinder
Now let’s look at the cons of the 5D…
i. There’s NO hiding place for poor lenses with this camera. If you are NOT willing to spend some good money buying top lenses then this camera will NOT help you much. It will reveal all the bad aspects of your poor lense since it does a good job of bringing out what your lenses are up to.
For those who might just want this top camera NOT as professional photographers, this might come as an unpleasant twist. It won’t bother the professional because he/she is already used to working with top lenses. So this camera is definitely NOT right for anyone who’s NOT willing to spend at hundreds on dollars just on lenses.
ii. If you want a built-in flash in your camera, this one doesn’t have it. I believe the manufacturers made the assumption that you will probably have your preferred flashes or something else. But to say the truth, I really doubt if a built-in flash is to be desired when you are talking of cameras at this level. It might end up be a setback or hindrance to some.
iii. Get a good sensor cleaning kit since you will need to clean its sensor every few months unless you use it very rarely and only change your lenses once in a while and do so indoors.
iv. The 12.8M pixel might prove inadequate for some projects. And, owing to its low burst rate, it’s NOT good for sports or any form of high-motion photography.
Canon 5D Lens Up
If field photography is your niche then you might have to pass this camera considering that it is NOT built to handle such difficult environments. The 9 point sensor would be a limitation for pros who might want quick focus and shoot. If you are used to the 45 point sensor in any of the 1DS series, you might find this a little disappointing.
Should you buy this Canon 5D camera? My answer is: Take you time to consider the strong points and weak points highlighted in my review. If the cons are NOT things that you think will mar your experience, then go for it. But if you see that they will impact your shoots negatively and you can’t figure a way around them, don’t buy it. Look for another camera that better fills your need.
That said, if you want to know what I think about it overall, I give it a wholehearted five star rating. Just note that it is NOT suited to high speed sports shoots and things like that.
Would you like to read even more reviews from users of this full frame camera? If so, click here to do so now.
Are you ready to buy it right away? If so, click here to buy yours at a great price.
Do you own the Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera? Then let’s know what you think of it. Your honest review will help shoppers make more informed purchase decisions — Tell us how you feel whether it’s good, bad, ugly or a mixture of them all. We’d like to hear from you. Please, use the comment box below to leave you review.
Canon ACK-E2 AC Adapter for EOS 5D — Reviews From Users
Before you buy the Canon ACK-E2 AC Adapter for EOS 5D, 10D, 20D, D60, D30 & Digital Rebel Cameras, find out what current users think about it by reading this reviews (If you want product description, specs, features and price, click here to get to the end of this post where you will get links to additional resources)…
Canon ACK-E2 AC Adapter
User 1: This is certainly one very ingenious contraption that anyone who’s spends a lot of time copying pictures from camera to PC. It is also very useful for anyone who shoots from a fixed location like a tripod. One very good thing about this adapter is that it comes with power cords that fits the power supplies for every country.
This is a very useful feature if you are the travelling photographer or plan to go on vacation and want to have your batteries topped always — By the way, it fits my camera’s charger so I don’t really have to worry that my charger came with only the US power cord.
User 2: I own a Canon 10D and spend it most of the time for Astrophotography. If you understand what it entails it means that my camera shutter has to stay open for very long periods. Without a source of continuous power, there will be a serious concern about going through with each project.
The ACK-E2 Adapter takes that worry away from me permanently. I don’t have to bother about battery status or if my batteries will get drained. I can comfortable operate my camera remotely from my living room being sure that power is NOT going to be an issue.
If you are the travelling type you will see that this package takes good care of you: It has all the power connectors you’ll need NO matter which part of the world you have to travel to.
User 3: This is a very useful product especially for anyone who shoots in a studio environment. You NO longer have to worry about changing setup just because you want to change a dead or drained battery. This one ensures that you have continuous power and so focus on what’s important: The shoot you have on hand — NOT the hassles of changing batteries.
Would you like to read even more reviews of this adapter? If so, click here.
Are you ready to buy the Canon ACK-E2 AC Adapter for EOS 5D, 10D, 20D, D60, D30 & Digital Rebel Cameras right away? If so, click here to buy yours at a great price now.
Do you own it? If so, let’s know what you think of it by submitting your detailed review. Please, use the comment box below to send in your review. Tell it as it is: Good, bad, ugly or any mixture of them all provided it’s your experience. Honest reviews are very useful to shoppers as they enable them make more informed purchase decisions.