Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5d Mark II with Battery Grip

Outside Magazine Gear of the Year 2009 - Canon EOS 5D Mark II - Digital Cameras: Reviews

Professional Photographer Magazine Hot One 2009 Award
Professional Photographer Magazine Hot One 2009 Award

Outside Magazine Professional Photographer Magazine

10/21/09

Canon EF 16-35mm 2.8L II USM Lens Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Zörk Panorama Shift Adapter and Zeiss 1:2.8 f=80mm Planar (Hasselblad 500C/M Vivitar 283 with various accessories and Sunpak 522
Update 3/10/2010 Update 4/15/2010 Update 6/22/2010 Update 8/21/2010 Update 12/12/2010

 

History | Move To Digital

Canon 5D Mark II

I decided it was time to purchase a digital SLR.  My decision to purchase the Canon EOS 5D Mark II was driven primarily by the following things:

  • ability to mount non-Canon EOS lenses

  • full-frame (24x36mm) sensor

  • high-end features (low light capabilities, rugged construction, comprehensive "system" support

I have a bunch of lenses.  I purchased M42-EOS, Pentax K-Mount to EOS, and Olympus OM System to EOS mount adapters  to make use of those lenses.  The lens adapter product is exactly what I wanted.  With that item accounted for, It was time to turn my attention to the camera itself.  During my "procrastination" phase, Canon released the EOS 5D Mark II with improved features over the 5D.  Of interest to me is the full frame sensor, the high-speed compact flash memory compatibility, dual battery option, and HD Video.  The camera still costs a big chunk of change, but I had gotten to the point where having all those lenses (and then some), I was anxious to get back to "systems photography" like I am accustomed.  So I put together my list and went shopping:

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera

  • Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens (comes with camera at a slightly reduced price)

Canon EOS 5d Mark II - Kit ContentsCanon EF 24~105 1:4.0 L IS USM

 

The kit is reasonably complete but there were a few other things that I purchased with or soon after the camera:

 

Click for Large, Readable image - Canon EOS System (Small)

Camera and Lens

10/21/09

The camera provides the full frame sensor and lens compatibility I was seeking.  The 24~105mm lens provides a good range of focal lengths and the system compatibility with the camera, enabling rapid, integrated shooting.  It doesn't make much sense to get a camera body like this and be relegated only to manual, screw-mount lenses.  I view the screw-mount lenses I have as extensions to this system, providing me a stop-gap range of focal lengths, some of which are rarely used and not likely to be purchased as Canon Lenses (the fish-eye and super-telephotos fall into this category).  In the meantime I have over 30 high-quality lenses that will work with this camera through the use of a small adapter:

Pentax Screw-mount (M42) to Canon EOS Lens Mount Adapter (with assisted focus chip)

Here is another option for the slower lenses where assisted focus will not work (f-stop smaller than f/5.6)

 

 

Canon EOS 5d Mark II with Battery Grip

Canon EOS 5d Mark II - Click to Enlarge

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Manual

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Manual

Current Lenses

     

Canon EF 70~200mm 1:2.8L IS USM (original and Version II)

   

   

         

 

     

   

        


Click to Enlarge - Moon over Greystone-on-the-Cheat (SMCTZ 1:4.5/85~210mm)
(crop of) Moon over Greystone-on-the-Cheat (SMCTZ 1:4.5/85~210) 10/21/09

More Canon Images...

Shooting near home... Ted laughing while I walk by...

At the end of the day, this is supposed to be all about making images.  Sure, I have a fondness for cameras, but I really do own them to make images.  In the spirit of sharing what this camera can do, with the kit lens as well as my screw-mount lenses, here are some images I made - some right out of the box sitting in my kitchen...

Olive Oil and her Tools

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1:4.0/200mm (above)

Kitchen (SMCFT 1:4.0/17mm)

Super-Multi-Coated Fish Eye Takumar 1:4.0/17mm (above)

 

Ornamental Grass Seed (SMCMT 1:4.0/100mm)

Super-Multi-Coated Macro Takumar 1:4.0/100mm (above)

 

Tom  (SMCMT 1:4.0/100mm)

Super-Multi-Coated Macro Takumar 1:4.0/100mm (above)

 

Greystone-on-the-Cheat Recreation Area

Canon EF 24~105mm 1:4.0 L IS USM (circular polarizer) (above)

 

Greystone-on-the-Cheat Fairway

Canon EF 24~105mm 1:4.0 L IS USM (circular polarizer) (above)

 

Greystone-on-the-Cheat Fairway

Canon EF 24~105mm 1:4.0 L IS USM (circular polarizer) (above)

 

Cheat Neck

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar Zoom 1:4.5/85~210mm (above) - see 100% crop below

 

Cheat Neck Detail

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar Zoom 1:4.5/85~210mm (above)

 

Moon over Greystone-on-the-Cheat Detail

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar Zoom 1:4.5/85~210mm (above)

 

Moon over Greystone-on-the-Cheat

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar Zoom 1:4.5/85~210mm (above) - see 100% crop below

 

Moonrise over Greystone-on-the-Cheat

Canon EF 24~105mm 1:4.0 L IS USM (circular polarizer) (above)

 

Sunset to Halloween Eve

Canon EF 24~105mm 1:4.0 L IS USM (circular polarizer) (above)

More Images...

 

 

         

   

   

      

 

Pentax Screw-mount (M42) to Canon EOS Lens Mount Adapter

 

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