Отзывы о Фотоаппарат Canon EOS 5D Mark II Body

I am revising my review after using this camera for 1.5 years. I am so disappointed. I do not know what has happened to Canon recently - but when you buy two brand new camera bodies of different models and you have to send them BOTH in just a month after ownership with the same exact problem - there's a problem. I ordered both this Canon 5D Mark II and an EOS 7D the same day for use in our department. Both were upgrades from older models that definitely went through 200,000 shutter clicks minimum - and we wanted higher ISO capabilities for shooting in low light without a flash.I own a 30D personally and we already had a 50D and 20D in our department. Never any major problems with them and they STILL work. A former employee dropped the 20D really good, knocking the viewfinder off kilter by just enough so that what you see in frame is a few millimeters from what you really get - but shoot - we're just thrilled it still works.Fast forward to the purchase of the brand new 7D and 5D Mark II. I was surprised how LOUD the 5D Mark II was. A much more expensive camera than we've ever had in our department - yet so loud - it would scare away wildlife or alert others in a quiet room to your shutter clicks much more than any previous model.About 2-3 months into ownership, my boss tells me that when she used the 7D, it started giving error messages about the battery. I couldn't reproduce the errors at first. It was completely random. I turned it on and off - everything seemed to be fine. I traded cameras with her and carried it with me to several photo shoots until the problem manifested.In the middle of taking photos - the shutter release just STOPS WORKING. The LCD panel says "Cannot communicate with battery. Use battery anyway?" OMG. Are you freaking serious, Canon? I'm trying to take a freaking photo. You bet your sweet assets I want to use the battery! You have to turn the jog wheel to OK to let the camera know, "Yes, darling, I for reals want to take the photo - that's why I've got my finger on the shutter release." That's not enough, though - because during a shoot, it would keep doing this over and over and over again. I get that the camera needs to know how much power the battery has left to give an accurate indicator atop the camera on how much juice you've got left... but there is a serious problem here.I downloaded firmware updates and installed them all to the camera - got it up to date and the problem abated for a few days and came back with a vengeance. I googled the problem and TONS of people are having this issue... with both models - this one and the 7D. Supposedly, this is a problem when using a non-Canon battery. Well - guess what? We had the original battery by Canon that shipped with the camera in the camera body - and it was still doing this.I sent the 7D off to repair and by the time it came back, the 5D Mark II started doing the same thing. Both units were still under warranty.When the 7D AND the 5D Mark II came back from repair, the paperwork that came with it claimed they replaced only the PC card inside and that they 'cleaned' the viewfinder. The viewfinders were not merely CLEANED - they were REPLACED. They looked completely different - everything in the viewfinder was different. Not a settings issue, either... and the 5D Mark II wasn't clean. There was crap in the viewfinder that wasn't in there when I sent it off.Well, fast forward again to last week - when only 1.5 years into ownership, and about 1 year since the last repair - and it's doing the same thing. Cannot communicate with battery. Hello, Canon! My camera does not need to 'poke' a friend on facebook. It does not need to make a blog entry. I don't care if it can't communicate with the battery or if the power indicator is not reliable when I'm in the middle of a shoot. I have other back-up batteries. Our older cameras - 20D, 30D, 50D - NEVER have had these problems. EVER. Only these newer models. Something is really sucking in Denmark and I've completely lost my faith in this brand. Along with our new camera bodies, I had also ordered a 28mm-300mm zoom lens. It was defective out of the box and I had to send it back for a replacement. What is going on with Canon? Did someone up the chain start making some cost-cutting decisions that made quality control or just plain quality suffer?I just got a notification from Canon - even though I cited in the repair request that this is a recurring problem with their products that is well documented online and that we've already had this problem repaired - they are quoting us over $250 to repair THEIR PROBLEM. I did not drop the camera or play with it in the rain. This is a manufacturing/design defect.I no longer trust Canon products. I will NEVER buy another Canon product. Even though we have great (older) Canon lenses, the next time we're up for camera upgrades in our budget, we're going to get Nikon.

I recently purchased the Canon 5d mk3. The decision to purchase this camera was painful and I took months to make my final decision. Why?
Simply put the Nikon D810 is a better camera body than the Canon 5d MK3 in every way. In the end the reason I purchased the 5d mk3 over the Nikon D810 has nothing to do with the camera body, instead it had to do with the glass. The Canon L lenses are superior to any other brand right now. Just take a look at the stunning 70-200mm mk2 f.2.8 or the lense which is considered to be the best for portraits the Canon 85mm f1.2. Then add to that the Canon 24-70mm mk2 and you see what I mean. But that was not all. I also had to consider what my next camera body upgrade would be and how that would effect my decision. The Canon 5d mk4 is due out in the near future and having all Canon lenses this would be a simple upgrade on body only. Meaning that I would not have to purchase more glass for two camera bodies such as the 5dmk4 and the Nikon D810. Having owned my 5d mk3 for three months now I can truly say it is stunning. The pictures are awesome and the low light performance is better than my Canon 7D. I have not regretted the decision to purchase the Canon over the Nikon at all. I would also advise you to purchase the single or dual spider holster. I own the dual spider holster as I have two camera's and it is the best system out there. I am not a professional yet but will be starting up my business soon. As mentioned Nikon D810 is better but the 5dmk3 plus glass is slightly superior in my opinion.

I came to this camera by way of a Canon EOS 650 (1988), EOS 300, EOS 450D and most recently EOS 50D. This is helpful as the camera is a major investment and it is helpful to be familiar with Canon ergonomics first. Bear in mind the camera is heavy especially when you are teaming the camera with an L quality lens - otherwise probably you won't do the camera full justice.
I prevaricated for a while about the expense and in the end purchased the camera via an Amazon sponsored link. This is a camera of serious capabilities for the enthusiast through to the professional.
I took the camera to Italy last week and only downloaded the photos to my Macbook on returning home. Wow! The images are eye popping. The clarity and detail is astonishing - truly you do not need a huge amount of mega pixels. Please note I already owned a 24-105 L lens so I had the perfect combination of lens and camera body.
The most useful feature is I think the array of autofocus options and the speed with which the camera locks on. Add to that its astonishing low light performance and functionality and it is a winning combination. The body retails at £2000 although if you shop around you may get the camera for less than that. This camera is robust, versatile, fast and fully customisable. You will not be disappointed if you purchase it.

If your livelihood doesn't depend on the capture of fast objects, this will give you 95% of the image quality of the 5D III or 1D X. It's a major upgrade to the original 5D, though marginally inferior to the new 6D.I bought a 5D II to replace a 50D and a 40D. I've also used a 7D professionally. The latter three bodies have higher framerates, superior AF tracking, and a higher pixel density that benefits distant subjects. The 5D II is preferable for any other purpose if you can swing the cost of lenses that'll do justice across the frame to such enormous resolution.HANDLING:This is a 50D-generation camera, so the learning curve from that one (and the 40D) is essentially nil. A handful of custom functions differ. The original 5D is a bigger jump; button placement is about the same on the new model, but the menu system has been completely revised (for the better). The 40D/50D have marginally lower weight, smaller size, and a superior grip. Buttons have a positive click. The 5D II has mushy buttons that activate at some indeterminate point.In use, the 5D II's viewfinder is massively larger than the tunnel-like crop bodies. This pulls you into the scene, though framing is actually easier with the smaller finders. Balancing that is comparatively lethargic shutter and mirror response. The 40D/50D are 40% quicker on this front; the difference between 220ms and 160ms. You can't afford a lazy reaction time with this body.I've also detected a rare playback hesitation. I tend to a snap a shot and immediately press play if it doesn't appear on the screen. For perhaps 1 shot in 40, my 5D II has been unresponsive to that button for seconds at a time after the shot. The image appears eventually. The 40D/50D are impossible to trip up like this. This smacks of a software glitch, though I may query Canon at some point to verify.Exposure seems less reliable in difficult lighting. Set to evaluative metering, the 5D II tends to overexpose dark scenes and underexpose backlit people. It's not that clever. I've had to rely on EC and spot metering modes more than with the 40D.Like the 40D/50D, Auto-ISO is next to useless, so you end up fiddling with settings more than with, say, the 5D III, 7D, or 1D X. In aperture priority, Auto-ISO will set a shutter to the lens focal length or 20% less. Prone to hand-shake? Too bad. In shutter priority, it'll start dropping your chosen shutter when it reaches ISO 3200. That's the maximum ISO it'll use in any mode. And in manual mode, Auto-ISO isn't; it just fixes itself to ISO 400. So if you want to control your depth of field and shutter and the let the ISO dynamically adjust, you're SOL on this body. Major oversight.Note that this body doesn't have a popup flash. I'm not lamenting the absence, it's always been a bone to casual shooters more than a serious tool. Max sync speed for most Canon bodies is 1/250, so it only worked for outdoor fill with narrow apertures. Indoors as a main light source, the tiny size and close proximity to the lens led to red eyes and a flat, unflattering high-contrast look. A much preferable setup for event photography pairs a 430EX or 580EX, ideally diffused or aimed to bounce off a nearby surface.Nitpicking aside, the 5D II handles as well as any recent Canon DSLR. It's much quicker if you take the time to configure it to your preferences.FOCUS:Better than expected. The 40D/50D have 9 cross-points. The 5D II has one center cross-point, 8 outer single-axis points, and 6 invisible AF assist points near the center point. In practice, the 5D II is a center-point camera unless you're shooting at wide apertures (f/2 or lower).Center-point AF is very accurate and hits in almost any lighting. Better than the 40D/50D (and even the 1D IV, I've heard) when the lights dim. The only environment where I've had trouble grabbing focus had an exposure of ISO 25600, f/2, 1/50.Surround-point accuracy is questionable. This is the major weakness of the 5D II. You'll want to use wide-aperture lenses like the 85/1.8 and 50/1.4 to take advantage of the thinner depth-of-field and superior foreground/background blur that full-frame offers. These apertures punish focus-recompose, so you need to use the outer points for off-center compositions. They're fast enough, but not consistent or accurate. If your results are critical, take a lot of refocused safety shots.Focus tracking is surprisingly decent with a high-contrast subject that you can hold exactly in the center of the viewfinder, provided you've enabled the invisible assist points with CF III.7. Once your object starts straying to the outer points, all bets are off; the 40D/50D excel here. Still, contrary to expectation, the 5D II can follow moving objects. The outer point accuracy was a greater letdown.STILLS IMAGE QUALITY:Excellent. Per-pixel sharpness is much higher than the crop bodies with the same lens. Combined with superior resolution, you can expect perhaps 30% more detail relative to a 7D and 50% more than a 50D. It's not a sub

I am an enthusiast photographer. I understand the relationship between aperture, shutter and ISO; I understand the basics of composition, rules of thirds and all that; watches youtube constantly and try to learn more; and I process my RAW in Lightroom because I am not a professional and just a bit lazy to learn layers and Photoshop.I am budget conscious, not rich or anything. Therefore it is a bit hard for me to justify buying over 3000 dollars of equipment for mainly weekend and vacation shooting. I've used it for almost 2 weeks and I would say overall I don't regret buying it. I will list some pros and cons from my perspective.Pros:A lot of detail is available from the RAW files. A bit of brushing and those blown out while sky comes back to life easily. Just tweaking with LR, I can get those HDR looking photos where everywhere is exposed without doing bracketing. Its not perfect HDR of course, but pretty good and amazing in my opinion. And of course, the details in the images are very crisp, a big upgrade from my old camera.The rate of 3.9 is pretty good in my opinion. I use a 600x card and shoot RAW only; the camera shows 13 shots continuously at that rate before clogging, which is pretty good.The weight of the camera makes shooting at slower shutter speed easier. When I was hand holding my old camera(I rather not say model), I usually have bluish image at 1/15, but this one seems to do it pretty well. Some people probably can hand hold 1/15 easily with any camera, but this is just something I noticed. I think the extra weight gave me this extra stability or maybe there is something going on inside.Knowing that this is a Full Frame camera with the ability to capture pretty much the best quality images is satisfying. I travel whenever my finance allow, and some of the destinations I probably will never go again or just simply change from time to time. Therefore the biggest justification for myself buying this camera is to be able to capture images without later regrets. Before, I had images with the sky fully blown out or the face of my subject poorly lit and by recovering from LR, I just loose a lot of detail and make everything look unpleasant. Professionals probably can shoot better I know, but I am not pro and the comfort of not paying so much for my mistakes and no regrets is the main reason I am happy with my decision.now onto the Cons:Like everyone said, the focus is the downside of 5DII. Maybe I am overshadowed by all the other reviews; but from what I feel, I just think its a bit slow, more noticeable during darker situations. I have not used a lot of cameras so maybe I am just nit-picking. When I mount the 50mm 1.4 on the 5DII, the focus is a bit slow, and also the minimal focus distance for the 50mm 1.4 is quiet long at 0.45m. I was inside a museum, and sometimes I'm just too close to the subject, or sometimes its just too dark, so the focusing seems to be confused once in awhile. I don't have anything technical to back this up, just my feeling. The lack of focus point don't bother me at all since I only use the central one and rarely shoot birds or sports. Its not a problem when I'm outside, I hardly notice it, but when I do, it bothers me.The weight adds stability while shooting, but is definitely not good for walking. Having this magnesium alloy brick hanging on my neck without support is not pleasant.Shutter is a bit loud and lower pitch. I think each and everyone have a different preference for shutter sound. I actually like the sound of short higher pitch, for example the Rebels.Vignette and Light fall off. Coming from a cropped, the vignetting and light falls off at the corners is much more noticeable. I know different lens behaves differently, but this is definitely more noticeable.Build-in Mic is nearly useless during recording. It is very noisy. Even if you want to record something simple, the quality of sound coming out of the mic makes me mute it all together.The large megapixel makes my Lightroom 4.1 a lot slower. I have an Acer Laptop, i5-2410, 8GB Ram, Nvidia Geforce GT540M laptop. No SSD, just regular 640GB, 5400RPM Hard drive. The laptop is not something blazing fast, but I had no problem with 10 Megapixel RAW files. Now the full 21 Megapixel RAW files from 5DII are making my LR a lot slower. I already rooted my comp to clean out the bloatwares and tried to render 1:1 when importing and all the other tweaks I can find on the internet but it is still quiet slow. It is noticeably slow while editing (applying different presets and brushing) and slow when exporting. Its not anything bad for the camera, but something every buyer should consider, as I am now planning to dropping more money to buy a better desktop.Recommendations:I think for those non-professionals, this is probably the best pick for the money. The new 5DIII is obviously better, but the price is a big factor for me. For people who have the money, buy it; but I don't, so I rather

With the greatest of respect to everyone I have seen people complaining about no autofocus in video mode: the Canon 5D Mark III is a professional standard DSLR often used for shooting music videos.

My point is, professional videographers use manual focus. If you are not using this camera to a professional standard and never intend to (making blog videos like one guys review said) then I strongly suggest saving your money and going for a cheaper option as you don't need a camera of this quality… Image quality will not be noticed on such a small platform like a blog, nor will your video be criticised for not being brilliantly sharp.

Not sure about the advertising myself but if no where said autofocus wasn't an option in video mode then it is not very good from Canon not to make that clear, but yes; if you rely on autofocus, you really don't need a camera of this quality (with the exception of some people, obviously I don't know what people use it for)

Personally I am a videographer and Photographer, I bought the 5D Mark III because I am producing photographs and videos professionally, therefore I rely on image quality and the fantastic advantages that come with this camera, such as the 100% viewfinder which is sooo sharp and clear, the extremely high ISO capabilities and more.

The ISO capabilities are incredible, I have photographed live bands with no flash, going up to 128,000 ISO with NO real image quality loss - this is almost unachievable using an entry/amateur DSLR as you will see serious image quality loss with anything over 1600, which also means you will struggle to get a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action if the subject is moving around. People refer to lenses as 'fast' lenses as they let a lot of light in, therefore a faster shutter speed, well this camera should be called a fast camera.

The viewfinder is so impressive, in these instances where I have shot bands etc in low light, the viewfinder allows me to see so clearly, its like looking into a HD screen.

If you want this camera for professional reasons BUY IT!

If you want this camera for personal use 100% buy it if you can spare the money. - if not, then you can still produce great photos and video on any other DSLR, after all it is…
40% Photographer
30% Light
20% Lens
10% Camera body

This boy has taken the place of primary workhorse in the arsenal. Stepping up from APS-C range of Canons, I photograph portraiture, landscape & fun events. I also film corporate & event promos & do fun shorts with like-minded people.Got this as a refurbished unit to save some $$, unit came with 600 on the shutter & in perfect condition. Everything is intuitive for the seasoned canon user. What stood out for me was that ISO performance is a MAJOR leap ahead. I can push it to 3200 or 4000 & still get clean visuals. Entering the full frame, everything is wider on your lenses, requiring a little adaptation in terms of 'focal length estimation' - you'll have to get used to looking into the viewfinder and going "gee, that's wider than I expected". On good glass, this camera is stellar & renders everything cleanly as expected. Cheaper glass like the 50mm F1.8 might feel a little 'maxed out' on this body.Planned shoots bring cash, but it's shooting energetic stuff in the wet & dirty that I prefer, and with proper weather-sealed lenses, this body is a tough one. It has been with me into waterfalls, under heavy tropical rain, mud events & the such. The most moisture that got in so far was a drop of condensation beneath the LCD display protector - which dried up within an hour. While it cannot be submerged underwater, I wouldn't hesitate to wash it down after a muddy run. Love that I can get down and dirty, paying more attention to what i'm shooting without worrying so much about ruining my equipment.For you video people, besides the full frame feel, video quality is comparable with the other cheaper models, ie 7D, 60D after post-production. I rely quite heavily on the MagicLantern firmware hack when shooting video & I find this 2008 model rather stunted without it. FPS overrides, shutter locking, histograms, audio monitoring etc are all crucial to getting good footage, and these are not provided with the original Canon firmware. Oh and did I mention RAW video is such a sexy attribute ;) Anw, did the 5D2 contribute much in improving my video footage? Besides the ability to film in any weather and that sexy 35mm sensor with insane ISO control, not really, no.Battery life whilst shooting photos is decent. I can manage about 6 to 7 hours of continuous shooting before needing to swap batteries. Batteries last much less while filming, about 1 - 2 hours before they die out on the set. With MagicLantern's powersaving hacks I can just about manage 3 hours.As for cons, AF on this system isnt exactly the best, especially when paired with cheaper lenses. I find myself leaving my cheaper glass on MF most of the time when in low light situations to prevent disappointments.Moire & aliasing is quite prominent on this unit, but there's nothing a good eye on the lookout can't fix.Who should get this camera?The photographer or cinematographer who has a well-used entry level DSLR, is shooting stunning photos with one exposure per motive and is looking to venture into higher-end professional/full frame territory & push his glass without bursting the bank (comparatively)Who shouldn't get this camera?The brand new photographer who thinks that gear is his limitation and that getting an expensive pro-DSLR body will instantly make his photos look nicer.It's an amazing body. I love it and think that at the price it is right now, a second-hand/refurbished unit is very good bargain indeed. 5 stars!

ill usually work with the Canon 5D MKiii body, it’s the higher resolution out of my cameras (but not as fast shooting, something I don’t always need).
To be honest, there isn’t much I can say about this body, its been around a while and im sure you all know the technical specs. The only thing I can say again is it works and does the job its there for. So stays in my bag.

On the bottom of the body I have a Manfrotto RC2 tripod mount and a Blackrapid quick strap connector that folds down when mounted to the tripod.

My dreams have come true. The Mark 3 is an unbelievable camera. If you are looking at buying it, you already know it is badass. If you have never used a full frame digital, you are in for a treat. it kicks the pants off of a crop sensor. I was using a 7D before I bought the Mark 3 and I don't know why I waited so long to buy the Mark 3. If you are debating it because of the price, you will forget all about it when you slap on a quality lens and start shooting. The extra items that come in this package defiantly are NOT anything to write home about, but I guess it is better than a poke in the eye. Shipping was fairly quick, I would of liked it the next day. But I am impatient anytime I buy anything online. Bottom line, buy the damn camera. You will thank yourself and if you shoot for money your wallet will thank you!

I started out in the DSLR world about five years ago with a 550D and upgraded to a 60D before finally deciding to bite the bullet and get the 5D mk3. The benefits are much stated in many detailed reviews online. The biggest difference to me of course being the change to a full frame sensor. The other highlights if summed up very briefly are low light performance and auto focus system. There is a substantial upgrade in terms of build quality over the 60D also.

To most enthusiast users the 5D mk3 will be overkill. Many of the features like twin card slots and weather sealing will probably not get a lot of use. It is nice to have them and if you can afford one then why not get one of the best?

Cost is where the water gets a little muddy. For the cost you could get a 6D and have in the region of a thousand pounds left to put towards lenses or other equipment. To be honest most of the time, for most people, this would be the better option.

The focus system is what really drew me to the 5D mk3 in the end. It really depends what type of photography you usually do though as to how much this will influence you. The new range of auto focus programs are really good and the system can be customised for the type of shooting you are doing. Just doing headhsots though? Then this won't matter to you much, neither will weather sealing. Doing wildlife and action? Then these are essential.

Downsides?

- Well the cost, obviously. It is very expensive and there is just no getting away from that issue.
- No continuous auto focus in video mode. Some competitors have this feature and for most amateur videographers this would be very handy.
- No articulating screen. Not a big issue, but can be handy at times.

*SUMMARY*

This is without doubt a top piece of kit, at top money. If you can afford one, or just want one of the best cameras about just now I am sure you would be very happy with this camera. I love mine and do not regret buying it at all. In Canon terms it is the best camera you can buy without a serious jump up in price. If you already have a lot of kit and lenses, then this would be ideal.

If you are starting out, I would consider the 6D and some quality glass. Think about what you will use it for most and if you really need the features you are paying for. Bear in mind the lens has as big or even more of an impact on the quality of your pictures as the body.

The body is phenomenal! I love it! It came with a 64 gb card and two batteries like it said in the description. The reason I give it four stars is because it didn't include a battery charger! Other than that, amazing body

Good Condition. Very seldom and randomly the shutter will drop making it so you can't photograph, but after a short minute it goes away. But again very rarely compared to how much I use it.

Coming from the 50D the 5D Mk2 is in another league. Not to short sell the 50D which is a fantastic camera and a great value, but the 5D is just stunning. I the photo quality, the options, the range and low light performance. This camera's only real weakness is speed but I did not buy it for speed or video so these things don't bother me at all. Compared to my old cam the 5D Mk2 has much better color, and just more depth, the settings you dial in you can really see, this camera can do some things the 50d just could not do well. I bought mine used on amazon market, got this and saved a few grand, I had no need for the Mk3 as it was just a minor upgrade over the mk2 and 3 times the cost, rather buy more glass. Get this camera if you love taking photos, and short videos, its fantastic. Buy a Used one, are a steal of a deal and are built very well. Overall I love this camera.

If you read on you will find that this review is aimed for the amateur who is thinking of buying a 5D3.

As an enthusiastic amateur I spent a lot of time pondering whether I could justify to myself to part with so much money for this camera for what is purely a hobby and eventually came to the conclusion that you only live once and why not go for it. 2 years ago I returned to this hobby after 20 years or so of taking nothing other than family snaps. It was a steep learning curve to learn the basics of digital photography but enjoyable too. I got myself a EOS 60D and made a decision back then that I would stick to buying only EF lenses and leave out the EFs variety in case I decided to go FF and boy am I glad I did so. I love the 60D mainly for it's flip screen and I was hoping it would appear on the MK III but I'm told it would have a weatherseal issue, which is a shame. I will keep the 60D for the awkward shots that require you to be double jointed to capture.

Getting back to the 5D3. It is a superb piece of kit. I found it felt 'made to measure' for my rather large hands and the balance with the lenses I use was just something else. I use the 17-40mm f4,50mm f1.4 and the 70-200mm 2.8 IS and the latter,especially,feels so much better on this as opposed to the 60D. The AF on the 5D is so fast and accurate it justifies the upgrade in itself. One thing I did miss was the loss of distance by moving to FF especially with the 200mm becoming a true 200mm as opposed to a 320mm on the 60D cropped camera but the IQ allows you to crop to compensate for this and at the other end the 17-40mm now is a great wide angle as opposed to being a 27-64mm.The same applies to the 50mm which I found I didn't get to use too much on the 60D but I'm sure it will get it's fair share on the 5D. Another great addition is how well the 5d handles the ISO which I've found that my 17-40mm F4 performs more like a 2.8 in comparison to when it's mounted on the 60D. I found the dual card CF and SD to be another great addition. I've gone for a SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB SDHC Memory Card for the Sd and a SanDisk 16GB 60MB/sec Extreme Compact Flash Memory Card for the CF which I think will cover my needs, and the great thing is I will be able to use all my other SD cards I've aquired for the 60D. I have a non-oem grip mounted which I find completes the camera for me as I've already stated my hands are very large and the additional weight doesn't bother me and I also find the additional battery life very useful. I would think that most people would manage this camera without the grip but after using one on the 60D I've gotten used to it now. The grip I purchased wasPixel Pro Vertax BG-E11 Battery Grip for Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera from Amazon. I know I'm taking a gamble using a non-oem product on the camera but Canons prices on this item are crazy. If I was a professional who earned his living from his gear I would bite the bullet and buy Canon and offset the high costs with my tax and vat returns.

I wouldn't attempt to try to get into any technical advice in this review as there are plenty of them out there on the net written by people far more qualified than myself. I just want to give a flavour of what I found when I used this great piece of kit. I bought mine from a Canon approved dealer and although painful to the pocket initially, I'm sure the lack of worrying of getting a used or refurbished item from the far east will make up for this pain. I would normally get my gear from Amazon but at the time only Amazon dealers were offering them not Amazon themselves and at this amount of money I wasn't prepared to take the gamble.

To sum up I think this camera justifies it's expense and if you can afford it - get it! I'm sure like myself you won't regret it.

had this a while takes great images can't fault it. was using a cropped sensor and this blows it out of the water. just buy one .

i love this camera! I'm still learning to improve my photography and want the next version of this camera- the 5DMIII is out but a new version should come out by the end of the year I would think? Anyways this is a great camera regardless!

As described second hand. In excellent condition works fine good value. Seller recommended, delivery less than a week already used this seller for other camera equipment and same 5 star rating.

A great decision to upgrade from the 60D . It takes a while to get the best from this but the results are well worth the effort. Highly recommended!

I bought my 5D MK II late in 2008, replacing my worn and beloved 5D. Since then, I've carried it to the ends of the earth, shooting in rain forests, waterfall mists, deserts, smoky casinos and urban jungles. December 2013 makes five years of dependable service and tens of thousands of images.While the technology of this camera is showing its age, it stands up well to current EOS models. The 5D MKII delivers vivid, detailed and low noise landscapes. I've never needed to brighten an image two stops but the 5D MKII handles a one stop lift with ease. I shoot RAW and expose to the right so I normally reduce exposure in PP a half stop or so. I'm a landscape, travel and macro shooter, so I'm able to work slower and more deliberately than many.I often work in twilight and have found ISO 160, 320, 640 and 1250 to be excellent and well controlled in terms of noise. ISO 200, 400, 800 and 1600 are a bit more noisy so I avoid those settings. And, with careful exposure and noise reduction in PP, ISO 2500 and even 5000 are useable for 12 x 18 prints.I'm heard whining about the 2005 tech AF of the 5D MKII. Indeed, it's not cutting edge and obviously the 6D, 5D MKIII or 1DX will best it for action and low light. With that said, AF rarely misses for me. Even the outer points lock in most light save for really dim conditions. In low light I stick to the center point or use AF assist on a Speedlite. Also, it is helpful to place the AF rectangle on a point of contrast, e.g., eyebrow rather than smooth forehead. And the center point is very sensitive so you can use the lock-AF-recompose technique in almost any light.Finally, after 5 years of use, I can say build quality is excellent. Not a single problem other than I needed a new battery. It's not combat grade but strong enough to take some knocks and keep ticking. I'm writing this review late in the game as the 5D MKII is long discontinued. You can still buy old stock, refurbs and, of course, used. However, if my 5D MKII failed today I wouldn't buy another one unless an extremely good deal, e.g., a new or refurb for $1000 or less. Otherwise, I'd spring for a newer full frame model, e.g., 6D or 5D MKIII. I suspect my 5D MKII has a few more years left and I have no need for more than 21MP, Wi-Fi or dozens of AF points. Great camera and now a neo-classic!

This is a non-technical review. Just an average guy using everyday words to describe my experience. If you are a professional photographer, then you already know this stuff and this review is not directed at you. I am talking to the amateur/intermediate photographer (those of us out there photographing only for the pure pleasure of it and for the sake of family memories -- and not getting paid for it).

I recently purchased this camera (Canon EOS 5D Mark II) as a step-up from my entry level DSLR (Canon EOS Rebel XSi). As an amateur/intermediate hobbyist photographer, I felt I had grown beyond the capabilities of the XSi. I had been drooling (yes, that's the technical term) over the 5D Mark II for several years because of its ability to capture full-frame, full 1080p HD video and outstanding picture quality. As great as those features are, there's more to this camera...

When your little ones are running around saying and doing the things that your little ones do, you reach for your camera to capture the moment. However, you may have found the average point-and-shoot camera falls way short of your expectations. After all, the little ones rarely stand still long enough for you to get the camera ready to snap that perfectly composed candid moment to treasure forever. If you've already stepped up to an entry level DSLR then you've found the difference in camera capability and performance are likely very happy with it. However, there comes a point when you may want a little more performance out of your camera.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II will step you up to a world of photographic performance and capabilities you could only dream about with an entry level DSLR camera. The ability to shoot 16 frames continuously without releasing the shutter (depending on your picture quality setting) is truly amazing. Changing the picture style from Landscape to Portrait or any other setting is much easier and can be done with literally only 2 to 3 clicks in the info. menu. The ability to capture hi-res JPG or RAW (or both) pics while SIMULTANEOUSLY shooting HD video is another HUGE plus -- you won't have to switch back and forth between shooting video and stills to capture the moments how you want to capture them.

I would also add the build quality on this camera is the best. If you happen to drop the 5D Mark II with its magnesium-alloy body, you will likely break what ever you drop the camera on -- including ceramic tile, instead of breaking the camera (speaking from experience). The 5D Mark II receives the highest marks for build quality and contains virtually no plastic parts compared to an entry level DSLR. Also, it's weather seals really make a big difference in protecting your camera against the elements. Last year I took my Canon Rebel XSi with my family to the beach on vacation. I got some really great shots of the kids and my wife playing in the surf and the sand! However, when I got the camera back home, I was unable to get all the sand out of all the tiny spaces including inside the camera. I ended up having to take the camera to my local camera shop to have it professionally cleaned so it would work properly again. Not cheap and also not an issue with the 5D Mark II.

It's really difficult to put everything into words about why you should consider spending the extra money for this camera when the T3i and 60D are also very capable cameras. So before deciding to spend the money on this camera instead of the T3i or the 60D, I compared all three of them both online with professional photographer's technical advise (just google search: "Canon T3i or Canon 60D vs. Canon 5D Mark II") and also in person for a practical comparison at my local camera shop. If you have the money and are considering stepping up with your DSLR -- goto your local camera shop and compare the Canon T3i, Canon 60D and the 5D Mark II. The salesman should let you handle each one and try it out in the store (take pictures and video) and see for yourself.

Built like a tank and probably the professionals choice.

Heavy, especially when combined with an L lens.

Really cant fault the many functions available, they are many, varied and extensive.

It will take some getting used to - you really will have to read the manual and get plenty of practice in to produce really good shots.

In truth the image quality is no better than that of other cameras in the Canon range that cost a lot less.

Has some very good video functions, which does set it apart from others. It does produce very good movies.

It probably is a little too expensive for what it is.

I bought one in the end
It is a really great camera but it isn't massively better than a 7D. I tried the 5D MKII but i really couldn't cope with it after the 7D, the snail like AF was impossible.

The MK3 is a better 7D with a full frame. Low light is excellent, the AF is really good - it is very hard to fault for photography. I don't do a lot of video but it is easier to use than the 7D and it is used professionally too so I guess that must be pretty good too.I now get to worry about vignetting and all my lenses are shorter which is a bit annoying.

I sleep with it next to my bed. Four stars as it is ragingly expensive and I feel guilty I bought it. £2300 is more than I spent on my car and it is three times the price of the 7D which is mad

In truth, my pictures are no better but I have probably managed a few keepers that I wouldn't have got with the 7D and I have spent £2300 and need to upgrade my L lenses or at least get something over 200.

Is this worth £2300 when the 7D is £7-800? No it isn't but if you can afford it who gives a crap :)

UPDATE After Christmas shooting 2013

It is a really great camera and I love it
being brutal the 7D is a much better buy than this even though the 5D is a better camera.

I had my 7D since they first came out and all my lenses are based around the crop sensor - I have never bought EF-S lenses only EFs so all my lenses work on either camera BUT...... the different perspectives you get FF v Crop and the fact that moving to FF you lose a lot of reach means you will need to invest in more glass field of view on a FF is 70-200 on that lens..........112 to 320mm on a 1.6 crop. i was using 50mm for portraits now I will need to get an 85 as well

I guess then point here is that MkII to MKIII is a no brainer as you have all the lenses anway.......... 7D to MKIII isn't as clear cut as you are making two upgrades. I guess this why a lot of sports and wildlife shooters use 7D a 300mm on the 7D with a 1.4 extender gives you 672mm. Trying that on a FF camera will cost you about £8k

Interesting

I have had this camera for some years now and it is the best thing I have ever bought. I started with a Powershot and thats when I knew I liked photography. Then I had a Xsi and a T3i cameras. I made all those changes when I felt I completely dominate all the features in that camera and needed something more. There is nothing like a full frame camera, it has improved my work so much to be able to work with Raw files without even bothering about high ISO sensibility and image quality. I can use a 5000 ISO in a very poor light condition and still get rid of the noise just fine. This is the first time I have had a camera for so long and I havent felt like a needed something more. Now Im more interesting in getting different kind of lenses. Right now I have 24-105mm 4f L, 70-200mm 2.8f L, 50mm 1.4f and 35mm 2f. I just wish for a 100mm macro and a fish eye and I' ll be completely happy haha.

I have to say, after purchasing this camera i thought i made a huge mistake and all those months of saving up had plundered into the drain, but then i started using the camera.

After seeing it focus well i was able to capture great detail with both my 100mm Macro and 24-105mm lenses. [Great full frame'ness] It's brilliant to be able to get more in your shot without having to back away from the subject, especially with macro shots.

Build quality is good, feels solid in the hands [like the 7d] good grippy texture.

Video mode is fun to play with too, with HD 1080p video playback.