CANON EOS 5D MARK II

Four years ago in 2005, Canon pushed the envelope in the professional camera range to develop one of the best mid-range DLSR packages ever to hit the market.  The Canon EOS 5D was the first of its kind to offer a large CMOS sensor, about sixty percent larger than those in most DSLRs of its time and comparable to the frame size of a 35mm film, rendering this camera the first full-frame DSLR in a standard sized SLR body.   In 2009, Canon replicated its aggressive camera packaging, adding a fantastic bundle of features to the widely popular EOS 5D to birth a brilliant upgrade: the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II, like its predecessor, pushes the bar on the mid to high-end class camera range. For a professional camera under U$ 3,000.00, it delivers the best value for your money with this wealth of improvements:

Image Resolution:

This wonderful baby boasts a 21.1 megapixel sensor, matching its lofty cousins in the EOS 1D series, but at the fraction of their prices.  Image quality is hands-down superb with Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor.  Images come packed with more detail and at lower noise levels than the earlier 5D.  In this aspect, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II certainly outclasses others of its kind.  There had been some alleged black dot issues concerning the initial models.  Canon, however, had fixed the problem earlier in the camera’s introduction; so, this old news shouldn’t deter anyone from considering this rather drool-worthy gadget.

Screen Quality:

The Mark II flaunts a vast improvement over the venerable 5D with a bigger and brighter 3½” screen that gives greater clarity and a broader 98% viewfinder coverage. Its high resolution LCD monitor allows users to see fine details during live composition or after- shot reviews.   Its water-repellant, glare-proof screen is smudge-proof as well and conveniently offers access to most camera settings, including the ISO values and battery life.  The camera’s top screen is also an improved version.

Movie Mode Feature:

Canon has pulled out their big guns with this feature.  You will be hard put to find a Movie Mode feature in DSLRs.  After all, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is only the second, after the Nikon D90, to offer this hallmark.   The movie mode is the best in the category, even trumping older camcorders with its 1080p full HD-quality.  A firmware update released in June 2009 allows adjustment of the aperture, ISO settings, and shutter speed before or even during the filming process.  At the current price level, what can beat the Mark II with this competitive feature?

Video enthusiasts and independent filmmakers are sure to fall for this special point.  Although, it cannot really replace a camcorder, experienced video takers can work around the Mark II’s limitations to own both an awesome professional stills shooter and great video cam in one neat little package.

Other Notables:

Mark II comes equipped with Lighting Optimizer that corrects underexposed shots to produce brighter images. A face detection system rescues subjects from backlit environments.  Its DIGIC 4 processor backed up by a 25,600 ISO sensitivity will give beautiful tones and colors, and allow pictures to be taken even when the sun goes down.  Moreover, a plethora of photographic modes would squeeze the best photo outcomes.

While being a little heftier than the senior 5D at a little over two pounds, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II packs a punch with its two-pound solidly made frame.  Its myriad features, handling ease plus the improved dust and weather sealings make this camera one of the best pro camera buys you’ll ever make.  Indeed, Canon’s little engineering marvel presents tremendous value, assuring you great pictures time after time.

Canon EOS 7D

The Canon EOS 7D seems to be Canon’s long sought answer to serious pro-camera Canon enthusiasts who had wanted a camera replete with features but at a reasonable price point.  As an affordable camera for professionals and serious amateurs, this particular gem from Canon settles comfortably between the Canon EOS 50 D and the 5D Mark II in price.  It also makes for a serious contender to the more expensive Mark II, although the 7D is really a class on its own.

The Canon EOS 7D is designed to tackle almost every shooting challenge and it does so extremely well.  It is particularly in top form when shooting fast action at eight frames per second.  Its features read like a list of answers to a wish list from professional users.  Let us see why this particular DSLR has been so favored:

Superb Image Quality:

Still images are excellent — very sharp, clean, and bright with low noise at high ISO settings. At ISO100 and ISO2000, shooting is a great delight.

The camera’s 18-megapixel APS-C sensor is backed by dual DIGIC 4 chips to speed up processing as the Canon EOS 7D is all about speed shooting.  The advantage of a smaller size cropped sensor compared to the Mark II’s 21-megapixel full frame one is that it can achieve faster frame shots.  Shots of moving objects, sports and wildlife action shots are fantastically handled with the 7D’s 8 frames per second, serving up strong details and color. Landscape and portrait photography are also handled superbly by this camera with other features like its 19-point auto focus system that make this camera a very versatile piece of equipment.  The Highlight Tone Priority retains more detail in the highlight areas.  This is especially useful in wedding photography where it can outstandingly pick up detail on white or light-colored dresses.

The Canon EOS 7D also boasts stunning video capability with 1080p full HD recording at 24 or 25 frames per second, or 720p at 30 frames per second.  Video quality isn’t compromised even at low light conditions.  Although there is a mono mike built in, you may plug an external stereo microphone to add better sound quality to your gorgeous videos.

Nineteen-Point Auto Focus System:

The auto focus system is where the Canon EOS 7D particularly shines.  Where other DSLRs offer only three auto focus options, the 7D packs nineteen fantastic AF choices which can track very rapidly moving objects across the frame.  At 8 frames per second, its auto focus system has no trouble keeping up with the fast action.  The 7D also has the capability of clustering AF points, and moving them around the screen.

You may customize the AF functions by specifying the focus points for different shoots or for specific lenses.  The 7D offers three Custom positions where you may want to include your auto focus options.  This is especially handy when you do three types of photography.  You may have one setting for product shots, another for modeling shoots, etc.

Build and Other Features:

The Canon EOS 7D is solid, built for reasonable rugged use and weatherproofed. Its tough body is packed with a lot of easily accessible dials and buttons to make fast shooting a breeze.  It is a little larger than the EOS 50 D and weighs about 2.08 pounds, without the kit lens.  However, it has a good grip with an indentation where the middle finger may rest comfortably.

Its LCD screen is huge and super sharp.  Canon got rid of the air space between the LCD and the glass cover by placing a special optical material in between.  The result is a screen with images having more contrast and less glare.  This new manufacturing turn also disposes of the blue cast, a phenomenon in outdoor photography which often poses difficulty in color judgment.

The added plus of a 100 percent optical viewfinder with a 1.0x magnification and an optional overlay grid gives an edge to this camera where such a feature is a premium among non-full frame DSLRS. Actually, the 7D is the first in the EOS line to be equipped with a feature like this.

Other generous additions include the option to shoot in RAW or JPEG and RAW+JPEG modes.

For many pro shooters, the Canon EOS 7D is an impressive DSLR camera incorporating almost everything a professional user on a budget could want.  Designed to fit a plethora of photographic needs, this camera should be one of the best all-around choices you can make.