Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lens & Sensor

Zoom Ratio Examples
24.0 mm	60.0 mm	105.0 mm

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II uses a full-frame CMOS sensor with a gross pixel count of approximately 22.0 megapixels and an effective resolution of approximately 21.10 megapixels. An automatic dust removal system, which vibrates the low-pass filter over the sensor, is triggered by default every time the camera is turned on or off (the automatic cleaning can be turned off, and the system can also be triggered manually). The filter is also coated with fluorine, which helps reduce dust adhesion, according to Canon. In addition, for stubborn dust problems, dust delete data can be recorded and used in conjunction with the provided Digital Photo Professional software to remove those stubborn stains.

The 5D Mark II sensor measures approximately 36 × 24mm—in other words, it matches the size of a 35mm film frame. And the resulting compatibility with lenses designed for 35mm cameras is a key advantage of shooting with a full-frame camera. Ordinarily, only the central portion of the light coming through the lens actually hits the image sensor at all in a typical digital camera, with its smaller sensor size. This leads to an apparent magnification of the image—it’s not that it’s actually been magnified, but only the middle portion is being captured and turned into the final photo, creating the magnification effect. As shown in the diagram below, the typical APS-C digital camera sensor effectively multiplies the apparent lens size by a factor of 1.6. If you mounted the 24-105mm kit lens we used for our 5D Mark II testing on a Canon Rebel XSi, for example, it would shoot roughly like a 38-168mm lens. You’re getting more telephoto zoom power, but sacrificing the important wide-angle characteristics that let you shoot panoramic images and shoot close up in tight spaces (like an indoor group portrait).

Viewfinder (8.00)

The pentaprism viewfinder provides 98% coverage at 0.71x magnification. The diopter adjustment is conveniently located at the right side of the viewfinder, small enough to be unobtrusive but clicky enough to allow precise fine-tuning in the 3.0 +1.0m-1 range.

The eyecup can be removed by pushing upward, but it’s a fairly clumsy operation. Why bother? You might buy optional replacement eyecups from Canon, but the more frequent reason is blocking the open viewfinder while shooting with the camera mounted on a tripod—left open, light can stream in from behind and throw off the exposure setting. Both the Nikon D700 and Sony A900 solve this problem elegantly with a built-in shutter that opens or closes with a button push. Given the price of the camera, Canon should do the same.

Interchangeable focus screens are supported. Three compatible Eg-series screens are currently available: Precision Matte (provided with the camera), Precision Matte with grid and Super Precision Matte. They sell for about $45 each.

Display(s) (9.10)

Like the Canon EOS 50D, the 5D boasts a handsome 3-inch LCD with 920,000 resolution, with a 170-degree viewing angle. Screen brightness can be manually adjusted in seven steps, or set to one of three Auto levels, with the camera relying on a sensor to keep the screen at that setting.

Secondary Display

The monochrome LCD screen on the camera’s top right side conveniently displays much of the viewfinder data without the need to squint. The button at the far right illuminates the screen for a few seconds.

Connectivity (5.50)

There are six I/O ports in all, arrayed in two banks of three, each with its own tight-fitting rubber cover. In the left group is (from top to bottom) the PC terminal for flash unit sync cords, the N3-format remote control terminal and a standard microphone input jack. On the right are three industry standard jacks for stereo AV and mini-USB cables (both included) and mini HDMI for high-def TV output (cable not supplied). On the bottom of the camera is a an extension system terminal to be used for connecting the optional Wireless File Transmitter. There is also an infrared receiver port built into the front of the camera for use with Canon’s optional RC-1 and RC-5 remote controls.

All ports and connectors are well protected against the elements with tight-fitting rubber covers.