Canon EOS 5D Mark II

	Video Features Summary
Comprehensive video testing and analysis by Jeremy Stamas and the staff of
• Camera records 1920 x 1080 HD video or 640 x 480 standard definition video. • All video is captured using a 30p frame rate. • New firmware update allows for good range of manual control—including ISO, aperture, and shutter speed adjustment. • Camera is heavier than the other video-capable DSLRs (it is over twice the weight of the Panasonic GH1). • The stationary LCD, which must be used for framing video, can be difficult to use since it doesn't rotate.
	Video: Low Light Performance	Page 15 of 21	Canon 50D Comparison

Video: Compression (7.50)

The Canon 5D Mark II uses the H.264 codec to compress video, which is the same system used on the Canon T1i. Files are saved in the MOV format so they're compatible with most editing programs and media players. The H.264 compression used by the camera is similar to AVCHD, although it is not exactly the same and the camera doesn't carry the AVCHD branding that is featured on Canon's HD camcorders. The camcorder uses a 30p frame rate to capture video in both its 1920 x 1080 HD mode and its 640 x 480 standard definition setting. Video will stop recording if a single file size reaches 4GB or if the movie time goes over 29 minutes and 59 seconds.

Video: Manual Controls (6.00)

When the Canon 5D Mark II was first released, the camera offered no manual controls when shooting video. Canon has since released a firmware upgrade to fix this problem. With the new firmware (which was installed on the model we tested), the 5D Mark II offers a decent range of manual controls and using them was quite simple and pleasant.

Auto Mode
As far as auto controls go, the 5D Mark II suffers from not having a live autofocus feature. This is a problem with all video-capable DSLRs, with the notable exception of the Panasonic GH1. The GH1 gets around this issue, however, because it isn't really a true DSLR (it uses the Micro Four Thirds lens system) and it offers an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical one.

So, the 5D Mark II cannot keep a consistent autofocus while shooting video like a camcorder can. You must press the autofocus button to change focus, or you can do so manually by rotating the focus ring on the lens. Its probably not a good idea to press the autofocus button while you're shooting video anyway—the autofocus motor is very noisy (the sound will definitely be picked up by the built-in mic) and the exposure levels are altered for a moment while the camera attempts to focus (something you'll probably want to edit out later).

Auto exposure was okay on the camera, but the light levels shifted in a step-like manner as we moved from bright to dark scenes. Again, as with the autofocus motor, this exposure adjustment was quite noisy.

Zoom Controls and Zoom Ratio
Zoom is controlled via the zoom ring on the camera's lens. The amount of optical zoom available depends on what lens is attached to the camera.

Focus
Focus can be set manually using the focus ring on the camera's lens. There's also a 5x and 10x digital zoom option that act as a focus assist. Pressing the digital zoom button blows up the image to help you focus. This digital enhancement cannot be used while shooting video (only before you've started recording).

Exposure, Aperture, and Shutter Speed
Exposure, aperture, and shutter speed can all be controlled manually on the 5D Mark II (thanks to the firmware upgrade). Exposure can be adjusted in any mode (except the auto modes) and it is done by rotating the large dial on the back of the camera. Exposure control ranges from -2 to +2 and can be set in 1/3 or 1/2 EV increments (the increments can be changed in the camera's menu). The AF/AE lock feature also works with video and you can use it to lock a certain exposure or focus for the duration of a shot.

Aperture and shutter speed can only be set for video when the camera is in Manual mode (M on the mode dial). Shutter-priority and Aperture-priority modes do not work for shooting video. In Manual mode you can, however, adjust both aperture and shutter speed before or while you are recording video. This means you can actually change aperture during a shot if you want to alter depth of field or adjust exposure levels. Changing both shutter speed and aperture is somewhat noisy—the dials make noise, as do the camera's internal components—so it may be irritating to do so while recording (if the recorded audio is important to you, that is).

ISO/Gain and Other Controls
ISO can be set manually on the 5D Mark II and the camera offers a generous range of ISO settings for video recording. ISO can be set from 100 - 6400 (expandable to 12800 in the menu) in video mode. Like aperture, exposure, and shutter speed, ISO settings can even be altered while you are recording. ISO can also be set to automatic even when you're in Manual mode on the camera. This allows you to make adjustments to shutter speed and aperture, while keeping ISO in automated control.

There are also the color modes, which we talked about earlier in the Video: Color section of our review. In addition to the preset color options on the camera, you can make custom settings by manually setting sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color tone.

The 5D Mark II has a switch in its menu to go between NTSC and PAL output. While this won't change the way the camera captures video, it is a handy feature to have if you're traveling overseas and you want to connect the camera to a PAL television.

Audio Features (2.25)

DSLRs definitely aren't known for their audio capabilities, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the 5D Mark II is limited in that category. The camera does have one audio feature that sets it apart from the crowd, however—a 3.5mm external mic jack. Connecting a mic via the jack allows you to record stereo audio, as well as place an external microphone farther away from the 5D Mark II's noisy components.

The tiny built-in microphone

The camera's built-in mic is awful. It's on the front side of the body, right in the way of where you might place your fingers when you hold the camera. It picks up noise when you focus, zoom, or change any of the camera's settings. It also only records monaural audio using the Linear PCM codec. It's basically the same setup featured on the Canon T1i. Other than the Panasonic GH1—which features a built-in, top-mounted, stereo mic—most DSLRs only have the bare bones of built-in audio features. This is an area where camcorders clearly have an edge over the video-capable DSLRs.

Video: Handling (4.50)

All video-DSLRs come with a standard caveat: they don't handle anything like an ordinary camcorder. They are primarily built as cameras after all, which means that video handling isn't their prime objective. If you are accustomed to using DSLRs to take photographs, using the 5D Mark II to capture video will be fairly intuitive, however. Its buttons and dials are well placed, the camera has a nice, strong grip, and it feels quite steady in your hand. The question is, can you hold the bulky camera long enough and steady enough to shoot desirable video? If you're planning on doing any extensive videography with the 5D Mark II, we recommend bringing along a tripod.

When in video mode you can adjust the LCD screen so it will display a transparent mask in the corresponding aspect ratio you're shooting video (16:9 for 1920 x 1080, 4:3 for 640 x 480). This mask allows you to frame your shot correctly without having to guess where the video image will be cut off. One unfortunate "side-effect" of this mask is that if you shoot a still image while recording (or while the mask is turned on) the photo will capture the entire frame—including the transparent mask. This is really a minor problem, but it seems like it is something Canon could improve on in future models.

According to Canon you can shoot movies for about 90 minutes with a fully charged battery pack (depending on the temperature). Video files are limited to 4GB in size and 29 minutes, 59 seconds in length—at which point video will automatically stop recording. A new clip can be started after the limit is reached.

The camera has a nice grip, but it is quite heavy compared to a regular camcorder.

The 5D Mark II is quite heavy. It isn't the heaviest of DSLRs—in fact, its rather average for a camera of its class—but, compared to the other video-capable DSLRs on the market, it's quite a hefty product. The camera weighs 810g (28.6 ounces) without the lens. This is significantly heavier than the bodies of the Nikon D5000 (560g/19.8 oz.), the Canon T1i (480g/16.9 oz.), and the Panasonic GH1 (385g/13.6 oz.). The Panasonic GH1 feels like a lightweight pocket-cam compared to the hefty 5D Mark II. This, combined with the GH1's more compact body, definitely makes it more versatile for capturing video.

The stationary LCD on the 5D Mark II also makes shooting video more difficult. While the Nikon D5000 and Panasonic GH1 both feature splendid rotatable screens, the two Canon DSLRs have non-moveable ones plastered on the back of their bodies. This means you often must crouch, squat, kneel or contort your body in a variety of ways in order to frame your desired shot. The stationary LCD may be perfectly fine for reviewing still photos, but it's simply awful for capturing video. This issue is coupled with the fact that the camera's optical viewfinder cannot be used in video mode (using the LCD with live view mode is the only option). This is the case with all video-capable DSLRs, except for the Panasonic GH1 as it uses an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical one.

The stationary LCD can be a problem when shooting video.