Canon 5D MarkII

Posted On: Jan 14, 2009
Anyone gotten a hold on this camera yet? I am dying to know what your experience has been if so because this one has me...I want it! 1080p Video | 30 Frames Per Second | 21 Megapixel Still Camera Shots? Sign me up!! Who has one?

Funny you should mention that cam. its getting pretty hyped right now. I cam across this on vimeo a few weeks ago....
Tokyo Reality (Canon 5D MarkII) from utsuru on Vimeo. Very Impressive. I have a feeling if a still can do this, then the next generation of video cameras will me CRAZY!

We have been looking into this one for a while as well.

I've heard very mixed reviews. The quality? The BEST. Amazing. Incredible. (I assume you've seen this: http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2008/11/26/7-days-7-shoots-eos-5d-mkii/) Where it runs into problems is in the practicality... auto focus issues, roller shutter artifacts, it must be used on a tripod, length limitations (12 min of full HD), clumsy to hold and manipulate, etc. Most people who have used it say it's perfect for journalists who need to carry and still camera AND a video camera, as many journalists are doing video now as well. This way they need only one camera. Most say it will NEVER replace a video camera. It's clunky, difficult to hold (for video) and just not practical for most uses that a video camera would normally be used for. I was most interested because I have several of the Canon "L" lenses, and the idea of being able to use those with a video camera was more than intriguing. But the bottom line is it CANNOT replace what I have now for the type of work I do. However, I do think it's a great START and a signal as to what will be happening in the future in regards to high definition video and the possible convergence of video cameras and still cameras. I can't wait to see what's around in 3 or 4 years!

The ability to use 35mm lenses is a huge plus with something like this. 35mm adapters for video cameras are quite expensive. I couldn't use it for what I do in real estate video, but it would be cool for shooting short movies with an "artsy" feel. A Nikon D90 might be my next still camera for these same reasons.

I am like the rest of you. Have Canon L lenses and waiting to see one locally to get that hands on feeling. Then decide how bad at 2600.00 The video on Canons web sight is put together very well promoting the camera. But still seeing is believing.

Anyone jump on the 5DMII yet? I am really close to pulling the trigger. I do shoot about 15 weddings a year so it wouldn't be solely for real estate. It looks like there are some workarounds for the slow auto focus that makes life easier. Any hands on experience?

If weddings is your purpose, the 5d is NOT the cam for you...as of right now, according to the canon website, it is not intended for extended time period recording, but rather short , brief clips....also, the sound is horrible.....

I should have clarified, we shoot photography for about 15 weddings a year. So I know it will be put to good use for photography.

 Yup.  Bit the bullet and am now using this camera.  It's pretty sweet!  Still trying to figure out how best to make it work!

Fred, does the updated firmware give you full manual controls when recording video?

Any samples to post?

This was my first quickie experiment.

It's definitely different, but I'll figure it out.

 

Looks good as always Fred, I am sure on a BD disc the difference is amazing but webwise do you think the difference is worth it?

For me it's worth it for several reasons:

60% of the packages I sell are video and still photos. In the past, it was a lot of wasted time taking a still of the front, switching cameras, taking video of the front, hauling around two camera bags, a tripod, taking a still of the back of the house, switching cameras, etc. blah blah blah.  

On days when I'm shooting 5-7 tours in a day, that sucks up a LOT of time I need back!  It's a long day anyway, but swapping cameras every other shot takes up a great deal of my time. This way - one camera, one bag for everything.  Loving that part!

There are two other big advantages to this camera for me:

It takes all the regular Canon lenses, and I already own about $4000 dollars in high quality lenses can use now with video.  Sweet.  Because of that any normal video camera that compares right now costs as much as a car!  This offers a LOT for the money.  The wide angle lens is FAR better than what I was using.  In fact, that lens costs more than the CAMERA I was using!  So, the quality is infinitely better in that regard for real estate.

This camera has a full frame sensor and unbelievable low light capability, always a problem with interiors.  So that should be a nice feature as well.

Of course, I also still need to learn how to USE this thing, as it's definitely different than a video camera on so many levels.  But it's doable.,  After a couple of hours I got it to work on my Steadicam - that was my biggest concern.  But the thing is wicked heavy - fatigue sets in pretty quickly.  Didn't realize how lightweight my other camera was!  But the weight I think makes it a little smoother, so that's a plus.

Biggest reason:  I needed a new toy.

We'll see.  Still just trying to figure the thing out!  But overall, it works pretty well for what I do.

<embed src="http://www.wellcomemat.com/wm_video_1/DE65A7BEC6" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getFlashPlayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="393"></embed>

Layne,

Your WMAT embed code string didn't work (comment #16) to actually embed the player, so I clicked the src="LINK" within it and it didn't successfully launch a video.  So I checked out your go2virtual WMAT channel for a video that had the DE65A7BEC6 id ... I didn't quite look for it very hard once there on your channel becuase the first video that came up was a video tour that you labeled "canon 5D Mark II" and comments say it's your first shoot with it:  http://www.wellcomemat.com/video/6936244A6E.

So ... I'm thinking the DE65A7BEC6 video might have been transferred to a client or something and the one to which you're referring.  But regardless, thanks for sharing the footage with us.

It'll be interesting to see more footage from the 5D Mark II as more filmmaker start using it for video.

That's all I've been shooting with for the past couple of months... LOVE IT.

Thanks for all the feedback

I was trying to embed this

but forgot the embedding has been disabled on this board  (Christian please fix that)

heres the link I was trying to share

http://www.wellcomemat.com/video/DE65A7BEC6

Love the 5DmkII that I sold all my sony Video cameras to buy canon lenses

Layne,

I saw that "Las Vegas" video on your channel.  Very cool footage / editing / music.  It had the same feel in DOF and low light quality that I've seen in other 5D Mark II videos and in the "Toyko Reality" Vimeo clip embeded above.  So other than the property tour that you label "canon 5D mark II" & "first shoot", without glancing up to the video ID as I watched, I kind of thought that might also have been from the 5D Mark II.

Christian,

I see embedding worked on comment #1 above ... the Tokyo Reality clip on Vimeo.  To my recollection, comment #1 is the only instance of video embedding I've seen.  So embedding must have been disabled beaause of / after that.  In the end, it's not too big a deal, but I agree with Layne ... in that it'd be nice to illustrate / enhance posts & comments with video/clips directly (w/out opening a new browser tab/window).

I was at a church picnic Sunday and one of the photographer / videographer guys was getting shots.  From a distance, I couldn't tell brand / model, but it was big.  Then, as my daughter was at the face-painting table, he got some shots and/or footage of her getting a rainbow put on her cheek.  (The strap said 5D Mark II.)

I resisted the temptation to interrupt his work ... hoping to catch him after he was all done getting his shots/footage and get a peek at it.  But ... I never bumped into him again.  I look forward to possibly seeing his HD shots/footage of my daughter in a video down the road sometime, if that scene makes the cut.

Frad, or anybody else using the 5D,

Can you describe the editing and encoding process as far as strain on your machine, and the time that it takes.  I love what I see from this camera, but am a little concerned about the processing required.

Also, I saw that it will record in 640X480.  Anybody try this out?  I wonder if the footage would be as good (once on the net) with a lot less strain on a system.

 Garrett:  You can't edit the native files produced by the 5D.  It'll choke your computer and make you crazy.

I've been converting it via MPEG Streamclip to the Apple Intermediate Codec, which is easily edited in any editing program. Time wise it's really not bad....  since it doesn't record to tape, you eliminate the transfer process.... just drag the files off the compact flash card.  So timewise it's really about the same, maybe even faster - even considering that I have to transcode it before I can edit it.  Never tried 640 x 480 - seems like that defeats the purpose of having a camera that you spend $4000 on!

Thanks for the info, Fred. 
Yeah, it probably does defeat the purpose...just wonder how good 640X480 can look from a full-frame sensor with a nice Canon lens.
Is there an easy way to see your most recent work?

Not sure what's up here shot with that camera... I have a dozen or so tours that I shot this week...  will probably upload them tomorrow if I get a chance.  Here's one I did the other day   ....  and another one