The front 5D MK II fitted with the Sigma 100-300mm f / 4 EX DG

At the request of Thierry I will give my impressions of the famous 5D Mark II as opposed to unpacking a pure and simple. I want to thank Claire and Michael Omar for transporting the beast, until the US Guyana, so I take the opportunity while on vacation in this department.

The front 5D MK II, with its huge mirror.

The case only, ie without the grip is slightly more cumbersome than my ex-50D. The size difference is not obvious. By cons, in weight is another matter! With just over a kilo for the case with his grip, it's heavy when the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS mounted! But it is a matter of habit.

The Grip BG-E6 with its AF-ON button integrated development in Live View.

Then the viewfinder ... Great, but after tasting the huge viewfinder of D700 Thierry, I appreciated the few millimeters of difference ... Anyway! It makes me change still the 50D. Another thing, in my objos amount on this case and testing development, I immediately preview the speed of autofocus (AF). Mr 5D MK II is much more demanding than its little brothers! The difference is clear! The AF motor of my goals are strained by the "nervousness" required by the 5D Mark II.

At the loss of the coefficient of 1.6 x used to it quickly. In addition, the 50mm is more pleasant to use, unlike the Sigma 100-300mm, which even at 300mm, the rest of his hunger (yes APS-C was good) ... But the picture is a passion of compromise so ...

In terms of food, the new battery LP-E6 5D allows to have more accurate statistics on its charging performance, the number of pictures taken, and the remaining percentage please. Regarding the latter, having shot about 400 photos, 10min of video filmed in full HD with the live view switched on (mandatory), there were only 60% of battery life. It seems to me quite light, but given the performance of the beast, it can still be understood. It would appear that the perfs of this battery has been improved by 30% compared to the BP-511A. Fortunately. See detailed self Canon United States

One can also applaud the management of multiple batteries which is huge! For before we swam in the dark full, if operated with two batteries inserted into the grip. I have also sought to acquire a second battery, not because global shortage! We will see in Australia.

Improved battery - Canon Document United States

Regarding ergonomics, nothing too different from the 50D. There are always excellent torque and Central wheel multi controller joystick. The trigger is softer and is no longer felt the support "halfway" when doing development. The buttons at the bottom were all placed on the left is better, faster access and logical.

The back of the 5D MK II

Let's talk about the shutter sound when triggered. It is bizarre. Having tested the following devices: 350D, 400D, 40D, 50D, 1D Mark II, I can say that is quite special. it is hard, frank and "heavy" in the sense that one feels a slight vibration when the mirror is repositioned. It must be said that all this is huge ... It also must be getting used to.
I suggest you listen to a portion. (The actual sound is a bit more serious).

Listening to the sound

The menu does not change, with some additional customization options or the video. Already accustomed to the magnificent display 50D, the 5D Mark II is the same. On a higher quality than that of the 450D, it creates against by a real gap in relation to 40D/400D, let alone that of the 350D. With this definition, we can truly begin to select their photos (the fuzzy net) on his case.

The beautiful screen of 3 "with a resolution of 920,000 pixels. Chouette not my frog?

The video function is bluffing! It's still special for me to see the video on an SLR. This is good despite what some people, and it will serve me a lot! The picture quality is superb and made quite fun, especially with optical image as suitable for the fisheye, macro or telephoto. Filming with the fisheye is pretty crazy elsewhere. I will post soon a small mount of my films. However, to my amazement it is necessary to use live view to shoot. Do the same with the viewfinder would have been as enjoyable. For autofocus during video we forget. Better to do it manually. (Something difficult macro!). Level settings are chosen by the desired configuration, depending on how (eg f/1.4 in AV mode) and the balance is adjusted automatically. During the day you have to use an ND filter if you want a very small depth of field. Normal if you want to keep a proper exhibition. You can see the video by Vincent Laforet about it.

The function video (playback) with sound.

Film made with 5D Mark II and Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, sorry for the haphazard development is my first film, and the macro is pretty hardcore and more!

Also new is the correction of the illumination device, ie the "vignetting." The case contains a database of twenty goals CANON (only) that can be updated via firmware. No it is not just marketing, for example to support the 17-40mm L f / 4:

Function result vignetting correction.

The Anti-vignetting and the Canon 17-40mm L f / 4

The connectors, welcome a new Mini HDMI socket for watching movies or pictures on the screen HD ready (720p) or Full HD (1080p). To have tested this function with an HDMI cable + HDMI Adapter Mini, it does not work. May be need to buy the cable Mini HDMI-> HDMI Canon HTC-100 , if anyone here has the answer ...

The side connection ports

Oh I forgot the key. Noise management. As the subject is widely discussed on the net, I'll let you find examples of images. but what I can say is that it remains clean (I think) up to 3200 iso. ISO 6400 is still usable with noise reduction placed on "important". In just shade it I even reach 1000 iso with a noise equivalent to 400ISO on my 50D. Nothing to say, it rocks . But how I used to ...

A final word on the smaller depth of field on the Full Frame. True, it "blurs" a little (1 to 2 f-stop values ​​in my opinion). But the real advantage is the potential of my optical finally revealed with Full Frame! The 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm f/2.8 IS is processed! It "bites" very hard, and chromatic aberration (color fringing on the contours) are much less present, but happiness ...

Many tests are pending on the use of certain goals on a full frame and APS-C. Program: The TOKINA 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX, the SIGMA 100-300mm f / 4 EX DG (with and without 1.4x multiplier), and Canon 50mm f/1.4, 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L. If you have other suggestions ...

@ Your comments, thank you.

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