5D Mark II review requests

I'm going to be reviewing the 5D Mark II on my blog over the next few weeks. Please let me know if you have any questions that you'd like answered.

I'd be more than happy to address any questions about features and handling for stills or video.

But please don't ask me to compare it to camera X at ISO Y ...I'll be making some basic comments on image quality, but I'm pretty certain that it will be at least as good as the already excellent 1Ds Mark III.

Thanks for the info Andrew.

Nice blog too. Can't wait to play with the video.

Where did you buy yours? Mine still shows it's on backorder.

Steve, I was lucky and I managed to order one of the kits from B&H when they were briefly available on Monday afternoon. Hope your backorder comes through soon.

I like your blog, and the reviews are making my itch to buy one worse. Unfortunately I have to wait until after the New Year.

Hali, glad you're enjoying the blog. If you're looking to buy the camera in January or February, you may want to get on a waiting list now, especially if you want a body only. It sounds like they will be hard to find for quite some time.

Please see if you can reproduce the "Black Spot" problem that so many 5D2 owners are now reporting.

I haven't seen problems in daytime highlights yet. It seems like all the examples are of city lights at night. I'm out in the country here, but I can try some Christmas lights as a test. It's raining here tonight...maybe I can give it a shot tomorrow when things clear up.

Bad news I've confirmed that my camera also exhibits the black dots:
http://www.andrewyip.com/blog/2008/12/09/black-dots-in-5d-mark-ii-images

Is it necessary for the raw image conversion to have CS4 w/ the 5dm2?

I've read that you can't open them directly with CS3. I normally use Lightroom, but I'm waiting for the 2.2 update to add support. I used Adobe's free DNG converter to convert the 5D2 raws into DNG, then I was able to open them in Lightroom 2.1. I also did a quick test, and the converted DNGs seem to open in CS2.

Ha. I've got another Q? What size CF card are you using? and how many raw files does the empty card say it can hold? I have a 4gb and an 8 gb card.

As for the video can you adjust the exposure manually to darken of lighten silhouettes.

For an 8gb card, it's saying 294 images. I think with my 1Ds3 I would usually get more like 270 or so images...varies with ISO, etc. Haven't had an all day shoot where I filled a 5D2 card yet.

The video uses auto exposure, but there's exposure lock and exposure compensation, so you should have some control over silhouettes. I have some blog posts talking about how to trick the auto exposure system:
http://www.andrewyip.com/blog/2008/12/03/how-to-control-the-5d-mark-iis-shutter-speed-sometimes
http://www.andrewyip.com/blog/2008/12/04/how-to-control-the-5d-mark-iis-aperture
http://www.andrewyip.com/blog/2008/12/06/using-a-variable-nd-filter-with-the-5d-mark-iis-video-mode

Andew, OK one last question(maybe) before mine finally arrives. They say the video see just like are naked, so how is the dynamic range for the video?

Thanks for the above I'll check out the blog now.

Video is beautiful and complicated. It does have worse chroma noise that stills. Keeping ISO at 1600 or below is needed for best quality. Dynamic range seems to be somewhat less than still photos.
Its not worth the time worrying about "black dots". This artifact is added by some firmware process, so it can be fixed.

I would agree with the complicated part. The DR is less than stills than we are highly likely to run into the sky burning out completely on many occasions.

I haven't done a formal test, but my initial impression is also that the DR is slightly less. Guess it will be necessary to use split NDs for video in some cases. I know they use them on the BBC's Top Gear program.

Steve, I think you're really going to enjoy the video function. You already do all the work to be in the right place and the right time. The camera has been made automatic with video so Canon can sell us what we really want for more money. as far as needing filters, it's not just graduated NDs but regular ones as well. It's necessary to keep the shutter speed down during "sunny 16" type days. This function is built into camcorders but not higher end film cameras and not the 5DII.

I use the lee system, more video oriented people are using matte boxes. Sign Ray makes that vari-ND filter which is probably the easiest.

If you want to do the math, the lowest ISO with video is 100, and the ideal shutter speed is (probably) 1/60. I have 8-10 stops of plain ND.

Oh, most of the video from the 5DII online is damaged in editing and down converting. People are still figuring out the best way to handle these files. With good glass and at 1600 ISO the files look close to Discovery HD channel.

Anybody know where I can get a battery(LP-E6)? Having only one is like battery suicide. I used 4 old batteries last Saturday. Checked a few of the online stores and adorama is the only one that I found taking orders. I've delt with 3rd party manufacturers and even with higher mah #'s I have still found Canon and Nikon batteries to last longer.

Thanks, Don. Just got the body today. One funny thing is I sold my slim vari nd to Andrew. It'l take me a while to learn all the video stuff but glad to know I've got it handy now.

Steve, glad your camera finally showed up!

I managed to get a spare battery from Adorama, but I ordered right when they started taking preorders. I'd imagine they have a lot of backorders by now.

The funny thing is, when I bought the Vari ND from you I was just thinking about stills. Then once I got the 5D2, I realized I could use it for video too.

Just finished my post about high ISO:
Canon 5D Mark II high ISO test