Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review

Description

Canon touted the original EOS 5D as a full frame DSLR in a compact sized body and at a lower price point than anything else available. That camera was a pretty fantasic photographic tool. If you could afford it and already had the full frame Canon lenses it was an obvious choice. Nothing else compared.

Three years later the 5D is facing serious competition. The Nikon D700 and the Sony DSLR-A900 are both feature laden full frames and solid picture machines. Canon needed to respond with something and an upgrade of the 5D to the 5D Mark II was their answer.

For most of the potential buyers the choice to buy this camera or one of the other competitors will already be determined by what lens system they own, but a look at the camera for the curious and fence-sitters is still in order.

We’ve had a quick look and here’s what we have to say about this latest from Canon. We hope to soon expand the review when we’ve had more time to fully test a unit.

Key Features

The first big news is the 21 megapixel sensor. Not quite as many pixels as Sony’s but almost twice as big as the 12 megapixel in the Nikon D700. The second big news it the ability to shoot 1080P HD video. Other notable features include:

• Dust reduction vibration
• ISO 50-25,600
• Water resitant body
• Wi-Fi, USB, LAN connections
• Bigger battery
• IR remote shutter release support
• Audio support to go with the video including built-in mic, speaker, i/o sockets for audio
• HDMI and composite video out
• Extremely silent shooting Live View mode
• 3″ VGA resolution LCD monitor
• LCD monitor adjusts to ambient lighting
• 98% coverage viewfinder
• AF microadjust for up to 20 different lenses at once
• Extensive selection of RAW and JPEG options
• Extensive selection of image processing functionality
• Up to 3.9 frames continuous shooting

Key Comparisons

The two major cameras that will be stacked up against the new Canon 5D Mark II are the Sony A900 and the Nikon D700. The Nikon falls a bit short just because it has half as many pixels in it’s image sensor. But that’s not to say the Nikon is a lesser camera. In fact all three of these cameras are so feature laden and produce such excellent photos that you can’t go wrong which ever one you pick.

There isn’t going to be a choice for anyone who already has a lens collection in one of the brands. For someone just getting started it will really come down to the feel and any special feature you might want. Also keep in mind that you need the very best glass to match a 20 megapixel senser.

Look at what lenses are available for each camera and read the lens revues closely. Many of the Canon full frame lenses are based on older film camera designs and not all of them are up to the task. Lately Canon has been concentrating their lens design efforts mostly on smaller format cameras.

Also be aware that these are all hefty units so keep in mind your intended useage. With the addition of a few lenses and accessories you are hauling a lot of pounds. In all fairness the Canon body is a bit lighter than either the Nikon or Sony equivalents.

Usability

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is generally a pleasure to use despite the weight. The balance is good and the major controls are where you expect them to be. Even photographers with smaller hands will not feel handicapped.

Canon has been making cameras a long time for picky professionals so they have a good idea of how a camera should be designed. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is no exception.

Pros

• Flawless images
• Perfect color
• Wide dynamic range
• Extreme setting adjustments
• Nice handling
• Decent images at ISO 6,400
• Reasonable price for what you get

Cons

• Weight and complexity. Serious photographers only need apply
• Need for top quality full frame lenses
• ISO 25,600 are very noisy, 12,800 is marginally better
• Price, especially when you consider the cost of the lenses you will need

Conclusion

Superb picture quality and performance and just about every feature under the sun make this an ultimate camera for the well healed serious amateur or 2nd camera body for the full-time professional.

We are still not convinced video is a good idea in a digital SLR, but as a still camera the Canon EOS 5D Mark II takes a back seat to no one.

B & H Photo, The Pros’ Choice

Nikon D90 Review

Description

The Nikon D90 is a semi-professional quality APS-C size Digital SLR. It is clearly derived from the Nikon D80 which continues to be one of the most admired and popular DSLRs. The D90 is not however just an incremental upgrade. Nikon kept what was good about the D80 then added many of the best features of the higher end pro Nikons.

The most newsworthy feature is the ability to shoot HD video (720P) which we found to be a bit limited in usefulness. The most important upgrades are the 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor with excellent image quality up to 6400 ISO, 3 inch monitor, Live View, sensor cleaning, 4.5 frames per second shooting and a host of other small improvements.

Key Features

• 12.3 effective megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
• 3.0-inch 920,000 pixel TFT-LCD (same as D300)
• Image sensor cleaning
• Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection
• Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
• Illuminated focus points in viewfinder
• 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting depending on format
• IS0 100-6400 total range
• 3D tracking AF (11 point)
• Expeed image processing engine
• Extensive in-camera retouching such as raw development and straightening
• Fast startup time, short viewfinder blackout and imperceptible shutter lag
• Improvements to user interface
• Same battery and optional grip as D80

Key Comparisons

The Nikon D90 probably compares most closely with the also excellent Canon 50D and the top models of several other manufacturers. The Nikon is a bit smaller and lighter than the Canon. The only reason to pick the Canon, or any other manufacturer, over the Nikon would be if you already have lenses and accessories.

Usability

The Nikon D90, like all of the Nikon DSLRs, fit very naturally in the hand of most users. Controls are well placed and quick to learn. Not only is the viewfinder one of the best but the LCD monitor is beautiful with far more pixels than the competition. The top control panel gives you all the information you need once you learn what everything means. Press the ‘ON’ button a little farther and the control panel lights up for easy night use.

The Nikon D90 feels like it was designed primarily with the user in mind, rather than just trying to look better on paper.

Pros

• HD video, but limited usefulness.
• Menu help.
• Excellent battery life.
• Fast continuous shooting.
• Status LCD panel on top of camera when most competitors are dropping them.
• Excellent control over high ISO noise.
• Instant power on.
• No delay exposures.
• Auto focus lamp rather than using flash.
• Fast autofocus.
• Excellent dynamic range.
• Auto chromatic aberration correction.
• Superb LCD monitor and excellent viewfinder.
• Top image quality.

Cons

• Otherwise excellent viewfinder only shows 96% of image area
• Exposure can sometimes blow-out whites.
• JPGs are softer looking than other similar cameras.
• Video capability is limited and not very useful.
• Complex menus.

Conclusion

The D90 feels like it was designed with photographers in mind. Everything seems to be in the right place, the right features are there and it just feels right in your hands. The viewfinder is as bright and clear as any APS-C camera. The image quality is right up there with the best at all ISO settings although many of the intended users may want to boost the sharpness and contrast settings to get the crisp looking JPGs they are probably used to from other cameras. Nikon has chosen to produce less processed JPGs by default to match the output of higher-end DSLRs. We also observed that the exposure metering seems to be excessively connected to the focus points which sometimes resulted in blow-out whites. You may want to apply some menu adjustments to suit your tastes. This camera has so many features and options that the menus can get confusing. The big talk about the D90 when it was announced was the video capability but that has proven to be a bit of a letdown. Yes, it can produce beautiful HD (720P) video but a similarly priced camcorder will be more versatile and produce even better looking video in most situations. The D80 was one of the most respected and popular semi-pro DSLRs and Nikon didn’t mess with success. The D90 builds on all the strengths of the D80. We can’t think of a better enthusiast-level camera for the money.

B & H Photo, The Pros’ Choice