The good aspects - The Canon 5D Mk2 is a very good choice if you want to buy a DSLR camera that is full-frame. I used to have a Canon 1DS Mk2, but this new model is more sensitive to light by at least one F-stop. It also has an accurate and fast auto focus system during single shot mode. Also the auto-exposure system is more is more accurate than the one on my former camera.
The LCD screen is pretty impressive. It has a 3 inch LCD screen with 900,000 pixels. Menus are easy to handle and understand and "Live View" will surely impress you if this is the first time you own a DSLR with this feature. But keep in mind that it is a battery drainer and once the imager circuitry from the CMOS heats up the live-view will be automatically turned off not to add noise to the images.
The battery grip of the BG-E6, which is optional, is also a very good accessory to take into consideration, as it's a lot easier to hold the camera taller using it.
The bad aspects - When in camera mode you don't have any control over shutter speed, ISO setting or iris. It has a lock button which you press when you think you've got the best image that the camera automatically adjusts in the settings area. The thing is that after each photo, the lock resets, so you risk in getting non consistent exposures when trying to repeatedly take a scene. You can only adjust the temperature setting.
The camera can only record at 30.00 frames per second instead of 29.97. It looks like a small difference, but due to this you'll need to modify every single file's header with Apple Cinema Tools or some other similar program before editing the movie you made and turning it into a regular broadcast, at 30FPS and 1080i/1080P. If you don't do this you'll have to render every single scene on the 30 fps time line, resulting in some skipped frames or just set up a 30.00 fps time line.
But this is only a problem if you're shooting for film or television, as no such broadcast operates at 30.00 fps. If you're using this camera only for web released videos, the 30.00 fps won't be a problem to you.
Another thing is the camera records audio using a sample rate of just 44.1kz when the standard is 48kz. Only Apple's Final Cut Pro can work with this file at any sample rate. As I've said before, this won't be a problem if your videos are for uploading on the Internet.
Also you may notice the H.264 block artifacts in some low light or low contrast scenes. I could say that these artifacts are more obvious than the Canon's HF10, 1080 video camera encoding.
The video is noise-free except for red. You'll especially notice this when shooting in shadow areas.
Getting the perfect SLR camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the DSLR camera with all the features important to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Campbell
April 4, 2009
5D Mk2 - The Cannon SLR Digital Camera For Me
There are loads of reasons why the 5D Mk2 is the ideal choice if you're planning on getting a Cannon SLR Digital Camera. The auto focus system is accurate and very fast when used on single-shot mode, the auto-exposure system is also very accurate and sets just the right camera settings. But before we gush on and on about how great a camera the Canon 5D Mk2 is, let's first break down the camera's basic features.
The 21-megapixel 5D Mk2 has a 3-inch LCD screen that is capable of displaying over 900,000 pixels of different colors. The LCD on this baby is probably on of the best ones you'll ever find on a digital SLR camera. The Live View feature is also extremely helpful for critical focusing, however, you can only use it for a certain period of time because it drains the camera's battery. Using the Live View for too long will also cause the CMOS circuitry to heat up, which in turn adds noise to the shots you take.
The Canon 5d Mk2 comes with an optional BG-E6 battery grip which makes it easier to hold the camera. The battery grip can simultaneously accommodate six AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries and two Canon lithium batteries. The 5d Mk2 is also capable of shooting video clips and short movies. However, user reviews say that the video mode doesn't have customizable settings for ISO, iris, or shutter speed. The only setting you can tweak in video mode is the color temperature. Some users also complain that the LCD doesn't display on-screen indicators to show the current camera settings.
There is, however, an exposure lock button which will fix the camera's settings to whatever condition is displayed on the LCD at the exact time you press the lock button. So what you basically do is you pan the 5d Mk2 around the view and location, and when you find a good setting for brightness, color, and exposure, you press the exposure lock button. The downside is that the exposure lock is reset after every shot or scene, giving you inconsistent exposures if you have multiple takes.
The Canon 5d Mk2 shoots at 30 frames per second, and not 29.97. The 0.03 difference in fps means you have to use a program (like Apple Cinema Tools) to change the header of each file before you can edit your footage to the normal 29.97 fps, 1080i or 1080p timeline. But if you're only shooting videos for high-quality release on the web, the 30 fps shouldn't be a problem. All in all, the 5d Mk2 is a good choice for a Cannon SLR digital camera. But if you will use it mainly to shoot videos, you might want to rethink getting a model that operates on 29.97 fps instead.
Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Campbell
The 21-megapixel 5D Mk2 has a 3-inch LCD screen that is capable of displaying over 900,000 pixels of different colors. The LCD on this baby is probably on of the best ones you'll ever find on a digital SLR camera. The Live View feature is also extremely helpful for critical focusing, however, you can only use it for a certain period of time because it drains the camera's battery. Using the Live View for too long will also cause the CMOS circuitry to heat up, which in turn adds noise to the shots you take.
The Canon 5d Mk2 comes with an optional BG-E6 battery grip which makes it easier to hold the camera. The battery grip can simultaneously accommodate six AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries and two Canon lithium batteries. The 5d Mk2 is also capable of shooting video clips and short movies. However, user reviews say that the video mode doesn't have customizable settings for ISO, iris, or shutter speed. The only setting you can tweak in video mode is the color temperature. Some users also complain that the LCD doesn't display on-screen indicators to show the current camera settings.
There is, however, an exposure lock button which will fix the camera's settings to whatever condition is displayed on the LCD at the exact time you press the lock button. So what you basically do is you pan the 5d Mk2 around the view and location, and when you find a good setting for brightness, color, and exposure, you press the exposure lock button. The downside is that the exposure lock is reset after every shot or scene, giving you inconsistent exposures if you have multiple takes.
The Canon 5d Mk2 shoots at 30 frames per second, and not 29.97. The 0.03 difference in fps means you have to use a program (like Apple Cinema Tools) to change the header of each file before you can edit your footage to the normal 29.97 fps, 1080i or 1080p timeline. But if you're only shooting videos for high-quality release on the web, the 30 fps shouldn't be a problem. All in all, the 5d Mk2 is a good choice for a Cannon SLR digital camera. But if you will use it mainly to shoot videos, you might want to rethink getting a model that operates on 29.97 fps instead.
Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Campbell
April 2, 2009
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