The Canon EOS 5D Mark II, is a camera meant for both the professional and the newbie who wants to experience with various digital photography cameras. The camera highlights a 21 megapixels shooting mode, 1080p video, 3.0″ VGA LCD, Live view, and a high capacity battery life. This version of Canon is meant to beat its competitors with the addition of Full HD movie recording.

New CMOS Sensor

Canon’s CMOS technology is one of the top factors that give it a leading edge over its competitors. It has noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site which means you get noise free, lively pictures that professional photographers look out for. The presence of Canon’s CMOS sensors helps in preserving battery life. The sensors help in reducing noise, saves power along with increasing frame rate.

LP-ES Battery Pack

The Mark II uses a new battery pack, the LP-E6 that was tested to last longer than other conventional batteries. It’s CIPA is rated at 750 and 850 shots at 20°C. The battery pack also supports Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable batteries and CR1616 for date or battery indication settings.

Movie Recording

The 5D Mark II acts not only as a digital camera but also has a full fledged movie recording device. The EOS 5D Mark II is Canon’s first D-SLR to provide HD 1920×1080 video capture. The filming mode is initiated from Live View mode, and photographers can give off single continuous stills as well as video capturing. Here are some of its features:

• Live view mode option.
• 1920 x 1080 (16:9) up to 12 minutes (Quicktime 1080p H.264; 38.6 Mbits/sec)
• 640 x 480 (4:3) up to 24 minutes (Quicktime 480p H.264; 17.3 Mbits/sec)
• Max file size 4 GB
• Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video, PCM sound)
• 30 fps

Picture Quality

The advanced feature of a DIGIC 4 processor along with the flexibility of a 14 bit analogue to digital conversion ensures that the picture produced is smooth as well as attaining a perfect gradient as with true life images. The HD movie shooting is further enhanced with the DIGIC 4’s as there are options of instantaneous screening and speedy review after the video shoot.

LCD View

A new 3.0” VGA resolution LCD gives photographers a flexible 170º angle-of-view, giving them a perfect stage for capturing clear, autofocus pictures without any viewing constraints. This feature is especially important if it is action photography that the photographer needs. You can also adjust the screen brightness according to the environment or set it on automatic adjustment. The Live View button acts as a switch to display modes for shooting a real time LCD image. This gives photographers the ability to simplify odd shooting angles. Simple connection to a PC provides easy remote shooting.

Precision Focus and Metering

There are 6 extra unseen Assist AF points that supports a 9 point auto focus system. This is found within the spot-metering circle and is meant to enhance the performance of subject tracking in AI SERVO AF mode. The spot metering circle encompasses merely 3.5% of the frame which allows you to click quality pictures in difficult lightning conditions.