Point: 76.5
DuyTom evaluation: Very good!
Price:
$1200 second hand (2015)
Year: 2008
Target: Camera enthusiasts have knowledge of photography or professional photographers.
Introduction
At the first launch in 2008, the 5D Mark II had made a big hit with the reputation as the best multi-purpose camera. 5D Mark II (with the price of 50 million) created a dream and an aspiration of countless people who love photography, then soon became a symbol of technology. For several years earlier, it had been known 5D full frame camera as a really good one. Therefore, the time 5D Mark II was born, it’s not so unusual when people had scrambled to buy one.
Until now, after 5 years born, 5D Mark II has down to half price, but it’s still so hot. In second-hand camera market, 5D Mark II has been purchased and resold so much.
Until now, after launching 7 years, 5D Mark II was down to half price, but still very hot. In second-hand market, 5D Mark II is exchanged a lot, more than Canon EOS 6D, Canon 1D Mark III ... What is the reason?
The first thing to say is that the 5D Mark II is very versatile, it can shoot different images of all types, and have extra features of video recording. 5D Mark II creates beautiful colour images, more beautiful than those of smaller models of Canon. And the reality today, if we have the same shooting scene and sophisticated setup, photo quality of 5D Mark II is not inferior to any senior machine and only a little less than 5D Mark III.
Price
8 point - The price is relatively consistent with the quality of the machine.
- $1200 - second hand (2015)
Specification
Sensor
35.8mm x 23.9mm full-frame CMOS.
Image sizes
5,472 x 3,648 native, JPG or RAW (20 MP).
Flash
No
Shutter
1/8000 to 30 seconds
Performance
Architecture/Landscape: 8.5 point
It must be admitted that: you can create the most beautiful pictures in the world with the 5D Mark II, and that's the truth! Throughout seven years of existence, countless photographers have proved that. Therefore, if you have decided to buy 5D Mark II, you will not regret. The reason is in your hands because it is one of the most useful and convenient cameras. Talking about landscape, 5D Mark II is great in almost conditions and colors are honest. The LCD screen displays the color which is also very true to reality.
However, we should note that, although it is great in most conditions, it will be impossible be perfect in this world. There still some that conditions the 5D Mark II isn’t met. With the landscape architect, the 5D Mark II is limited when shooting at night, in conditions of low light and portable. When push the ISO up to 3200, the noise started to show substantial. At maximum ISO 6400, noise becomes very uncomfortable and non-standard colors too. The focus is weak. The image quality is reduced. Canon EOS 6D is better capture in plenty of light conditions
You can overcome by using a tripod to fix the camera, use another external flash.
Small notes: 5D Mark II can only maximum exposure to 30 seconds. If you want more exposure, users will have to switch modes or use Bulk controller (not supplied, it must be bought outside)
Combo for landscape/architecture:
5D Mark II - Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II
5D Mark II - Canon 16-35mm f/4 IS
5D Mark II - Zeiss Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8
5D Mark II - Canon 11-24mm f/2.8
Portrait: 8.5 point
5D Mark II portrait is impeccably beautiful (of course if you know the technique of shooting). This has helped 5D Mark II being used very popular among photo service until now, especially photograph in wedding, festival ... Color of 5D Mark II is the most realistic. DuyTom has proven in challenging conditions, different light situations, and see the colors are true to the actual image. If your demand are portrait or composing portrait, the 5D Mark II is the right choice.
Of course, minus points of 5D Mark II is the ability of shooting in low light when the handset is quite bad. You still need a tripod and a flash to overcome. If you want to throw these stuffs away, DuyTom would like to suggest you to switch to Canon EOS 6D.
Combo for portrait:
Cheap:
5D Mark II - Canon 50mm f/1.8 II
5D Mark II - Canon 85mm f/1.8
5D Mark II - Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS USM
Mid-range
5D Mark II - Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS USM
5D Mark II - Canon 24-70 f/2.8 IS USM
Luxury
5D Mark II - Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM
5D Mark II - Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 IS II USM
5D Mark II - Canon 50mm f/1.2
5D Mark II - Canon 85mm f/1.2
Sport: 6 điểm
If Canon EOS 6D has only 4.5 frames per second, the 5D Mark II is even worse: 3.9 frames per second. For shooting in sport area or high speed in moving environment, you will have to manually setup the multishot mode, AI Servo, shutter speed 1/500 second range, aperture, ISO depending on light conditions ... It will be easier breathing if you take a match during the day. However, if the match takes place at dusk or at night, it would be a terrifying nightmare. You will have to constantly change the ISO, aperture to maintain a fast enough shutter to capture the motion, and bright enough to see photos ... 6D do better when there are plenty of private sport modes, calculate automatically (and quite standard).
The machine parameters are changed by hand that can make you lose many important moments of the match. Auto focus feature (AI Servo) worked fairly efficiently. However, when you are both scanning the camera and taking photographs continuously, you may be out net at some photos.
In summary, in order to capture the pictures of sport activities with the 5D Mark II, you must really be knowledgeable about cameras.
Combo:
Cheap:
5D Mark II - Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS USM
Mid-range
5D Mark II - Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS USM
5D Mark II - Canon 100-400mm f/4 - 5.6
Luxury
5D Mark II - Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM
5D Mark II - Canon 100-400mm f/4 - 5.6
5D Mark II - Canon 200mm f/2
Wild life/Animal: 7.5 points
Shooting animals, especially birds .. is one of the areas most technically intensive shooting. It also requires the most expensive equipment. With the 5D Mark II, to capture birds, wild animals, it is best to have the genuine tele Len with f / 2.8, and a tripod to steady. Although the shutter speed up to 1/8000, but with the ability to handle not so good shots in low light, high ISO noise ... 5D Mark II was heavily constrained if using inexpensive lens
Combo
Mid-range
5D Mark II - Canon 100-400mm f/4 - 5.6
5D Mark II - Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM
Luxury
5D Mark II - Canon EF 100-400mm f/4 - 5.6
5D Mark II - Canon EF 200mm f/2
5D Mark II - Canon EF 500mm F4 L IS II USM
Closeup/Macro: 8.5 points
5D Mark II to capture Camera with Zoom / Macro very good. You absolutely can create impressive work with the 5D Mark II.
Combo for closeup/marcro
Mid-range
5D Mark II - Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Luxury
5D Mark II - Canon 180mm f/2.8 Macro
Ergonomic
8 points
Canon 5D Mark II is bigger than EOS 6D and a bit heavier. Quite fit with the Vietnamese hands. All features are designed reasonably. Feeling of holding the machine is solid which isn’t small like 6D.
Until now, 5D Mark II is 7 years old, even though the service is used more. So that, when buying old machines, you should carefully consider a true good machine 5D Mark II. In addition, you need to calculate the repair cost occurs.
Battery
8 points
5D Mark II can shoot over 1000 photos before running out of power. Equivalent to two continuous shooting. 5D Mark II has better battery performance than 6D
Target
Support for newbie and mid-range photographers: 7 points
5D Mark II is for those who are serious and know fairly about photography. You will need certain knowledge to be able to explore the full value of the machine!
For sports reporters, battlefield/adventurous explorers, 5D Mark II does not fit well with these kind of object: 6 points
Recommendation
When launched, the 5D Mark II was truly a technology icon, indisputable! But now, there are much better choices on both price and quality. If you are serious and you have knowledge of photography, and know how to create beautiful works with the old machines. Especially, you don’t want to sell at a loss like other machines, the 5D Mark II is a worthwhile choice.
If you are a real newbie, you want to buy a 5D Mark II with hope that the photo will look double beautiful, so sorry to disappoint you, 5D Mark II will not do that for you. You may be really sad in thinking why even you bought 5D Mark II, the image is still not pretty. Because like a rare horse, 5D Mark II needs an experience rider so that it can unleash all possibilities
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