Comments on: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review

By: Mi.C

Mi.C — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

I am a current 5DM2 User,
Not much to complain but the Autofocus System SUCKS in Low light Situation. Such so bad that it pisses me off.

I hope what ever comes after 5D MK2 better have better Autofocus system and if possible 100% View finder and color of DIGIC 2 which was the one used for 5D.

Other than that i’m pretty satisfied.

By: Canon EOS 7D Review | namleefotos

Canon EOS 7D Review | namleefotos — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:36:49 +0000

[...] Canon EOS cameras like the 50D and 5D Mark II. I will not go into them in details. You can read my 5D Mark II review if you want to know more about these [...]

By: Sara N

Sara N — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:45:13 +0000

Thanks for the details Roland and many thanks for your reviews as well.

By: Pompo

Pompo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:01:17 +0000

Thanks for your prompt reply Roland I’ll try Capture One and see.
Have a gr8 weekend!

By: Roland Lim

Roland Lim — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:57:30 +0000

Hi Pomp,

Yes, I convert all my shots to 16bit TIFF for processing on Photoshop, and only convert to 8 bit jpeg for output on the web as a final step.

I have always found the RAW conversion quality of DPP better than Adobe Raw Converter, but as you have already suggested DPP’s adjustment is rather limited. My preferred RAW converter nowadays is actually Capture One Pro. I personally think that Capture One Pro RAW conversion quality is actually at least as good as DPP if not better, and has superior workflow and image adjustment features.

By: Pompo

Pompo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:38:59 +0000

I have to say that even your IS0 1600 looks great!! 3200 is usable too, I Must start using DPP but then I ‘m so used to post process the images in CS raw converter, DPP doesn’t seem to have the adjustmens like clarity, vibrance, fill etc. Do youconvert to 16 bit tiffs?

By: Roland Lim

Roland Lim — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:34:02 +0000

Hi Sara,

I have already talked more than once about RAW processor for the test, and I won’t go into that again. Anyway, I’ll just answer your last query.

My 5D Mark II was mounted on a Gitzo tripod, set on Aperture priority (Av) mode, ISO 100, Standard Picture Mode, aperture f8, mirror lockup activated and shot with self timer. The lighting was just day time ambient light coming form windows. No post-processing was done other than conversion from RAW to TIFF and TIFF to JPEG.

By: Sara N

Sara N — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:49:26 +0000

Roland,

I am guessing the 100% view from a D3 and a 5D Mark II will be more comparable if they are not up-sized or down-sized. (Of course we have to forget the big difference in MP size between the two for a second). Also in my experience Canon’s DPP and Nikon’s NX2 handle their respective RAW images much better than the Adobe tools. Using NX2 for the D3 file would have made a significant difference.

Mainly, can you please give the details (like camera settings, lighting, post processing etc) of how you shot the 5D Mark II at ISO 100 image? The picture quality is just phenomenal at 100%. I have the same camera but I don’t seem to be able to get the same kind of picture out of mine.

By: Roland Lim

Roland Lim — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:23:44 +0000

Hi Kaiser,

Ideally, I would have liked to use the same RAW processor for both cameras. However, when I did the 5D Mark II review last year, none of the 3rd party RAW converter I was using supported the 5D Mark II yet. And since I borrowed the Nikon D3 from a friend, I don’t have the Nikon RAW conversion software as well. If I were to do the review again today, I would use Capture One Pro to do the RAW to do RAW conversion for both cameras.

By: Kaiser

Kaiser — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:32:33 +0000

Just stumbled upon this and great review! BUT and it is a big BUT. Doing high ISO comparisons using Canons own RAW converter for the 5D2 and then use a 3rd party raw converter for the D3 is just fail. You should have used Nikons own ViewNX (free) or CaptureNX for D3 high ISO conversion. The D3/D700 gets roughly about 1 stop better ISO results when using NX over ACR (or did when this review was written). Other than that, a comprehensive and great review. I am myself the proud owner of both a 5D2 and a D700. I use my 5D2 for all portrait work, both in studio an otherwise and I am very very pleased with it. The D700 i use for everything else. Why two brands? I use the 5D2 at my work (studio photography) where I have almost an unlimited supply of good Canon glas to borrow and play with. I love them both (5D2 & D700).