Best Professional Camera under $500? Full Frame on a Budget: Canon 5D Mark II Review

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In this video, I'm taking a look at one of the most legendary digital cameras of all time: the Canon 5D Mark II. This is a full frame DSLR that completely changed the face of the digital camera industry when it was released. Though, that was almost 15 years ago. So, I'm going to look at using the Canon 5D Mk II in today's world and talk about how relevant it may or may not still be, especially knowing that it can be found pretty easily for under $500.

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00:00 Intro
00:32 Camera Specs
02:27 Ergonomics & Handling
04:17 Photography
08:37 Video
10:20 For Whom is it Right?

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Here is my story, I bought this Iconic Legendary 5DMKII in 2009 and kept until 2021. Then I decided to sold it and upgraded to Nikon mirrorless Z6II in 2021 cause I wanted a Change and was so Faithful with only one Brand name Canon. For 12 years, this 5DMK2 was performed so Amazing, never Failed on any Weddings or Portrait photoshoots. I even brough it in my Travels. It was my first Full Frame Camera that I made money with. On the other hand, there is Nothing wrong with my Nikon Z6II, it takes beautiful photos with gorgeous Color Skin Tone straigh out camera. It's Modern Mirrorless which is lighter, smaller and better autofocus, better dynamic range but I still miss my 5DMKII of the Shutter Sound and Film Look Digital. This MK2 had special Sensor just like its old brother 5DMK1. Now when I look back all of my photos taken with 5DMKII I miss this camera a lot. Therefore, I will try to find 5DMKII in perfect Mint Condition with low shutter counter to get it BACK to my Camera Collection...

quangDCameras
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Bought a 5D mk ii about a year ago, in nearly new condition, I love it. Its taught me so much and made me take photography more serious and trying to go pro and make a living of it in the long run. Recently picked up my 1st L lens for it 👌👌

searchingshane
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Got a 5D Mk II in 2019 as my first camera and I have been using it mainly for photographing cars and every now and then I take it on a hike, holiday or family event. Bought a few of L-lenses for it (24-105, 16-35 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 Mk II and just recently a sigma 35 f/1.4) and I am more than happy with the results I can achieve with that combination.

For stills it’s a really good camera considering that my subject often barely moves😅… In more hectic situations such as taking pictures of cars flying by on a racetrack I had a few missed shots (used the 70-200 on tracking AF) but was I surprised how many of them were useable.

Never considered filming with it though…

When it comes to resolution- it’s absolutely fine even if you print quite large, what also came across in the video already.
The dynamic range is not the best imo, the highlights blow out extremely fast. I always have my exposure set to - 2/3. Sometimes even more. Underexposing is absolutely necessary if you want a decent image out of this camera. Recovering the shadows afterwards sometimes leads to grainy or banded and even weirdly coloured shadows. But hey- the sky isn’t blown out…🥲

Focusing with all 9 points proved to be an absolute nightmare for me so I only set it to the center one and left it there ever since. Focus and reframe is something I got used to extremely fast and good, sometimes it helps using the AF-Button on the back of the camera to make the focus stay locked on your subject. With the live view… oh my… it is bad. But shooting through the viewfinder all the time and the focus being quite fast with the L-lenses there, I can sacrifice a few seconds if I have to use focus in live view.

Overall it’s a nice camera, would recommend it to everyone who is on a budget and open to sail around some of the complications the 5D II has.

Oh and since there are no screens on most of the time, battery life is amazing!

hans_.k
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Nice video and love the points that you made about the 5D2. I went from a Sony a6400 to the 5D2 as my main body for landscape photography because I wanted the full frame look to my images. I also hated the battery life of the Sony so I went with something that was going to have great IQ and great battery life. I was able to get this body and three good lenses for it. I got the 17-40 f4 L, the 24-105 f4, and the 70-300 f4-5.6 is usm. I was also able to buy a Canon 80d for wildlife shots. The money that i got for my Sony and all the lenses was enough to fund the transition back to Canon. I am so much happier with this switch and the only thing that I lost was the eye AF of the Sony. Ffeature for feature in both Canon bodies I get the same as I had in the Sony. Now with all that being said I am loving the fact of shooting a DSLR in a mirrorless world lol.

ChriNKris
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Hello, congrats on the great video regarding older tech cameras. I can tell you a few words regarding the Canon 5D MKII. I started to learn digital photography in 2014-2015 on this camera and I can tell you it was a great and it still is a great experience. I am still using professionally this camera at events with low light such as parties and other dynamic project.

As you said in the video it takes great focus and patience in low light to get great results with this camera but definitely you can and it is great to exercise your mind on how to take advantage of light in a low light situation and generally how to use lights correctly. After my business grew (and God help is still growing) I got the 5D MKIII and the 1DX (first version) but the 5D MKII is with me at events. I love the color rendition of this camera and I also use the jPegs directly from the camera in some ideal situations. I used this camera in the beginning at sport events with the central focus point and I find it the most accurate with the 70-200 f/4 lens and with the 135mm f/2 lens during sport events. I find it in good pair with the Canon 35mm 1.4L Mark II at f/1.4 it misses but now often and with the Canon 85mm 1.4L IS it also misses at f/1.4 but not that often. It does not make a good pair with the Canon 50mm 1.2L and Canon 85mm 1.2LII and I found it to be not that accurate in focusing at f/1.2 but significantly better as you close the lens to f/2.8 - is this a show stopper? it is up to your decision and tests.

It pairs beautifully and I recommend it as a cheap professional kit with the following lenses: Canon 17-40 f/4 L, Canon 70-200 f/4 L USM lenses and 24-105 f/4L (First version).
Prices here in East Europe can be good, 5D Mark II (200-250 Euro), Canon 17-40 f/4L (250 Euro), Canon 70-200 f/4L (250 Euro), Canon 24-105 f/4L first version (200 Euro) and maybe a Flash Canon 600 EX RT with the original E3-RT controller (250 Euro) and you have a nice starting kit in photography and why not in videography also.

It is a methodical camera and it really helps you to learn how to use light and to use methodical focusing.

I find the ISO maximum that you can get is 2000 and I am saying that because I try to deliver photographs that are technically correct without noise and granulation but if you have some light source in your frame I am sure you can get over ISO 2000.

A downside of this camera is that Canon does not have technical support for this camera anymore - at least here in Romania (Europe) where I live. The technical support stopped in 2021 so you cannot find new parts anymore, but probably you can find aftermarket parts.

As the camera gets older and I had 2 models since 2015, its autofocus system through the viewfinder becomes weak even the central point and the camera will miss focus. I have 120.000 shutter clicks on my newer camera and over 400.000 on the older one. The older one's autofocus was no longer usable..but it could have been used in manual focus and the sensor had no dead pixels or hot pixels. (just and example on how a workhorse it is)

My personal advice if you truly want the 5D MK II is to get one with few shutter click bellow 150.000 click or even lower which was not abused or maybe not used by a professional photographer who used it to make professional work with it because that camera will definitely have a lot of shutter and mirror actuations.

rares
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I bought one. Interestingly I was always pro Nikon. I eventually got a d700. I was totally proud of. I wanted to get into video. I settled on the 5d mk 2. The canon is a lot more dependable when taking photographs. Not because it’s better, it’s more intuitive. It’s even got a back up auto mode to aid using when you still learning. As soon as you get a semipro Nikon. Out goes the auto mode.

Canon is super affordable compared. I can easily afford canon stuff compared. I had 1 Nikon flashgun, now I have 3 fancy canon flashguns.

I not selling my Nikons though 😊. Totally loving my 5d mk2!

jahseantenn
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Thanks for actually mentioning the CF card, just got the 5D mark II and was surprised as I missed it in my research.

Camera is solid, but CF card is disappointing.

souravroy
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The image quality seems really nice, nice color. Canon was always known for their color science. I have located a body for all sake appears unused. That's a win win for me. Thank you great video.

thomasphillips
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Just upgraded from my 70d few days ago and loving it already ❤

Katerynaki
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I purchased a 5dii new when it first came out. It's crazy to think how much I paid when you can find them for $300 all day now. It is a tank. I still use it as a backup alongside my Sony A7Riii. The Sony actually adapts my old L glass beautifully and the AF is faster using Canon glass than the Canon lol. I still can't get rid of the 5dii. It has sentimental value to me I guess. I sold my 5diii and 5div though.

nicedward
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I bought my 5Dii in 2021 and I love it!! I shoot high school football with my 7D and canon’s vintage EF 80-200 f/2.8L lens. I shot a game with the 80-200 and my 5Dii just to try it even though it’s lacking in fps and it actually replaced my 7D for now just because of the images it produced. I sold my 7D and my 80-200 f/2.8L along with my ef 28-80 f/2.8L-4 and purchased the EF 70-200 f/2.8L version II to pair with my 5DII.

rjsimages
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I heavily use my XT3 and I will say I do LOVE subject tracking when Auto Focusing and it makes fast pace shooting a breeze. However I recently picked up a Classic 5D and really loved that... If using the center AF point and a L lens the focusing is actually not Horrible. Unfortunately the mirror broke so I had to send it back and am replacing it with a 5Dii. I'm glad I am since it has larger Megapixels yes but most importantly it's weather sealed and just a bit more robust I think and the shutter can last a long long time.

I'm looking forward to shooting with it. It's a great camera I think for beginner photographers although for a few more 100$ a Mark iii is definitely in reach. The lens choice I think is what makes a huge difference. On my Classic I was using a 50mm 1.8 and while it was a bit slower focusing I still had a decent hit rate. Shooting motion took some planning but that is how you learn as a photographer IMO. I tossed a 70-200mm 2.8 IS on there and I was pretty impressed with AF performance. Sure it's not a modern canon or sony, but it can certainly get the job done and really allow one to hone in on their skills.

I also think most of the movie Act of Valor was shot on a Mk ii.

jdpst
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I have 5D2 and 1D4. Best of both worlds. In terms of picture quality not many can tell the difference to modern cameras. If any.

northernsky
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Still using the 5D classic, considering getting the mark ii as well. Great cameras, even today.

HumanClouds
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I own 5DII, use it regularly for all purposes, love it and will never sell it.

quazisanjeed
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The 5dmk2 is a perfect solo independent movie camera. Download magic lantern and it transforms it.

katyg
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I use my 5D2 with various adapted vintage top quality manual lenses, mainly for landscape and some portraiture. I think if your prepared to take your time and set everything up manually it's absolutely possible to pull of some stunning shots with 21.1MP.. Yes it'd be nice to have a Sony A1 with the latest glass but I personally could buy a Porsche with that sort of cash plus it'd take me a while to get to know it Plus I'd have to buy all sorts of new adapters and recalibrate all my old lenses.. No I will stick with what I know.. It's a classic : )

madmechanic
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I’m considering either the 6D Mark II or 5D Mark III. I do mostly landscape photography and I’m getting into astrophotography

david
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I bought one about three months ago I am still getting used to it but so far very happy. I paid £425.00 and it has a low shutter count 27000 ish.

johnastbury
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Where is the best place tmarket? used 5d markll?

jamesthomas
visit shbcf.ru