Mirroless vs DSLR. The long war is over. Mirrorless is the winner and only Pentax is left to produce DSLR cameras like the K3 iii. OVF vs EVF. The electronic view finder is the winner again. People now claim that DSLR's are dead. Well guess what! I just bough a DSLR camera. An old Canon 5D ii. Now that the EOS R6 and R5 is out. So what are my thoughts after a few days of use? And is a camera that came out in 2009 still a good buy?
Canon 5d ii sample image
Canon 5D ii Basic Specs
- 21 MP CMOS sensor
- 100 - 5400 basic ISO (50 - 25500 ISO expansion)
- 3.9 frames per second when in continuous shooting mode
- Fixed LCD display 3.0'' - 920.000 pixels
- 1800 mAh battery
- Single CF card slot
- 98% viewfinder coverage - optical view finder
- Mount: EF
- Full HD 1920X1080 video recording
Things that i like so far - Pros
First of all this is a full frame DSLR camera. That means that you get the full frame look and a stunning bokeh background that makes your photos look professional. A full frame sensor also has enhanced low light performance. The level of digital noise is lower and you can shoot at faster shutter speeds to freeze movement and action and get sharper images.
Another thing that i enjoy is the color science. Canon cameras have a unique color look that is still one of their strongest selling points. Some people prefer neutral and more accurate colors though. I enjoy both approaches but personally i doubt that there are differences in colors. I think that it is mainly a white balance issue because each company uses a slightly different method.
Canon 5D ii are built like tanks. They are reliable and good enough for professional work. But how professional can those bodies be? If they are good enough for Pete Souza then they must be more than good enough for the rest of us. Pete Souza was the former Chief Official White House photographer for Barack Obama. He was using a 5D ii and later he upgraded to Canon 5D iii. You can have a look in his Flickr account. Canon 5D ii has also weather sealing and it can survive harsh conditions. It is much better than many Sony entry level cameras that do not have weather sealing and the sensor gathers dust much easier. Canon 5D on the other hand has a better sensor dust reduction mechanism and the mirror covers the sensor when you switch lenses. The ergonomics are nice and there are some extra buttons so that you wont have to dive into the menus all the time. Later models like the Canon 5D iii and the 5D IV are even better.
Last but not least is the price. More and more people migrate away from EF and DSLR's to buy an R5 or an R6 and if you are patient you will certainly find some very good deals on the second hand market. My Canon 5D had a low shutter count (1800 shots). Keep in mind that the Canon 5D line is rated for around 200.000 shots although there are users that report 1.000.000 shots!! The camera cost me just 400 euros and the prices will keep dropping.
Canon 5D ii sample image 2 - Shot Wide Open
Things that i dislike - Cons
The autofocus system is not jar dropping but it is OK. For still objects such as landscapes "One Shot" is the way to go. For moving subjects i use the "AI Servo AF". AI Servo (Artificial Intelligence Servo Automatic Focusing) is Canon's focusing mode for moving objects such as sports and scenes with action. If you want more reliability better use the center focus point in both modes and enable the back button focus. This is not the Sony A1 or the Canon R5 though. If you care more about action you may wanna have a look at the Canon 5D iii where the auto-focus system is much better. Personally i avoid the hybrid mode AI Focus.
The optical viewfinder (OVF) gets the job done. You may not like it if you are used to a modern electronic view finder (EVF). Also remember that what you see is not what you get with an OVF so you may have to adjust the exposure correctly.
The fixed screen does not allow you to use creative and unique angles or record yourself. But that how things were some years ago...
What i disliked the most is the dynamic range. Even newer entry level cameras with a cropped sensor such as the Sony a6000 have better dynamic range and you can recover more details in the highlights and the shadows of a scene. The EOS 5D iii is not better anyway.
Another thing that annoyed me is the Canon MOV codec. When you record a movie the camera will create some huge MOV files. Luckily you have the option to install Magic Lantern and use other codecs or even record movies in RAW.
Canon 5d ii sample image 3
Overall Conclusion
Canon 5D ii is a great value for money. You get a professional DSLR body, a full frame sensor and you can choose between many good EF lenses. The OVF and the luck of a modern auto-focus system will force you to use your brain and you will certainly become a better photographer. If you feel brave you can install the Magic Lantern firmware and record some great raw videos. Definitely you will need a good Gimbal for this. Personally i have a lot of fun using the Canon 5D ii and this is the most important thing in my opinion.
Links - Affiliate code: if you purchase products using my links I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
You can buy the Canon 5D ii from eBay: https://ebay.us/Xr1QSW
If you need better auto-focus then the 5D iii is a great choice: https://ebay.us/ifZYUL
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