Kristin’s First Post!
My wife Kristin just came on board full time with the photography business. You can find out more about her at the “Meet Kristin” page at the top navigation bar. She is an incredible writer (way better than I am) and an very talented photographer. Photography is one interest we have always shared all the way back to when we were dating. I’m so glad to finally have her working with me so we can actually get things done! The Canon 5DMII is Kristin’s primary camera body when we are shooting wedding or any other event. She uses it a lot more than I do so I thought it would make sense for her to write the review from her perspective. Let her know what you think by leaving some comments at the bottom of the post. Thanks!
about reviews
One thing to note about these reviews is this: I only put reviews on this site of products I use on a regular basis. I may try out a new product from time to time, but I won’t put a review up unless it makes it to my camera bag. I’m also never paid to do these reviews. They are only products that I genuinely love and recommend to you. So you know I’m not just saying something because someone asked me to.
where to buy or try
B&H Photo Video | Canon 5D Mark II (body only)
Borrow Lenses | Canon 5D Mark II (body only)
Canon EOS 5d mark ii review
I absolutely LOVE my 5D – this camera is reliable, durable, and is the industry standard for wedding photographers. There are many benefits of the 5D Mark II, from it’s ability to shoot in low light to its fairly quick 3.9 fps shutter speed which is great for shooting weddings at night and for capturing sequenced moments. Here are a few of the specs:
- 21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC 4 Image Processor (faster processing for fine details, colors, and reduced noise)
- 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor with Live View Function, anti-reflection, and scratch resistance
- 3.9 frames per second and a durability of 150,000 frames with improved weather resistance
- Wide range ISO of 100-6400 (expandable to 50 and 25600)
- And one of my favorite features: Full HD Video with 1920×1080 resolution and manual exposure control
- New firmware updates that include 24 frames per second, full manual audio control, and critical exposure info displayed on LCD
The 5DMII’s ability to capture vibrant colors with its 4 Image Processor is simply fantastic. The camera produces amazingly accurate and vibrant skin tones, spot on saturation and incredible detail. The ability to capture images in low light situations also really comes in handy for night time weddings and shoots at dusk. With an almost completely dark reception room, I can shoot away with confidence knowing I will get quality images. Of course, you have to remember that the higher ISO you use, the lower image quality you are going to get, with much more noise. This can be taken out to a degree in post processing, but the more noise reduction you use after the fact, the less detail you get in an image and a smaller print size. With that said, you can still take images at ISO 3200 with incredible details and have them printed with a great quality.
While the 5D does have the ability to shoot with different settings (aperture value, time value, etc) it does not have pre-set options like an entry level consumer DSLR. So, if you are thinking about purchasing a 5D Mark II (which I highly recommend!), you need to make sure you are comfortable with your camera and you know how to manually change your settings without relying on the dreaded green box “automatic” setting. One thing James preached to me over and over again when I was first learning about how to really USE my camera, not just point and shoot, is that we need to CREATE images, not just take them. When you use the camera’s automatic settings, you are letting the camera tell you what kind of shot you are going to get. Yes, you can set up the shot and have an eye for what picture you want, but beyond that the camera is doing all the work. To really create images that are captivating and truly your own, you really need to learn how to use your camera beyond the “portrait”, “automatic”, or “landscape” settings. This process takes time and practice, but once you learn about your camera and utilize it’s capabilities, you begin to move from “picture taker” to photographer.
One of my favorite features of my camera is the ability to shoot in full HD video! Even though I always had my camera by my side, I always wanted a video camera to capture the moments in between still shots. It always seems like the most hilarious or touching moments happen when you don’t have a video camera around. Well, problem solved! Now I have a camera and a video camera in one 
This feature really allows James and I to take our business to the next level. One of the greatest advantages of having two photographers at sessions and weddings is that we both have unique styles, but we also capture every moment of the event because we can be in two places at once. But, to add to the experience for our clients, I can take HD video while James is shooting, then we put them into these amazing slide shows that are like nothing our clients have ever seen. We can combine the video and the still images of a particular moment, so the bride and groom (for example) can watch the moment when they feed each other their wedding cake, and then they can also see the photographs we produce from that moment. It adds a personal touch to every session, but it also is great for personal use too! I take my camera on vacation, to events, and pretty much everywhere just in case I need to capture those moments with a photograph or a video. I’m pretty sure when James and I have kids, they will be the most photographed and videoed kids ever!
Here is a video of Lauren and Daniel’s engagement session that we shot at the Fort Worth Stock Yards and Sundance Square. It is a great example of the fusion between still images and video:
Conclusion
So, to sum up, the Canon 5D Mark II is a great addition to your camera set up – it is a versatile, durable, and amazing camera. As a photographer, you have to have a wide range of knowledge and your equipment really does assist you in the creative process. Having the 5D in your arsenal will help to expand your ability as you continually grow as an artist and photographer. There are plenty of other photographers at the top of their field who choose to use the 5D Mark II as their primary camera of choice. This is an incredible piece of technology at an extremely affordable price for the features it offers. Want to shoot HDR with the 5D Mark II or any other Canon camera that won’t bracket more that 3 images? Not a problem! There is a great HDR photographer named Brian Matiash who shoots exclusively with the 5DMII. He uses the Promote Control to take more than 3 brackets and has a great review of it over at his blog. Check it out if you’re interested.
Here are some images taken with the Canon 5D Mark II:
Tags: 5DMII, CANON EOS 5D MARK II REVIEW
