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5D Mark II Firmware Announcement

Canon Rumors
Canon Rumors
279 Comments
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Canon adds 24 and 25fps HD Movie recording to the EOS 5D Mark II with Firmware 2.0.3

London, 2nd March 2010 – Canon today pre-announces the release of a firmware update for the multiple award-winning EOS 5D Mark II. Originally announced in late 2009, the update adds 24* and 25 frames per second (fps) recording to the camera’s EOS MOVIE video function, and will be available as a free download from the middle of March.

Developed following feedback from photographers and cinematographers, Firmware 2.0.3 further enhances the EOS 5D Mark II’s excellent video performance. The addition of new frame rates expands the camera’s video potential, providing filmmakers with the ability to shoot 1080p Full HD footage at 24fps (actual 23.976fps) – the optimum frame rate for cinematic video. 25fps support at both 1920×1080 and 640×480 resolutions will allow users to film at the frame rate required for the PAL broadcast standard, while the new firmware will also change the 30fps option to the NTSC video standard of 29.97fps.

A new histogram display for shooting movies in manual exposure, shutter-priority (Tv) and aperture-priority (Av) have been added, and exposure modes will also be available in movie mode. Improved audio functionality will allow users to set sound record levels manually using a sound-level meter displayed on the LCD screen. The audio sampling frequency has also been increased from 44.1KHz to 48KHz, providing the optimum audio signal typically required for professional or broadcast material.

With its full frame CMOS sensor and compatibility with Canon’s wide range of premium lenses, the EOS 5D Mark II is already recognised for its outstanding HD video performance. Launched in September 2008, the camera immediately created a wide range of new possibilities for photographers and videographers, and the addition of new frame rates and manual audio levels extends those possibilities even further – allowing movie makers to shoot stunning movies to suit practically any creative purpose.

Extreme sports photographer Richard Walch was one of the first to be given the chance to use the newly updated EOS 5D Mark II to shoot the snowboarding movie “I Love My Friends”. Commenting on the EOS 5D Mark II’s video performance, Richard said: “The addition of the new frame rates opens up a whole new range of possibilities. If you’re a cinematographer, independent film maker or just enthusiastic about making your own movies, get out there and give it a try”.

Download Available March 16, 2010 we hear: http://www.canon.com/eos-d/

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279 Comments

  • MARCH SIXTEENTH???

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • As expected, no 720p at 60fps. As a professional photographer who just wants to make fun slow-mo videos at home, that was all I cared about.

    Here’s to the 5D Mark III.

  • ah this is incredible, too be honest I am also disappointed with their decision to leave 60p out and I think it would truly push limits that were originally created by this camera. Anyway I’m super happy and I just can’t wait to get this update, the audio and the frame rates… its a whole new ball game, and all I’m saying is its about time the film industry gets a shake up.

  • this also all i cared about in this firmware. having fun shooting slow-mo

    well, thank you canon for ruining some fun i may have had.

  • I only cared about the 60 fps personally, everything else can be done in magic lantern or I dont need that badly

  • The audio makes a huge difference – thanks Canon.

    As for additional features – maybe this is it, they did increase the firmware version to 2.x for it. Even if this is the case, you can bet that the firmware would be taken into the hands of people with the technical know-how to tease even more functionality out of it, especially if Canon has found it to be viable.

    Again, HUGE thanks to Canon for the update.

  • Finally, now all we need is get the 1Ds4 announced and then the camera I’m looking forward to, the 5D3 will be announced.

    I think Fall 2010 we get the 5D3.

  • For a camera released in September 2008, Canon gets huge props for this update. Thanks Canon for paying attention to your seriously invested customers.

  • VERY DISAPPOINTING to get no 60p when even the 700bucks 550d has it!!! i will sell one of my three 5d2 and buy a 550d.

  • Do you think it cant do 60p is because the 5DMKII only has one DIGIC IV and the 7D and the 1D IV has 2 DIGIC IV chips?

  • short term: yes. long term: no, as my brand loyalty is zero with a company who’s playing games with users.

  • As we reported few days ago, the NEW firmware was (is) available at Canon Tech Service Centers since firsts weeks of February (posted here, on our Blog and Twitter)

    Now it was “OFFICIALLY” announced.

    We still remember when so many people said Canon was not going to update the 5D Mark II after Full Manual Control…

    And here we are again:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/5d-mark-ii-firmware-2-0-3-announcement/

    It’s a pity Canon REMOVED some features in the official release (720p60 WAS there).

    But it’s a great update indeed.

    There is NO doubt that Canon took some of our and Magic Lantern ideas.

    We knew they were going to fix AGC sooner or later.

    We think it’s very possible an update for the 1D4 too in near future, keeping the top DSLRs with full video features, or at least more complete video features.

    We also expect the 1Ds Mark IV to be announced soon and have less compressed or uncompressed video output (something that Canon already worked for 5D Mark II since mid 2009, but it seems they didn’t release it)

  • I’m thinking 60P will arrive in the fall when they announce
    some new gear.
    Bring on the 3D!!
    please please please……
    I’ll be a good boy. :)

  • There won’t be such announcement next fall.

    5D Mark II still has a long road. It’s not a $700-800 Rebel.

    The remaining announcement is for 1Ds Mark IV that obviously will have all modes.

  • The AF on the 5D Mark II is not so bad as many people say.

    If you need it for sports, then you might want to use another camera. But the 5D Mark II is a FF 21MP camera, so it was not really intended for action/sport stills shooting. That’s why the AF doesn’t have so many areas and the burst rate is not as high as the 1D4.

    Anyway the AF on the 5D2 is very good indeed. More than reputation usually tells.

  • I totally agree the 720p mode at 60fps was what I wanted the most…I can’t believe they pulled it out last minute like that. The rest of the features are nice especially the audio fix and standard frame rates. As for a Mark III I really hop they fix the rolling shutter B.S.

  • Looks like there’s no 720p at all. If that is true, this is a very disappointing firmware update for me. I just wanted video output I wouldn’t have to transcode on my mac (I have to transcode all the current 1080p stuff my MkII spits out in order to actually edit it).

  • ah, so engineers at Canon told you they pulled it out last minute?

    I guess some people are just never happy. I’m looking for another 5d mk II, so please sell your copy to me.

  • Just read below that you are actually right. Strange thing; could it be that it proved technically difficult?

    Still looking to buy your 5d mk II though :)

  • crying about 60p? as a consumer wouldn’t you want all the features you can get, just saying. thank you canon for sure though for this much needed update. :)

  • Now that the videographers have gotten some more goodies, can we please have a full-frame camera with serious autofocus for STILL photographers? Something that doesn’t cost $8000?

  • In fact T2i/550D has only one Digic IV too.

    As we reported in 2009, a SINGLE Digic 4 can handle both 24p and 60p.

    You can find it under “INFORMATION & TESTIMONIALS”: http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/5d-mark-ii-features-request/

    But there are other electronic components involved in the process, not only the processor. So it is possible that the 5D Mark II couldn’t get enough good quality at 720p60 (weird, but…)

    Anyway, the 720p60 mode was REMOVED from the Firmware lately. We have full confirmations (not one, but many), and we report that in our latest post:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/5d-mark-ii-firmware-2-0-3-announcement/

    Also:

    – Why no AutoISO limit?

    – Why no Crop Video mode? (one of our ideas/suggestions since long ago)

    Maybe because they (Canon) weren’t interested to include them. Maybe they didn’t have enough time to do it (we don’t believe that, our requests are since many months ago, many since almost 1 year ago)

    -Why no more frames on Bracketing mode?

    That’s obvious. Canon doesn’t want it to be included, and seems to keep it only for the 1D line (ridiculous because it’s an essential feature for HDR and many other tasks that even lot cheaper Nikon DSLRs have)

    Anyway, this is a GREAT and even ESSENTIAL update. We’re glad Canon added some extra features too (we knew they planned it, that’s why we said it was going to come with surprises)

    Could have been more featured? Sure, but unfortunately that always happens.

  • Im seriously thinking it just cant smoothly deliver the 60fps with only 1 digic IV, maybe at 480 it could have. but that would just look like an odd spec.

  • Well the slow mow that you get from 60 frames is nice but not that spectacular, think 100-200 frames for stuff (RED).

    Well nice times ahead now that (Adobe Premiere CS5) will have uber GPU acceleration. Video making will take huge step fowards.

  • WHERE IS THE 60 and 50p for 720p ???????

    IM GONNA SELL ALL CANON EQUIPMENT REALLY SOON!!!

  • Time to start “7D Team” and ask Canon to add this features to 5D’s younger brother)

    In fact thath will absolutely make sense from marketing point of view. Professional 5D, 7D and maybe 1D with this features on one side and consumer 550D on the other.

  • Absolutely not. This new FW somewhat confirms their 3 years lifecycle. In the case of competition, spring 2011 at the earliest.

  • 29,97 is one of the standard video formats. so people shooting videos with the 5DII would have to convert the shot video first to 29,97 to work proberly with it.
    with 30fps being 29,97 now it saves a lot of time to some people

  • well nice update really.
    little disappointment on the 720/60p stuff but ok
    more of a disappointment is that the firmware lacks 720p completely. i cant imagine why they couldnt do 720/30p

    shame that is

  • Some of guys are unbelieveable, you slag off Canon for this and that, Oww, I’m gonna sell my camera, and not buy Canon again. !

    Think seriously at the reality PLEASE, they released a great FF camera, at a pretty amazing price point, everyone could see the specs, and everyone bought their cameras with the specs that were advertised. NO Manual Video Control, 30FPS Only.

    Now amazingly and how cool of Canon, they have upgraded the functionality of Camera over time FREE OF CHARGE. How amazing is this from any manufacturer. Seriously, Think about what they are doing here people. We should be THANKING not slagging off.

  • This is good news – can I “jump” the last fw update and go straight onto this one?

  • Nice work TEAM. This update is just neat and swell.

    Have you heard anything about these updates coming to the 7D? Or should we ask 7D TEAM? :)

  • My feeling is that Canon is cleaning its own mess (and not doing the best job at it). Marketing aside, these features and some more should have been on the camera from day one. The fact that we had to put in such an effort to make Canon look at its user base strengthens that feeling.

    As long as Canon doesn’t justify in some way, even a “not technically possible” official statement would do, the lack of 720p60 I’m not gonna say Thank You.

  • By improving something, one expands its lifetime.

    Wouldn’t it be silly to improve something when the same improvements can be used as selling arguments for the next model?

    Doing something for free versus asking money for it.

  • I will say Than You to all the people who put in an effort in order to make Canon look at our requests.

  • Apparently manual video mode was advertised, but not there at the start without any glue whether it was coming.

    By manual advertised controls, Canon referred to manually moving your legs. All that officially, without a joke.

  • Wow you have serious issues man. Why the angst? Do you believe that this firmware wasn’t tested before release? Why wouldn’t there have been the mode there? It’s possible – then they removed it due to numerous issues.

    Pipe down.

  • Its fine – in daylight.. however for a camera that has the ability to shoot in very low light (ISO) – it should have a MUCH better AF.

    Nikon D3/D3x (24mpx FF camera – not a sports camera) and D700 have a FAR better focus engine. Focus in low light for music photography, receptions of weddings, street – or whatever – really should have more reliable AF. 5D2 is the same engine as the almost 5 y/o 5D – improved? Perhaps – but I can’t see it.

    Don’t get me wrong – I love my 5D2 – but after using Nikon gear Canon should just inhale Nikon, and adopt the focus and ergonomics. Put a 5D2 sensor in a D3 I’d be happy.

  • Well that’s just ruined my day! Where was the foot massager? And the tea maker? I believe the next firmware updates will include a whingometer. The camera will automatically shut down when a whining photographer is detected.

  • Daaaam ….

    I really wished for some 720p good stuff …

    And some hot pixel mapping … and some autoiso limits …

    And yes some cross-type focusing points … and some d700 like AF … (Oh Yes I envy Nikon)

  • Be more polite, it doesn’t hurt.

    720p60 WAS included for many months.

    We clearly told it was going to be on the new firmware unless Canon removed it.

    Canon has been changing the firmware in the last 2 months. We can’t decide what it’s included and what’s not.

    Unofficial version does have 720p60.

    The new Official firmware is already on Canon Tech Service Centers since 1st or 2nd week of February, as we told on February 28th.

    Now you have the “official” announcement.

    If you believe or not, it’s another story and not really our problem.

  • Be polite, it doesn’t hurt.

    Read our post above to your same reply.

    – You WON’T see Canon official press mentioning 720p60 if they don’t include it, that’s obvious.

    UNLESS we push them so hard that they come and tell a public explanation of why they didn’t include it.

    We did much enough though.

  • We would like to get it too.

    But in that case we couldn’t spread it, obviously, nor even tell.

    We only tell when it doesn’t compromise to anyone, otherwise we keep it confidential and private. That’s the rule.

  • As I see there is nobody (except me) who missing the gaps between ISO 6400 and ISO 12.800 (ISO 8000, ISO 10000). Nikon D700 knows them and I suppose 5D MkII also could know it.

  • Agreed, Nikon AF system is better.

    But don’t agree with ergonomics.

    Anyway, each brand has its weak and strong points, as you already see.

    So far Canon is miles ahead Nikon in terms of movie/video features. And a bit better in other aspects we won’t list here now.

    We’ll see what happen in near future. But don’t we focus so much on the future, present is what we are in :)

  • Exactly same thought about 720p30 here. But we never got any info about 720p30 on any model.

    We still really think Canon should have a dedicated and special channel for feedbacks/suggestions/ideas. They -sometimes- don’t “bright up” on ideas…

  • Do any of you actually take any pictures with the 5D Mk II or do you just spend all day here crying like babies and arguing because the camera you purchased has less attractive specs that something released 12 months later? There are more important issues in the world, seriously.

  • shut up peer2. wth have u ever done for us. this is a rumor site. contribute sth that you know or gtfo and stfu

  • Did it say 60p when you purchased it? ….. NO.

    Please sell all your gear right this minute… Canon clearly mislead you by selling you a STILLS camera with 30p auto video and then upgrading it to do 24/25p and manual controls.

    Good god, I think evolution is going backwards!

    By the way, thanks Canon…. PAL land salutes you.

  • Yeah, those that take it seriously use the gear that will get the job done.

    They don’t cry about features that were never advertised nor expected when they originally purchased it.

  • Hm, on the 5D II AF – I never got why it’s so bad. Because similar priced cameras with better AF came out? Somehow, 5D’s fed professionals in the past, and even the slug AF on $20k digi mediums feed the best professionals today. As a 1 series user, I can say that the intended purpose of the 5D II, the AF is almost perfect. If you don’t think so, either you’ve got the wrong camera, or no talent.

  • expecting a billiondollar company to look after its costumers by developing their technology to its full potential which costs them next to nothing compaired to their revenue (they’re already doing the r&d for their upcomming products) … yes … we can demand that of them, and we should.

    If canon is willing to do that, that’s up to them … we all have our part to play in trying to push canon to its full potential :)

    Thanking or slagging them by typing stuff on a website won’t make them lose any sleep. buying or not buying their stuff will.

  • those 80% of the 5d2 owners who obviously don’t need 60p and laugh about the 20% who need it simply do forget, that next time they might be the ones who are screwed by the canon marketing dept.

  • those 80% of the 5d2 owners who obviously don’t need 60p and laugh about the 20% who need it simply do forget, that next time they might be the ones who are screwed by the canon marketing department.

  • It is clear that kind and polite requests to Canon have played a lead role in obtaining from the excellent upgrades brought about by firmware updates 1.1.0 and 2.0.3. Canon itself acknowledge this fact in its official announcements.

    It appears that there are 2 petitions currently online asking for “Improvements for Canon EOS 5D Mark II”: the one which Nico (one of the posters above) is referring to relates mainly to additional features for stills, “Minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO & Other Features”, available at the following URL:

    http://www.petitiononline.com/Canon5D/petition.html

    and counts 223 total signatures at present.

    The other one (see the 5D Mark II Team posts) relates to “FULL Manual Control in Movie Mode & Other Features” and is available at the following URL:

    http://www.petitiononline.com/5dmark2/petition.html

    and counts 2970 total signatures up to now, and that’s probably all, since we obtained a lot from Canon in this regard, so THANKS A LOT CANON for the care you showed for us customers!

    The question is: did we not get improvements for stills because of the fact that less than 1/10 people requested them compared to those asking for video improvements? (I hope you understand I’m not 100% serious…)

    @ those filmmakers who signed the latter petition I say, please, sign also the former one to help us obtain at least:
    1) minimum shutter speed and selectable upper & lower ISO in Auto ISO, and
    2)more frames in bracketing mode (too cool for HDR!)

    I signed both petitions and my life has changed! I won the lottery, my wife has finally left me (!), Masaya Maeda in person offered me a pre-production 1Ds MkIV and a bunch of big whites as a gift because I’m an extremely nice and fine person and I had an advancement at work and a salary rise. A friend of mine didn’t, and he had 2 molars extracted by his dentist who has a bad halitosis, his new car crushed by an alien starship (no insurance) during landing and his CF card files irreversibly corrupted by a solar storm provoked by a coronal mass ejection after he took a lot of photogs of the aliens that could have made him the most rich and famous photographer of the world.

    Take it easy, cheers!

  • How were you screwed by the marketing department? Canon never advertised 60p capability nor should you have expected it.

  • how did they screw you….. 18 month old technology can’t magically have 60p, just because a camera came out last week that can.

    If you need 60p, go sell you 5DII and buy a 7D or 550D. Simples.

  • Will people stop complaining!

    This is a massive step for film makers, being able to now use professional audio as well as being able to film in 25p or 24p.

    Canon have listened since they brought out the 5d mark 2 and have added manual exposure and professional frame rates.

    Most of us bought this camera knowing it had only auto exposure and 1 frame rate but it had amazing image quality and poduced a shallow depth of field that could only be replicated with by a 30k video camera all for 2k.

    Photographers out there are used to firmware updates and as such knowing when they buy a camera features can be added to improve it. In the video world what you bought was what you get!

    I bought a sony fx-1 a few years back for 2k. A hdv camera or decent quality but gives a video look.No slow mo.I knew the features of the camera when I bought and if I wanted other features I would have to buy another camera.To get slow mo I then had to buy a sony ex-1 for 5k. Fast forward 3 years and for the same price we have an incredible camera which gives the inide film maker the chance to create almost cinema quality video.

    Canon could have never updated the video features (many on the forums even stated this) and then could have made us all buy another camera to get these features. Even after bringing out new cameras they still worked on the 5d to give the loyal customers what they were asking for.

    You want slow mo, but the 550 of 7d. Both give inferior quality by the way (I own all 3 cameras) although still a great image. You want better auto focus buy a GH1 (again an inferior camera).If you cant afford another camera thats your problem, not canon’s.If you want things in life you need to pay for them.

    The extra features people are asking for would cost you an extra couple of grand if you were to want these on a dedicated video camera and you would have to buy another camera to get them.

    We knew what we bought when we bought it (regardless of which firmware version you were up to) anything extra is a bonus.

    Lets just say thanks canon. you have made my life complete.

  • we’ve come a long way from partly removing the lens to get manual controls to today’s announcement.

    Thanks to Canon…BUT don’t drop the ball now, continue to develop existing product’s f/w and enable new features as you go, this will build consumer confidence and loyalty that will stand Canon in good stead in the coming decades.

  • I disagree, but time will tell….I look at how the “final fix” for the 1D3 brought the 1D4 to market 6 months before the normal 3 year cycle.

    Your statement would have keep the 1D3/1D4 on the normal 3 year cycle. But this not what happened.

    1D3 came out Spring 2007, normal 3 year cycle for 1D4 would have been Spring 2010, but instead we got the 1D4 6 months early, Fall 2009.

  • IIIIIIIII ddddddddooooooooonnnnnnnnn””””tttttttt aaaaaaaggggggrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeee wwwwwwwiiiiiiitttttttthhhhhh yyyyyyyyyoooooooouuuuuuuuuu………

    Now at normal speed, “I don’t agree with you.”

  • The T2i has a much smaller sensor than the 5d. 5d 720p is carrying more information off the sensor than the 550d. Keep that in mind.

  • It’s crying like babies unfortunately. And it’s too bad you don’t take them seriously, cos they’re real serious…..when it comes to crying like babies…..!!!!

  • But Canon could easily have put in 60 fps and didnt so that we HAVE to buy other cameras to do that… at least according to sources. that is why people are complaining. Why would ANYONE want to spend more money when they dont have to, that is ludicrous.

  • in the field 720p produces less data. so it saves memory on the cf card. SO i can stay longer in the field with the same cf card!

    and in the end, more minutes of footage on one cf card

  • I dont know if they didnt include just so we have to buy another camera, its a nice feature but not really essential for professional film production. the 25p is more essential (in europe) as its the broadcast standard frame rate. 720 50/60p requires post production to make it slow mo in the first place so you could just slow down the 25p footage although doesnt give as smooth a result.

    I really think if it was so easy for them to include 50/60p they would have. Most of us have no idea how difficult or hard it is to achieve. The guy at magic lantern couldnt manage to make the 5d do 24/25p or 50/60p so im sure its not such an easy thing to incude.

    What we asking canon to do is give us the ultimate interchangable lens camera for 2k, when most video cameras that are anywhere near the quality the 5d is cost 10x as much.

    You want every video feature then buy a camera that has them all in for 20k or just be greatful that canon made an amazing camera for 2k that looks incredible.

  • We now know where Canon thinks the money is… still cameras that take movies. Was hoping Canon would remember photographers and put in *still* features, like auto-ISO control and min shutter speed.

    PREDICTION: A $5000+ Canon full-frame HD cine-camera with Canon Cine EF mount lens. (I do hope Canon separates the two lines.)

  • No doubt. This is awesome news for folks who want to do real video work with their 5D2’s. All this whining is astounding. The audio fix alone is worth celebrating.

  • Gosh, this “5D mark II team” is still our name !

    Come on. WE are the ONLY and REAL 5D Marc II Tim.

    None else knows for sure what is going on with the 5D.
    None else is directly in touch with Canon.
    None else has been testing unreleased firmware and can tell you what will or not be included.

    WE are the 5D Marc II Tim, unique and no imitable.

    All others are liars.

    So listen to us ! Believe us ! Come to our blog and help us making lots of traffic (and money !!!).

    WE know the holy TRUTH.

  • @Brian and Peer2.

    We are all fed up with these teenagers comment from a faked “5D mark II team” which knows nothing and always claims stupid things.

    I think it is time for adults to stand up and ask them to shup up.

  • What is available in competitive models is relevant for setting expectations, j. It is not unreasonable to ask for a full frame camera w/ top-of-the-line AF in a body that doesn’t weigh more than a cinder block.

  • No 60p? Dayng, I find 60 fps on the 7D really useful, was hoping they’d put it in the 5d2 as well :(

  • OH NO !!!

    I am a 7D user BECAUSE I found the 5D mark II Team absolutely ridiculous.

    So please do NOT join 7D users.

  • LOL

    Yes ask them… and listen to their vaporware blabla…

    Then maybe try some more serious “sources”.

  • yyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnn…video is so dull and lacking the aesthetic beauty of stills: as it always has.

  • GREAT you know the holy Truth. We don’t.

    We just know some “Canon facts” and share what we can with the rest of people.

    Some may believe, some may not.

  • They don’t cry, they do act to get improvements that they NEED for serious purposes.

    STANDARD 24/25/30 modes are not gimmicks. They are required to get good results on professional jobs.

    Now we’ll be able to use them without so many workarounds that lot of times delivered poor results.

  • Did Canon start making movies? How does this make them props? Also, what type of props do you mean (city scenes, cars, weapons)

  • what’s even sillier is they feel the need to tell the rest of the world.

    if they’re selling their canon stuff, i’m buyin’.

  • +1

    So is there really nothing for still shooters in the firmware? Not even the stuff the new Rebel got (Adjustable auto ISO upper limit)?
    Boo, Canon!

  • If Canon made such a camera, they would be used more then a loose whore in the ghetto.

  • Good post. Very nice writing (humor but serious at the same time)

    – In fact the Petition To Canon Inc. we started long ago in 2009 DOES include requests for AutoISO limit AND more frames in Bracketing mode.

    The fact that Canon didn’t implemented them is in part due to marketing. The other part is uncertain:

    – More frames in Bracketing is nothing new request, and Canon clearly seems not wanting to add it (a ridiculous and even UNACCEPTABLE limitation for a $2,700-2,500 camera…)

    – AutoISO limits is different, since it was implemented in T2i/550D, so a camera 3.5 times more expensive should has it too.

    And it’s 100% possible since it’s completely software related.

    Maybe (maybe) the firmware updates for 5D2 don’t end here… But since now, competition may play a bigger role on possible further updates.

    Magic Lantern will keep working on this anyway.

  • surely spending a few more $s on storage is worth getting 720p that actually resolves that resolution (ie, the 1080p mode resolves around 700 lines on test charts).

  • when much cheaper and powerless cameras do have 60p, of course i expect it. i would like to have audio meters in my 7d and 550d as well like in the new 5d2 software update, but i don’t complain about that. if there would be no 60p at all in the 7d and 550d, i also wouldnt complain (but i also might not have bought the products). the canon marketing dept simply needs to know some people are really pissed. when i spend 20,000+x bucks for pro gear, i expect pro decisions by that company.

  • Funny. Have any examples of your work Doug? Want to see how you would take advantage of even half the features in the 5d II

  • Shoot RAW and push? All the exposures above 3200/6400 are faked by the software anyway.

  • Im actually questioning the BASIS for claiming the af is no good, not saying it’s sensless to ask for more.

  • Ohw yeah! i’ve been waiting for this for months! The allready great 5dmkii is even getting better! Canon made my day! :D Some people are complaining but i think it’s great to get any free extra options for a product you’ve already bought!

  • but what about for photographers? Is Canon leaving them behind to pursue Videographers?

  • Then u suck! Wat the heck u doing reading this post. 5d Mark II users only. Get lost!

  • As usually Canon make a TOO small step.

    But i’m not surprised.

    5D Mark III must also have something,thats why 720p/50/60fps not was in this firmware.

    I think 5D Mark III will be here before this year ends.

    But them cant show any cards until Nikon D700 II/D800 have been on the market for some time.

    Canon maybe can,but not fast.

    5D Mark II have so many things to improve.

    New AF,shotting speed,Flash controlling,the feeling on everything,sealing,Gaffling of 5,7 or 9 photos,Working Auto Lighting Optimizer,Build in Chromatic Aberration correction,better viewfinder.And much,much more.

    Film :50/60fps on720p and 1080p,working AF,new build in stereo mic.

    But i dont think everything will be on 5D Mk III either.

  • Yes. Get two 5D mark II, melt them down and reform a camera from the molten magnesium. The super-camera will then do 720p @ 60fps.

  • Really? can you share some technical info on that. I also heard that the low iso 50 is fake too. I just don’t know who to believe… post a link if you have one. :)

  • I don’t really think it’s the number of AF points that’s the real issue, although more would probably be better, but even the 40D and 50D have more cross type and additionally sensitive above f/2.8…

    It’s not like you can’t eventually lock fairly accurate focus with a 5dII it’s just it takes a lot longer then it should, I have an old EOS-1n which has snappier AF (in pretty much all lighting conditions).

    That being said I still like my 5dII just wish it had more responsive AF, and perhaps a little more accurate on the non center points. If you know it’s short comings you can work around it, it would just be nice not to always have to…

    That being said I also agree that canon has the better ergonomics… The Only switch on a nikon I’d really like to see on the canon is the AF point selection method (the one that goes from multi-point, single point, and single+neighboring points).

  • Dude, it’s a fair call, I mean for many of us even full frame is a compromise, not saying that the various formats don’t have a place but if you specifically want FF don’t tell them near enough is good enough.

    WTB affordable Med-format system :)

  • Well the 550D does it, there may well be a hardware related reason as to why it can’t do 60fps but it’s not the single digic processor.

  • It’s like Idiosyncrasy but IRL the dumb percentage of the population are just breeding too fast!!! ARGH! etc etc.

  • Well the indication of ISO 50 being a “fake” is in the dynamic range, which is about a stop less then most of the other iso’s. It also has a very different curve to all the calibrated ISO’s. Not sure if it’s documented or not but the general idea is that ISO 50 is just an over exposed ISO 100 pulled back in camera processing the result is one less stop in the highlights. There’s also been people claiming that ISO 50 has about the same noise levels as 100 although that part I haven’t checked myself.

  • Sometimes you NEED to record more than 12 minutes, and that is only possible with something like 720p30.

    At least until a new file system is used (FAT32 size limit for a single file is 4GB, which in Full HD on the 5D2 means about 12 minutes)

    We also suggested a handy workaround (NO solution, but at least can help): File Spanning feature.

    It’s in our LIST OF FIXES & IMPROVEMENTS since lot months ago, and would be very easy to implement….

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/canon-firmware-updates/

    Why Canon doesn’t include such handy and very useful features that doesn’t require hard coding?…… We should ask them.

  • I agree. I would like to hear from people that have try to hand-held a DSLR and use it as a video camcorder for day and tell me if they like it or not. Also look at the video that you have shot with manual zooming on the lens. Then you can really tell us if you still want to use the DSLR as a camcorder.

  • Come on! What part of “full frame” do you not understand? I need to be able to use my 16-35mm as a real 16mm. I didn’t buy a 24/1.4L to have a 31mm field of view. Plus, a full frame sensor could have better high-iso capability than the APS-H camera. Canon users still need a competitor to the Nikon D700.

  • The center point on the 5D2 is excellent. The outer points suck (technical term.) If you’re working in low light, shooting wide open or close to it, being able to keep a focus point that works on the face of your subject will get you a much higher keeper rate than trying to focus and recompose. Focus/recompose doesn’t work at all if you’re photographing something more animate than a potted plant.

    I’ve got a 5D2, and have used a Nikon D700 in an identical situation, photographing musicians in a dimly lit environment. The D700 was the far better tool for getting images in focus. I don’t want to do a system switch, and Canon owners shouldn’t have to do a system switch to get a high-iso camera (perfect for low-light work) with fully functional autofocus. The game has changed since the 5D first came on the market. Now, $2500 should deliver a decently spec’ed full frame camera, which includes a contemporary AF system.

    The 40D already had cross-type sensors in all nine locations. Don’t tell me Canon couldn’t have included even that minimal feature in the 5D2.

  • Scott, I covered that too in my first reply – “In the case of competition, spring 2011 at the earliest.”, which is exactly a half of year earlier as was the case with the 1D MK4.

    One important thing here – at the pro level, which builds brand awareness, every measure is taken to maintain good renommée. Obviously this does not extend fully to a lesser models, which are often said to perform within specifications i.e. no action is taken.

  • you must be zooming in/out all the time at f22
    or else you would not ask that question
    size does matter in this case

  • Yes, you are totally right!

    Except some outstanding videos made by few people, maybe even paid by Canon and for the only marketing purpose, can someone show me the Hollywood film they made with the “video-camera” 5d II?

    We are talking about a camera first of all, but it seams everybody cares about 24 o 30 video fps and not about photography :-(

    More than 200 people are waiting for:
    – Selectable a minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO.
    – Selectable lower and upper limit for Auto ISO.

    http://www.petitiononline.com/Canon5D/petition.html

    They are function already present in other model, even in the so much less expensive Canon 550D, unbelievable!

  • You made me laugh :-D

    Anyway, since I spent lot of money, I would like Canon hear my/our voice, because the ISO features can be added in two seconds by a Canon baby programmer!

  • You’re right about the Auto ISO features. And some people here don’t get it why so many of us don’t jump and say “Thank You Canon”! :|

  • The zooming has got nothing to do with the f number. You can zoom while you are on f1.4 or f32 and anything in between.You zoom to change the coverage and you want a very smooth zooming that is while all modern camcorder have the power zoom because manual zoom can never be smooth enough. It sounds like you have never use a camcorder before.

  • No, we don’t.

    What part of the job of a professional sports photographer don’t you understand? Do you know the difference in weight between a 300/2.8 and a 400/2.8? You can easily even drop a 500/4 from your thinkthank when shooting 16mp at APS-H with a 300/2.8 and still get comparable images to a 12 megapixel Nikon! You need a fullframe? There’s two options. You want a Nikon D700, for the love of god, buy one!

    I don’t hear anyone complaining that BMW doesnt make pickups neither do i hear anyone complain that Hummer doesn’t make bikes. They’re different companies, they make different products. It’s up to them to make a product which they vision is needed and it’s your choice if you buy them or not.

    I shoot fullframe (5Dii) mostly myself and the only real benefits are a miniscule difference in low-light performance and getting a bigger magnification leading to a miniscule difference in DOF when using ultra-high aperture lenses. I’m doing very well with just one focus point, but i guess there’s those who know their equipment and those who don’t.

  • I read a few comment talking about how great the 5D II works as an excellent video camera,even good enough for Hollywood. Sometimes I wonder how many of them has used it that way seriously. With the following draw backs, personally I am not sure that i would like to use it for video:
    1. Each video clip is limited to less than 14 minutes (in HD and 30fps) That will fill a 4 G memory card. for a big production, you will need to keep track a lot of memory cards.
    2. It is hard to hand held the camera for video
    3. You have to use IS lens. not all L lens are IS. If you use non L lens, then the video quality will be degraded.
    4. You have to zoom the lens by hand. That is not smooth enough.it will cause camera shaking also.
    So you can spend $4000 to $5000 minimum for a minimum set up with only one lens. I would rather use the same amount to buy a REAL video camera like the canon XH A1S.

  • In response to your points:

    1. How many Hollywood productions have a single scene running for more than 12 minutes?
    2. Most Hollywood productions don’t handhold cameras. They are on some sort of mount or dolly.
    3. IS is not a requirement. See 2. If the lens is on a mount, you don’t have to worry about a shakey image. If it’s not on a mount, you would likely use a steady cam.
    4. Most productions use predefined zooms and have a dedicated focus aid. The do not use auto focus.

  • If you expect that then you should also expect the 1D Mark III people asking “Where is my video mode? Much cheaper and powerless cameras can do video!”

    I think Canon is doing a pretty good job introducing the new features via firmware.

  • obviously a product that is several years old can’t be updated with all new features and nobody expects that. but it’s obvious that the current model 2000+x bucks cam could have a 60p 720 mode, when the 700 bucks cam of the same lineup can do it. canon does offer great products, but you can see the marketing dept is playing tricks.

  • hahaha mr pro..

    thank you for the explanation, what I meant is:
    Using a zoom a lot
    AND/OR using f22

  • Canon or any other company will not make the perfect camera. They know how perfect they can make it they just wont. WHy should they when they know people like most of you will run out and spend the $xxxx for the next latest and greatest a year later. They have you all hooked in. It’s called job security! As long as they have the sad little puppies sitting in the window waiting for the bone. they will throw you a bone. Then having you come back for more.

  • add:
    -difference in depth because of sensor size
    -using MANY HQ lenses where that is impossible or expensive for an
    medium class videocamera like the one you mention.
    (and using photo lenses on a this type of camera: cropfactor x4 or so..)
    -better contrast/dynamics, better in ‘grain’
    -stealth video (not noticed while filming…”he’s just a photographer”)
    to name a few.

  • That is great news.

    I wish they had included 720p at least with 25fps replacing the 640×480 (who still needs vga / 4:3 ?).
    720p50/720p60 would have been nice for slow motion, but not essential.
    Most important is to support standard resolution.

  • This is a marketing rule really obsolete, it could have been good years ago, now with internet and different and more self-conscious Clients, it is a bad boomerang for Canon.

    There is something more strong these days, it is called retention of customer loyalty, something that Canon is loosing now, at least for Photographer clients: you may say “Ok, but they are getting Video Clients”. Well, as far as I read, most of the new “video” Clients are not happy anyway.

    I think hybrid product will never be professional products.

  • I never claimed to use the camera in a professional capacity. I fully admit it is not ideal for home camcorder use. I was just stating some points to show flaws in Rocky’s reasoning.

    I can point out reasons why it is not a good professional camera as well (just two off the top of my head, I could probably think of more if I wanted to).

    1) 8-bit 4:2:0 colour space is not good for post production
    2) lacks good monitor output to aid in focusing

  • oh.. just noticed on different computers I have different names. phigment == Paul in this case.

  • This is my first post ever on Canon Rumours which I read it every day. I just wanna apologize to the people being insulted on this site just because some challenged people don’t get the firmware they want. The majority of us really appreciate you guys giving us the scoop and I hope you will continue to do so. Thanks a lot!

  • @Rocky.
    Durrrr this whole post is about how the 5dII is getting a 24 and 25fps update as well as many other features that make an already pretty good HDSLR even better.
    Video cameras are for ENG news work. hDSLRs are great micro-cinema cameras.
    peace.

  • wow this is a first for canon – a firmware update thats actually beneficial for most users whether or not they use the movie feature.

    I guess canon felt threatened and needed to react. Typical.

    c’mon canon be more active about how you treat users after they’ve bought into it.

  • We asked for both STILLS & VIDEO improvements since 2009…

    – Check our post:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/canon-firmware-updates/

    The emphasis is on video, but still improvements were requested since day 1 too.

    – And the PETITION TO CANON Inc:

    http://5dmark2.wordpress.com/petition-to-canon-inc/

    We can’t put a gun on Canon CEOs to force them include all that is possible to include, even when many fixes are EXTREMELY EASY.., but we requested HARD indeed (at all levels, NOT ONLY PUBLICLY)

    So hard that they even mention “subtly” it in their latest article about the new 2.0.3.

    Check our latest post and click on “Canon USA Website with more details and pictures”..

  • Can’t please all of the people all of the time. It’s an improvement everyone! Be happy!

  • Where is all this knowledge coming from?

    -marketing rules being obsolete and others stronger
    -internet being bad for Canon (boomerang effect)
    -Canon is losing customers & customer loyalty..
    -Video clients are not happy… (with what?)
    -‘hybrids’ will never be professional products

  • Paul, Harrie, I have never say that 5D II is not good enough for Hollywood. I am saying that a lot of comment are made by people that have never use it seriously or may even have never used it. As for pr-defined Zoom, I would respectfully disagree. Can you name me a movie with a scene has never been zoomed at the middle of a scene? I am fully aware that almost all Hollywood production are using track and dolly or even cherry pickers. On the other hand I doubt that Hollywood will use 5D II for actual production. So my comment is more aiming at the advanced home use than Hollywood. I do not think that there is any fault in it. As for lens, If you get the XH G1S or XH A1S, it comes with a 20X zoom which is more than enough for most of the home usage. with 5D II you will need at least 3 to4 L lenses with IS to cover the same range. It can get expensive very fast. “Depth” has got nothing to do with the sensor size, because the final format is only 1.56 M pixel. It is determined by the sensor quality, lens quality and software.
    I do agree that stealth is an advantage to use 5D II as a video camera.

  • Agree, How many of present Toyota owners will buy another Toyota as their next new car ???

    Hope Canon will make a 60D out of the sensor of 1D MK III or IV without the video.

  • I do agree that 5D II is a great camera. Have you actually use it as a video camera??
    Peace

  • Depth of Field is in fact affected by sensor size.

    F/2 on a crop sensor is a lot more “in focus” than F/2 on a full frame sensor.

    This comes into play when you are doing focus pulls and need a good “range of throw” to get an accurate shot.

    It’s a pain on a crop sensor when you move the focus ring a tiny bit and get a huge jump in the focal plane.

  • I understand that “Depth of field” is sensor dependent. How ever when people talk about the “depth” of a picture, they are referring to the visual impact and quality of the picture.

  • I find it odd that Canon is making a point to say that this firmware upgrade is FREE. All updated from Canon in the past have been free, as far as I can tell.

    If they are making a point of this, it makes me wonder – will there be a future update to this or other cameras that will have a cost associated with them?

    Interesting.

  • Looks to me like it could be the 24-105 but the 105 is off frame. That’s a rather short throw for 24-70 zoom.

  • Sorry no.,,
    It’s used as a FILM camera..
    not as a house hold video camera
    (even focus pulling works backwards)
    thats the point we are trying to make and you keep missing

  • Uh, you’re right. Now that I’ve checked, I see that you are -unfortunately- bloody well right. I was carried away by enthusiasm, but… false alarm.

  • Thanks for the trailer. It is great. However there is nothing mentioned about 5D II is being used. I have seen a thank you note to Canon and a lens adapter maker. If a 5D II is used, why do they need a lens adapter?? Canon makes excellent L lenses from very wide to very long lenses. One final question to you: have you ever use the 5D II seriously as a camcorder??? Or are you just going for the ride ??

  • Now lets us seen who is “You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about”. I have been a video photographer for more than 10 years and a photographer for more than 45 years both in film (Leica M4 with 5 lenses) and digital in the last 6 years. So I know enough of the issue on both sides. FYI you can never use the 5D II as a FILM camera.

  • Canon is good at both firmware and software update. So far, I have never paid for any update on ALL 3 cameras in the past 6 years. However, keep your original disk handy. Once a while Canon does ask you to insert the original disk in order to install the new update

  • “Free” firmware update, soon a thing of the past, nikon is programming us for the future:

    Soon you’ll not buy a camera but a service to take photographs.

    You buy a service and get a 5Dmk3 camera at 1000 dollars but to unlock Hi ISO you pay another 200, need more FPS? 150 per frame per second increase. Need bracketing? nope, untick the box and save 10 bucks. Camera to be used by more people: tick the multi-user box and get the 3 user licence for only 500. You want RAW support? 250. Movie mode? buy 1080/24 and get 720/60 for free, just 400. You want to use focal length under 24 and over 200mm ? get the wide/tele supersaver deal, 500 separate, now 350 in a package…..

  • And I guess there are snarky types who flunk reading comprehension. Where did “professional sports photographer” enter into this discussion? Those words don’t appear in my original comment anywhere. You have telephoto vision, my friend. Most of what I do is in smaller venues, and classrooms. I’m not using a 300/2.8. When I do need to shoot long, I have a 1D3. What’s missing is the full frame body (other than the 1Ds series, for insane money) that serves as a “all-rounder.”

    If a D700 would work with all the Canon lenses and accessories I’ve built up over the past twenty years, we wouldn’t have an issue. But the problem is we need a CANON camera that fits that slot, that works with Canon lenses and flashes. Why do you think such a camera would eliminate the 1D series that sports photographers like? It’s a different camera!

    On occasion I work side by side with newspaper and wire service photographers at labor or political events. I’ve watched one of them pull out a 14mm lens on several occasions, because the 16-35 on her 1D3 isn’t wide enough. That’s an additional expense, and unnecessary hassle. Do you understand this?

  • No, what you mean by “canon users shouldn’t have to” really means is that you don’t want to. A manufacture doesn’t have to do anything. You should have purchased a D700 – what are you doing with the Canon anyway? Does Nikon owe D700 users 22 megapixels for their mistake-purchase in the search of AF, just because the cheaper 5D II offers it? You know what each camera can do, and you should buy the one that suits you; there is no “shouldn’t have to”. I mean… hell, I shouldn’t have to pay taxes to support dying smokers.

  • I hope this is a joke, not a fact. Is Nikon really starting to charge for additional “feature”???

  • It would make sense – Canon is funneling R&D into an old product when there are more current solutions that already solve the problem. If they were to introduce new features and improvements that are substantial, how do they offset their costs in doing so?

    Charge for it.

    Let me ask you this: How many people would pay $40 to have 720P and 60fps? My guess is – everyone that wants it.

  • I think Canon is doing it for free as a Cheap advertisement and to get customer loyalty. What could be a better advertisement than this:” We will support our product even it is 2 yeas old and being semi-obsoleted” I think Canon is smart enough not to win the battle and lose the war.

  • sorry, typo, nikon in my post should have been canon…

    it could even get worse…..think about a pay per shoot scheme….prepaid or postpaid…..with a 10ct debited every time you switch the camera on.

  • I get your point, but I’m compelling to needle you by asking where you got that f/1.4 zoom lens ;)

  • Canon could just sell throw-away digital cameras, equipped in various ways at different prices. One-time use. When done, just download the files and throw camera away.

  • Moreover, a 1000′ foot reel of traditional 35mm movie film runs AFAICT 11 minutes or so, so the filesystem-enforced limit of 12-14 minutes (depending who you ask) is hardly a new thing for pros, who today would probably be using cards as large as 64GB, would would comfortably hold over three hours of footage. Compared to shooting 35mm film, handling a big production’s supply of nearly-weightless CF cards would seem like heaven. All the raw footage for a feature would easily fit on one’s pants pocket.

  • The f1.4 is just a f number that I use to explain the other person’s comment about zooming. However you can buy a XH G1S or XH A1S with a f1.6, 20X zoom. That is another reason why like a real camcorder instead of using any DSLR as a camcorder. The speed of the lens and zoom range is much better than any DSLR as a camcorder. The other reasons are in my previous comment. To be fair, I do use my SD 870 as my occasional ( not well prepared for the occasion) camcorder (680 X480) due to its small size and availability at that time.

  • Old Nikkor manual focus primes are very sharp and a lot easier to work with during a MF shoot. Zeiss Primes are also a favorite of film makers.

    I love my 135L, 50L and my 16-35L, but for doing accurate (and repeatable) focus pulls during a shot, the canon EF lenses are a little difficult to work with due to the way the focus ring controls the actual motor.

    This is where an alt-glass adapter comes in handy.

  • It seems a lot of people have a lot to say about using the 5d as a video camera yet have n experience of using it as such.

    The 5D used correctly, with the right set up can produce amazing film quality video.

    The video feature was only put on the camera for photo journalists to be able to capture the odd video clip to then use the videos online (hence 30p frame rate)

    To use it for professional video it needs additional items and used correctly it can produce amazing results.

    Zooming during shooting is not the mark of a professional video….Film camera used to make motion pictures use prime lenses so they never(rarely) ever use a zoom in a shot, its the sign of video (or rubbish wedding films).

    Using it for home video is a bit trickier and not ideal. If you want to be creative and artist its the perfect tool.

    I used it a lot last year to record my sons first year or life and was great (but i do film production as a living and have the full set up to edit etc….) to then cut a short film to remember it by.

    At the end of the day to use it properly to get great results you need to realise its flaws and work with them and learn to work a way around it, if you try and use it like a traditional video camera you will get poor results.

    Ive had mine for a year now and learn a new technique and flaw every time I use it on a job.

    Have recently moved to using the 5D and 7D exclusively to shoot weddings with and the results are so much better.

    here is a clip of a recent wedding trailer I made, shot entirely with the 5d/7d

    http://www.vimeo.com/9022165

  • I think it would be very hard to sell the “software” as it could be easily “pirated”.

  • :) That would work only if these would be hardware options as software will be easily “pirated”.

  • You were using the zooming on the few opening scene. The zooming is very smooth and very effective. Can you please give up a little professional secret and tell us how did you do it??? Thanks

  • Yep, transcoding is due to, guess what, to the coding (or codec) the video is recorded. 720 or 1080 is exactly the same thing…

  • – You are right, the marketing rule you explain (job security) is still actual, but I think it is changing, since customers (at least some of them interested in professional products) are getting knowledge more and more and are getting less attracted but Big Marketing Campaigns.
    – Yes, it is, everybody here read and discuss and most of us agree about essential photography features in a camera
    – Well, I read lot of complains about missing video features anyway.
    – Hybrid.. half camera half video camera, so not camera not video camera…

  • I though Canon was comparable to brands like BMW, AUDI, even Ferrari for professional cameras, but now I also think Canon is a Toyota with runabout market camera as prior goal.

    I spent 2.500 euro one year ago for a Canon 5D mark II (a CAMERA FIRST OF ALL), do I will ever buy another Canon “camera” when now auto iso limits is on a Canon 550D that costs four time less than our 5D?! Canon are you kidding us? Do you think we keep on giving our money to you!?

    Customer loyalty! If Canon cares about quantity and not quality, well I am not part of his market.

  • HiRocky

    Its not zooming in, I dont ever touch the zoom as I use prime lenses. What I have used is a rail system called ‘Glide Track’ if you google you will find it. They are amazing and really enable you to get professional cinemtic tracking shots.

  • I think all the video customers are happy, they just wanted more and canon keep delivering it.Yes no 60p (at the moment) but its still an incredible camera for the price if you compare it with the image quality of other prosumers video cameras costing the same.

    The 5d is a professional hybrid already?First and foremost it was made as photo camera but the video on it is so impressive that is being used all over the world as a professional video camera. I for one am actually able to now charge my clients more mv money because im using the 5d and 7d than I was using the sony EX-1 which is a £5,000 camera.

    Tv commercials have been made with it music videos (robert ridriguez is currentl shoot a music video with 2 7ds)have been made with it all over the world.

    So photographers are using it to make money and film makers so in my eyes its a professional hybrid camera. It is definately now after all the firmware updates to improve the video functions

  • Mark, I saw your website and…
    I must say that I underestimated a lot the video quality and possibilities of the 5D mark II, at least for some kind of videos, I am just not interested in it. Anyhow your works are really nice and I am finally happy to having seen something professional made by people not direct involved in Canon Marketing campaign.

    Having said that, please understand my frustration for missing photography features, so much easy to implement and so useful: it is hard for be to accept extra video features (very welcome anyhow)that cost lot of money and time against something really stupid copy&paste from cheaper cameras… that’s my point and that is why I am so polemic and unhappy.

    I should have used a tone less heavy, but I’be been waiting a new firmware update for photography for more than one year (many came for video meanwhile).

    Nothing personal and lot of admiration and respect for you and your work.

  • hi nico

    Thanks for your kind words about my work.

    I totally understand your fustration with the photography side. All the updates have been mainly for video and thery seem to be listening to the video guys and ignoring the photogrpahy guys….so you definately have a right to be angry Nico.

    Hopefully now the video guys can stop complaining and canon will start listnening to the togs!

  • No no, it is easy to avoid piracy.

    Each camera’s serial number can be accessed in firmware – its even in your EXIF data if you look closely. When you buy the firmware, Canon can then generate the firmware with a matching serial – if it finds a different serial number, it simply won’t install.

    A feature like this would prevent piracy 100%, until hacked. Even if it were to be hacked, the process would likely be complicated enough to keep honest people honest.

  • I can’t understate how thrilled I’ve been with the 5DMII. I’ve had so much fun with it between recording priceless moments of my newborn to chasing around bald eagles and osprey in New Hampshire. This latest firmware will only improve these experiences…

    Thanks to Canon many times over for their efforts on improving the 5DMII. For me, acquiring this camera was a major financial purchase, and it has been worth every cent.

    That being said, I hope, even desperately so, that they come out with a 60fps update. My heart just sunk when I read it isn’t included in this firmware…

    Is there any chance it will be introduced in the future??? Or is Canon moving on?

  • Maybe someone can guide me but in displaying the video files in AVID and Final Cut with each clip the SMPTE Start Time Code is set to “zero”. In shooting I would like to see progressive time codes clip to clip. Anybody have an idea? Thanks.

    Skiff

  • Knowing that they used this camera for the last season series of the TV show “House” & on George Lucas’ next film Red Tails, operated by Philip Bloom… I went ahead and bought the camera today.

    I needed a new still camera, upgrading to full format… Not sure what to choose, the Nikon D700 or Canon 5d mk2.

    The fact is, Canons 5d mark 2 has more advantage for creativity… you won’t be saying “it’ll get the job done” you’ll be saying “it’ll get the JOBS done”.

    If people are noticing what this truly is already, and using as not only as a Pro Photographers tool, but a Cinema tool as well… Then imagine down the road what we’re starting here.. beginning with the 5d Mark 2.

    and its shipping to my house… ya baby!

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