dstppy said:
Neuro, which xD xxD xxxD models would you say bracket it (one step better, one step worse).
I'd say the center point is on par with the 7D's center point, the outer points are on par with the 450D-600D outer points, and overall performance is between the 450-600D and the 40-60D (each range has basically the same AF system).
kenraw said:
Do the outer points work ok then with static subjects such as portraits as I always select a point I dont really use center spot and recompose a whole lot.
They are ok - just ok - with static subjects. Sometimes they just plain miss. The other issue with the 5DII's outer points is their location. You mention it as a 3rd body - what are the other two? Probably doesn't matter - the spread of the 5DII's AF points is worse overall than any other xxxD - xD body (except the original 5D, which is the same). The horizontal spread is good - the same as the 1DsIII, in fact (and Canon highlighted that when the 5DII came out). But, the vertical spread is very narrow (which Canon didn't mention, of course), and as a result the points which you may care most about - the ones closest to the rule-of-thirds intersections, are nowhere near those intersections. 1-series, 7D, xxD, and even xxxD/Rebel bodies all have points that are pretty close to those intersections.
The image below shows the 5DII AF points in dark blue, compared to the 1DsIII with a rule-of-thirds grid for reference. The 1DIV and 7D's relative coverage is actually a little greater than the 1DsIII. Except for those two widely spaced side points, all of the 5DII's remaining AF points (including the invisible assist points) are clustered just outside or just inside the spot metering circle.