21.1 megapixel Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Full-Frame, Full-HD video

After a brief tease, Canon just got official with its EOS 5D Mark II. The full-frame shooter updates the original 5D introduced back in 2005 with a 24 x 36mm 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor with 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion, and the ability to capture Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 video -- take that Nikon D90 and your paltry 720p. We're talking expanded 50-25,600 ISO range,15-point autofocus with 9 selectable AF points, 3-inch Live View LCD offering 4x the pixels of the original 5D, and a 3.9fps burst for unlimited JPEGs or up to 14 RAW images when using a UDMA CF card.

With regard to video leaked predicted by RED CEO last week, the EOS 5D Mark II captures Full HD video at 30fps as well as VGA / 30fps for the first time on any Canon SLR. Of course, it works with any of Canon's 60 EF lenses (and whatever Carl Zeiss cooks up) for ultra-wide-angle, fish-eye, macro, and super-telephoto videography. Video can be recorded at up to 4GB per clip which is equivalent to about 12 minutes of Full HD video or 24 minutes in VGA. Video clips are recorded in .MOV format using MPEG-4 video compression and linear PCM audio. You can even record with external stereo mics attached to an input terminal.

At the end of November, Canon will sell the body-only for $2,699 or bundled with Canon's 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens for $3,499. Welcome back to the show Canon, we were starting to worry.

Gallery: canon 5d mark ii

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[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Harrier Sky @ Sep 17th 2008 12:35AM]

Just clicked buy for 50d... I'm an idiot.

[tillkrueger @ Sep 17th 2008 1:47AM]

no worries, mate...just call the vendor and cancel the order...they *have* to honor that request.

[viewsource @ Sep 17th 2008 2:02AM]

Will the video have autofocus, or is it going to be manual focus like the Nikon?

[billy bob thorton @ Sep 17th 2008 9:14AM]

I just reviewed some of canon's video samples and it seems they are a BIG step ahead of Nikon on this. This biggest thing for me was the constant auto adjusting on Nikon's live view and from all the sample's I had seen, it appeared to be in the video as well. The canon samples look as they should.

I'm a Nikon user so I'll have to wait until they one up Canon.

[RyanTV @ Sep 18th 2008 4:46AM]

Don't worry Billy Bob - The D400 cant be far away and you know it will trump this one.

I have my D200 still (and it is fantastic) but I'd love to be able to check out that video mode. I'm getting my wife a D90 for Christmas to replace her D40.

Canon and Nikon both make such great products and the competition between the 2 just keeps giving us consumers and pros better equipment to work with.

My friends that are Canon based are going to flip out to get this camera and rightfully so. It's a beautiful piece of kit.

[Rotciv @ Sep 17th 2008 12:36AM]

About time! Now, how much?

btw, my very first post in engadget.com after being a lurker for 4 years. :)

[simon @ Sep 17th 2008 12:46AM]

congratulations. Careful, as a longtime lurker you must know that we can be a snarky bunch around here. Civility has taken a recent nosedive - watch me get rated down for that one.

[gad get @ Sep 17th 2008 1:20AM]

@ I had to vote you down just to help you prove your point, because I agree with you. Ironic, isn't it?

[gad get @ Sep 17th 2008 1:21AM]

@ simon

[loosely_coupled @ Sep 17th 2008 2:00AM]

welcome mate!

[Geir E @ Sep 17th 2008 2:18AM]

It should be $2699.

Not bad for a very expensive p&s specced camera with a huge sensor and interchangeable lenses ;)

[Code Red @ Sep 17th 2008 5:27AM]

The price is in the post...$2,700 for body only, $3,500 with a sweet L-grade lens.

[Chris @ Sep 17th 2008 12:37AM]

Will the price be as attractive as the Sony one?

[phat59 @ Sep 17th 2008 12:37AM]

It will be $2700

[jackNASTY @ Sep 17th 2008 12:44AM]

are you sure? that seems a little low...



and for the comment about the D90's video.... its still impressive for a camera body that cost less than $1,000.

[Josh Warner @ Sep 17th 2008 1:01AM]

If you are right about that price, this blows everything Nikon has out of the water. Everything. The D700 can't match this camera, even if it was priced equivalently.

I prefer shooting Nikon, but they have to pull their heads out and release something to compete with this. Now.

[fh @ Sep 17th 2008 1:04AM]

Yes, that's what the official press release stated. $2699 body-only, $3500 kit with 24-105mm f/4L.

Frankly, that price is nothing short of amazing.

[Eric @ Sep 17th 2008 1:09AM]

This looks like a great camera, and I'll be using one next year along with the 1Ds Mark II. But to claim this outclasses the Nikon D700, without having compared performance, is bunk. The D700 has some compelling features this doesn't. Video is irrelevant. The Red Scarlet is a real HD video camera. Video is a nice add-on, but we'll see if it really does serious video once we see results and not until. It's a still camera. That's its strength. Not that it won't be important for many people, but video is not necessarily worth having in a camera like this. We shall see.

[Kimleng @ Sep 17th 2008 1:10AM]

The 5D came out at $3,200 without the 24-105L lens at first. For this to debut at $2,699 makes it a complete STEAL compared to the 5D. All I gotta do now is shoot like two weddings and have this beast paid for.

[Mojo_Yugen @ Sep 17th 2008 8:59AM]

I think Canon is responding to Nikon's prices. Competition in the full frame segment is good!

[Jesse @ Sep 17th 2008 12:37AM]

Oh man, there goes my allowance

[Kimleng @ Sep 17th 2008 1:04AM]

I spent that on the 5D. I never recovered after having to upgrade to quality lens to take advantage of it.

There goes the shirt off my back and a kidney or two...

[Jesse @ Sep 17th 2008 1:08AM]

@Kimleng: Haha, me too.. I have been waiting a while for this upgrade though! I really can't wait, and now that I have the lenses it won't be so bad, unless I have to sell them to afford it lol

[ethana2 @ Sep 17th 2008 1:34AM]

Only sell one kidney. Two just-- yeah, it doesn't work that way.

[Kenjis9965 @ Sep 17th 2008 1:48AM]

>.>

[Tim Brown @ Sep 17th 2008 5:56AM]

Do you think I could operate it with 1 hand if I sold my right arm to medical research?

[Chris @ Sep 17th 2008 1:03PM]

@Tim

Better make that your left arm to science the camera is a right handed model.....

[Cory @ Oct 1st 2008 3:02PM]

Do you think I could use it one-handed if my other hand was, busy, with the 21.1 mega pixel pictures?

[Kevin Wong @ Sep 17th 2008 12:41AM]

RAW at 14-bit will probably be around 25mb a pop.

[Cunthor @ Sep 17th 2008 12:42AM]

Hmm, just a 50D with more megapixels and slower frame rate... took them three years to make this?? Why is it that Sony A900 at 24mpx can shoot 5fps, and this thing can't even do 4fps at 21 mpx? Give us a Nikon D700 type body Canon!!!!

[spence @ Sep 17th 2008 12:49AM]

Thats what the canon 1ds mark 3 is for.

For photographers like myself who don't care or need high fps, this is perfect for the price. spence

[marcusw74 @ Sep 17th 2008 1:01AM]

Is a 50D full frame? No. Can a 50D record HD movies? No. Does a 50D have as many options? No. Did you actually pay attention to the article? No.

[basroil @ Sep 17th 2008 1:15AM]

Lets see... 5DMKII has 90% more MP, same ISO range (plus 50 on the low end), 3.9fps AT 14BIT (yes, read the fine print, no nikon body can go that fast at 14bit with or without the booster), $300 cheaper, full 1080p hd video @ 30fps (gimmick, true, but puts to shame the d90's 720p 20fps video), etc etc.

I would love to have one of these to complement my 1dmkIII... just so damn nice looking, just not the greatest for sports (though I shoot single frames most of the time anyway) and not good in the rain, but neither is the d700 (in any of these categories).

[bundle @ Sep 17th 2008 1:23AM]

Burn...

[Temple @ Sep 17th 2008 2:10AM]

Seriously, the 9-point AF is very disappointing and 3.9fps is awful slow. AF and speed are barely better then the Rebel.

The sensor is amazing, but the D700 has 51-AF points and does 8fps(with grip). Atop that only the center AF point for the 5DII can really utilize fast primes (2.8 and below) that Canon is so well known for (the rest of the AF points can't), not to mention that the spot meter isn't even linked to the focusing point (only the center).

[loosely_coupled @ Sep 17th 2008 3:42AM]

You really believe that pics/second and megapixels are the sole measures of a camera? I can't even respond to that type of nonsense...

[loosely_coupled @ Sep 17th 2008 3:46AM]

@Temple
"...speed are barely better then the Rebel."

Is the Rebel shooting full-frame 21 megapixel 14-bit RAW data?

[spence @ Sep 17th 2008 12:47AM]

perfect, time to upgrade my 5d.

[DarkRail @ Sep 17th 2008 12:51AM]

It's got video... what about audio?

Are videos silent? Is there one of those useless tiny mics hidden somewhere? Maybe an optional XLR-input adaptor coming (please)?

Can't find anything about audio on their spec sheet.

[DBrim @ Sep 17th 2008 12:54AM]

Stereo audio.

If I didn't have thousands in Nikon glass, this would be a must buy.

[marcusw74 @ Sep 17th 2008 12:56AM]

You can attach an external mic. I don't know about built in.

[max @ Sep 17th 2008 12:56AM]

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20080917_5dmkii.html

heres the press release, its got audio for sure

[farfisa @ Sep 17th 2008 1:00AM]

From the press release:
"The new camera features an input terminal for external stereo microphones as well as a built-in monaural microphone for convenience."

That's nice. Most camcorders do better with an external mic anyway.

[DarkRail @ Sep 17th 2008 1:08AM]

Excellent! How could I not buy this?

Thanks for the info... and to Thomas for immediately updating the article.

[Bitman @ Sep 17th 2008 12:53AM]

Wow. Makes me think about selling my HD camcorder, my Canon Xsi and just getting this to replace them both.

[Conrad @ Sep 17th 2008 12:55AM]

Yeah, but I doubt the audio is that great compared to an actual camcorder. Isn't the audio a complaint about the D90?

[soulsolutions @ Sep 17th 2008 2:16AM]

Its one of those things where if the video mode doesn't effect the operation and quality of the still photos then it makes it easier to justify the cost over the 50d. "I don't need to spend $1,000 on a HD camcorder I'll hardy ever use".
I don't see the video mode as something you would use as a fulltime video camera, the erganomics, lack of swival screen, auto focus and sound quality are all compremised.
On the upside you have a high quality sensor and expensive lenses not seen on consumer video cameras. I think we will see some awesome new video clips with macro lenses and fisheye lenses. It will let you experiment more without more stuff to lug around.
Time for youtube/flickr/smugmug to start supporting 1920x1080!

[Flunky Carter @ Sep 17th 2008 3:20AM]

At least we have Vimeo :)

[Conrad @ Sep 17th 2008 12:53AM]

oh snap!

[fh @ Sep 17th 2008 1:05AM]

I see what you did there.