Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 50D
Canon unveils Canon 5D Mark II, the new successor to Canon 5D. For the midrange and professional segments in Canon line, another flagship is Canon EOS 50D which reveals just a few days before.
Following hot on the heels of the Canon EOS 50D as it does, the Canon 5D Mark II shares many of Canon EOS 50D’s advances. The 5D Mark II’s appearance is similar to the EOS 50D. Someone said that the 5D Mark II may look like an oversized 50D .The difference is that the former is larger and without a built-in flash. They share a similar control layout on the top and back, utilize the same 3.0 inch (diagonal), 920,000 dot rear LCD and both have a Type C HDMI video port on the side. To many people, it maybe a good news that Canon’s next-generation, 14-bit DIGIC 4 processor which is first used in Canon 50D emerge in Canon 5D mark II too. The new processor is responsible in part for enabling broader file format and image processing options.
The 5D Mark II’s Live View implementation is closest to that of the 50DIt offers Quick Mode autofocus (phase detection, Live View is interrupted while the mirror drops and focus is performed), Live Mode autofocus (contrast detection, Live View is not interrupted, focus is slower than phase detection) plus a second flavour of Live Mode autofocus that performs automatic face detection. Live View can be engaged using the Direct Print button (and once engaged, video capture can be started and stopped using the Set button within the Quick Command Dial).
The 5D Mark II features a creative auto mode, as on the 50D, that gives you easy access to settings such as picture styles, exposure compensation in one location. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II also has the quick start menu featuring on the 50D. The quick start menu enables the user to change shooting settings with ease.
These two cameras share a lot of same features, but of course they have differences. Compared to Canon 50D, 5D Mark II has a full frame sensor, and 50D has cropped sensor. This leads to Canon 5D Mark II ISO topping out an unbelievable 25600 compared to 50D’s 12800. If equipped with the same lens, 5D Mark II will capture wider scene than 50D (which has 1.6 crop factor). Unfortunately, the new 5D Mark II does not share its predecessor’s range of accessories. Whereas the 50D shares batteries and battery grip with the 40D, owners of the original 5D will find themselves having to replace existing batteries and grips as the EOS 5D Mk II takes the new LP-E6 battery and BG-E6 grip.
