EOS 5D Mark II - the world's first DSLR capable of shooting Full HD video
The EOS 5D Mark II represents a revolution in the digital SLR camera market. Just as the original EOS 5D created a new market segment between the professional EOS-1 series cameras and the consumer EOS 20D, the EOS 5D Mark II takes photography in a new direction.
Who is it for?
The EOS 5D Mark II will find favour with many genres of photographer; from photojournalists and social photographers to landscape and natural history shooters. In fact, the only group of photographers it won't suit are those shooting high-speed sports when a faster frame rate is required to keep up with the action.
Apart from stills photographers, the EOS 5D Mark II will also appeal to those interested more in moving images as the Full HD video recording simplifies the HD video capture process. It also allows the use of all the EF lenses from the Canon lens range, so would-be film-makers have no shortage of options when it comes to choosing the look and feel of their productions.
Key features
- 21.1 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
- 3.9fps shooting speed
- 1920x1080 Full HD Movie Capture
- ISO range from 50-25,600 with expansion
- DIGIC 4 processor
Key benefits
For the first time, a digital SLR still camera features the ability to record Full High Definition (HD) 1080p video suitable for use across any media. It provides the ability for photojournalists to shoot stills and video without changing cameras, and amateur moviemakers to shoot high quality video without needing expensive camera set-ups and a dedicated film crew.
The advantage of the full-frame CMOS sensor is immediately clear - low light performance is excellent and the depth-of-field in videos can be tightly controlled in a way that video cameras with smaller sensors cannot achieve. It is also possible to shoot stills while shooting video.
While the ability to shoot Full HD video may be the headline feature, there are other important features. The camera features a standard ISO range that runs to 6400, with expansion settings to 12,800 and 25,600 for when the light levels really fall and you need to get a shot. This high ISO, low light performance comes courtesy of the improved CMOS sensor and the presence of the DIGIC 4 processor, which removes image noise while retaining detail in the image.
A 3.9fps shooting speed is fast enough for the needs of most photographers this camera is aimed at. When shooting JPEG images to a UDMA enabled memory card the buffer capacity is only limited by the capacity of the memory card.
The 920,000-dot VGA LCD screen provides incredible clarity and using it with the Live View Mode makes checking fine focus before taking the picture easy. The large viewing angle also makes Live View Mode even more useful as you can still view the LCD screen even if your camera is positioned at a strange angle.
The Live View Mode is also improved, providing three autofocusing methods - Quick AF, Live AF and Face Detection AF. To ensure accurate autofocus in normal use the wide-area AF features a centre cross-type sensor, eight other AF sensors, and six AF Assist points for use in AI Servo focusing.
To keep images dust free the camera also features the proven EOS Integrated Cleaning System to shake off dust particles from the sensor, plus the ability to collect Dust Delete Data for mapping any remaining dust out in post-production using Canon's Digital Photo Professional software.
Fittingly for a camera that is destined for professional use, the shutter life has been uprated to 150,000 actuations. The EOS 5D Mark II also features improved weather sealing to keep the elements out and allow professionals to keep shooting in many varying conditions.
Key technologies
The full-frame sensor provides a field of view the same as film. Depth-of-field is the same as well, allowing for finer control over what is in and out of focus. The larger sensor also means larger pixels, with inherently lower noise levels.
The DIGIC 4 processor is the heart of the EOS camera. It processes the data from the sensor and turns it into something usable. The high level of computing power available in the DIGIC 4 allows for very advanced noise processing to ensure noise-free images. It has also allowed the facility to shot up to ISO 25,600 while retaining good image quality. The DIGIC 4 processor is also responsible for providing the processing power to capture the Full HD movie data from the sensor, as well as providing features such as Highlight Tone Priority and Peripheral Illumination Correction.
- High Resolution 3-inch LCD screen with Live View
The screen on the EOS 5D Mark II is a VGA 640x480pixel unit with 920,000 dots. This provides a sharp, clear view of images in review and also makes using Live View easier as you can judge focus more accurately, especially when shooting in movie mode.
The AF system ensures the image is in focus before the shot is captured. The 9-point AF on the EOS 5D Mark II features a cross-type centre point and 6 AF-Assist points to aid in tracking subjects in AI Servo shooting.
- EOS Integrated Cleaning System (ICS)
Dust is a fact of life with digital cameras. The EOS ICS helps to minimise dust entering the camera, repels dust that does get in and removes dust that's made it onto the sensor.
Camera Specifications
IMAGE SENSOR
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Type
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36x 24 mm CMOS
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Effective Pixels
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Approx 21.1M
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Total Pixels
|
Approx 22.0M
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Aspect Ratio
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3:2
|
Low-Pass Filter
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Built in/Fixed
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Sensor Cleaning
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EOS integrated cleaning system with fluorine coating
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Colour Filter Type
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Primary Colour
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IMAGE PROCESSOR
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Type
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DIGIC 4
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LENS
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Lens Mount
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EF (excludes EF-S lenses)
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Focal Length
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Equivalent to 1.0x the focal length of the lens
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FOCUSING
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Type
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TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor
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AF System/ Points
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9-point AF (plus 6 Assist AF points)
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AF Working Range
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EV -0.5 - 18 (at 20°C ISO 100)
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AF Modes
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One Shot
AI Servo
AI Focus
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AF Point Selection
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Automatic selection, Manual selection.
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Selected AF Point Display
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Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on top LCD panel and Quick Control screen
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Predictive AF
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Yes, up to 8m ¹
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AF Lock
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Locked when shutter button is pressed half way in One Shot AF mode.
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AF Assist Beam
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Emitted by an optional dedicated Speedlite
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Manual Focus
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Selected on lens
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AF Microadjustment
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C.Fn III-8
+/- 20 steps
Adjust all lenses by same amount
Adjust up to 20 lenses individually
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EXPOSURE CONTROL
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Metering Modes
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TTL full aperture metering with 35 zone SPC
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to any AF point)
(2) Partial metering (approx. 8% of viewfinder at centre)
(3) Spot metering: (approx. 3.5% viewfinder at center)
(4) Center weighted average metering
|
Metering Range
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EV 1-20 (at 20°C with 50mm f1.4 lens ISO 100)
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AE Lock
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Auto: In 1-shot AF mode with evaluative metering exposure is locked when focus is achieved.
Manual: By AE lock button in creative zone modes.
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Exposure Compensation
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+/-2 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments (can be combined with AEB).
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AEB
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+/- 2 EV, 1/2 or 1/3-stop increments
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ISO Sensitivity*
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Auto (100-3200), 100-6400 (in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments)
ISO can be expanded to H1: 12800 and H2:25600
|
SHUTTER
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Type
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Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter
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Speed
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30 - 1/8000 sec. (1/3 stop increments), Bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode)
|
WHITE BALANCE
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Type
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Auto white balance with the imaging sensor
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Settings
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Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Colour Temperature setting.
White balance compensation:
1. Blue/Amber +/-9
2. Magenta/ Green +/-9.
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Custom White Balance
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Yes, 1 setting can be registered
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WB Bracketing
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+/-3 levels in single level increments
3 bracketed images per shutter release.
Selectable Blue/Amber bias or Magenta/ Green bias.
|
VIEWFINDER
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Type
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Pentaprism
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Coverage (Vertical/Horizontal)
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Approx. 98%
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Magnification
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Approx. 0.71x ¹
|
Eyepoint
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Approx. 21mm (from eyepiece lens centre)
|
Dioptre Correction
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-3 to +1 (1/m) (dioptre)
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Focusing Screen
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Interchangeable (3 types, optional). Standard Focusing Screen Precision Matte Eg-A
|
Mirror
|
Quick-return half mirror (Transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF600mm f/4 or shorter)
|
Viewfinder Information
|
AF information: AF points, focus confirmation light.
Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB.
Flash information: Flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation.
Image information: White balance correction, CF card information, monochrome shooting, maximum burst (2 digit display), Highlight tone priority (D+).
|
Depth of Field Preview
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Yes, with Depth of Field preview button.
|
Eyepiece Shutter
|
on strap
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LCD MONITOR
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Type
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3.0" Clear View TFT, approx. 920K dots
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Coverage
|
Approx. 100%
|
Viewing Angle (Horizontally/Vertically)
|
Approx 170°
|
Coating
|
Dual Anti-reflection
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Brightness Adjustment
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Auto 3 levels + Manual adjustable to one of seven levels
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Display Options
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(1) Quick Control Screen
(2) Camera settings
|
|
|
|
|
FLASH
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Modes
|
E-TTL Auto Flash
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X-Sync
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1/200sec
|
Flash Exposure Compensation
|
+/-2 EV in 1/3-stop increments
|
Flash Exposure Bracketing
|
Yes, with compatible External Flash
|
Flash Exposure Lock
|
Yes
|
Second Curtain Synchronisation
|
Yes
|
HotShoe/ PC Terminal
|
Yes / Yes
|
External Flash Compatibility
|
E-TTL II with EX series Speedlites, wireless multi-flash support.
|
External Flash Control
|
via camera menu screen
|
SHOOTING
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Modes
|
Auto, Creative Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Custom (x3)
|
Picture Styles
|
Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined (x3)
|
Colour Space
|
sRGB and Adobe RGB
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Image Processing
|
Highlight Tone Priority
Auto Lighting Optimizer (4 settings)
Long exposure noise reduction
High ISO speed noise reduction (4 settings)
Auto Correction of Lens Peripheral illumination
|
Drive Modes
|
Single, Continuous, Self timer /remote control (10s), Self timer /remote control (2s)
|
Continuous Shooting
|
Max. Approx. 3.9fps. (speed maintained for up to 78 images (JPEG)¹(310 with UDMA card), 13 images (RAW)) ²
|
LIVE VIEW MODE
|
Type
|
Electronic viewfinder with image sensor
|
Coverage
|
Approx. 100% (horizontally and vertically)
|
Frame Rate
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30 fps
|
Focusing
|
Manual Focus (Magnify the image 5x or 10x at any point on screen)
Autofocus: Quick mode, Live mode, Live Face detection mode
|
Metering
|
Real-time evaluative metering with image sensor
Active metering time can be changed
|
Display Options
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Grid overlay (x2), Histogram, data, no data
|
FILE TYPE
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Still Image Type
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JPEG: Fine, Normal (Exif 2.21 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system (2.0),
RAW: RAW, sRAW1, sRAW2 (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition),
Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
|
RAW+JPEG Simultaneous Recording
|
Yes, any combination of RAW + JPEG possible.
|
Image Size
|
JPEG: (L) 5616x3744, (M) 4080x2720, (S) 2784x1856,
RAW: (RAW) 5616x3744, (sRAW1) 3861x2574, (sRAW2) 2784x1856
|
Movie Type
|
MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM)
|
Movie Size
|
HD 1920 x 1080 (16:9), SD 640 x 480 (4:3) -30fps
|
Movie Length
|
Max duration 29m 59sec, Max file size 4GB
|
Folders
|
New folders can be manually created and selected
|
File Numbering
|
(1) Consecutive numbering
(2) Auto reset
(3) Manual reset
|
OTHER FEATURES
|
Custom Functions
|
25 Custom Functions with 71 settings
|
Metadata Tag
|
User copyright information
|
LCD Panel / Illumination
|
Yes / Yes
|
Water/ Dust Resistance
|
Yes ¹
|
Intelligent Orientation Sensor
|
Yes
|
Playback Zoom
|
1.5x - 10x
|
Display Formats
|
(1) Single image with information (2 levels)
(2) Single image
(3) 4 image index
(4) 9 image index
(5) Magnified view
(6) Jump display
|
Slide Show
|
Image selection: All images, by date, by folder, movies, or stills.
Playback time: 1/2/3/5 sec
Repeat: On/Off
|
Histogram
|
Brightness: Yes
RGB: Yes
|
Highlight Alert
|
Yes
|
Image Erase/Protection
|
Erase: Single image, All images in folder, Checkmarked images, unprotected images
Protection: Erase protection of one image at a time
|
Data Verification
|
Original image verification data can be appended to the image (OSK-E3 required for verification)
|
Menu Categories
|
(1) Shooting menu (x2)
(2) Playback menu (x2)
(3) Setup menu (x3)
(4) Custom Functions menu
(5) My Menu
|
Menu Languages
|
25 Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese
|
Firmware Update
|
Update possible by the user.
|
INTERFACE
|
Computer
|
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (Mini-B)
|
Other
|
HDMI mini output, Video output (PAL/ NTSC), Microphone input, Extension system terminal (for WFT-E4)
|
|
|
|
|
DIRECT PRINT
|
Canon Printers
|
Canon Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge
|
PictBridge
|
Yes
|
STORAGE
|
Type
|
CompactFlash Type I/ II (Microdrive compatible, UDMA compatible), external storage with WFT-E4
|
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM
|
PC Macintosh
|
XP (SP2/SP3) / Vista inc SP1 (excl. Starter Edition)
OS X v10.4-10.5
|
SOFTWARE
|
Browsing Printing
|
ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser
|
Image Processing
|
Digital Photo Professional
|
Other
|
PhotoStitch, EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture, WFT utility*, Original Data Security Tools*), Picture Style Editor
* Requires optional accessory
|
POWER SOURCE
|
Batteries
|
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E6, 1xCR1616 for date settings
|
Battery Life
|
Approx. 850 (at 20°C) ¹
Approx. 750 (at 0°C)
|
Battery Indicator
|
6 levels + percentage
|
Power Saving
|
Power turns off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 or 30mins.
|
Power Supply Battery Chargers
|
AC Adapter Kit ACK-E6, Battery charger LC-E6E/LC-E6, Car Battery charger CBC-E6, Car Battery Cable CB-570
|
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
|
Body Materials
|
Magnesium Alloy
|
Operating Environment
|
0 - 40 °C, 85% or less humidity
|
Dimensions (WxHxD)
|
152 x 113.5 x 75
|
Weight (Body Only)
|
Approx. 810g
|
ACCESSORIES
|
Viewfinder
|
Eyecup Eb, E-series Dioptric Adjustment Lens with Rubber Frame Eb, Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15, Focusing Screens Eg, Angle Finder C
|
Wireless File Transmitter
|
Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E4
|
Lenses
|
All EF lenses (excludes EF-S lenses)
|
Flash
|
Canon Speedlites (220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2)
|
Battery Grip
|
BG-E6
|
Remote Controller/ Switch
|
Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-1, Remote Controller RC-5
|
Other
|
Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3
|
Predictive AF
|
¹ with EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM at 50kph
|
Magnification
|
¹ with 50mm lens at infinity, -1 (1/m) dpt
|
Continuous Shooting
|
¹ Large/Fine(Quality 8) resolution
² Based on Canon's testing conditions, JPEG, ISO 100, Standard Picture Style. Varies depending on the subject, memory card brand and capacity, image recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, Custom functions etc.
|
Water/ Dust Resistance
|
¹ Environmental protection
|
Battery Life
|
¹ Based on the CIPA Standard and using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera, except where indicated
|
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