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What sort of experience must a camera provide to inspire folks to drop $2699?
"I’d compare it to the difference between seeing a regular DVD and then popping a Blu-ray into your TV. It makes your subjects look so real, it’s almost like seeing them in 3D," says Mariah Gale, a Boston-area professional portrait photographer who’s right on the edge of purchasing Canon’s breakthrough D-SLR, the 5D Mark II, herself. She’s not the only one. Canon’s product reps say they’ve had trouble keeping up with demand, even in budget-conscious 2009.
Why do pros consider the 5D Mark II such an attractive investment? It’s not just the 21.1 megapixels or the full-frame CMOS sensor. This is Canon’s first pro-level model to feature full HD video capture, up to 4G per clip (approx. 12 minutes, recording at the highest resolution). The movie mode has charmed wedding photographers especially, giving them another money-making option. Photojournalists have hooked up shotgun mics to the 5D Mark II and turned their one still camera into broadcast-quality TV gear. For Gale (www.mariahmphoto.com), the movie mode would provide a new marketing opportunity, allowing her to add "lifestyle" video to her website so that potential wedding or portraiture clients could quickly become familiar with her shooting style and creative approach.
With a bevy of assistive settings, the 5D Mark II may be the best fake-it-til-you-make-it camera on the market right now for non-pro too, those enthusiasts looking to finally achieve magazine-spread image quality. 9 autofocus points, an easy grip, a bright, 3-inch LCD and a giant thumb dial for speedy chimping (scrolling through the shots you just captured) all contribute to the experience, but it’s the astronomical ISO numbers (up to 6400) that deliver clear, bright pics in challenging low-light situations. But let the amateur beware, a little practice with the 5D Mark II and you’re going to want to go into business. At least then, this big ticket item becomes a tax write-off.
Canon 5D Mark II
$2699
www.canonusa.com
21.1 MP
Full-frame CMOS sensor
ISO up to 6400
HD video capture (1920 x 1080 resolution)
Memory format: Compact Flash
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