Canon EOS 1D Mark II is an excellent digital professional camera that was announced in February 2004 and became one of the best cameras in the world. And 12 years later, its worthy descendant appeared - Canon EOS 1D X Mark II, which is reviewed at the end of the article.
Major changes
What surprises you the most about the Canon EOS 1D Mark II Body? Characteristics of photos at high ISO. Up to ISO 400 the photos are almost noise free, ISO 800 also shows very good results and ISO 1600 is quite tolerable. Basically, this camera is great for shooting in low light.
The lack of noise has reassured many post-10D users who can take very smooth shots, a result that has made the camera a favorite of many photographers. But it didn't take long to overcome his fear.
The 1D was released long before its successor, the Canon EOS 1D Mark II. The performance of the 1D was considered by many to be better than the 10D - and in many ways it is true. However, the sample images didn't seem perfect enough to many. Besides,users wanted more than a 6-megapixel image.
Another concern about the Canon EOS 1D Mark II was its clarity. The image is very sharp. The detail is very good, and it consistently stays that way in different situations. Landscape photographers will especially appreciate the detail captured by this camera. When comparing similar images of distant trees and shrubs, the 1D MKII results are noticeably more detailed than those of the 10D.
Size
"More" is one of the first adjectives that comes to mind when looking at the Canon EOS 1D Mark II. Specifications have largely changed upwards compared to the 10D and D60 DSLRs that came out two years before this model.
Of course, physical size is the first "bigger" you can see. But even with the increased dimensions, the 1D MkII feels better in the hands than the 10D. The camera in the capture is not thick, but high. Tactile sensations are very good - it is tenacious. In addition, the Mark II is heavier, but this rather helps to hold it more securely in your hands when shooting.
Viewfinder
The viewfinder is another "big" camera innovation. Bright and large, it was a welcome update, although for the owners of 1D did not give anything new. You no longer need to guess what is shown on the part of the frame that did not enter the viewfinder. True, you need to get used to it. Users who have learned to capture an image that goes beyond the scope in 10D now have to forget thisskill.
The Canon EOS 1D Mark II has less field of view and the viewfinder itself is not as bright as its predecessor. This is, of course, due to the use of a 1.3 times smaller sensor than a full frame camera, and the fact that the image fed into the viewfinder is thus smaller, and therefore less bright. Those accustomed to 10D or other 6MP will find the viewfinder bright and large, but it falls short of the 1D in this respect.
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II review due to 0.76x magnification and full frame sensor size.
Display
The LCD screen on the back is also bigger - up from 1.8" to 2.0" and looks even bigger. Of course, the increase in the number of pixels from 118 to 230 thousand cannot go unnoticed. The captured image is displayed very quickly on the monitor after the shutter is released. But we must hurry so as not to miss the 2-second image display. There will be less greasy nose marks on the screen as the eyecup now fits further than the 10D.
The display performance of the Canon EOS 1D Mark II N has been improved. Its size has increased to 2.5 inches, and the screen itself has become brighter and clearer.
For comparison: the Canon EOS 1D X Mark II has a display diagonal of 3.2.
The only "more" that did not please buyers was the price of the camera.
Performance
"Faster" is another pertinentepithet for Canon EOS 1D Mark II specifications.
First of all, the shutter has become faster - it works almost instantly. The descent is very smooth and acts just as fast. Switching on is almost instantaneous (0.5 s). The function menu also appears quickly. No more waiting.
The burst speed is 8.5 fps for 40 frames (or 20 in RAW-CR2). You can almost shoot video. Okay, not exactly video, but for its time, this DSLR had the fastest autofocus, capturing 8.2 megapixels with every shot. CompactFlash/SD memory cards can fill up very quickly.
In the modification of the Canon EOS 1D Mark II N (Body only), the speed has not changed, but the buffer size has increased to 48 shots in JPEG format or up to 22 in RAW format.
Clearness
In addition, the sensor has increased the number of megapixels - up to 8. Of course, the size of the image has increased and required more capacity and computing resources. As a result, a 16-bit TIFF file weighs about 48 MB.
Memory cards
Earlier, when shooting on film, the speed reached 8 fps, but then the cassette ended in 4 seconds. This significantly limited the possibilities for photographers, who could rarely afford such pleasure for financial reasons, not to mention the fear of being left without film when working in hard-to-reach places.
Canon EOS 1D Mark II with 4 GB card can shoot the equivalent of 10 cassettes of film (375 shots), but after every 20-40 shots there is somewait for the buffer to clear. But the costs associated with filming are completely gone, because a few minutes of footage can be copied to a laptop hard drive, and the card can be used again.
Users can choose between CompactFlash or SD memory cards. Or you can use both standards at the same time. The rear-mounted card slot is much easier to see when the camera is hanging around the neck than the 10D's side slot. Connectors are also available when the camera is in the open case.
Dynamic Range
There are more ISO settings. The camera allows you to select an ISO equal to one third of the standard division of the value scale. The settings can be extended to a range of 50 to 3200. 9 stops is more than any other Canon EOS series before it. 10D has 8 divisions. The implementation, of course, may differ, but quantitative indicators are always convenient to compare.
Does this reduce contrast? Because white is (255, 255, 255) and black is (0, 0, 0), when displayed or printed, more information in the same range causes the mid-range colors to come closer together. The result is a slightly reduced image contrast, unless, of course, the camera's processor logic adds the correct curves to the image. It is not known whether it uses such an algorithm at all and whether it includes curve correction, but users like the result. And the contrast can be easily corrected in post-processing. Shouldbe aware that some image formats support higher contrast than others.
More focus points
The Canon EOS 1D Mark II has increased the number of focus points from 7 in 10D to 45 (same as in 1D). This helps a lot when tracking a subject in AI Servo mode with an open aperture. In this case, you can select the desired point. The EOS 1D has a separate microprocessor dedicated to autofocus. This greatly simplified the shooting process and increased the percentage of quality shots.
Battery life
The camera's battery life is extraordinary. The manufacturer estimates it at 1200 frames. True, this was made possible by doubling the price and tripling the size compared to the 10D battery. According to user feedback, after taking 800 photos with a lot of image views, the battery still shows a full charge. It is completely discharged after 1300 shots and a huge number of views captured on the camera's LCD screen. According to users, the indicator indicates a full charge, even when the battery is almost empty.
This model has switched from lithium-ion power sources to nickel-metal hydride. Batteries need a little more attention - more frequent full discharge and charge cycles to keep them performing optimally for as long as possible. Since the battery capacity of the 1D II is very decent, users are ready to put up with this slight inconvenience. The reason for the transition to a new technology is a wider range of workingtemperatures and better charge cycle performance.
Management
More clicks. Many functions require you to press two buttons at the same time, and most settings require you to keep them pressed while changing the selection. Users find it less logical than single taps in 10D, but hope they can get used to it soon.
Crop Factor
Another big difference with the 1D MKII is the 1.3x crop factor. Game enthusiasts and landscape photographers loved the 1.6x 10D crop. The innovation was a compromise between traditional and professional full-frame cameras and Canon's semi-professional DSLR c 1.6x line. According to owners, the zoom lenses they use now fall into a more usable range of focal lengths.
Another change related to the reduction of the angle of view of the lens is the reduction of the depth of field for similar subjects with the same optics and settings. The closer the distance from the camera to the subject being photographed, the shallower the depth of field becomes (with the same settings). Since you now have to get closer to your subject to get the same framing with a 1.3x crop factor, the depth will be less. Of course, if you leave the distance the same, then it will remain. But the framing of the image will be different and the subject will be smaller. The result obtained can be both good and bad - it all depends on what effectthe user is trying to reach.
Wildlife lovers can view the reduced field of view in this way. An 8-megapixel shot can be cropped to 6 megapixels and get the same 1.6x crop factor. By sacrificing quality, you can return to the previous 6-megapixel resolution, but enjoy other camera benefits.
Flash
No built-in 10D flash. According to users, there is nothing to regret here. Many people hardly use the built-in flash, and much more often they mistakenly stumble upon a protruding button. In addition, clearer high ISOs allow you to go without a flash much more often.
The metering system on the Mark II has also been improved. This takes into account information about the distance from the lens when calculating the mixed conditions of daylight and flash. E-TTL II seems like a step up from E-TTL. A white wedding dress will still need positive flash exposure compensation, and black suits will likely require some negative flash compensation, but after the initial setup, the results seem consistent from photo to photo.
Video
There was no video output in 1D and 1Ds. The Mark II had it. Photographers working in the studio liked this innovation - they got the opportunity to view the captured images on the TV screen.
Input and output
FireWire connection on Mark II is 4-pin instead of 6-pin. This made room for both a USB 1.1 connector (for direct printing) and a video output.
Port speedFireWire has gone from 40Mbps on 1D and 60Mbps on 1Ds to 100Mbps on the Mark II.
External white balance sensor
The Mark II does not have an external white balance sensor. All data is obtained from the image sensor, and not from a separate sensor on the camera body, which measures the illumination, as with 1Ds. It's not clear if this is good or bad. Users who shot with both cameras note that the 1Ds balances more correctly. True, shooting in RAW format allows you to adjust it in post-processing. But those photographers who use the-j.webp
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Photojournalists may be interested that the MKII now records IPTC data in-j.webp
Texture
The Canon EOS 1D Mark II (Body) finish is described by customers as being smoother and "rubberized" for a more secure grip even when hands are slightly damp.
Strap
Oddly enough, there is no palm strap in the box. According to users, it should be a must-have for all Series 1 cameras due to their weight - it will be the first accessory they purchase after purchasing the device.
Software
RAW image conversion software updated andimproved.
The first thing users notice is that EVU (EOS viewer) and DPP (digital photography professional) save RAW settings in a. CR2 file. If earlier photographers, not satisfied with the result, had to redo the transformations many times, each time starting over, because the settings were not saved, now you can simply change them to achieve the desired. Another advantage is that there is no need to complete the process in one sitting. You can go through all the pictures once and come back to them at another time to make sure that the eyes saw exactly what they were supposed to see. Aborting the post-conversion process does not mean that everything has to be started over.
Owners liked the DPP interface, its faster speed and better functionality than EVU. But, according to some, the result of processing RAW files from EVU is better. Users are advised to note that DPP's sharpening settings are stronger than EVU's.
The new software is significantly faster than the legacy FVU file viewer. According to the owners, the speed has increased by 2 times.
Canon software now boasts a Windows Recycle Bin. It is strange why this was not done before, but such changes are welcome. Now there is no need to use a special program to recover accidentally deleted RAW files.
Canon EOS 1D Mark II camera: opinionbuyers
Owners are not very happy with the fact that four buttons are required to lock and unlock the mirror. Some owners complain about the loss of dramatic footage. For example, when photographing dawn with a 500mm lens at a shutter speed of 1/2 s, even with a heavy tripod, gimbal mount and stabilization turned on, the frame clearly shows a double image due to mirror vibration. Since the lighting was changing too quickly, having to navigate through all the screens and press the buttons needed to lock the mirror, valuable time could be wasted.
Also, it's frustrating to have to take your eyes off the viewfinder to change the ISO. At the same time, tracking the subject or waiting for the right moment for the shot and looking at the upper LCD screen is very inconvenient.
Users hope they don't need moisture and dust protection, but they're happy to have it.
Not all the innovations and functionality that characterize the Canon EOS 1D Mark II digital camera are considered successful by owners. One of the biggest disappointments with the 1D II was the release button on the vertical grip. It is extremely sensitive and has almost no movement. Pressing the shutter to focus without taking a photo is next to impossible. This is a serious mistake that could have been easily avoided. The horizontal (normal) shutter release works great - just as you'd expect. Although this uncomfortable assisted descent can take some getting used to, many people still don't like it.
ExceptIn addition, users note that the camera is extremely sensitive to bright red. They advise not to go too far to the right in the histogram when shooting red objects.
Photographers who practice macro photography or landscape enthusiasts using tiny apertures will not be happy to know that dust on the sensor is still an unresolved problem. Owners note even more dust in 1D than in 10D.
Verdict
Overall, owners are impressed with the changes Canon has made to this model.
Is the 1D II exclusively for professionals? Probably not. The possibility of obtaining excellent quality frames has also resonated with a large number of photography enthusiasts. Just remember that bad shots can be taken even with the best devices. But the digital camera Canon EOS 1D Mark II was able to raise the quality to unimaginable heights.
A worthy descendant
In 2004, the performance of 2016 cameras was only a dream. Canon's latest flagship EOS 1D X Mark II is a worthy successor to the line. The model has set another quality standard among the best cameras in the world. The Canon EOS 1D X Mark II is praised for its improved autofocus system, significantly increased dynamic range and literally unlimited RAW buffer when shooting with CFAST cards. In addition, the camera is capable of shooting 170 RAW-frames at up to 16 fps, as well as excellent quality 4K video at 60 fps or Full HD at 120 fps. Combined with a class-leading AF system for capturing sports, actionand important events will become available to non-professionals.
In addition to a 20.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 6+, the camera features a 61-point AF system, a wide dynamic range of ISO 100-51200, and reduced noise. ISO extension up to 50-409600 is also available. In addition, for the first time in the 1D series, there is a 360,000-pixel RGB+IR sensor that enhances face detection and motion tracking. There is built-in GPS, USB 3.0, HDMI, headphone and microphone jacks, wireless connectivity and remote control.
