The Canon EOS 5D Mark II began shipments to U.S. dealers Tuesday, possibly ushering in a new era in digital imaging: a device that's both a first-rate digital still camera and a first-class high-definition video camera.
As a digital SLR (DSLR), the Canon 5D Mark II has a 21-megapixel sensor with a resolution of up to 5,616 x 3,744 pixels. Quick math: That's a 56-inch x 37-inch, 100 dpi wall poster, a 19-inch by 12-inch magazine page, at 300 dpi resolution. The Canon EOS Mark II has a $2,699 suggested price for the body and $3,499 with a 24-105mm IS f/4 image stabilized lens.
On the video side, the Canon 5D Mark II shoots 1,920 x 1,080 progressive scan video, or at VGA resolution. According to the Canon 5D manual, the camera uses sensor cropping while shooting video, describing a masked area for framing shots, that may be confusing to some users.
And more from the full review-
If the camera has a perfect niche, it's for bloggers working for websites paying enough to allow them to buy expensive cameras. (None currently exist.) Now you can carry just one camera for both stills and videos, switch back and forth, and in the middle of filming, press the shutter button to take a still photo. Video pauses then resumes about a second later. It will also likely find a strong following among wedding photographers.
I expect this technology to filter down to the D-Series eventually, so I can wait. Not like I have much choice on that anyway. :-)