A replacement to the Canon’s well known EOS 5D has arrived at last as there is 5D Mark II now.

Canon has been ruling the full-frame DSLR market for quite sometime, but in the recent weeks there are cameras from Nikon and Sony that challenged Canon’s monopoly by making original EOS 5D somewhat old fashioned.

But so far, EOS 5D Mark II is concerned, the stigma of being old fashioned can’t be attached with it (Though some features and aspects are the same as they were in the previous camera). But there are some improvements as well.

Sensor, yes sensor is the first major improvement. Twelve million pixels were enough three years back, but it has become quite difficult to impress photographers in 2008 (however, it was somewhat easier in 2005). And that’s why the resolution of this EOS 5D Mark II has been increased to 21 million pixels.

The footage is limited to almost 12 minutes in HD mode, but if you are not a quality conscious, it can shoot for twice the length of time in VGA video mode.

Overall we can call it less exciting, but there are some worth mentioning improvements that include 3-inch 920,000 megapixel screen that is equal to the best cameras we have seen from Sony and Nikon. Some handling refinements have also been introduced in the EOS 50D.

With its new quick control screen, the user can access to its most of key functions including a status screen on the main LCD to newly formed Direct Print button.

If we make a comparison of image quality at the highest ISO settings, they can match what Nikon achieved from its lower resolution sensors of the D3 and D700. But our initial findings suggest that it would be hard for Nikon users to consider a system change so early.

The styling and design are handsome and an oppourtunity to standardize the control layout of the 5D Mark II has been taken by the Canon as it brings all the EOS range into a nice ergonomic design and aims to bring some comforts in customers’ life.