There aren't many comprehensive reviews of this camera out there. We know it does the shallow focus thing with the big chip, we know it's got low lighting abillity, but what about everything else? how much latitude? clean image or atifacts? Does it sample color at 422? Any shoot out?

I read a few general ones in photography magazines earlier in the year and there's one here
Canon EOS 5D Mark II review Cameralabs introduction (http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_5D_Mark_II/)

But I don't know if it's detailed enough for you. They all seem a bit 'general' to me.


Avey

Here is a good review and he will probably do a follow up on new FW.


Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Review (http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-II-DSLR-Digital-Camera-Review.aspx)

Here's a shoot out from Zacuto I saw a few months back. It compares many different cameras to each other, including the 5d mkii.

Zacuto's Great Camera Shootout '08 on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/2437826)

DPReview.com always does good reviews... Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos5dmarkii/)

These are mainly links to the Canon's still photography capabilities. But this a video forum. I'm sure it takes awesome stills, but the vid quality? Still, not much useful info any where on web regarding this camera's efficacy for video. specifically, how good does this footage look? I've read some disturbing reports of bad aliasing but you've really got to dredge to get some good info.

These are mainly links to the Canon's still photography capabilities. But this a video forum. I'm sure it takes awesome stills, but the vid quality? Still, not much useful info any where on web regarding this camera's efficacy for video. specifically, how good does this footage look? I've read some disturbing reports of bad aliasing but you've really got to dredge to get some good info.

As far as video goes, the positive points are:
* Great low light response
* Excellent DOF possibilities
* Best codec in its class (38Mbps h.264)
* Ability to create custom profiles that shape the 14-bit image before the encoder
* Ability to use a huge number of available lenses
* Manual control ;)

Negative points are:
* Aliasing on fine horizontal lines (I recommend using an optical softening filter)
* Rolling shutter artifacts (use good stabilization; avoid fast motion - except with the widest lenses)
* Blockiness on uniform surfaces (the codec is very good, but not perfect)
* Some feel that the noise reduction is excessive (contributes to above point)
* No 24/25p - yet. ;)

Like most tools, if you use it in the right setting with care, it can own its domain. "Reverie" is an example of what it shoots really well. Shoot handheld in bright light with fast motion and fine horizontal lines over uniform surfaces, and you'll be wishing you had used an HPX170 - if not a DVX100b.