Canon EOS 5D Mark II – A Still Photo Camera That Creates Hollywood Quality Video?

This is an interesting one. It started with a press release about yet another new digital still photo camera…but has turned into the event of the year (so far) in the video world.

Why? Because it turns out that this camera meant to shoot still photos can also record full, high-definition video…that rivals…and even surpasses…insanely expensive cameras used in Hollywood.

Here’s the story.

The camera is called the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. It’s still in production and not available to the public yet. However, Canon has a program where they have professional photographers test the equipment they’re developing for feedback.

One of these photograpers is Vincent LaForet (a Pulitzer Prize winner). Vincent was visiting the Canon offices when a box containing the new 5D Mark II camera arrived. He was intrigued that this camera also shot full, high-definition video. Long story short, he twisted Canon’s arm and got them to agree in giving him the camera for 72 hours. He had decided he was going to shoot a video with it.

Problem was, although Vincent is professional photographer, he’d never shot a video in his life. And he only had 72 hours. Plus, he was doing it on his own dime…Canon was not supporting him at all, they just lent him the camera.

The resulting video that Vincent shot has created major waves in the video industry. Why? Because the footage is absolutely stunning. What’s more, he didn’t tweak the footage in any way (no color correction, filters, tricks, etc.). It’s just the straight footage out of the camera.

Even more impressive? The EOS 5D Mark II will have a street price of $2,700. That’s less than half of what a professional, HD, video camera costs. And about 2% of the cost of a Hollywood level camera. Yet the EOS 5D Mark II produces video that rivals them. And remember, since this is a SLR camera, you can change the lenses at will (from wide angle to telephoto to zoom, etc.).

I could go on and on about the spec’s, but really you just have to see the video to understand how breathtaking the footage shot with this camera is.

To get the full story from Vincent himself (strongly recommended)…and see behind-the-scenes footage of how the video was made…click here to go to Vincent LaForet’s blog.

To see the actual video, visit Canon’s site by clicking here.