More Canon 5D mk2 samples, both still images and video clips, are surfacing online. Copy and paste the links to a new window if you seriously wanna see ‘em, otherwise save the hosts some bandwidth as 100+ terabytes have already been consumed probably:

Some full 1080p video samples, and Vincent Laforet’s “Reverie”…

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0810/08101002canon5d_markii_videos.asp

http://vincentlaforet.smugmug.com/Laforet%20Videos

Some full-resolution still image samples, taken at all ISO’s, including stills from during Reverie:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08092001canoneos5dmarkiigallery.asp

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2128

http://www.prophotonut.com/2008/09/20/canon-5d-mk2-high-iso-pictures/

(Ironically, you know I can’t help but mention- in the last link above you can see the photographer having to defend the 5D mk2 image samples because some (many) of them are out of focus, assuming due to AF performance at super shallow DOF’s… Ouch…)

There is no question- When capture conditions are optimal, the sensor’s image quality is yet again revolutionary. Just like the 5D sensor was way ahead of IT’S time…

What remains to be seen is how the 5D mk2 performs in the real world, in the hands of every day professionals. Will it fail? Will it perform flawlessly? Apparently the ship date is some time in November, so we’ll find out soon enough! We can at least hope that the AI-Servo AF performance is noticeably improved at the center AF point thanks to the new Digic IV processor, even if the hardware is the same…

=Matt=

[EDIT] Found another sample gallery:

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/104363848

Truly a revolutionary sensor. Now ISO 800 is fully deliverable for even the most important, critical, big-print jobs. At 21 megapixels! That probably means you can totally deliver a 1600 ISO image at ~12 megapixels and print it huge. And 6400 is quite deliverable too, still. Not really much incredible-ness beyond that, though, looks to be about the same as the Nikon 12 megapixel sensor at ISO 12800 and 25600. Un-deliverable at full-resolution, only good for small size prints directly to clients. But still, to have a D700 or 5D mk2 and be able to shoot freely at ISO 12800 in say, children’s theater, (or in a super-dim church) and deliver gorgeous 4×6, 5×7 and maybe 8×10 prints, that’s awesome…

Will surely be adding a Nikon D700 to my bag within the next two years. Don’t ever think I’ll part with the DX system because of it’s inherent advantages, but the D700′s low-light performance alone makes it worth the $2000-$2250 that I’ll hopefully pay for one used in the next couple years. I’m sure the price will fall through the floor on used D700′s when a HD video capable D800 arrives…

=Matt=