Canon EOS 5D Mark II: Front View

The front of the 5D Mark II (see Figure 3.1) is the face seen by your victims as you snap away. For the photographer, though, the front is the surface your fingers curl around as you hold the camera, and there are really only three buttons to press, all within easy reach of the fingers of your left hand, plus the shutter button and Main Dial, which are on the top/front of the handgrip. There are additional controls on the lens itself. You’ll need to look at several different views to see everything.

Figure 3.1.

[View full size image]

Figure 3.2 is a view of the front of the EOS 5D Mark II with the lens detached. The other main components you need to know about are as follows:

• Shutter release button. Angled on top of the handgrip is the shutter release button. Press this button down halfway to lock exposure and focus (in One-Shot mode and AI Focus with non-moving subjects).

• Main Dial. This dial is used to change shooting settings. When settings are available in pairs (such as shutter speed/aperture), this dial will be used to make one type of setting, such as shutter speed, while the Quick Control Dial (on the back of the camera) will be used to make the other, such as aperture setting.

• Remote control sensor. This infrared sensor detects the invisible flash of a Canon remote control, like the RC-5.

• Self-timer lamp. When using the self-timer, this lamp also flashes to mark the count-down until the photo is taken. (You can turn off the lamp if you don’t want it.)

• DC power cord cover. This cover, on the inside edge of the handgrip, opens to allow the DC power cable to connect to the 5D Mark II through the battery compartment.

• Handgrip. This provides a comfortable hand-hold, and also contains the 5D Mark II’s battery.

• Lens release button. Press and hold this button to unlock the lens so you can rotate the lens to remove it from the camera.

• Depth-of-field preview button. This button, adjacent to the lens mount, stops down the lens to the taking aperture so you can see in the viewfinder how much of the image is in focus. The view grows dimmer as the aperture is reduced.

• EF lens mount index. Line up this dot with the raised red dot on the barrel of your EF lens to align the lens as you mount it on the camera.

• Mirror. The partially silvered mirror reflects light up to the optical viewfinder, and allows some light to pass downwards to the autofocus sensor.

• Electrical contacts. These contacts connect to matching points on the lens to allow the camera and lens to communicate electronically.

Figure 3.2.

You’ll find more controls on the other side of the 5D Mark II, shown in Figure 3.3. In the illustration, you can see the Mode Dial on top, and the rubber cover on the side that protects the camera’s USB, TV, HDMI, external flash, and remote control ports. The main buttons shown include

Figure 3.3.

[View full size image]

• Lens switches. Canon autofocus lenses have a switch to allow changing between automatic focus and manual focus, and, in the case of IS lenses, another switch to turn image stabilization on and off.

• Lens mounting index. Line up this raised dot with the red dot on the lens flange to align the lens as you mount it on the camera.

• Mode Dial. Rotate to change the exposure mode from Full Auto, Creative Auto, Program, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority, Manual, Bulb, and three User settings (C1, C2, and C3).

• Neck strap mount. Attach your neck strap here, and to the matching mount on the opposite edge of the camera.

• Microphone. Record monaural sound with this built-in microphone.

• Electrical connector terminal covers. The 5D Mark II’s terminal ports are behind these two rubber covers.

• Clock battery access. The camera’s Date/Time battery, which may need to be changed every few years, resides behind this cover.

The main feature on the side of the EOS 5D Mark II is two rubber covers (see Figure 3.4) that protect the five connector ports underneath from dust and moisture. The six connectors, shown in Figure 3.5, are as follows:

• Digital terminal/USB port. Plug the USB cable furnished with your EOS 5D Mark II into this digital terminal and connect the other end to a USB port in your computer to transfer photos, or to your PictBridge-compatible printer to output hard copies.

• Audio/video OUT. You can link this connector with a standard definition television to view your photos and movie clips on a large screen.

• PC/X terminal. This connector is for a non-dedicated electronic flash unit, including studio flash.

• Remote control terminal. You can plug various Canon remote release switches, timers, and wireless controllers into this connector.

• HDMI port. You need to buy an accessory cable to connect your 5D Mark II to an HDTV, as one to fit this port is not provided with the camera. If you have a high-resolution television, it’s worth the expenditure to be able to view your camera’s output in all its glory.

• External microphone IN. Connect an external stereo microphone with a 3.5mm mini plug here to bypass the internal microphone when recording sound.

Figure 3.4.

[View full size image]

Figure 3.5.