The Canon 5D Mark II is old, slow, technically surpassed, and I still love it. It is quickly becoming a classic full-frame DSLR. This was my first full-frame camera, bought used in 2012 after I drowned my 60D during a whale-watching trip. The 60D came back to life a few years later, and yes, I still have it.

You do not buy a 5D Mark II in 2026 to shoot sports, wildlife, or night photography. You do buy a 5D Mark II in 2026 for the absolutely mesmerizing colour science that comes out of this sensor. Yes, it clips highlights much faster than a modern R5, but it also creates a highlight roll-off that somehow reminds me of slide film. To me, the Canon 5D Mark II is one of the closest digital cameras to film-like colour without recipes, presets, or film emulation.

The Good (in 2026):

• 21.1MP full-frame sensor still produces attractive files with strong colour and depth.

• Native EF mount support makes it useful with classic Canon EF glass without adapters, stills work well with Sigma lenses and with the correct adapter you can use Nikkor manual lenses!

• Simple DSLR ergonomics and optical viewfinder create a direct, focused shooting experience.

• Film-like colour straight out of the camera, film recipe-free.

The Bad (in 2026):

• Nothing… okay, I’m biased. Autofocus feels slow compared to modern cameras.

• Even in 2008, low-light performance was the big weakness. Above ISO 800, the red channel becomes prominent, but nothing DxO PureRAW or similar software cannot help clean up.

• Yes. Get one. Play with it for a little while, and if you get bored, sell it so someone else can experience this legendary DSLR.