Canon EOS 1D Mark II N SLR Review

The controls on top left hand side are identical to those found on the EOS-1v film camera.

Pressing the top and bottom buttons and rotating the Main Dial sets the drive mode.

As the labels indicate, using a combination of buttons and the Main Dial lets you set the ISO, AF mode, metering mode, flash exposure compensation and the AE Bracketing modes.

Controls on the top right hand side: Shutter release, FEL (flash exposure lock), the Main Dial, +/- Exposure compensation and the LCD illumination (light bulb) button.

The large monochrome data LCD displays all major camera settings such as shutter speed and aperture values, exposure mode, ISO speed, focus mode, metering mode, drive mode, personal function, flash exposure compensation, exposure bracketing, exposure compensation, selftimer and battery status. The top and back LCD displays are illuminated by a highly visible blue backlight.

Along the back edge are the Assist/White balance correction button, AE Lock/Reduce button and the AF point selection/Magnify button. These buttons are duplicated on the camera's vertical grip shutter release.

The vertical grip, shown from the side. The On/Off switch disables the shutter release when not in use. You turn the camera up into portrait orientation and grip it along the front bottom edge. There is a shutter release, main command dial and FEL button on the front, the AEL, Assist and AF point selection buttons are on the back.

Images are stored on CompactFlash Type I or II flash cards, IBM/Hitachi Microdrives or Secure Digital (SD) cards. The Mark II N supports FAT(16) and FAT32 file systems so any capacity device may be used. Image data can be simultaneously recorded on both types of media or you can store RAW files on one card and JPEGs on the other.

The Mark II N was designed for professional users and professional speed flash media. It would be a shame to put anything less than the fastest CF or SD cards in this camera. The Sandisk Extreme and Ultra II cards are a perfect match for the fastest dSLR on the planet -- with a minimum write speed of 9 megabytes per second (MB/sec.) and a minimum read speed of 10MB/sec. you won't be waiting for these cards to do their job!

Based on Canon's estimated file sizes, a 512 Megabyte memory card can hold approximately 139 Large, 175 M1, 229 M2, or 396 Small JPEG images, or 47 RAW images.

The I/O ports are located on the left side behind two weather-proofed rubber flaps.

On the top is the flash PC sync connector

Remote port for the Remote Switch RS-80N3, Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 or the Wireless Controller LC-4.

Video Out (NTSC or PAL format)

IEEE 1394 FireWire for transfering data to the host computer. It also allows for tethered operation via the RemoteCapture software. Below that is the USB port for direct printing.

The Mark II N is powered by the NP-E3 12v 1650mAh NiMH battery pack and comes with the NC-E2 rapid charger, a 100-240V AC unit that can charge two NP-E3 packs (one at a time.) A fully depleted pack is recharged in two hours. Canon also supplies the DCK-E1 DC Coupler for powering the camera directly from a 100-240V AC power source.

Also located in the battery compartment is a CR2025 lithium button cell for the camera's clock/calendar and memory functions. Its service life is about ten years.

Thanks to the fast, new Digic II processor, the Mark II N's battery life has been more than doubled from the EOS-1D with the same battery. Canon claims the NP-E3 has enough power for approx. 1200 shots (at 20°C/68°F) and approx. 800 (at 0°C/32°F). The actual number of shots will vary depending on your shooting conditions and use of the color LCD.

To insure that the battery doesn't accidentally come out on its own you have to twist the latch and then press the battery release button. The area where the battery and the camera mate is also weather-proofed.