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Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens Kit)
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Average customer review:
Good points
Most affordable full-frame body yet
Very high resolution
Very low noise levels
Good build quality (similar to 20D)
Bad points
High price premium for full-frame sensor
Full-frame coverage is unforgiving on optics
No voice memo or GPS option
No popup flash
Product Description
The new Canon EOS 5D offers advanced photographers a lightweight, robust digital SLR that uses Canon s superlative EF lenses without a conversion factor. Its full-frame 12.8 Megapixel CMOS sensor combines with Canon s DIGIC II Image Processor, a high-precision 9-point AF system with 6 assist points, and Picture Style color control to deliver images of superior quality with enough resolution for any application. With its wide-angle capabilities, 2.5 inch LCD and magnesium-alloy body, the 5D is the perfect addition to the Digital EOS line. Features: 12.8 Megapixel full-frame CMOS Sensor DIGIC II Image Processor for outstanding image quality and performance - 3.0 fps for up to 60 consecutive JPEG or 17 RAW frames in a burst. Large 2.5 LCD screen can be viewed even at extreme angles up to 170deg. Picture Style function for superior command of in-camera color, contrast and sharpness. High-precision 9-point AF with 6 additional Supplemental points surrounding the center point for superior focus tracking. Strong and light magnesium-alloy body with new shutter durability-tested to 100,000 exposures. Compatible with over 50 Canon EF lenses and most EOS System accessories. When manoeuvrability is important and lens quality crucial, the L-series EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM stands alone as the professional s lightweight standard zoom.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #55786 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Canon
- Model: 0296B124AA
- Released on: 2006-06-06
- Dimensions: 1.79 pounds
- Display size: 2.5
Editorial Reviews
Manufacturer's Description
The EOS 5D has a solid and substantial feel that complements its compact dimensions. The camera body is constructed of a magnesium-alloy known for its lightweight and ultra-rigid strength. The EOS 5D also boasts a newly developed, high-speed and durable shutter unit that was designed to meet the demanding requirements of a full frame sensor in a relatively compact body. With a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. and with a remarkable 100,000-cycle shutter life, it truly is a camera built to professional standards.
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The EOS 5D's full-frame CMOS sensor records 4,368 x 2,912 pixels-that's 12.8 Megapixels, larger than many other companies' top-of-the-line sensors. The same size as a 35mm image on a traditional camera, the sensor operates without a conversion factor. This is perfect for taking advantage of the spectacular optics in Canon's L-series, and will be a joy for wide-angle enthusiasts who can make the most of their wide-angle lenses. This new CMOS sensor, designed in-house by Canon, provides smooth, high-resolution images similar to the EOS-1Ds Mark II but in a more compact body. Two automatic noise reduction features maximize the effectiveness of the EOS 5D's on-chip noise reduction. Noise reduction can be activated when noise is detected or it will simply come into play on any exposure of 1 second or longer.
The EOS 5D's new 12.8 Megapixel sensor is driven by the revolutionary DIGIC II Image Processor for unprecedented performance and image quality. Thanks to the DIGIC II Image Processor, the EOS 5D is capable of shooting up to 3 frames-per-second for up to 60 JPEG or 17 RAW images. The information captured by the sensor is processed and assembled into images of exceptional clarity and resolution. Photographers can expect precise, natural colors, spot-on white balance and speed in any number of lighting situations. By handling larger volumes of image data, the DIGIC II Image Processor also contributes to lower power consumption: photographers will discover that they can shoot all day with the EOS 5D without having to change the battery!
The EOS 5D has been designed to provide the photographer with instant feedback, saving valuable time when reviewing images. A new 2.5 inch LCD screen with approximately 230,000 pixels not only displays more information, it can be viewed at a far greater angle (170°) than many other conventional LCD screens. The full-featured shot information screen not only provides an RGB histogram, it displays the AF frames used. Magnification to check exposure and critical focus has never been faster. It is also simple to jump quickly in image intervals up to 100. Menus are accessed at the touch of a button, and feature larger, easier to read text than previous models. Whether changing color parameters, setting up custom functions, organizing folders, setting white balance, or any other feature, the new screen is designed with the professional in mind. Photographers get to their information quickly, so they never lose a shot.
"Picture Style" settings simulate the characteristics of different film styles, including Snapshot mode, for punchy, print-from-the-camera color, Portrait mode, for softer, more natural skin tones; Landscape, for vivid blues and greens and overall sharpness, plus Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome, which can be customized to emulate color filters with black and white film.
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In addition to 9 different AF points for locking focus on subjects, even if they are not in the center of the composition, the EOS 5D features 6 Supplemental points around the center AF point which help to ensure an even greater degree of focus accuracy when tracking a moving subject. This feature is significant for sports photographers, as well as anyone who needs to keep focus locked on an unpredictable subject. The Supplemental AF points are not displayed in the viewfinder, and they cannot be manually selected. However, they are used in AI Servo AF mode when the EOS 5D is set for automatic focusing point selection, and also when the center focusing point is selected together with Custom Function 17-1.
The EOS 5D is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF lineup (except EF-S lenses), ranging from 14mm Ultra-Wide to 600mm Super Telephoto lenses. The EF lineup employs advanced optical know-how and sub-micron precision engineering to deliver unprecedented performance in all facets of the photographic process. Aspherical optics and Fluorite elements, for example, are featured in the universally acclaimed L-series Lenses while Canon's Image Stabilization feature minimizes the effect of camera shake.
The EOS 5D features Canon's E-TTL II flash metering system introduced with the EOS-1D Mark II. E-TTL II provides consistently accurate flash exposure from shot to shot. Canon's Speedlite 580EX and 430EX are perfectly suited to the EOS 5D. They include an AF-assist Beam, which works in conjunction with the EOS 5D's focusing system, and automatically sends color temperature information to the camera when the flash fires, for more accurate color rendition with flash photography.
Box Contents
Customer Reviews
Serious kit for folks taking their photography seriously!
Anybody looking at spending two grand on camera gear (and at that only a body and 1 lens) is looking for something good and believe me this pack delivers.
The 5D is one hell of a camera. There's no other way to describe it. Photos from this camera look so good straight from the camera it's almost unbelievable. Image resolution is simply excellent and of course the benefits of having a full frame sensor mean your lenses do what they say on the barrel!
The body itself feels substantial - much more so than something like a 400D. The 5D body also has a lot of metal construction so should be hardier than the plastic bodies of the cheaper entry level DSLRs. It's also bigger enabling a good grip.
The first thing you will notice if you're upgrading from a crop sensor DSLR is the awesome viewfinder. Having a full frame sensor allows the camera to have a larger mirror and consequently you get a much bigger and easier to see picture through the viewfinder. This really aids composition as it simply allows you too see more clearly what you're doing.
This camera, being aimed at enthusiasts and pros, doesn't have the same range of modes as the 400D as I expect the designers of this camera figure anyone shelling out this much will know what they're doing so what you get is Av, Tv, B, P and a full auto for lazy moments.
ISO ranges from 100 - 1600 (50 and 3200 are added with the ISO expansion turned on) and the camera produces stunning results at higher ISO values with much less noise than my 400D at the equivalent setting. Coupled in with the IS lens in this pack you have a formidable package enabling you to get fantastic shots in poor light you simply could not get with other equipment. I have personally achieved beautifully sharp images at 1/8 of a second hand held at 98mm zoom.
There's so much on this camera it's hard to condense down for the purposes of this review.
The screen is clear and image review is fast. Navigation is achieved with a wheel at the back for scrolling through menus and settings. It's quick; the only thing slowing you down is the wealth of options available to scroll through! There's also a little joystick for moving around zoomed in images on the screen. Camera information is displayed on a mono lcd on the top of the camera leaving the larger LCD screen off most of the time - probably saving a lot on battery life.
The list of custom functions is extensive and includes mirror lock up, shutter curtain sync, noise reduction, exposure level increments to name but 4 of the 21.
Continuous shooting speed is fairly slow at 3fps but this is a camera aimed at portraiture and landscapes so it can't be marked down for that but will be a consideration if you're a hard core sports/action photographer. For wedding photographers and folks looking for a very high quality travel camera this is the one.
The camera does have a true 3.5% spot metering mode amongst the other evaluative modes - very handy.
I'm not going to say too much about the lens as I posted a separate review so please check it out. What I will say is that the 24-105 is a perfect lens to complement the 5D - it offers superb image quality with a great range of focal lengths and is a great walk-around lens.
Battery life is good - I always have a spare with me but I've taken hundreds of shots on one battery and it's never actually run out yet. The manual quotes around 800 shots under optimum conditions.
I would consider a 2gb card the minimum for this camera. The display rather conservatively suggests a 2gb card can hold 114 shots when empty but it's easily into the high 170's. Raw files come in around 10 - 12.5mb. Tiff's from these are huge. Transfer of images across USB is incredibly slow however.
If you're looking to upgrade from something like a 400D it's a no-brainer. The 400D is a fine camera and I will be keeping mine no question but the 5D is just something else. If you have the cash and really want to expand your photographic horizons the 5D will not hold you back, in fact it will inspire you. An interesting note, most of the major online stock agencies will accept images from the 5D - the first non 1-series Canon to attain the honour....that says a lot about the image quality.
Very highly recommended.
A fantastic upgrade, well worth the money
Years ago I had a film SLR (actually, still have it!) and gave it up for the convenience of digital, going to Point & Shoot when the first 2m pixel cameras came out. Nearly three years ago I felt that Digital SLR's had come of age I got a Canon 350D. Having owned a normal film SLR I found the lens choice limited (especially at the wide-angle end) and the whole experience - while a massive improvement from P&S cameras - never quite felt the same as with my old Olympus SLR. For the 350D I got a replacement standard zoom (17-40L), the 50mm 1.4, a superwide 10-20mm from Sigma as well as the super 70-300IS USM. Despite all this, the work-flow and user experience of the 350D was lacking.
Then I got a 5D. Wow.
The image quality is truly professional quality - as long as you get your bit right, of course. Is it complicated? No. I find it more logical to use than the 350D; the wheel really works for me and I find changing the ISO, focus points and exposure compensation much easier. I love having depth of field back (the ability to easily throw the backgrounds out of focus) which is lost on crop cameras (like the 350D, 400D, 450D) and the low noise performance even at 800 or even 1600 ISO is amazing. The 17-40L now provides me with pretty much the same coverage as the 10-20mm which I have sold and all of a sudden the 50mm 1.4 finds its way into my hands a lot more often. The kit (kit! It's an L!!!) 24-105L IS is fantastic and provides me with what I consider to be a proper 'standard' zoom which I struggled to find for the 350D, at this level of quality anyway. The viewfinder is also so much larger and brighter.
The downsides are the size and weight (which I quite like actually) and the lack of a pop-up flash; an external is definitely required despite the great low-light performance. The memory card door lets the quality feel of the camera down, though that is a minor point.
Where does it sit in the market with the latest Nikon launches (D3 & D300)? Well, if you have an investment in Canon EF lenses and sports aren't your thing then it's a no-brainer. If you don't have an SLR or are looking to improve on the consumer SLRs, then it is a full frame that delivers amazing image quality with no equal at this price point. Period.
Wedding photographers' favourite
The Canon 5D must be one of the most popular DSLR camera for wedding photographers since its launch. Its full frame and good noise control at high ISO are main reasons why wedding photographers love this camera.
In 2008 this camera is starting to show its age, with Nikon's D3 now surpassing it for noise control.
While there are newer cameras with better features, the 5D's price is now at such a low level, and even with rumours that Canon is launching its replacement sometime this year, the 5D is still selling like hot-cakes to wedding photographers who thinks it's good enough and definitely a bargain at the current prices (approx £1200 for the body).
The 24-105mm lens in this kit is L spec, which means it has Canon's professional optics and has a rubber ring around the metal lens mount to help keep dust and moisture out. The captured image is top notch too, and far sharper than anything non-L or any 3rd party lenses I've ever used. The 24mm end is pretty wide on the 5D since it doesn't have any crop factor to take into consideration. If used on a Canon cropped sensor body (eg 40D) then it will give an equivalent of a 38.4mm which is not very wide.
As mentioned, Nikon has upped the game with high ISO, but all the wedding photographers using with Canon lenses that I know of still swear by the 5D.
