Product Description

The new Canon EOS 5D offers advanced photographers a lightweightrobust digital SLR that uses Canon's superlative EF lenses withouta conversion factor. Its full-frame 12.8 Megapixel CMOS sensorcombines with Canon's DIGIC II Image Processor a high-precision

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34592 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Canon
• Model: 0296B038AA
• Released on: 2005-09-29
• Dimensions: 1.76 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

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.

EOS 5D with 50mm lens (lens not included)

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.

EOS 5D included accessories

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

Setting a new standard
As a keen amateur photographer and already having a range of Canon gear I was very interested when this camera came onto the market and bought it pretty much immediately.

Before then, I used an Canon 300D which in itself is an excellent camera but suffers by not having a full-size sensor, is lacking in a number of more advanced features and is generally quite slow.

The sensor size is the key feature (and being the most expensive part of the camera the key price component) so it is important to consider whether you want a full-size sensor or a smaller one (as may be found on the EOS 30D for example). There are two schools of thought re the sensor size. On one hand, you can multiply the focal length of your lens by 1.6 (in the case of the 30D) to get the new focal length and there is therefore no difference (an 8 megapixel image will print perfectly to A4 size and probably A3 size). The limitation here is on wide angle, where you cannot get as wide a landscape view as you would with a full-size sensor. At the high focal length (eg. wildlife / sporting events) you do not lose out, but you do not benefit either, since a larger sensor would in effect contain the image from the smaller one within its image.

If you are new to SLR photography then this may not too big an issue, as you can purchase a range of lenses to meet these needs. In such a case, the EOS 30D may well be a more suitable purchase, offering most the features of the 5D at a much lower price in part as a result of the smaller sensor. In that case you are limited on wide-angle lenses and there's no L-series (the highest quality lens made by Canon) available on the EF-S lenses made especially for the smaller sensor (the superzoom lenses work on EF and EF-S mounts)

Back to the 5D, the build of the camera is superb. It feels very robust, and has an interface similar to all other EOS cameras, in particular the digital models. In that regard, the LCD screen on the back is much bigger than previous models and the scrolling control is as found on the 10D and onwards. Battery and memory card slots are exactly as on previous cameras so your old batteries and memory cards will be compatible with this one, perhaps as backup.

One of the main differences I noticed in using the 5D is how much faster it is than the 10D or 300D. As soon as you switch it on (via an irritating 3 position switch for "On"/ "Off" / "On with the wheel disabled") the camera is ready to take photos and overall you do not feel limited by the number of photos it can take before needing a breather to write everything to memory (in RAW mode as well as JPEG). The viewfinder is huge (as a result of the full-size sensor) with clear indication of which focus points are in use (there are 9 focus points, with "assist points" near the centre).

In terms of features, spot metering is included (you have manual selection of this alongside normal, partial and balanced rather than automatic as on the 300D) and you can choose the focus mode re whether to follow the subject (eg. in motor sport) or to not adjust as you reframe (eg. landscapes). It is very easy to change the ISO rating for your photo, key when taking shots in poor light. The software provided to view the images is excellent, and a download is available to import the RAW files (which are a different format to the previous Canon RAW files but seemingly compatible for 3rd party backup devices) into Adobe Photoshop.

The picture modes have been removed from the main dial (I always use shutter priority or aperture priority) although you can choose the "Picture Style" (eg. indoor, landscape) via the control panel to configure contrast, saturation, brightness for each mode.

So the downsides... well, there's no flash (it is of course fully compatible with Canon Speedlite flash as well as all E-TTL flashes) although given the results of the built-in flash on the 300D you're not missing much. The on/off switch is irritating (I haven't yet needed the middle mode), the battery compartment is not that easy to open, and at times I did think the camera was too heavy.

However, as soon as I saw the results I got from the 5D, the ease with which I was able to take the photos and control pretty much everything in a easy-to-use manner, I knew this was a superb purchase and I'm delighted. My main reasons for purchasing this were improved performance and features (notably spot metering) compared to the 300D and the opportunity with a full-size sensor to move away from film photography completely. Mission accomplished - it's superb!

All in all an excellent purchase for anyone looking to turn their back on film camera once and for all, although perhaps not that worthy an upgrade from the 10D or as a first camera purchase.

Why are you reading this, go get one and start shooting !
I recently upgraded from the 20D, and had read some mixed reviews about how much better the 5D was, one saying there is not much difference up to A4......well I am hear to tell you this is far from true.

The 5D has astonished me from the start. Having the same layout as the 20D made it an easy transition. I think the sharpness and color rendition are more than significanly better than the 20D....having the 24-105mm L series obviously helps though.

You also appreciate the full frame sensor...especially with scenery shots....

You won't need to spend as much time on Photoshop either, perhaps just the odd tweak here and there.

This is a fantastic camera and worth every penny.

This has rekindled my enthusiasm for photography!
I have had a EOS-3 and a half decent bunch of EF lenses in a lowepro bag in a cupboard since the onset of the digital age and my purchase of my first good digital camera (a FinePix S602 zoom) in 2003. Now that my scepticism of digital photography has been dispelled, it was time to re-visit my EF lens collection with a DSLR. And then I was faced with the usual full frame versus small frame dilemma. And the worry that the 5D is fairly old and due for replacement imminently. And the 1DS in its various models is way too expensive a weighs a ton. But I went for one of these and don't regret it for a second. My friend bought a 30D around the same time, so I've had the chance to play with both and the full frame sensor is just the bomb. Firstly, all my lenses are exactly what it says on the barrel - so wide lenses stay wide. And the image quality that the bigger individual pixels provides is really noticeable. Colour reproduction and saturation is excellent - even on the bog standard unadjusted settings. And if it's not to your taste, then the 5D gives you the flexibility to vary the image in a staggering number of ways. Even a range of digital filters in the B/W setting! And like my 3, it has a custom setting that recalls your personal shooting preference settings with a turn of the control dial. Super handy. And it has a greater number of custom functions than the majority of the smaller sensor models - such as the order of bracketing (for both exposure and WB), noise reduction for long exposures, and of course, turning the irritating bleep off. And like the 3, you can vary the function of the control wheel on the back, and the function of various buttons. Its a great camera to use - everything is exactly at your fingertips. On the minus side, its undoubtedly significantly heavier and larger than its small sensor rivals - but then it is reassuringly chunky with its sturdy magnesium body. Not quite as bomb proof as a the 1DS, but more robust than the baby EOS's. And the LCD is a bit small compared to the newer small frame models - but then looking at an image on the LCD doesn't tell you a great deal - especially in bright sunlight. There's no live view either, but I'm not sure how valuable that actually is. I wouldn't dream of checking focus or depth of field preview on the LCD anyway - as long as you can see the histogram alright then that's good enough for me. On that subject, the 5D picture review can show the focussing points it selected as well as the other standard shooting information - which is very handy indeed. But then, manual selection of the focussing points using your thumb on the control wheel is really easy, and I'd recommend it almost every time for non-moving subjects. All in all, this camera has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for photography and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to anyone, especially if you already have some 35mm EF lenses tucked away somewhere. And with the price gradually coming down to the £1100-1200 mark, it's becoming increasingly excellent value. Don't worry about it being quite old either - its still a wonderfully specified camera with awesome image flexibility and user settings. Go on - you know you really want a full frame sensor and you won't be disappointed with one of these.