A lightweight, robust full-frame 12.8 Megapixel digital SLR with Canon's DIGIC II Image Processor, a high-precision 9-point AF system with 6 assist po
A lightweight, robust full-frame 12.8 Megapixel digital SLR 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.
The Canon EOS 5D is a lightweight, robust, digital SLR with Canon's DIGIC II Image Processor, a full-frame 12.8 megapixel CMOS sensor, a new 2.5-inch LCD, high-precision 9-point AF system with 6 assist points, and "Picture Style" color control.
Price: $3299 US
Canon EOS 5D Pros and Cons
Pros
24x36mm sensor maintains normal viewpoint of wide anglewide-angle lenses for group, architecture, and landscape.
12.8 megapixel sensor captures images capable of being enlarged to 11" x 22" prints.
Smaller and lighter than other full-frame DSLRs.
Fully compatible with 70 Canon EOS lenses designed for 35mm film cameras.
2.5-inch color LCD with 170-degree view angle.
$4000 less than Canon's other full-frame DSLR - the EOS 1Ds Mark II.
Good battery life.
Rapid start-up time and buffer/card write speed.
True, 3.5% spot meter.
Low noise up to ISO 800.
High image-review magnification (zooming) for checking sharpness.
Cons
Minimal weather resistance.
No vertical shutter release.
LCD display needs to be adjusted to max brightness in sunny settings.
No built-in flash.
Slow 1/200th second flash synch.
Slow, 3 FPS capture rate.
$3300 price tag.
RAW images require post-processing for maximum sharpness.
Rapid start-up, shot-to-shot speed, and 3 FPS capture-rate.
Hot shoe and PC terminal for off-camera lighting.
"Picture-Style" control for color, sharpness, and contrast
21 custom functions with 57 setting options
Canon EOS 5D Design
With the introduction of the $3,299 full-frame, EOS 5D digital SLR camera body, Canon drops another bomb on the market, undercutting both the new $4,999, 1.5x sensor-factor Nikon D2X and Canon's $7,999, full-frame sensor EOS 1Ds Mark II. Further, the 5D uses large 8.2-micrometer pixels, which are said to offer lower noise and a wider ISO range than can be found in comparable models. Because of the sensor design, the 5D's pixels run cooler, and that ensures lower noise at high ASA settings.
The 5D is lighter than both the Nikon D2X and the EOS 1Ds Mark II, has better ergonomics, better functionality, with fast start-up and no appreciable shutter lag. It offers a huge rear panel LCD monitor, wide range of ISO speeds, good control over TTL flash use, true spot exposure metering, and multi-zone auto focus functions.
The 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor features a wide, 170-degree viewing angle. The larger LCD produced sharper thumbnail images, and the camera's "JUMP" button speeds reviews of large 4GB compact memory cards by skipping through at intervals of 10 or 100 images. PictBridge makes it possible to generate a "contact sheet" directly from the camera with a Canon's Pixma printer. Included in the box are Canon's Digital Photo Professional 2.0 RAW converter, as well as EOS Capture 1.5 and PhotoStitch 3.1 for panoramic shots.
Back view of the EOS 20D and the EOS 5D with improved 2.5-inch LCD monitor.
There's more. The Canon EOS 5D's body is 34 percent lighter than Canon's other full-frame DSLR, the EOS 1Ds Mark II (810 versus 1215 grams), and the 5D's lithium battery is 36 percent lighter than the EOS 1Ds' (82 grams versus 225 grams). While the 5D's physical size almost matches the much less expensive ($1299) Canon EOS 20D, the 5D sports a higher resolution (12.8-megapixel vs. 8-megapixel), full-frame CMOS sensor and a larger (2.5-inch vs. 2-inch) rear panel LCD monitor.
The EOS 1D-Series bodies (left) are much larger and heavier than the EOS 5D.
Although not as rugged as the more expensive EOS 1D-Series digital SLRs, the EOS 5D is a tough camera. The camera's shutter is rated for 100,000 shots. It has a stainless steel sub-frame and top, and its front and rear casings are made of aluminum alloy. The grip and battery compartment are made of magnesium alloy. The internal mirror and housing had to be made larger than the 20D's to accommodate the full-frame sensor. The pentaprism has a new shape.
Image data is delivered to the most recent iteration of Canon's proprietary Digic II image-processing chip. Combined with the EOS 5D's DDR SDRAM and 4-channel reading, the camera can capture bursts of 60 large/fine JPEGs or 17 RAW files at 3 frames per second (fps). The Digic II processor's inner circuitry provides improved noise reduction, better white-balance controls, and an expanded ISO range.
Exposure functions use an improved 35-zone SPC through the lens (TTL) metering system that offers evaluative metering partial (13.5%) metering, spot metering (3.8% of the viewfinder area), and centerweight averaged metering. The SPC (Silicon Photocell) element is placed as close to the focal plane as possible, so that metering is performed at a point equivalent to the digital sensor's plane. SPC provides a wider metering range, fairly fast response, and superior linearity. The 5D's 3.5% center spot coverage is a major improvement over the EOS 20D's 9% spot coverage. An all-new auto focus system uses 9 focus points plus 6 invisible zones used by the predictive AI servo AF mode.
Canon EOS 5D playback display, with histogram and info displayed
Canon EOS 5D main menu
Canon EOS 5D Custom Function menu
Canon EOS 5D Controls The simplicity of the EOS 5D's controls make it easier and more enjoyable to use than Canon's EOS 1D pro digital SLRs. I knew how to use the 5D as soon as I picked it up. I've owned the EOS 1D Mark II for 18 months and still have to refer to the manual for less frequently used operations.
The EOS 5D is a "one-button-per-function" camera, while the EOS 1D Mark II is a "two-button-per-function" camera. Consider checking images for sharpness on the LCD.
With the EOS 1D Mark II, I have to hold down the "Memory Card Selection/Magnify" button while rotating the rear-panel "Quick Control Dial" for horizontal movement, or the top panel "Main Dial" to move the image vertically. After 18 months with the 1D Mark II, I still can't remember which dial controls which motion. The EOS 5D's "Multi-controller" joystick is so intuitive that I was able to navigate the magnified image without ever using the manual.
Functions on the rear panel closely resemble those found on other Canon DSLRs, with the exception of the 5D's Direct Print button (see right).
Camera Experience The 5D has fast, accurate, and consistent auto focus, especially in low light--and it offers fast start-up and short buffer-to-card writing times. It has a faster start-up time (0.2 seconds), less shutter-lag (0.0075 seconds), and less time between shots in single-shot mode (0.4 seconds) than the more expensive EOS 1Ds Mark II, which takes 0.3 seconds to start, has a 0.05-second shutter-lag, and requires one second between pictures in single-shot mode.
Of course, the 12.8-megapixel, full-frame, CMOS sensor allows a wide-angle lens to be all it's supposed to be. My Canon 24-105mm f/4 zoom lens is constricted to a 32mm viewing angle by my EOS 1D Mark II (1.3X crop factor). Using the 5D, I could capture a much wider scene, as shown by these two photos of my neighbor's house, both shot with the 24-105mm lens set at 24mm and mounted on the Canon 5D and my Canon EOS 1D. Notice how much wider the view is with the Canon 5D.
However, ultra wide-angle lenses may exhibit vignetting with the wider view. I tried 3 different lenses taking the same picture when mounted on a fixed tripod: the standard 50mm f/1.4 Canon lens, a Canon EOS 14mm f/2.8 at f/6.3 and a Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5 zoom at its maximum aperture. The Sigma 12mm showed darkening of the upper right corner. This is easily overcome by shutting down the using a smaller aperture.
The rear panel LCD monitor's factory default settings were dull and low contrast. I had to increase brightness to maximum to match the brightness of the EOS 1D Mark II or the Leica Digital-Module-R digital SLR. Once the brightness was adjusted I could easily see the LCD monitor in bright sunlight.
Auto focus was fast, even in dim light. And the image sharpness proved to be critical, revealing that my new Canon EOS 24 -105mm f/4.0L zoom was not sharp when used wide open. Using my 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens, I was able to take pictures of sufficient sharpness and resolution for uninterpolated 11 x 14 prints.
Image Quality
At ISO 100, the EOS 5D's image quality is clean and smooth, with no artifacts or jaggies. Noise in the shadows is minimal all the way up to ISO 800. The sample images taken in the forest (see right) reveal detail in the shadows, both at the corners and at the center of the image. Some mild noise becomes detectible at ISO 1600. See the controlled studio tests to best evaluate image quality and compare with other cameras.
The 5D's color reproduction was impressive, both in dynamic range, depth, and ability to register what was there. Take the sharply focused picture of autumn colors shown in the thumbnails, or the vivid colors Logan Inn photo (see below). The 5D was able to catch the brilliant yellow paint on a Lotus Elise coupe (see below) and the glossy, hot pink spoiler of a Porsche 911 RSR 3,8 Carrera.
Even though I generally shoot RAW with white balance set to "cloudy," I experimented with white balance settings in post-processing in order to get the best possible color and skin tones . I set exposure by monitoring the histogram and adjusting so that there was no clipping in the highlights. I found that the histogram shifted to the left in low light situations, so exposure compensation was needed. Skin tones were a bit warm, but the red saturation was not as intense as with the Canon EOS 1D Mark II.
Click on thumbnails to view sample photos.
Click on thumbnails to view sample photos.
Conclusion The Canon EOS 5D lives up to the hype. It breaks new ground with its full-frame sensor and huge rear panel LCD. Comparing it to Canon's $7,999 flagship EOS 1Ds Mark II tells it all. The 5D offers a comparable full-frame sensor but beats the more expensive Canon with its lightweight construction, simple control layout, simplified menu, and a much larger LCD monitor.
On the other hand, the 16-megapixel EOS 1Ds Mark II offers a 27 percent more resolution than the 5D, better battery life with a 33 percent increase in total shots (1200 versus 800) from a single charge, a vertical shutter release, higher viewfinder magnification, an eyepiece shutter, better build and weather-resistance, and more viewfinder information (image recording quality, shots remaining; ISO speed, self-timer countdown; a scale showing both the camera's exposure compensation versus the flash unit's compensation; and white balance correction). Only you will be able to determine whether these extras are worth the extra four thousand US dollars you'll have to pay for the EOS 1Ds Mark II.
Who Should Buy The Canon EOS 5D The Canon EOS 5D is an excellent choice for any serious amateur or professional photographer who needs a lightweight, easy-to-use, full-frame DSLR to complement wide angle zooms and prime lenses. The 5D will be a boon for wedding photography because of its light weight and ability to take group shots with wide angle lenses. It also will be welcomed by pros who need a second, lightweight camera body for wide-angle lenses.
The EOS 5D's unique assets emerge when you need high-quality images of architecture, interior shots in small rooms, landscapes, brides, grooms, or macro shots of flowers. The EOS 5D's ease of use, superb image quality, versatility, and relatively lightweight body, and low cost compared to Canon's top-of-the-line EOS 1D Mark II make the 5D an ideal camera for studio work, wedding photography, catalog work, or landscapes. If you are interested primarily in sports photography, portraiture, or wildlife photography, then the EOS 5D's slow burst rate will be a disadvantage. However you look at it, the EOS 5D represents a breakthrough in price and performance and has the ability to change photography for the better.
Sample Images
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The EOS 5D is a "one-button-per-function" camera, while the EOS 1D Mark II is a "two-button-per-function" camera. Consider checking images for sharpness on the LCD.
With the EOS 1D Mark II, I have to hold down the "Memory Card Selection/Magnify" button while rotating the rear-panel "Quick Control Dial" for horizontal movement, or the top panel "Main Dial" to move the image vertically. After 18 months with the 1D Mark II, I still can't remember which dial controls which motion. The EOS 5D's "Multi-controller" joystick is so intuitive that I was able to navigate the magnified image without ever using the manual.
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