Canon EOS 5D review

Canon EOS 5D - this is a legendary old full frame semi-professional camera (or advanced amateur - as it is convenient to count), which was produced from 2005 to 2008. My version made in japan. Canon 5D became the third camera after Canon EOS 1DS и Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II with a full-frame sensor, the Canon EOS 5D is the first in a new class of professional cameras with a lightweight body (often referred to as 'semi-pro'). Canon EOS 5D has direct descendants: this 5D MarkII, 5D Mark III и 5D Mark IV... Canon EOS 5D is often referred to simply as'first dime'or' 5D classic '.

The Canon EOS 5D has a 13.3 MP CMOS sensor, of which only 12.8 MP, which by today's standards is not so much, but 12.8 MP is enough for comfortable shooting of most photo tasks. I rarely find it necessary to use cameras with a large number of megapixels. Canon EOS 5D Captures Images 4368 by 2912 pixels (total - 12.719.616 pixels), which is enough to print pictures even on the A3-A4 format. I rarely print pictures larger than 20 x 30 cm.

Canon EOS 5D can use ISO from 100 to 1600 and expand the range to a value ISO L (ISO 50), ISO H (ISO 3200). Today you won’t surprise anyone with ISO 3200, even modern Canon cropped cameras with APS-C format sensors, for example Canon 650D, can overclock their ISO up to 25.600. But still, I want to pay tribute to the old lady Canon EOS 5D: unlike the 'inflated' ISO values ​​of many cropped cameras, the Canon EOS 5D can actually use its ISO 1600 and even ISO 3200. In terms of noise level, the Canon EOS 5D still bypasses a lot. (if not all!) cropped cameras, such as Canon 7D, Nikon D300, Pentax K5Sony SLT-A65 etc.

Canon 5D with booster

Canon 5D with booster and Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.4 lens

Canon EOS 5D can shoot at speed 3 frames per second. Some argue that the speed is around 3.5 to \ s. The camera shows in the lower right corner. frame bufferequal to 9 shots (8 frames when using the ISO extended range function), but when shooting in Drive mode, you can take about 17-20 pictures in RAW format until the camera starts to slow down. In JPEG L mode, a series of shots reaches 60 frames. Generally, pretty large real frame buffer I was pleasantly surprised.

But when shooting in RAW + JPEG mode, after filling in the frame buffer, the camera goes into a stupor for a long time. In this mode, the buffer is 12 shots, the camera takes the next frame in only 10-15 seconds, which is an eternity! Using a fast memory card does not solve the problem.

Canon EOS 5D can use RAW (CR2) format only with 12 bit depth of color. RAW (CR2) files average 11 to 19 MB. JPEG L files are 2 to 10 MB on average. Canon EOS 5D uses fast cards CF. My Canon EOS 5D easily made friends with a memory card CF Transcend 32GB 400x and Transcend 32GB 133x.

Important: The data recording speed, which depends on the camera itself, is very low on the Canon EOS 5D and this cannot be corrected by using a faster memory card. One RAW file weighing about 10 MB, the camera records about one second even with the fastest CF cards.

Canon 5D Display

Canon 5D Display

I liked the Canon EOS 5D excellent ergonomicsa, large monochrome backlit secondary display. The camera weighs about 900 grams with the battery and without the lens. Almost a kilogram of weight is not scary. Canon EOS 5D does not have a dust and water resistant body. Camera display 2.5 inch with 230.000 points. When working with the display, I noticed that it reproduces the real color rather poorly in the obtained photos - it is too faded. The camera's menu is quite simple, it is very easy to understand it, in this camera it became available in Russian as well.

Canon EOS 5D supports shutter speeds from 30 s to 1 \ 8000 s. For measuring exposure 35-zone sensor responds, a large number of amateur Canon cameras have a similar sensor, more about it here.

Canon 5D has just 9 focus points (and 6 more invisible auxiliary)... In the Custom Functions menu, I recommend adjusting the focus point selection with the joystick. You can read more about the focusing system installed on the Canon 5D in the 'Canon EOS Camera Focus Sensors'.

But the Canon 5D has a good large optical viewfinder with 96% coverage, working with such a viewfinder is pretty nice. The battery holds up to 1000 shots, which is pretty good.

Sample Photos

All sample photos located in the gallery below were obtained using a Canon EOS 5D camera and lens YONGNUO 50mm 1: 1.4. Some photos were taken using a polarizing filter. HOYA 58mm PL-CIR.

Personal experience

Canon EOS 5D can be regarded as used. camera option for people who want to immediately start shooting at full frame. In nature there is no cheaper and more practical option for a full-frame camera. Although, for about the same cost you can find Canon EOS-1DS. Personally, I think Canon EOS 5D is preferable Canon EOS-1DS due to its smaller size, lithium-ion battery, larger display, larger frame buffer, more adequate work with memory cards and, most importantly, more flexible capabilities for processing RAW files.

Among the shortcomings of the Canon EOS 5D, I would like to note the absence of the Live View mode, which is very useful when working with manual optics, and the small number of focus points. At the same time, the camera does not have fine adjustment of automatic focus. True, Canon EOS 5D supports replacement focusing screens.

Many people complain that the camera sensor gets dirty quickly - Canon EOS 5D does not have a matrix cleaning system. Also in the camera no HDR, built-in flash, automatic ISO control in modes P, Av, Tv, M and many modern 'gadgets'. Many photographers have easily and painlessly switched to Canon 5D after crop cameras. Personally, I liked the color rendering of the Canon 5D much more than the color rendering on my 'workhorse' - Nikon D700.

At one time, I made a mistake - instead of Canon EOS 5D (even in the used version) I bought another cropped camera. Now i highly recommend to all novice photographers who are limited in funds and who do not need various 'gadgets', including video filming, instead of buying a 'mediocre' cropped camera, get a used one. Canon EOS 5D (not new). I think that for the growth of a photographer, immediately shooting in full frame is very, very important and useful. If you are looking for some interesting and inexpensive camera with a 'beautiful pattern', then I recommend looking at the 'Legends go to battle', as well as 'Full Frame with 28 megapixels for 240 cu :)'

More examples of photos, as well as source files in RAW format, can be viewed or downloaded in the following reviews:

  1. In my gallery at 500px
  2. In the video review
  3. Yongnuo 35mm 1: 1.4
  4. YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.4
  5. ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.7 50mm
  6. SMC PENTAX 1: 1.8 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN 
  7. Canon Zoom Lens EF 20-35mm 1: 3.5-4.5 Ultrasonic (there are examples at high ISO values)
  8. Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
  9. Canon Macro Lens EF 100mm 1: 2.8 L IS USM
  10. Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 1: 2,8 f = 100mm T *
  11. Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y)
  12. EBC Fujinon.Z 1: 4.5 / 75-150 Fuji Photo Film Co. Lens-japan
  13. Vivitar 75-205mm 1: 3.8 Close Focusing Auto Zoom
  14. Hanimex Automatic 1: 2.8 f = 100mm (there are portraits)
  15. Sigma 70-200mm 1: 2.8 APO EX HSM (portraits available)
  16. MC Helios-44M-4 58mm 1: 2
  17. Auto Super-Lentar 1: 2.8 f = 35mm
  18. Travenar wide auto 1: 2.8 f = 28mm (colorful photos)
  19. Era-6M 1,5 / 50
  20. Nippon Kogaku Japan Micro-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 f = 55mm
  21. TAIR-3-FS 4,5 / 300
  22. Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 4 / 200 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN
  23. Vivitar 17MM 1:3.5 AUTO WIDE-ANGLDE
  24. A. Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135
  25. Olympus OM-System E.Zuiko Auto-T 1:2.8 f=100mm
  26. Olympus OM-System Zuiko MC Auto-W 1:2.8 f=28mm
  27. Spiratone Tc 1:2.8 f=135mm Japan
  28. FUJINON 1:1.4/50 FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LENS-JAPAN
  29. LEITZ CANADA SUMMICRON-R 1:2/90
  30. LEITZ WETZLAR SUMMILUX-R 1:1.4/50

Conclusions

Nowadays, the Canon EOS 5D is morally obsolete, but still attracts with its full-frame sensor and affordable price per second. option. Canon 5D only requires full-frame Ef lenses. Canon EOS 5D even nowadays shows a great picture at low ISO. Many appreciate it for its nice color rendering.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 543, on the topic: Canon EOS 5D review

  • Daniel

    Arkady, really want to finally see video reviews from joyful :) It seems to me that it will be super-cute :)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Eh, people forgot how to read :)

      • Daniel

        No, not at all) It just seems to me that video reviews will be a new level of Radozhiva's development)

        • Sergei

          Danil is right! +1

        • Arkady Shapoval

          It would not be bad if from several thousand views of this or that review people left not 5-6 likes, but a little more, this is really necessary and important. Due to the fact that Radozhiva is only my blog and it does not bring me financial benefits and takes time away from my main work, there will be no video reviews in the near future.

          • Ullar

            I am not present in social networks, so I wrote a post about you in my LiveJournal. What is rich, as they say.
            http://ullar.livejournal.com/102600.html
            Thanks for the interesting site.

            • Arkady Shapoval

              Wow, thanks, very nice.

          • Dmitry nagual

            Arkady make your channel on YouTube and everything will work out and subscribers will appear and likes

      • Destroy

        from video reviews, she will only lose joy, Arkady expounds all the necessary information in text, spending his time and energy on filming a video in which it will be the same is simply stupid. And for what? for lazy users? :)

    • Ivan

      I think video reviews are a marketing gimmick. For those who are too lazy to read. I saw several such reviews on the Hotline about lenses. But honestly, I would never have been guided by them when choosing a lens. This is so, just a show that takes a lot of time in terms of labor.

  • Ivan

    Yes, the price is really low. It’s tempting for a full frame, but still I don’t want to switch from Nikon, and I don’t have a video in it, sometimes I shoot for home.

    • Anet

      What brand do you prefer? What do you use))

  • ponchik

    meaningless and unnecessary review! there are hundreds of them on the Internet ...

    • Arkady Shapoval

      If not difficult, describe what is missing or what is superfluous?

    • anonym

      So write the one that is not on the Internet.
      Z.Y. Neither xp?:% But not doing it?: Ny to write any bullshit.
      Z.Z.Z. Arkady THANKS, very good. like your blog.

    • Roman Donetsk

      Such fluderasts as you donut are also missing))) Arkady I understand you that this is not a commercial project, but what kind of thought is video reviews))) but we are happy about that too, thank you very much!

      • Arkady Shapoval

        By the way, I started doing a couple of video reviews, lost half a day, I realized that this requires a lot of work.

        • Lynx

          no video needed. Videos are watched by those who lack the mind to read.
          Do not.

  • paysy

    I'd love to read a review of 6D

  • Okulov Dmitry

    Nice, simple review. Like most of your tests. Therefore, it is interesting to read them both for pros and beginners. Continue in the same spirit!!!

  • Jury

    I use the nikon D80 bD40 myself, today I saw the Mark 2 Kenon, talked to the person, clicked, and this is not the first time I've heard that the Kenon is less noisy than the Nikon in the photo. Please resolve this question. I used kenon only on holidays and hastily.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Different models have different noise levels at different ISO values. Of course, D80, D40 will lose to this 5D in terms of noise.

    • Okulov Dmitry

      Try to compare with D3S or D4 and you will understand what Nikon can. But such models cannot be compared.

      • Edgar

        idiocy to compare an old "amateur" full-frame 5d, with Nikon's flagships ... If you really want to compare, then a competitor for d3s is canon 1d mk4, nikon 4 can only compete with Canon dx, and even then it loses to it in terms of rate of fire and megapixels (11 versus 14 in favor of canon). And, if I'm not mistaken, only Nikon has a DX mod, in which you can reach the maximum rate of fire, Kenon does not have such problems

        • Okulov Dmitry

          Is it not idiocy to compare the 5d mark 2 with Nikon D40? I wrote that you can not compare completely different cameras.

          • Arkady Shapoval

            Please note that no one compared, it was clearly said only about the noise level of these cameras. Please do not write too much.

    • Ivmulder

      And why compare the noise of the matrix of cameras you need on the resource itself http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors Well, quite lazy.

  • Vyacheslav

    What matters is not the camera, but the photographer
    "Henri Cartier-Bresson"

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Everything is correctly noticed.

    • i-hero-in.narod.ru

      Henri Cartier-Bresson was a genius photographer - such are now a rarity. He shot mainly for fifty dollars and Leica M3. But nowadays a camera is not just a film box, but a complex instrument. It depends on it whether you will shoot a scene or constantly worry about noise, exposure, white balance, etc. Buy a good full-frame camera and a couple of high-quality fixes, because you don't consider yourself a Great Photographer from birth, like Henri, but you can become one if you want ;-)

      PS. http://www.luckylife.ru/bresson - an article about him,
      http://blog.vysokikh.com/2011/09/01/10-things-street-photography-bresson/ - advice.

  • Jury

    Thank you. It's very nice when you are not writing in the void.

  • Pavel Vavilin

    Thank you, very interesting and useful review.

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    Arkady, well done! The review is excellent. For me personally, in your reviews I like the personal experience section. All specifications can be found on any camera, but personal use is much more important.
    From myself, I also want to add that from personal experience using several cameras, 5d for me personally in color rendering at high ISOs is much better, for example, Nikon D300. and d90 too.

  • Alex

    Thanks for the review! Canon 5D Mark II lineup

  • anonym

    I have been shooting with Nikons for many years, but I must admit that both exposure metering and color balancing are more stable and more accurate in Canon. And the "five" is no exception. So what, that "old lady"; it is still qualitatively relevant, as, for example, by the nature of colors, 10D (!!!). Yes, other models are ahead of 5D in terms of characteristics ... I want to reproach those who are always lacking in everything: look at yourself more critically, you match your cameras and their needs; maybe it is you who need to be improved, not the devices ??

    • Andrei

      beautifully said) AND TO THE POINT

  • Peter

    No need for a video ... Read and read again !!! Only then the kettle remembers and begins to understand, and the prof has the opportunity to reflect on what has been written. Thank you, Arkady, for your difficult, but, believe me, very useful and necessary work.))) )

  • Aleksey

    in spite of the fact that I have alpha with pleasure I read your articles thanks for work for all fans.

  • Igor

    Thank you for the article. I am surprised at your performance. Although I confess, I did not like the photos in this article. If there was no indication of the brand of the camera, I would say that it was taken with an old soap dish.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes, I completely agree, the photos do not stand out.

  • Anton Vladimirovich

    Good review, thanks!

  • Novel

    > If there was no indication of the brand of the camera, I would say that it was shot with an old soap dish.

    Now the conditions for shooting are the most inevitable. There is little light, the weather is such that the images are obtained in low contrast. You can modify it in Photoshop, of course, but it seems like Arkady tries not to use it unnecessarily. And under such shooting conditions, the difference between a good soap box and even a ff-camera will not be as significant as we would like.

  • Eugene

    Give now a review of Kenon mark2 !!!

    • Hatul Haham

      It's time for mark IV, or at least III

  • Alexander

    In the old canons there is something that Nikons do not have, at least the new ones. I am writing as a former owner of 30d, which changed to d7000.
    Of course, the noise level is lower, DD seems to be also completely different. On the canons of (old) IMHO there is very little information in the shade, but because of this often the photo looks more voluminous. So, for example, green, which turns into black looks more natural than green, turning into dark green with a hint of blue.
    Therefore, it seems to me, and all the talk, that new cameras give unnatural colors. At the same time, even in the course of processing, it is not always possible to achieve that “loss of information”.
    Those. the photo from the new cameras looks as if already processed even in the RAV, but in the old people you need to do everything with your hands, but sometimes even more freedom is obtained.
    The only thing that interferes with old cameras is low detail. Of course, happiness is not in Megapixels, but when it is necessary to crop the frame floor for a better composition, the number of MPs matters.

    • varezhkin

      Subscribe. Something goes off color with new cameras.

  • Roman

    I propose to conduct an experiment: take 24-70 / 2,8 and a camera of your choice (7d / 60d / 550d / 600d)
    Scale so that the angle of view is the same
    Compare shots.
    Get an answer to the question and naf. you need this dinosaur for that price and stop supporting artificially high FF prices for photobarders and the greedy producer
    Good luck to everyone!

  • Novel

    My dear namesake, when it comes to buying your first camera, there are no questions. But to play with a fleet of old optics in their “native” format, or at least with a smaller crop factor in the case of a medium format - why not? You can buy an old penny for the price of another lens and breathe new life into almost all of the existing glass park. When fifty is a wagon and 28mm is a good wide angle.

    • Roman

      Roman, I share and understand your arguments, that's what I want. BUT I don't understand what is the point of throwing out $ 900 for trash. To play so wastefully, however ... If you are already playing with the 2nd mark, there at least the quality of the pictures is unattainable for a modern crop.

      • Alexander

        http://35photo.ru/items/Canon+EOS+5D_i148/examples/
        If this is trash, then why are so many photos taken to it to this day.

      • Victor

        >>>> BUT I don't understand what is the point of throwing out $ 900 for trash
        Pfff! It was 2018, and "trash" for a long time for 300 bucks can be found, and even with the shutter and matrix not killed. I recently bought this "trash" myself, after ten years of lazy "Spartanism" with even more "trash": 350D. I will say that I really liked the 5D! It is pleasant and convenient to hold it in your hands, and in general it is very convenient to use: the menus and controls are simple and intuitive, nothing superfluous, you just have to buy it with the EF 50 / 1.4 USM or EF 50 / 1.8 STM staff - and you get a Camera, in its clean unclouded form.
        Unfortunately, the Tamron 28-75 / 2.8, which has been pleasing with good sharpness throughout the frame for many years on the 350D APS-C crop, - on the FF 5D, “lathers” and “pulls” in the corners of the frame, a dog, drawing a disgusting coma even at f / 11 ! :(

  • pasha

    Arkady, you indicated in the article that the camera has DD (dynamic range), you could not enlighten about this parameter and for one thing about the color depth. On the same dxo, the numbers are 12 evs and 22 bits, but, damn it, this is math that I can not master. More precisely, I understand that the wider and deeper, the better, but I did not find anything to compare with. Not with human vision, not with film, nothing at all. Therefore, for me this is just a set as for jerkers - the more the better, but I want clarity.
    Thank you.

    • Alexander

      http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/ru/tutorials/dynamic-range.htm
      Then take a look, maybe clarify something, although it’s a little complicated

      • pasha

        Thank you, an interesting article, though the material is complicated. I’ll read a couple of times at my leisure)

    • Kodak

      The dynamic range of the human eye does not exceed 8 bits, which corresponds to 256 shades of gray from conditionally (in our case, really) black to conditionally (in our case, really) white. Ideally, this is the case for each of the three colors. However, in reality, the human eye does not distinguish so many gradations of brightness for each (RGB - red, green, blue) color.
      How much a bit is needed to fully reproduce the color for the human eye is not exactly known, which enables marketers to manipulate concepts and replace the truth.

      • Denis

        dynamic range is rather measured in decibels, and certainly not in bits
        and 8 bit is not because a person no longer distinguishes colors, obviously, this is the MINIMUM value that is needed for a comfortable image for a person on the monitor

      • Denis

        However, in reality, the human eye does not distinguish as many gradations of brightness for each

        damn, it seems, and the man has this damn Bayer (((

  • Dima

    If someone is interested in the question of what is the advantage of a full-format matrix over cropped and why a large pixel is better than a small one, I advise you to read:

    http://www.shunk.ru/article/24/

  • Sasha

    Dear Arkady!
    In the near future I plan to decide on the system.
    There was a canon 400d, now Nikon 5100 I didn’t compare the picture on the tilt, I like it better on Nikon, but maybe the tamron lens is 28-75 / 2.8, and on the canon there was a kit from 550 d and 18-125 sigma.
    I realized that there is no answer, which is better, I decided to go from simple, which is cheaper? Which lenses are cheaper at a flea market with comparable quality ...
    The device is planning something from 5d or 7d Canon, or 300 from Nikon, or that in the same class at a flea market, quality is optimal for the price.
    I plan to actively engage in creative non-commercial filming.
    Really, your opinion seems to me the most objective, thanks.
    I apologize for the errors, I am writing from the iPad, and he tries to fix everything ..

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Choosing a system is very complicated. Due to the fact that 5d is available, I would start with it.

      • Novel

        Good day! Please tell me where can I download the latest firmware ver. 1.1.1. There is nothing on the official Canon website.

  • Alexey

    Arkady, did you test 5d by working ISO or did you trust DXOmark?

    It's just that they say everywhere 5d makes less noise than 7d, etc. and so on. Hmm, today I tested the heel for half a day, and it makes some noise at the level of 40d, well, maybe a little better, it doesn't reach 7d. Given that 7d is 18mrh, but you can choose 10mrh, then Semyon will completely break ...

    Of course I still compare in different conditions, but so far the tests on the Internet are not clear. Perhaps of course on the same DXO there were fewer requirements on the heel, they had eaten before, but with the advent of 7d the requirements increased.

    For the rest, I used to trust DXO, because in the same uniformity of DDs on 7d and 5d3 I was convinced myself in practice, in difficult conditions 7d and 5d3 showed the same DD, where, by the way, 60d (like on DXO) lost.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It’s immediately evident that 5D is much lower, in fact, for which I wrote in this review that the camera does not have high high ISOs.

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