Canon EOS 5D: Simply the best. (Canon EOS 5D)

Member Name: s.e.wood

Product:	Canon EOS 5D
Date:	21/03/07 (187 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The best a consumer can get. Perfect ergonomics; intuitive controls.

Disadvantages: Expensive; heavy; no integral flash.

The Canon EOS 5D is bridges the gap between consumer and professional DSLR cameras. Its price reflects this, retailing at around 1500GBP for the body. As a kit, it is offered with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM lens for around 2000GBP. (It is probably worth declairing at this point that I am on the consumer side of the fence, and so this review will be most useful for consumers, not professionals.)

The headline feature of the 5D is the 'full frame' digital sensor. Most digital cameras have a sensor that is smaller in area than a 35mm negative. This leads to a focal length multiplication factor that is greater than one. For example, the Canon EOS 30D has a 22.5x15.0mm sensor giving a 1.6x focal length factor. The EOS 5D full frame sensor is the same size as a 35mm negative at 35.8x23.9mm. This gives a 1.0x focal length factor. Of course, the larger sensor size provides room for more pixels, however, there is a real optical advantage to a larger sensor. A larger sensor gives a greater depth of field. If you want to quantify what the difference is, visit http://www.lensplay.com where you can find a depth-of-field calculator.

Now, back the the EOS 5D itself. On contact with it, the first impression is that it is large and heavy. There is no doubting that. Using my kitchen scales, the body and lens weigh in at a hefty 1.65kg (including the battery pack). Be prepared for it. However, as soon as your hands slide into place -- right hand on the camera grip and left hand on the lens zoom ring -- the feeling is so natural that the weight becomes irrelivant. The ergonomics of the camera are so close to perfect that it becomes a wieldy and precise camera. I've used it to shoot continuously at three frames per second while tracking my daughter running around irratically. I found it a much better tool for this than any other camera I have used.

The camera has a very large array of modes and features to allow you to get your pictures right (I will not list them here). However, do not overlook its excellent 'fully automatic' mode, which makes it an extraordinarily accomplished point-and-click camera. Anyone buying the EOS 5D will, no doubt, be intending to use those extra modes and features -- and here it gets really impressive. The controls are unbelievably easy and intuitive to use. The majority of settings that effect shooting can be altered using fingertip controls without moving your hands. Press a button, twist a wheel: the ISO is changed. Press a button, twist a wheel: the white balance is changed. And so it goes on.

The one drawback for the consumer user is that there is no integral 'pop-up' flash. This means that the further expense of a flashgun is required for indoor shooting -- unless you want to keep telling your granny to sit still. It also means the further weight of a flashgun ontop of an already hefty camera. Again, when taking photos the weight remains irrelevant, but, when hanging it around your neck, you now have 2kg of dead weight. Enough to give a child a very nasty clout on the head if you bend towards them.

Here, I really wanted to concentrate on the 'user experience' of taking photos. I do not consider myself qualified to comment fully on the end results. So, in terms of the quality of photographs you can take, all I will say here is that with the EOS 5D you can take very good photos with relatively little effort (or no effort with the fully automatic mode). Put in a bit of effort and you will contually astound yourself with the results -- or even compete with the professionals.

One final note: the lens assumed here is the EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM. For this camera, this is a good choice if you are starting with only a single lens as it ranges from slightly wide to mid telephoto. However, there is, of course, a whole range of Canon and compatible lenses to consider. From the Canon range it would be best to stick to the professional quality 'L' series lenses. Amongst them, the f/1.2 lenses are considered the bees-knees for portrait photography.

Summary: Astounding performance and usability, if you can cope with the price and the weight.

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