Canon EOS-5D Body Only Digital Camera

Previously an EOS 20D user - and now a 5D owner - I only have experience of Canon DSLRs. I mention this upfront because if you just want to know whether this camera is better than competitive brands, this review isn't the one you are looking for.

To sum up I think this is a great camera at a slightly steep price which will suit enthusiasts and semi-professionals alike. I'd put money on it that many professional photographers are using this as their premium back-up camera although many also like to have two of the same to avoid confusion with slightly different systems under duress.

This camera is marketed towards those enthusiasts and the semi-pro market particularly and doesn't claim to replace the top end cameras such as the EOS 1D family. It doesn't come up to par with them in several ways. The way in which it does match the higher end cameras though is in potential image quality.

BUILD
The 5D chassis is based on a magnesium alloy and stainless steel and is similar to the EOS 20D although it is a lot heavier and feels more solid in my hand. The build is high quality but not as rugged as cameras of a higher price which can survive greater shocks without failing. It doesn't feature the same high quality environment-resistant seals as the pro range either. That means that technically it isn't as dust and weather resistant.

I've shot in rain, snow, gig / nightclub environments on location, abroad and indoors with this camera and I haven't had any problems with fragility. Maybe if I was part of the paparazzi, or extreme photographer this camera would be a risky choice. I have dropped and thrown my 20D with reasonable force a few times during energetic shoots and it was fine - though I smashed the flash sitting on top of it. I suspect in similar circumstances the 5D would have performed equally well.

Frankly I think in use (by non-extreme-pros) this camera is as rugged as it needs to be for you to have confidence that it will continue to work well if you treat it with the dignity the price tag suggests. If you double the price tag then sure you could probably buy a camera you can play catch with it, maybe. If you decide you want to be safer if you accidentally throw the camera around, you can buy third party 'camera armour' which fits this model.

The weight of this body is noticeable straight away, especially if you are used to the standard consumer models. It isn't ridiculously heavy, but if you are not used to handling larger cameras it could slow you down. It doesn't bother me, I just notice it when I pick up the camera with a small light lens and it's still quite weighty (about 31.2 ounces including battery).

The viewfinder is a really nice size, a 2.5" extravaganza which clearly shows the image and colors and allows a better impression of what you are reviewing than smaller formats allow. However, the 5D (like the 20D) has a very bright color LCD display (by default) which can give the user a false impression of how well the image is exposed. You can turn this brightness down, but you may still have to change the 'gamma' of your monitor to match that of the Canon screen. Even then, in the field, the LCD preview can be misleading.

I have recently converted to DSLR's from film. My first digital camera was a 400D, while this is a fine camera I quickly out grew it, the controls are a bit clumsy you have to look at the back of the camera to alter many settings, which makes it slower to change settings. Not that I need rapid shooting a lot of my work is wedding and landscape photography, and often need to change settings quickly. With the 5D most major setting changes can be adjusted with the camera at the eye, not unlike the 1D range. The most amzing thing about this camera is the images it produces, there is a certain smoothness about the picture right up to ISO 1600 photographs print astoundingly. I've borrowed a 1D mark2n and the picture quality does not seem as smooth. There is one down side to this camera though, my standard lens for many years was the EF24-85mm which was fine on film, excellent on the 400D, on the 5D oh dear. I bit the bullet and started buying L series glass, starting with the 24-70 f2.8 see my review, the only camera I would swop this one for is the 16.7 mega pixel 1Ds or a newer version of this camera.