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Canon EOS 5D

Canon EOS 5D

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Key Features of the Canon EOS 5D :
  • World's smallest and lightest full-frame digital SLR.
  • 12.8 Megapixel CMOS Sensor.
  • DIGIC II Image Processor for outstanding image quality and performance.
  • 3.0 fps for up to 60 consecutive JPEG or 17 RAW frames in a burst.
  • New larger 2.5 inch LCD screen can be viewed even at extreme angles up to 170°.
  • New "Picture Style" function for superior command of in-camera color, contrast and sharpness.
  • High-precision 9-point AF with 6 additional Supplemental points surrounding the center point for superior focus tracking.
  • Strong and light magnesium-alloy body with new shutter durability-tested to 100,000 exposures.
  • Compatible with over 50 Canon EF lenses and most EOS System accessories.
Combining the high-end specifications of the EOS-1 Line and the operational easeof the EOS 20D model, the Canon 5D digital SLR is a premium digital SLR designed for a wide range of photographers. Boasting a 12.8 megapixel, 35mm full-size image sensor in a magnesium alloy body weighing just 28.6 ounces (810 grams), the EOS 5D digital SLR is a petite but powerful imaging machine.

The camera features a Canon-designed & manufactured CMOS image sensor. At 12.8 megapixels, there is enough resolution for a double-page spread in a magazine, a large print of the bride & groom, facial detail in group shots or a landscape of impressive dimensions. The sensor's 35.8 x 23.9mm size means that each pixel can be a generous 8.2mm, resulting in exceptionally low shadow noise, & increases the light-sensitive area of each pixel & improves dynamic range as well.

The full-size sensor maximizes performance of the world's largest selection of autofocus lenses. Even wide-angle lenses—have the same look & feel they have with conventional SLR cameras, preserving their optical signatures. The addition of the DIGIC II image processor, provides detailed & natural color reproduction & fast image processing, including an incredible burst performance of 60 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images at 3 fps. It also enhances start-up time bringing it down to a lightning fast 0.2 seconds.

A new feature called Picture Styles combines processing parameters & color matrix settings into easy settings designed to obtain the desired effect, almost like choosing a type of film to obtain a specific result, to avoid confusion of digital effects on the image. The Canon 5D digital SLR has a new 9 point AF system with 6 Supplemental AF points, a new AF algorithm & a new AF circuitry.

The new AF system improves subject detection & focusing precision at the center, the most frequently used area, & significantly enhances subject tracking performance. The EOS 5D digital SLR has a newly developed, high-speed & highly durable shutter unit that was designed to meet the demanding requirements of a full-frame sensor in a relatively compact body.

The Canon EOS 5D digital SLR has a solid, substantial & organic feel along with its compact dimensions & relatively light weight. The Canon 5D model has a 2.5" polysilicon TFT LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 pixels. At 170 degrees, it has an exceptionally wide viewing angle. Brightness on the monitor is also adjustable in 5 levels & the screen's backlight feature uses six LED modules.

The Canon EOS 5D DSLR has a bevy of other high-end features including the same ISO range as the 1Ds Mark II—ISO 100-1600 in 1/3-step increments & ISO speed extended at L:50, H:3200. Also included on the camera is ultra-precise white balance with 9 types of white balance settings, white balance bracketing, & white balance correction, enhanced 35-zone exposure metering, & spot metering in approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area.

 

  • Full frame CMOS sensor offering 1:1 lens conversion and capturing detailed 12.8 Megapixel images
  • DiG!C II image processor for lightening quick response, low image noise with natural color
  • High speed 9-point wide-area AF and 3 fps continuous shooting for up to 60 frames in a burst
  • Super tough and light weight magnesium alloy body providing exceptional durability
  • Compatible with the range of over 50 Canon EF lenses and EX-series Speedlites
  • Complete Creative Control
  • 35-zone metering with options including Evaluative, Partial, Spot and Center-weighted Average
  • Selectable ISO from 100-1600 with ISO expansion to ISO 50-3,200 via Custom Function
  • White Balance control including Auto, Preset, Custom, Color Temperature, Correction and Bracketing
  • Picture Style settings for simpler image color control & consistency offering 6 preset looks including Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful & Monochrome plus 3 User Defined settings
  • Advanced features
  • High speed 9-point AF with 6 additional Assist Points for even greater high speed focus accuracy
  • High speed shutter with 1/8000 sec shutter speed and 1/200 sec flash synchronization
  • Critically accurate E-TTL II flash metering for high flash exposure consistency and accuracy
  • 21 Custom Functions with 57 settings allowing customization of operation to suit shooting style
  • Large 2.5 inch LCD monitor and USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface enabling high speed image transfer
  • Huge Range of Standard Accessories + Software



Canon EOS 5D Photo Samples

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These are actual photos taken with Canon EOS 5D.
Photos courtesy of Flickr and belong to respective users. To view a larger image click on thumbnail.

Compare Canon EOS 5D with similar cameras

Name: Canon EOS 5D Nikon D300
Megapixels: 12.7 12.3
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
LCD Screen: 2.5 " 3.0 "
ISO: 100 - 1600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 3200 as option 200 - 3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (100 - 6400 with boost)
White balance Settings: 8 positions & manual preset 6 positions, plus manual preset and Kelvin
Max shutter: 1/8000 sec 1/8000 sec
Min shutter: 30 sec + Bulb 30 sec + Bulb
Focal length multiplier: 1 1.5
Viewfinder: TTL TTL
Image stabilizer: No No
Weight (with batteries): 895 g (31.6 oz) 925 g (32.6 oz)
Lowest Price: $2199.99 $1829.00
Details: - View details



Canon EOS 5D User Reviews

Avg. Rating
4.5
Out of 5
This item is reviewed by 109 people so far.
Click here for complete reviews.

5
Out of 5
Love this camera!
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-31 By: 1throughthelookingglass.com
This camera is awesome. It is great in low light and I can still ghost images which I prefer doing. I've gone to the dark side (digital) and I really enjoy it. This is my first DSLR.

5
Out of 5
Performed as Expected
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-30 By: Pio Valenzuela
The first time I saw the Canon EOS 5D was back in 2005, shortly after it was released. To me, it represented the logical digital version of a full-frame 35mm SLR at a fraction of the cost of the top-of-the-line offerings from Canon and Nikon. I purchased the kit, which includes the EF 24-105mm zoom lens, for a trip to Japan, with the intent of using this as my primary walk around camera. It performed as expected: the 24mm wide angle was very useful, as was the 105mm. Resolution, color balance, etc. were very good to excellent. Indoor exposures with ISO 400 were excellent, and IS system worked well, since I did not bring a tripod. (I also brought the 100mm macro lens and 100-400mm zoom lens from Canon for the trip).

5
Out of 5
Stellar camera!
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-18 By: D. Lazarescu
I have researched for one of the best DSLR cameras without breaking the bank and have found it in the 5D model. A very flexible camera, truly a masterpiece for shooting landscapes and portraits as well as anything in between, the 5D fulfills any needs I had prior to owning it. My only wish is that it had a more flexible bracketing system, such as 5 frames bracketing instead of 3 frames. Still, worth its weight in gold, the 5D is the one DSLR I would recommend for any job and for any serious amateur or pro photographer out there.

5
Out of 5
EOS 5D
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-17 By: Wayne Ahr
The EOS 5D is a terrific digital SLR. Its price point isn't for everyone but if you're a very serious amateur or want to upgrade to a camera that's pretty close to the 1D professional version (several thousand dollars more) - this is the camera. It has far more features than I am familiar with for the time being - but it is not hard to learn. I recommend it if you're really serious about photography. The Amazon price, shipping, and business dealings are excellent.

5
Out of 5
Almost perfect
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-15 By: Sigbjorn Hagaseth
Beeing a Nikon guy it was a big step for me to move on to Canon. I had a Nikon D70S which was a good camera for me for a long time.

The menu/navigation system was easy to adapt, so no problems there. And it didn't take long before I understood I had a much much better camera in my hands. Without going into details, the image quality is simply very very good. I love this camera.

A thing I hvae noticed is that while the D70S needed very accurate settings for both shutter time and F-numbers in order to take good pictures, the 5D gives good pictures for a wide range of shutter times and F-numbers. Sounds a bit strange, but that's my experience.

I took a lot of pictures late in the evening and using 1600 ISO, the quality was still very good. I have notices that people try ISO 1600 and above when it is good light conditions. Note! This will not tell you anything about how the camera is at high ISO values with little light. You need to have little light to check how good the high ISOs are. And 1600 ISO gave smooth images with this camera.

Battery time was good. I took about 600 images over 3 weeks before it turned flat.

Note! This camera don't have a internal blitz, which off course is because it is a pro camera, but still its good for you to know...

Well. There is 1 problem with this camera. The focus points. They are as other say, centered to near the middle, so very often I need to crop the image in other ways than I had intended, often giving lot of air above the object. Typically I want to focus on the face, giving a lot of blue sky above the head. This is actually very irritating. Also the navigation for focus points are idiotic - every time I want to change focus pint I need to click this tiny button in the corner, before using the keypad. This means that I must move the camera away from my eyes every time I want to change point. Argg... It is also very hard to find the right focus point.

Ahhh, and I just loved the full size CMOS. No more x 1.5 for me!!!

Almost perfect this camera!