Pros: Very similar in layout to the previous 5D. Huge 3" screen on back (yum)
Cons: Noisy at 12,800 & 25,600 ISO Doesn't use 5D batteries (ugh)
The Bottom Line: At the price you'll spend for camera and lens, excellent for experienced digital photographer or individual willing to learn the many features.
alanbweaver's Full Review: Canon EOS 5D Digital Camera with 24-105mm lens
For those of you who will read this review and possibly vote on it, please note that I am an enthusiastic amateur and not a tech wiz and will be writing this for the most part in simple and easy to understand English. This review is short and actually designed to be read in its entirety rather than skimmed over 2,300 words and given a high rating. You can obtain more information about the technical data on this camera from the Canon website. (canoneos.com) Not for the cheapskate, this camera is a terrific unit if you got a huge holiday bonus last year. I didn’t, but am working for a client who has this incredible camera and have used it a number of times. WOW! Despite the drawbacks, this is a terrific camera. DRAWBACKS Autofocus is not any faster than on the original 5D machine. Burst rate at 3.9 fps is good, but doesn’t work like a movie camera at a sporting event. Video does have autofocus. However it doesn't allow for tracking (ie AI Focus). Although someone posted a comment on this feature, I personally did not find it be as satisfactory as it could have been. It could have been the lighting which affected the video. If you are shooting a very high ISO of 12,800 and 25,600, the images are very noisy The AF system was not updated for this model Uses a different battery than 5D (they ought to give us a trade in for those who have several back up batteries)
THE GOOD 21.1 MP full frame CMOS sensor 1080p HD video ISO 140-6400, extendable to ISO 50, 12,800, & 25,600 Very similar design to the 5D Image quality: excellent @ ISOs of 50 – 3200; very high at 6400 ISO Resolution at ISO 100 is excellent Color accuracy – excellent Noise for the most part is very low except when shooting at the very high ISOs. REVIEW This camera is designed for advanced shooters who have been waiting for an upgrade of the 5d model. Anyone who wants a full frame DSLR with lots of pixels.
Some of my previous reviews of cameras have discussed whether high MP is required or not…to me this is an overrated part of a camera. Unless you are printing very large prints or zooming in on a minuscule part of the photo, I’ve very seldom obtained objectionable grain in a photo.
On the back of the camera you’ll now have a 3” LCD. Back of the camera is almost the same, the trash button was moved to the right side. The thumb rest is comfortable and rubberized. On the top of the camera you’ll find 2 more custom shooting modes. The status LCD is larger (could be bigger for my middle aged eyes!) and the button to illuminate it is moved to a more comfortable spot.
The camera body is essentially the same as the original 5D which is great for those upgrading from the previous model (reduces the learning curve). The viewfinder accuracy is NOT 100%, it is at 98%. Optional focusing screens can be purchased (author did not use them).
Shutter now has a life expectancy of 150,000 cycles, up from 100,000.
If you’ve ever had a dust problem, there is an integrated cleaning system which shakes the sensor each time you start up the camera so any loose dust fall down to the sticky surface below the sensor. In addition, there is a menu option to create a dust map by capturing an image of a plain white surface large enough to completely fill the frame. This data becomes embedded in future image files so you can use Canon’s digital photo professional software (version 3.3 or higher) to remove dust spots from images. This works on RAW, JPG, TIF.
The battery for this camera is different from the 5D (darn!) which means all those extras from before cannot be used. The new battery is rated 850 shots per charge.
In low light situations, the results are good. Try taking some photos at sunset or dawn, you’ll be pleased. However, make sure you keep the ISO at a reasonable level or you can end up with some nasty noise in the picture.
This camera does NOT have an auxiliary flash built into it. With its ability to work with low light, you won’t be as apt to need the flash. When the highlight tone priority setting is engaged, it will limit the ISO range to 200-6400. Some noise may be added to the shadows. Low light performance is not glitch free. You can get tiny black blotches next to areas of blown out highlights. The blotches can be easily removed on the PC. I don’t work with RAW that much and cannot comment on this feature. As mentioned, I'm an "enthusiastic" amateur. I'm quite proficient in photoshop but believe in doing the shot correctly when it is made rather than finessing it on the computer.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1600 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts
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