Canon 5D classic

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I have not used a DSLR for a while, preferring a smaller outfit, but notice the price of the original 5D is now interestingly low.

I appreciate it is considered ancient compared to today's technology but I have always liked full frame and wondered whether anyone still used one. Also would be interested if anyone uses one now and also uses a more modern camera to see how they compare.
 
Im sure people do use them, but like you said its pretty old with all the old tech to boot. It might be FF but alot of the modern CS cameras will outperform a 5Dc significantly.
 
You can't beat full frame goodness and there happens to be one for sale in the classifieds too...

:D
 
iamtheoneneo said:
Im sure people do use them, but like you said its pretty old with all the old tech to boot. It might be FF but alot of the modern CS cameras will outperform a 5Dc significantly.
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This is what I'm unsure of. I really like my compact system cameras but i am yet to be convinced that even state of the art CCS sensors can match the first generation full frame sensors.
 
drb5 said:
You can't beat full frame goodness and there happens to be one for sale in the classifieds too...

:D
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Yup - saw that :)

It was prices like this that grabbed my interest. If the image quality still stacks up against current DX sensors then it looks a good option with a couple of prime lenses
 
daveproctor said:
This is what I'm unsure of. I really like my compact system cameras but i am yet to be convinced that even state of the art CCS sensors can match the first generation full frame sensors.
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well depends on what you want to shoot. the 5d will naturally have better ISo simply bc of the FF (tough this is actually disputed as the 5d can only go up to 3,200 ISO), but then you lose a whole host of decent features found on most modern cameras, only you can decide if you need them or not:

(using a 600d/60d as an example)

larger screen , better resolution
better shutter speed
liveview + movie recording
better resolution, better dynamic range

personally I think if people are looking to go FF then they really should see the 5dMK2 as a starting point.
 
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I run a 5Dc and a 50D and shoot mainly portraits and weddings. If i am honest i havent reached for the 50D first since i got the 5D. 5D is a little less responsive to use (slower menu selections, rubbish screen, only a few fps) but the files on the screen are amazing and take processing very well.

I use all of my lenses near wide open so even though my sensor is probably a bit of a jungle none of it shows on the images, although the self cleaning sensor bit of newer cameras would be very nice.

I have no hesitation using iso 1600 and will use 3200 without fretting too much, the noise reduction in the latest software makes it much less of an issue than it used to be.

Am considering chopping the 50D in for another so i dont have to change lenses so often on wedding day :)
 
Well I am in the process of moving from a 500D to a 5Dc, main reason is noise performance and better IQ overall.

So far I can see a big difference in using ISO 1600 and 3200 compared to the 500D. I love it and can't wait to get my hands on some L glass to play with it proper :)

Maybe check out the 5Dc thread here.
 
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I owned a 5D for over a year. As long as you don't look to shoot too high an iso, the 5D will knocks spots over any of the XXXd and XXd crop sensor camera's. Okay the tech is a bit old now but if all you care about is the output then just get one.

FF output is dreamy smooth with sharp and great colours! None of the crop sensor camera's noted come close to the output. Just make sure you have good glass.

BTW my only upgrade path from the 5D was the 5DmkII. If you have the funds, it is worth considering that.

Typical 5D image!


146 - 2 by Marcus Charter, on Flickr
 
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daveproctor said:
I appreciate it is considered ancient compared to today's technology but I have always liked full frame and wondered whether anyone still used one. Also would be interested if anyone uses one now and also uses a more modern camera to see how they compare.
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There's a users thread on this very forum... :D ...

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=281735

The camera doesn't have the latest frippery but I personally don't need scene modes, GPS tracking or for it to make me a cup of tea :D Sensor cleaning would be nice but from what I've read Canon's sensor cleaning isn't exactly state of the art anyway, other than that a built in flash, ISO in excess of 3200 and in body IS would be on my wish list before frippery.

If anyone thinks APS-C cameras outclass 5D IQ significantly I'd be interested to know which models they have in mind, I'd guess that they wont be Canon APS-Cameras :lol:
 
I shoot a 5D1 and 5D3 together regularly.
IQ wise... they are pretty equal to around ISO 1600, where the 5D1 starts showing noise if you arent spot on with your exposure.. the 5D3 is still noise-free here.

The main issues IMO with the 5Dmk1, comparing it side by side with the mk3 are :

Screen - 5D1 screen really is old now. Size isnt bad, its resolution that kills it.
AF system - compared to the mk3, it is old and slow and has very few AF points. Centre AF point is just as good as the mk3 however.
AF Micro adjust - luckily, none of my lenses need any on either 5D1 or 5D3 - but a friend has just picked up a 5D1 and all 3 of his Sigma primes (35/50/85) all front focus on the 5D1 - so he is stuck, wheres on later bodies he could apply micro adjust to "fix" it

Interestingly, and I havent quite got my head around why yet... at my last wedding where I used the 5D1 and 5D3 together, I ended up using a lot more 5Dmk1 images in the album than 5Dmk3 (something like 70:30 split).
 
woof woof said:
There's a users thread on this very forum... :D ...

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=281735

The camera doesn't have the latest frippery but I personally don't need scene modes, GPS tracking or for it to make me a cup of tea :D Sensor cleaning would be nice but from what I've read Canon's sensor cleaning isn't exactly state of the art anyway, other than that a built in flash, ISO in excess of 3200 and in body IS would be on my wish list before frippery.

If anyone thinks APS-C cameras outclass 5D IQ significantly I'd be interested to know which models they have in mind, I'd guess that they wont be Canon APS-Cameras :lol:
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Thanks - I am a *&^%$# when it comes to posting a question without checking the threads first.

Appreciate your comments on FF vs APS-C which mirror my views and experience although I haven't used a state of the art APS-C much recently. My thoughts are that I could pick up a 5D for around £400 and buy a 50mm 1.8 for not very much plus, maybe later, a couple more primes. It seems a 'no-brainer' at this price and, with the lower resolution sensor, I think there's less need to invest in top quality (ie VERY expensive) lenses
 
daveproctor said:
My thoughts are that I could pick up a 5D for around £400 and buy a 50mm 1.8 for not very much plus, maybe later, a couple more primes. It seems a 'no-brainer' at this price and, with the lower resolution sensor, I think there's less need to invest in top quality (ie VERY expensive) lenses
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This is/was my exact same thoughts until Hsuffyan posted his tatty and cheap 5D2 I couldn't resist.

I've spent a long time with just a 50mm 1.8 on either a 5Dc or 5D2 and it produces cracking shots...perfect cheap combo IMO, till you can afford more expensive glass.
 
daveproctor said:
Thanks - I am a *&^%$# when it comes to posting a question without checking the threads first.

Appreciate your comments on FF vs APS-C which mirror my views and experience although I haven't used a state of the art APS-C much recently. My thoughts are that I could pick up a 5D for around £400 and buy a 50mm 1.8 for not very much plus, maybe later, a couple more primes. It seems a 'no-brainer' at this price and, with the lower resolution sensor, I think there's less need to invest in top quality (ie VERY expensive) lenses
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My own little tests at home have shown me that at lower ISO's and in images up to and including A3, when viewed normally and ignoring anything such as focal length and aperture combinations, there's next to no difference in actual image quality between my G1 (MFT,) 20D (APS-C) and 5D. IMVHO the 5D only pulls ahead as the ISO rises and also if/when the magnifying glass is brought out to look for any difference that can possibly be seen.

For me the advantages of the 5D include using lenses at their intended focal length... and by that I mean as I used them years ago on my SLR's, and also being able to shoot at any ISO up to and including ISO 3200.

The disadvantages are, again IMVHO...
It's a sensor dust magnet.
The VF is prone to debris.
There's no modern stuff - no IBIS, no sensor cleaning, no built in flash, no micro adjust (but I've never needed it.)

Also, the FoV thing is a twin edged sword, IMVHO. You may end up using longer focal length lenses (than you'd use with MFT or APS-C) at smaller apertures and this has implications for camera + lens bulk and weight and also ISO settings and / or shutter speeds.

For example. Lets imagine that I want to take a shot with my MFT with a 25mm lens at f4, and ISO 100 to get a reasonable shutter speed. With my 5D to get (about) the same image I'll be using a 50mm at f8 with the resultant implications for ISO and/or shutter speed.

However, ignoring actual image quality for a moment the overall look that is produced by a camera and lens combination at certain camera to subject distances, focal lengths and apertures is difficult to reproduce using a different combination. That may be enough to convince you that you need a 5D :D
 
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daveproctor said:
I have not used a DSLR for a while, preferring a smaller outfit, but notice the price of the original 5D is now interestingly low.

I appreciate it is considered ancient compared to today's technology but I have always liked full frame and wondered whether anyone still used one. Also would be interested if anyone uses one now and also uses a more modern camera to see how they compare.
Click to expand...

I've gone from Micro 4/3 to 5D Classic to Micro 4/3 in the past year. The first few months of full-frame were 'wow', but the novelty wore off pretty quickly. Dust on the sensor, viewfinder full of crap, lottery with lens focusing accurately, awful LCD, very very expensive glass if you really want to take advantage of FF, everything is heavy, plus I shoot a lot of telephoto stuff and there are very few even vaguely cheap(ish) ways of going pretty long.

The jump back to Micro 4/3 was very welcome, two bodies and 5 lens will comfortably occupy the space of the 5Dc and 1 lens, I don't need to worry about dust, it's light, you can configure just about everything, AF points will go anywhere you like, and the swivel screen has opened up a whole new world of low angles.

I wouldn't expect anyone to have similar circumstances to me, but for me although it scratched an itch shooting FF for a while I wouldn't hurry back to it.
 
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What are you shooting primarily?

For landscapes in decent weather it is totally fine. For portraits, it's OK as well. The sensor has little to complain about. AF and build quality are lacking (but an improvement over CSC). For an allrounder you need a 1Ds series body. they are anything but small and light though
 
daugirdas said:
AF and build quality are lacking (but an improvement over CSC).
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AF is noticeably quicker on my Panasonic G5 than on my 5Dc, plus in approx 1000 shots I've not yet had a single OOF shot from the M4/3 body, the same most definitely cannot be said of the 5Dc.

As a motorsport shooter AF tracking is slightly better on the 5Dc, but not by anywhere near the sort of margins many would expect.
 
daugirdas said:
What are you shooting primarily?

AF and build quality are lacking (but an improvement over CSC).
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Rubbish. IMVHO.

5D focusing is perfectly adequate for many uses and can really only be described as lacking when compared to cameras aimed more at tracking fast moving objects. Your comments about CSC are as predictable, sweeping and far off as ever, IMVHO :D
 
I loved my 5D Classic, there's something magical about the images it produces and some of my best family photographs have come from it! I wish I'd kept it but as I moved to Nikon I knew it wouldn't get used so I wanted someone else to enjoy it :)
 
One negative about the 5Dc which I discovered only last night is the AWB is miles off in tungsten lighting.

I did three shots..

1) 5Dmk1
2) 5Dmk3
3) Lumix G3

Annoyingly, the G3 had the best AWB out of the 3, though the 5D3 was close. The 5D1 was pure orange

For reference, the "correct" WB was 2400 temperature -5 tint.

Lumix went with 2550 -5
5D3 went with 2850 0
5D1 went with 4550 0

Weird!
 
Love my 5D Mk1, the lens I use most is the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 (manual focus), think this was 400iso,

0018_zpse61b4ebf.jpg
 
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