Canon EOS 5D Review

November 2005 | By Phil Askey

Preview based on a production EOS 5D, Firmware Version 1.0.1

Canon's press material for the EOS 5D states that it 'defines (a) new D-SLR category', while we're not typically too concerned with marketing talk this particular statement is clearly pretty accurate. The EOS 5D is unlike any previous digital SLR in that it combines a full-frame (35 mm sized) high resolution sensor (12.8 megapixels) with a relatively compact body (slightly larger than the EOS 20D, although in your hand it feels noticeably 'chunkier'). The EOS 5D is aimed to slot in between the EOS 20D and the EOS-1D professional digital SLR's, an important difference when compared to the latter is that the EOS 5D doesn't have any environmental seals. While Canon don't specifically refer to the EOS 5D as a 'professional' digital SLR it will have obvious appeal to professionals who want a high quality digital SLR in a body lighter than the EOS-1D. It will also no doubt appeal to current EOS 20D owners (although lets hope they've not bought too many EF-S lenses...)

Canon EOS 5D vs. EOS 20D feature and specification differences

	Canon EOS 5D	Canon EOS 20D
Sensor	• 35.8 x 23.9 mm CMOS • 12.8 million effective pixels • No FOV crop (1.0x)	• 22.5 x 15.0 mm CMOS • 8.2 million effective pixels • 1.6x FOV crop
Image sizes	• 4368 x 2912 • 3168 x 2112 • 2496 x 1664	• 3504 x 2336 • 2544 x 1696 • 1728 x 1152
Lens support	Canon EF lens mount (not EF-S)	Canon EF lens mount (EF and EF-S)
Auto focus	• 9-point TTL • 6 "invisible assist AF points" * • -0.5 to 18 EV working range * Within the spot metering circle	• 9-point TTL • -0.5 to 18 EV working range
AF assist	No (only with external flash)	Yes
Metering modes	• Evaluative 35 zone • Partial (8% at center) • Spot (3.5% at center) • Center-weighted average • 1.0 to 20 EV metering range	• Evaluative 35 zone • Partial (9% at center) • Center-weighted average • 1.0 to 20 EV metering range
ISO range	ISO 50 - 3200 (when extended)	ISO 100 - 3200 (when extended)
ISO steps	0.3 EV steps	1.0 EV steps
Flash X-sync	1/200 sec	1/250 sec
Image parameters	"Picture Style" • Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3	• Parameter 1 • Parameter 2 • User 1 • User 2 • User 3 • B&W
Custom image parameters	• Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G	• Sharpness: -2 to +2 • Contrast: -2 to +2 • Saturation: -2 to +2 • Color tone: -2 to +2 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
Viewfinder	• 96% frame coverage • 0.71x magnification • Focusing screen can be changed	• 95% frame coverage • 0.9x magnification
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD (wide viewing angle) • 230,000 pixels	• 1.8" TFT LCD (wide viewing angle) • 118,000 pixels
Shutter release	Soft touch	Soft half-press then click shutter release
Histogram	• Luminance • RGB	Luminance
Built-in flash	None	Electronic pop-up
Shooting modes	• Auto • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Bulb • Custom	• Auto • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Flash off
Continuous speed	3 frames per second	5 frames per second
Continuous buffer	Up to 60 JPEG or 17 RAW frames	Up to 23 JPEG or 6 RAW frames
Folder selection	Yes	No
Playback file size display	Yes, MB	No
Playback jump	• 10 images • 100 images • By date • By folder	10 images
Custom functions	21 custom functions with 57 settings	18 custom functions with 50 settings
Portrait grip	Optional BG-E4 battery grip	Optional BG-E2 battery grip
Dimensions	152 x 113 x 75 mm (6.0 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)	144 x 106 x 72 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.8 in)
Weight	• No battery: 810 g (1.8 lb) • With battery: 895 g (2.0 lb)	• No battery: 685 g (1.5 lb) • With battery: 770 g (1.7 lb)

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.

To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.

DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2005 Phil Askey and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey