History: The Original Canon EOS 5D Camera

[Canon Rumors]

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From B&H Photo

B&H Photo has posted a nice article about the coming of the original Canon EOS 5D camera body. At the time, it was the first full frame camera that was “affordable”.

A snippet from the article

“Most photographers in the mid 2000′s had developed their eye using 35mm film cameras. When they attached a 50mm lens and looked through the viewfinder, they expected to see a 50mm focal range. However, nearly all the DSLR cameras available at the time were using APS-C-sized sensors, which introduce a significant amount of crop factor. The classic nifty fifty is cropped to 80mm. This compromise threw many people off, and proved to be a persistent nuisance.”

The original Canon EOS 5D was the first full frame camera I ever used. I borrowed it a lot from the photo store I worked at, I just couldn’t go back to my EOS 40D, which was a great camera in its own right. I didn’t actually own a full frame camera until late into the life of the 5D Mark II, as I was using APS-H for a long time with the 1D3 and 1D4.

Read the full article

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[sanj]

Thank you admins for posting this.

[sjp010]

Still using mine!  And my 40D is still collecting dust!

[Joynt Inspirations]

Stellar read! So glad this was posted.

[Click]

Thanks for the link.

[vscd]

For me the Classic 5D is still one of the best cameras around. The 12MP on a FullFrame Sensor and it's lowlightcapabilities are still awesome. Some may miss liveview (I don't) but everything else is up to date. Don't believe the hype of the "new".

[BL]

a landmark camera and a real game changer back in 2005.

i still love using mine with a high precision screen and only put it down when i need live view or small form factor.

bravo cannon!

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I bought a guys entire camera system to upgrade my rebel way back then, it included the 5D, flashes, Epson portable file viewer, flash, set of 3 Canon extension tubes, flash, canon remote, right angle viewer, and so on.  I bought a new 24-70mmL and immediately disliked the camera.  The lens made it unbalanced, and it felt way to heavy.  I returned the lens, and sold most of the stuff I bought for about twice what I paid for it, and bought a new 40D which I loved.  When the 5D MK II came out, I pre-ordered, since I was ready for a bigger and heavier body by then. 

[Knut Skywalker]

Interesting to see that a single series of cameras has revolutionized the industry twice. The first 5D was the first affordable FF digital camera and the "camera that killed film" and the MkII the first FF camera that featured 1080p video recording and low-light capabilities better than the "real" movie cameras back then, which was followed by a crazy hype in low-budget-filmmaking.

I bought my 5D MkII in 2012 and enjoy using it nearly every day.

[mrsfotografie]

Interesting to see that a single series of cameras has revolutionized the industry twice. The first 5D was the first affordable FF digital camera and the "camera that killed film" and the MkII the first FF camera that featured 1080p video recording and low-light capabilities better than the "real" movie cameras back then, which was followed by a crazy hype in low-budget-filmmaking.

I bought my 5D MkII in 2012 and enjoy using it nearly every day.

With the MkII, the 5D came of age. A better camera in most respects, such a ergonomics and the all important sensor cleaning technology plus an expanded usable iso range. Sure it still wasn't a sports camera, but boy what a joy it is to use. The ability to change focus screens (ie precision screens) makes this more of a 'real' camera than the MkIII (try using MF lenses and you know what I mean).

I bought my MkII in january 2010 and still haven't felt the need to 'upgrade'. I think I would sooner replace my 7D.

[ksagomonyants]

Love my 5d. There's something special in the images it takes.

[KAS]

Definitely agree with the post...and with all the above comments.

The 5D classic really got me onto the FF bandwagon.   As much as I enjoy the new features on the mk III, I really really miss being able to change the focus screen. It really is the physical characteristics of the camera that make it good...not so much all the software/firmware features.

[Rienzphotoz]

+1 for all of the above

[RGomezPhotos]

It's great that the 5D was the first 'affordable' full frame camera.  I've seen pics from it and the quality is on par with just about anything today.  I agree with an earlier statement.  Don't be fooled by 'new'.  Newer cameras have some features that make taking pictures easier in less than ideal conditions.  But how many people does that truly affect?

[JonAustin]

It's amazing to look back just a few short years and realize how much has (and hasn't) changed.

I bought a 5D in 2007, and relegated my 20D to back-up status. When traveling, I frequently carried both bodies: the 5D with a wide / normal range lens, and the 20D with a telezoom, since the 20D offered higher resolution than an APS-C-sized crop of the 5D RAW image.

I skipped the 5D2 and bought a 5D3 about a year ago. The features I like most are the AF system, locking mode dial and repositioned and resized DoF preview button. Most of the time, I shoot in MRAW, since 10MP is enough for the vast majority of my applications.

An APS-C-equivalent crop of the 5D3's sensor is higher resolution than the 20D, so nowadays when I travel, I use the 5D with a wide / normal lens, the 5D3 with the tele, and the 20D sits on the shelf. I keep hoping that a niece or nephew will want to use the 20D as a starter body for dipping her / his toes into SLR photography. When I want longer reach than my lens will afford (and when I remember to do it), I switch the 5D3 resolution to full RAW, and crop those 22 MP in post.

I'm looking forward to the inevitable price drop of the 5D3 when the 5D4 is released. Short of a miracle in new technology, I'll be happy to pick up a second 5D3 for about $2K, retire the 5D and call it a day.