Canon EOS 5D - Finally, Affordable (Sort of) Full Frame Arrives
Source: Luminious Landscape
Written By Michael Reichmann
What would happen if a Canon 1Ds mated with a Canon 20D? You’d end up with either headlines on CNN, or, the just announced Canon 5D.
Following much humorous speculation online, especially after the spec sheet was “leaked” about a week before the official announcement, with many self-proclaimed experts pontificating on how the specs weren’t credible and the images had to have been “Photoshopped”, the truth is that the spec sheet was real, and so is the camera.
In a nut-shell, the 5D is a 13 Megapixel full-frame DSLR. What sets it apart from any prior full-frame DSLR, such as the 1 Ds Series Canon’s or the now-defunct Kodak DCS 14n and Pro n models is that it is about the physical size of the current generation of 6 and 8 Megapixel cameras, as well as current film-based SLRs such as the Canon 1V. It’s the first high-resolution full-frame digital SLR that can make this claim.
The price of course is the other differentiator. Though street price isn’t yet certain, it will likely be just slightly more than US $3,000, which makes it expensive in many people’s books, but a bargain compared to the Canon 1Ds MKII which is US $7,000, and the only other full-frame DSLR currently available. It should be borne in mind that the D30, D60 and 10D each had a US suggested list price of $2,995 when they first came out, so while out of some people’s budget range, the 5D is priced right at the traditional spot for new technology DSLRs at the time of their introduction.
The easiest way to visualize a 5D is to imagine a Canon 20D that has a somewhat thicker body and larger prism. Because this is a full-frame camera the mirror box needs to be larger than that in a 1.6X factor body, as does the prism, and so the body is somewhat fatter and slightly taller. Indeed, if you mount the accessory battery grip the 5D and the 1Ds MKII is quite similar in size, if not in weight. Note though that while the 5D is based on the paradigm of the 20D, it is a completely new body size.
But, and it’s a big but, unless you want or need the vertical release battery grip, and the 5D is eminently usable without it, the body is much smaller than a 1Ds ever could be.
This will be a HUGE plus for many photographers for whom the bulk of a 1Ds or 1Ds MKII makes it problematic for certain types of shooting. I for one won’t carry my 1Ds MKII around all day in an urban environment. It’s simply too large and too heavy and too obviously “pro” gear. If I’m going to carry that much mass, and don’t need a 1 Series camera’s undoubted benefits, I’d rather use medium format.
But traveling and walking about with a 5D will be not much different than with a 20D, or any of the current generation of reduced frame DSLRs.
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