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Full frame sensor performance and versatility at an unprecendented price.
Quality Rating: (Out of Ten)
 Build 9.5
Ease of Use 8.0
Image Quality 9.5
Value for Money 9.5
Canon's 12.8 megapixel EOS 5D is in a class by itself and likely to remain unique for some time. Combining the best features of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and EOS 20D models, it has a compact magnesium alloy case, stainless steel internal chasis and a mirror box of high strength engineering plastic. It's control layout is very similar to the EOS 20D but it's body is slightly bulkier.
Key Features
The EOS 5D sports the same 35-zone metering system as the 20D but it's AF system is faster and more accurate.
Compared with the EOS 20D and 350D models, the asking price for the EOS 5D is high. Yet against Canon's other 'full-frame' sensor camera, the EOS-1Ds Mark II, it's remarkable low...The EOS 5D's shutter mechanism is rated to 100,000 cycles (half that of the EOS-1Ds Mark II) while the EOS 20D isn't rated.
The new camera introduces some exciting functions, most notably the Picture Style system which replaces the Processing Parameters and Colour Matrix features of previous EOS cameras. uses can choose from six presets and three user defined styles, depending on the subject, shooting conditions and photographer's recording intentions.
Other Features
The EOS 5D sports a totally new AF system with nine AF points arranged in a diamond around the centre. In addition, there are six 'Assist A' points located in two lines of three above and below the centre point...they work with the centre AF point to improve subject tracking performance.
Also new are the direct print button on the rear panel and an orientation sensor that automatically tags image files so they appear the right way up on the camera's screen and in the Digital Photo Professional software (see below).
The white balance system is essentially the same as that on the EOS-1Ds Mark II with six manual pre-sets, Kelvin adjustments from 2,800 -10,000K, manual measurement and white balance bracketing. The histogram is also similar.
Bundled Software
Supplied with the EOS 5D is a new software, Digital Photo Professional 2.0, which has a redesigned RAW image converter interface that allows picture style settings to be applied to RAW image data captured by most EOS digital cameras from the EOS D30 on. Capable and straightforward to use, it includes sharpening adjustment, a Stamp tool similar to the Healing Brush in Photoshop, and some new viewing/sorting facilities, such as the Quick Check tool that provides faster image previews and a 1,2,3 checkmark function that enables photos to be ranked.
Canon also supplies the latest versions of ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser, EOS Capture and PhotoStitch along with a set of PTP, WIA and Twain drivers for photographers with Windows PCs.
Performance
We tested the EOS 5D with 3 lenses: the EF 100mm f2 USM, and the 2 zoom lenses reviewed in this issue. For every parameter we looked at, both with Imatest and through our subjective evaluation program, the camera delivered top-notch results. Images were uniformly sharp, detailed and colour-accurate, regardless of the shooting conditions and lens used. Even long exposures at high ISO settings met this criteria, which was impressive.
Capture lag was negligible, averaging less than 0.2 seconds over 10 test shots and shutter lag was too brief to measure accurately...
Conclusion
...Professional photographers looking for an additional body, wedding and portrait photographers seeking newer technology and higher resolution, and affluent amateurs who want top features and functionality in a relatively portable body should find their needs met by this exciting new camera.
Photo Review Australia - Dec-Feb 2006 Issue 26
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