Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Digital camera Review: Best DSLR you can buy (still)
Summary: 5 Stars
Most people really don't understand photography. If you are one of them, just buy a 5D Mk I. Get a 5D Mk II if you want to take great movies too.
The 5D MkI is better than every other DSLR for a few reasons:
1. The pixels are larger than any other professional-caliber camera
2. The sensor is full frame, 3X larger than low cost DSLRs
3. Wide angle capable
The reason 1 is important is because the more electronics (Megapixels) you cram onto the silicon, the more noise you get. More pixels is worse in this respect, not better. In bright light, zillions of little pixels are fine, since noise is not dominant. But in low light, which is basically every picture with a shutter speed slower than 100th of a sec or so, noise is the primary quality consideration with digital. The 5D takes fantastic low light pictures, because it has such a large sensor without too many MPs, and that gives you huge, light-gathering pixels.
As all good photographers know, you need a flash almost all the time, especially in full sun. The 5D's large pixels allow you to capture lots of ambient light, so harsh light from the flash doesn't dominate the scene. This allows gorgeous bright-light scenes with fill flash, and also beautiful ambient exposures in settings as dim as a candle.
The reason 2 is important is because it effectively makes your lens 3X brighter by soaking up light with 3X the sensor surface area per unit time. High quality fast glass is incredibly expensive, so don't waste that light by projecting it around (off of) a small sensor.
The reason 3 is important is because you get the largest possible rectangular crop (36mm x 24mm) out of the circular lens projection, meaning you get a much wider field of view. This makes for wide angle capabilities there are beyond the realm of possibility for most DSLRs which have a small sensor sitting in the middle of a large lens projection. You can buy a whole set of wider lenses for those cameras, but you lose optical quality and pay the same money in the end. Small sensors are commonly thought to give a zoom advantage on the tele end of the lens line, but of course they don't because you can crop any picture you take with a full frame camera for the exact equivalent of what the cheaper DSLRs are doing.
Nikon has countered with a full frame 12MP DSLR which meets all of the above criteria above, but I personally favor the rich colorful glass of the Canon L line. I also perfer Canon's digital color rendering. Both of these bodies merit strong consideration from pros and beginners alike.
Digital camera Review: Best camera I've even owned...
Summary: 5 Stars
and I've owned a ton of cameras. too many features to get into about this wonderful piece of equipment. Buy it...you won't be disappointed.
Tim
tfarrisphotography.com
Digital camera Review: Best camera out there for this money
Summary: 5 Stars
Great all rounder shines in landscape nothing comes close for this money, ok a new one be coming but will be $3000 [...]
Digital camera Review: Big screen for review- easy to use -Big file
Summary: 5 Stars
Big screen for review- easy to use -Big fileDigital camera Review: Buy it for image quality at every ISO setting
Summary: 5 Stars
After 3 decades as a Nikon 35mm film 'loyalist' I was tired of waiting for a 35mm sized digital sensor where I could use the 17mm focal length end of my expensive Nikkor 17-35mm lens (click on the comment bubble at the end of this review and read my clarification). A co-worker let me test drive his Canon 5D, Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L USM and SanDisk Extreme III 2 GB card.
Viewing the images on his LCD computer screen helped me decide to sell everything Nikon and switch to the established DSLR leader, Canon. Finally, no more heavy and bulky Nikon F5 and having to pay and wait for film processing! No more scanning negatives for hours each night!
As an owner of the 5D, XT, EF 17-40mm f4L USM, EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM with tripod collar and Canon Speedlite 580EX, the thousands of RAW images taken in ISO's ranging from 50 to 3200 with the 5D have been truly satisfying. Note: the XT is also a winner.
The 5D's image quality stunned every person I have given 4" x 6" and 8.5" x11" colour and monochrome images to. Credit must be given to Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) RAW processing software, Canon's i9900 bubblejet printer (please read my Amazon review), Canon paper and Canon ink. I rarely have to use Adobe Photoshop CS2 anymore because of DPP's quick-to-use tools.
The 5D and any one of the lenses with flash fits nicely into a Tamrac Velocity 7 bag (please read my Amazon review). The larger Tamrac Velocity 9 bag will fit the entire 2 body with lenses and flash kit but the bag is a bit awkward (please read my Amazon review).
A built-in flash would have been nice but not absolutely necessary because writing times to the CF card would have been longer delaying the next shutter release. Also, battery life would have quicky dwindled. Stick with the 580EX when flash is required.
Bottom line: If you believe that it costs Canon more to manufacturer a full-frame CMOS image sensor and don't mind spending several months salary on the 5D, go for it! Also, choose your lenses carefully. Canon L lenses go well with the 5D.