Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera

The 12.8-megapixel Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR Camera creates a new Digital SLR Camera category, combining a full frame CMOS sensor with a lightweight, compact magnesium-alloy body. Weighing just 810 grams, it features a second generation 35.8 x 23.9-millimeter CMOS sensor, 3 frame-per-second, 60-Large-JPEG-frame burst, and 0.2 second start-up time operation. Marking five years since Canon's first CMOS image sensor appeared in the EOS D30, the release represents Canon's fifth new CMOS sensor to be released since April 2004. Equivalent in size to a frame of 35mm film, the camera's 35.8 x 23.9-millimeter CMOS sensor gives photographers a full angle of view without magnification or cropping effect. It provides tighter control over depth of field and improves image quality by capturing more light with its large pixels. Super responsive, the Canon EOS 5D is driven by the same DIGIC II processor found in Canon EOS-1D professional range cameras.

Protected with a rugged yet lightweight magnesium-alloy exterior, the DSLR camera also features new Picture Style pre-sets, a new hi-resolution 2.5-inch LCD monitor, 9-point auto focus with 6 invisible Assist AF points to improve tracking performance, compatibility with Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1, custom mode for fast recall of user defined camera set-ups, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface for fast downloads and 1/8000- to 30-second shutter speed with X-sync at 1/200 second.

Canon EOS 5D Highlights

The CMOS advantage

With five years of in-house CMOS development since the original EOS D30, Canon's latest CMOS sensor features 12.8-megapixel resolution, and the same second-generation on-chip noise reduction circuitry used on the EOS-1Ds Mark II. This effectively suppresses random noise and eliminates fixed-pattern noise for extremely clean, high-fidelity images. The wide 100-1600 ISO speed range is extendable to L:50 and H:3200.

The Full Frame sensor also delivers the same angle of view as a 35mm film camera, produces a show depth-of-field, beautiful background blur, and preserves teh focal range of wide-angle lenses and the full capabilities of all EF lenses.

Improved in-camera control New Picture Style presets simplify in-camera control over image quality. Delivering more immediately usable JPEG images straight out of the camera without need for post-production, Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types--each one offering a different color response. Within each easily selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, color tone, and saturation. The pre-sets include: Standard--for crisp, vivid images that don't require post-processing; Portrait--optimizes color tone and saturation and weakens sharpening to achieve attractive skin tones; Landscape--for deep greens and blues with stronger sharpening to give a crisp edge to mountain, tree, and building outlines; Neutral--ideal for post-processing; Faithful--adjusts color to match the subject color when shot under a color temperature of 5200K; Monochrome--for black and white shooting with a range of filter effects (yellow, orange, red, and green) and toning effects (sepia, blue, purple, and green) Additionally, three user-defined entries allow the possibility to create additional variations on the in-camera styles or install additional custom Picture Style files. Additional custom Picture Style files may be downloaded from Canon web site. Picture Style replaces internal image processing previously controlled by setting processing parameters and color matrix. Picture Style is also supported by the supplied Digital Photo Professional and RAW Image Task software. New LCD monitor For improved image review and menu readability, the Canon EOS 5D is fitted with a new large-size high-resolution 2.5-inch 230K pixel poly-silicon TFT LCD monitor. The improved screen retains brightness and visibility throughout a wide 170-degree angle of view, both vertically and horizontally, making it easy to view images when the camera is mounted in a fixed position. 9-point autofocus delivers crisp, clear images Autofocus A newly developed 9-point auto focus system features 6 additional invisible Assist AF points located inside the spot-metering circle. These points come into effect when the camera is switched to AI SERVO AF with the center focus point selected and are automatically used to improve the camera's subject tracking performance. Ergonomics and control The Premium EOS design features a magnesium alloy exterior with rubberized grip surfaces. The discreet and lightweight compact body measures just 152 x 113 x 75 millimeters and weighs only 810 grams, making it two thirds the volume and weight of the EOS-1Ds Mark II. In a handy new feature, current camera settings can be stored and assigned to the C (camera settings) position on the Mode Dial. This allows photographers to switch quickly between two completely different camera set-ups without having to switch bodies--ideal for photographers who need to rapidly switch their cameras from an indoor to outdoor shooting condition, for example. Exposure mode, ISO speed, AF mode, drive mode, Picture Style, white balance, and custom functions are all stored in the custom setting. There are 21 custom functions with 57 user-definable settings to enable photographers to configure the camera for their preferred way of working. Connectivity With the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1 (not included--must be purchased separately), photographers can work cable-free as full-frame image files can be transferred automatically through a wireless LAN to a computer in seconds. A USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface allows rapid transfer of images from camera to computer, ideal for shooting straight-to-hard-drive with the camera tethered to a computer in a studio environment, thus providing full screen previews of images as they are shot. The EOS 5D also has a video out interface to allow playback and review on a TV monitor, and it's PictBridge compliant to support direct printing to any compatible photo printer without the need for a computer. It takes both CompactFlash Type I and Type II cards, including cards of 2 GB capacity and larger. Included 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens, compatibility and accessories The EOS 5D offers complete compatibility with all Canon EF lenses , providing photographers with access to a vast range of lenses with focal lengths from 14 to 600mm. The camera kit includes the high-performance EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM, a lightweight Image Stabilizer lens. This easy-to-use standard zoom lens can cover a large zoom area ranging from 24mm wide-angle to 105mm portrait-length telephoto, and its Image Stabilizer Technology steadies camera shake up to three stops. Constructed with one Super-UD glass element and three aspherical lenses, this lens minimizes chromatic aberration and distortion. The result is excellent picture quality, even at wide apertures. Canon's ring-type USM gives silent but quick AF, along with full-time manual focus. Moreover, with dust- and moisture-resistant construction, this is a durable yet sophisticated lens that meets the demands of advanced amateur photographers and professional photographers alike. Incomparable Canon Optical Image Stabilizer -- in the lens where it belongs Canon pioneered the Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), and today you can find Canon OIS technology in a wide spectrum of optical instruments, from high-powered binoculars to broadcast television lenses and camcorders and, of course, EF lenses for the Canon EOS System . The keys to Canon’s highly effective Optical Image Stabilizer system are precise detection of hand motion likely to cause image blurring and a highly sophisticated, dedicated processor-controlled optical compensation mechanism that dials in just the needed amount of correction to cancel out the effects of a shaky hand. The focal length of the lens is the primary determining factor in the amount of image blurring that can be expected from typical hand-holding. Because Canon optical OIS resides entirely within the lens , it can be specifically optimized -- in both detection and correction -- for the focal length of the lens. Canon EF lenses with IS thus offer corrective capability equivalent to as much as four f-stops. Moreover, unlike some systems with corrective mechanisms in the camera body, Canon Optical Image Stabilizer does not exact a penalty in image resolution. Imaging sensor pixels at the periphery need not be dedicated to IS duty, so you get all of the available pixels all of the time. New software The EOS 5D is supplied with the EOS Digital Solution Disk v11, which includes a new version of Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) RAW processing software--now at version 2.0. DPP now supports RAW images shot on all EOS digital cameras from the EOS D30 onwards, and includes support for Picture Styles. Improvements and additions are aimed at improving functionality and workflow efficiency for professionals, and include: easy image selection with three levels of check marks; real-time adjustment of sharpness; improved image correction (Copy Stamp); enhanced image transfer function (single-image transfer to PhotoShop is possible); extended color space support, now including Apple RGB and ColorMatch RGB; and improved usability of the CMYK simulation function. Also provided is on the EOS Digital Solution Disk v11 is ZoomBrowser EX (PC) and ImageBrowser (MAC) v5.5 for managing images, EOS Capture v1.5 for remote shooting, PhotoStitch v3.1, PhotoRecord v2.2 (PC) and RAW ImageTask v2.2. The EOS 5D is compatible with Canon iMAGE Gateway, which provides a 100 MB online photo album. Optional Features Also compatible with EX series Speedlites and other EOS accessories , the camera provides photographers with a highly adaptable and flexible camera system. Canon's E-TTL II flash metering ensures accurate flash exposures by taking into account such factors as lens distance information, ambient light readings and the detection of reflective objects in order to calculate flash output. The BG-E4 is a new battery grip designed especially for the EOS 5D. (Not included--must be purchased separately.) Constructed with the same magnesium alloy as the camera's exterior, it has a solid and comfortable hold. The grip can accommodate two BP-511A/514/512/511 battery packs or six AA batteries. The Battery Grip BG-E4 features a shutter release button, AE/FE lock button, AF point selector, and main dial to enable comfortable use of the camera when held vertically. The camera's focusing screens are interchangeable: In addition to the "Standard Precision Matte" (Ee-A) focusing screen supplied with the camera, "Precision Matte with Grid" (Ee-D) and "Super Precision Matte" (Ee-S) screens are available. The EOS 5D supports the optional Data Verification Kit DVK-E2 v2.2 (not included--must be purchased separately), which verifies the authenticity of images taken with the camera . Customer Reviews 5D IS EVERYTHING ITS CRACKED UP TO BE! I came from the Canon EOS 40D which is a GREAT camera, but I have to say the EOS 5D is amazing. Even at ISO 1000 or long exposures there is very little if any noise in my photos. I didn't realize how nice having a full-frame sensor would be, and am loving the true wide-angles I can get now. My 50MM lens has gone from a novelty to a true walkabout lens. I've since sold the two ef-s lenses I had and my 40D. You can't beat the price now either since the MK II is coming out. Got it for half the original price! Wedding Photographer's dream... I am a pro wedding photographer. I've had a pair of these since 2006 and could not be happier. I did quite a bit of research, not just online, but in the field. I rented various models of pro offerings from Canon and Nikon. I attended "rep" days at my local camera store so I could grill the Nikon and Canon reps for answers to the questions that were not covered in the marketing materials or online reviews. I wanted a professional camera set up, but ended up with the pro-sumer EOS 5D from Canon . Here are the factors that finally made my decision; 1)Performance: It must possess a fast enough ISO to capture clean low light images. It must have enough processor mettle to keep up with fast paced shooting. Any processor lag is not acceptable. It must produce file quality and size that delivers professional quality images to my clients. It must be durable enough to withstand the inherent bumps, dust and inclement weather I encounter during the course of a wedding. It must work perfectly with professional quality lenses, flashes and batteries. 2)Size/Weight I have small hands and not a huge amount of forearm strength. I needed an ergonomic set-up that I could carry continuously for 8-10 hours without needing to take up a special exercise routine that would give me Pop-eye arms. Granted, there were better cameras, but they were weighed down with additional features that I didn't want or need. I needed a lighter camera with standard and well placed controls that I can change and adapt from moment to moment without needing to scroll through lots of options. My biggest complaint about the 5D was the lack of weather seals and dust management, but these issues turned out to be minor. I don't change lenses that often and I clean the sensors before every job. This has kept the dust to a minimum. Overall, I have been very satisfied with the 5D and would not hesitate to recommend it to sports and wedding photographers. It is a fast and lightweight camera that produces nice large image files. I own 2 of these! I cannot say enough how amazing this camera is. It is so great I had to buy another for a backup because after using it the Canon EOS 20D or Canon EOS 30D just didn't cut it. The colors straight from camera (if you shoot jpg) are awesome! A little tweak in lightroom to make them look just right and my editing time has been cut in half! I do shoot in a custom mode with no in camera sharpening and a tad of extra contrast. Great in low light, good color, love the full frame sensor, easy to use as far as the menu....just good. :) Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera is worth buying.