5D Classic move

Raincloud

Raincloud

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How many of you have chosen to get a 5D classic and why?

Seriously thinking of getting one as i like what FF can achieve and am i right in thinking that it is very good in low light?

I know it is an old camera but its price is very good these days.

Having a 550D i love the IQ that comes from it but have always fancied FF. Not being able to afford a MKII + i guess the classic is the only other way.

So, do you think i would be impressed with a move to a 5D classic from my existing 550D? I do take a lot of pics inside and general stuff too. Would i be mad to buy a 5D classic as it is an old model?
 
First thing to consider is what lenses do you have? EF-S ones will not fit and it may mean buying new kit

Wouldn't say the 5D was very good in low light and in many aspects falls short of newer cameras, sensor dust can be annoying too

Does take very nice photos though and to me that's worth overlooking its shortcomings

One minor point , its a 5D, not sure what all the "classic" business is about
 
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Dust, forgot about that as it doesnt have dust remover. As for lenses, i only have a 50mm 1.8 at the moment.
 
I think you just need to understand what it is you are buying.

If you don't chase tech and want it as a FF canon camera, then fine. But, the world moves on. If you are looking for better high ISO performance, then newer crop canon may well be better than the 5D. It's a 12MP FF camera from 2005/6. It was "replaced" in 2008.
I guess it is comparable to the Nikon D700 that was also just 12Mp and still commands good money. But that is partially due to there being little else in the Nikon range. A D800 is nice, but expensive and not everyone needs 36Mp and "only" 4fps. The d600..............Anyway, make sure you know what you are getting.
 
Also factor in new memory cards and a flash if required, no live view either and in fact the rear LCD is pretty useless too

Its an old camera now, but depending on what you want is still more than capable of producing excellent results

One other thing to remember is the detached mirror problem that prompted a recall from Canon, think its still fixed free regardless of whether original owner or not. Later models (serial numbers beginning with a two and onwards) seem to be free of the green tinged LCD

Makes you wonder why anyone would still use it, but end result makes it worthwhile for me plus I actually like the simplicity of use
 
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The 5D is still a superb camera. ISO 1600 is still better on the 5D than any other Canon crop camera, and this is important. Image quality generally is incredible, and of course you can get the original intended field of view with EF and older 35mm format lenses.

What you don't get compared to newer cameras:

High resolution LCD screen
Liveview
Video function
Sensor cleaning
Auto ISO
 
I always use AV and set my own ISO. Never use liveview or video. Only use LCD to check settings or review shot. Sensor cleaning would be nice but i guess that can be done easily every so often.
 
Raincloud said:
How many of you have chosen to get a 5D classic and why?

Would i be mad to buy a 5D classic as it is an old model?
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I bought one as a cheap way into FF as I thought I didn't need the mp count of the later models and I find the image quality to be very good and ISO 3200 perfectly usable.

Here's some ISO 3200 night time shots, post 680...

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=281735&page=23

The only real drawbacks that I can see are the sensor dust issue (it needs cleaning regularly) and the lack of a built in flash. Other than that, they're a good buy.
 
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I got a 5D mk1 a few weeks ago. I already had a 550D and like you wanted a cheap way to get full frame. I can not fault the image quality. As others have said, the lcd screen is hopeless, but I quite like that as when the image go on the PC its a nice surprise to see how good they look!!

As long as its used within its means (anything that doesnt move too quick) then its a great camera. I am really pleased I decided to get one. As I do mainly motorsport/automotive photography I use the 5D with 28-75mm for walkabout pit/paddock shots and the 550D/7D with 70-200mm for the trackside stuff. Together they work really well.
 
Raincloud said:
So not good for moving things?
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They don't have the latest focusing system but they're perfectly adequate for most uses IMVHO. I mostly shoot static subjects but even so I've not had any great problems shooting moving things with any of my cameras.
 
Just seen you Want ad. and it reminded me of another 5D issue... crap in the VF path. To be honest this is IMVHO a SLR/DSLR thing rather than specifically a 5D thing. It does annoy me as personally I find the sensor a lot easier to clean than the optical path but it just seems to be a fact of life and as far as I remember every SLR/DSLR I've ever owned has had crap in the VF.
 
woof woof said:
Just seen you Want ad. and it reminded me of another 5D issue... crap in the VF path. To be honest this is IMVHO a SLR/DSLR thing rather than specifically a 5D thing. It does annoy me as personally I find the sensor a lot easier to clean than the optical path but it just seems to be a fact of life and as far as I remember every SLR/DSLR I've ever owned has had crap in the VF.
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I have seen crap in there on dif cameras and it can be very annoying!
 
You can shoot anything you want with it, I just like to use it for things that dont move too fast, mainly as it only has 3fps. Its more of a landscape/portrait camera than a motorsport/action camera. For me the combination of 7D for action and 5D for anything else. 7D gives me the speed and the extra reach from the crop sensor and the 5D gives me FF and amazing image quality.
 
I moved at the beginning of the year to a 5D from a 500D. Yes its old, low MP count* (compared to now a days) yes the LCD isn't the best but and it's a big but! The camera is great.

12mp is more than enough unless you need to print huge, the LCD might not be great but it is still usable, you see what you have shot. The dust issue is anoying but if your careful you will only need minimal cleans and they are pretty easy to do. High iso... yes it only goes to 3200 but so did my 500D, the difference is the fact the noise at 1600 is non-existent pretty much 3200 is perfectly usable and if there is noise it cleans up so much easier than the crop sensors noise.

If it were me again at this point I would move again choosing 5D every time... unless I had the extra to move to a mark 2 that is.

One of my favorite recent shots: 1600iso no noise reduction

IMG_3173.jpg by M+M Morrison, on Flickr

I shot this thread/festival entirely at 1600 happy in my own mind that I would not have issues with noise :)
 
I bought mine mainly for photographing my diecast car and bike collection, for which it is excellent. Lovely colours and full-frame detail. £425 second-hand, and absolutely mint...it even still had the protective film on the 2 LCD screens!
An example of what I use it for;


LANCIA DELTA S4 (3) by philpics46, on Flickr
 
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Forgot to say why I bought 5D....my bad! I wanted full frame to go with 17-40 as they are a cracking combo for static/landscape shots. With full frame I can get lens really close to subject which gives a better perspective. Great combo for car/bike shows, too.
 
I guess a few things now put me off of the 5D. Age, sensor cleaning and not so good with moving things (daughter!)

I can't afford a newer or even a MKII 5D
 
Age.. ok, I can see that being an issue, sensor muck is an issue too but don't let people put you off older cameras with stories of not being able to photograph anything but static objects as it simply isn't true.

These cameras don't have the burst rate of a fast camera but they're perfectly adequate for "moving things" for the vast majority of users. Check out the action shots taken with 5D, 20D, 30D, 40D and similar cameras.

Hope you find something to suit you.
 
woof woof said:
Age.. ok, I can see that being an issue, sensor muck is an issue too but don't let people put you off older cameras with stories of not being able to photograph anything but static objects as it simply isn't true.

These cameras don't have the burst rate of a fast camera but they're perfectly adequate for "moving things" for the vast majority of users. Check out the action shots taken with 5D, 20D, 30D, 40D and similar cameras.

Hope you find something to suit you.
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Many thanks :thumbs:
 
Don't mean to be harsh...stop looking for a reason not to buy.

There is no way you'll be disappointed with it. It's still a very capable camera.

Best value way into full frame aside from film.
 
trevorbray said:
Don't mean to be harsh...stop looking for a reason not to buy.

There is no way you'll be disappointed with it. It's still a very capable camera.

Best value way into full frame aside from film.
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I know.

Couple of things put me off now. Dirty sensor as i am not confident at cleaning myself, i have a child which i would want to photograph and someone said that the 5D is not good with moving subjects!! I like to take pics indoors so ISO needs to be good but i do have a 50mm prime. Age is a concern too but not a lot. FF would be great. Is the 5D a much better camera than a 60D or 50D as i am looking at investing in one of those if so.
 
Raincloud said:
...someone said that the 5D is not good with moving subjects!! I like to take pics indoors so ISO needs to be good but i do have a 50mm prime. Age is a concern too but not a lot. FF would be great. Is the 5D a much better camera than a 60D or 50D as i am looking at investing in one of those if so.
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Take a look on the net at action shots taken with the 5D. There must be lots. You should also be able to find plenty of high ISO and even high ISO action shots too. Take a look at those night fishing shots I posted a link to taken at ISO 3200.

I'm not saying that the 5D is for you but I am saying that it's fine at ISO 3200 and many people shoot moving things with them.
 
Raincloud said:
So not good for moving things?
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I moved from the 400d to the 5d a couple of years ago, and use the camera for motorsport quite a lot. I haven't used anything claiming better AF performance, but the 5d performs admirable. All the shots on my blog from the past 2 years are taken with the 5d and you can see some how it performs in different situations there.
I'm by no means claiming that the shots are fantastic, but it may give you a gauge as to whether it would handle the shots you wish to take.
I found for landscape and portraiture the shots the 5d churned out were streets ahead of what I achieved with the 400d
Matty
 
I think you are referring to my comment about moving objects. Moving objects are fine, I just mean due to the slow fps they are not best suited to motorsport, fast action sports, BIF etc. For photographing your daughter it will be perfectly ok. The image quality is excellent, if you get one you wont be disappointed.
 
The 550D's sensor being pretty old means the 5D would give you slightly better ISO performance but I'd say the main reasons to consider it would be...

1.Better DOF control.

2.Larger viewfinder.

3.Larger body with more controls.
 
Raincloud said:
The 550D sensor would be younger than the 5D wouldnt it?
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I think that what you need to do is look at the features and image quality from the cameras you're interested in and then you can move forward from there.

There are lots of examples on the net or maybe someone could send you a couple of RAW's to process and evaluate.

Otherwise, I don't think you're going to get any further forward.
 
I wont be going the 5D route now. Will wait for 30 years for MKIII to fall to reasonable price! lol :lol:
 
I think not buying now is the right decision. You need to be sure and obviously you're on the fence at best.

If you get the chance to shoot some imags with a 5D you should take it but until you can convince yourself that the 5D's features and image quality would suit you buying one wouldn't be right for you and it's best to hold off.

What part of the world are you in? Maybe you could attend a photography day or do a meet with someone and grab a 5D for some shots?
 
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