Is the Canon 5d MkI still a viable option ?

NeilMc

NeilMc

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Guys

I am probably like most of us on here, always thinking about the next upgrade and trying to get the best for the funds available.

One thing I considered as a stop gap option was a 5d MkI, will still give me the same 12 meg as my 450d but obviously its a full plate camera so in theory give me better image quality.

Are they still something worth considering ? Or are there short comings that have come to light over its lifespan ?


My ultimate goal is to end up with a full plate body, an L grade lens for gig photography, probably 35mm F1.4 and then an L grade every day short zoom either 17-55 or 24-75 something like that.

But thats the best part of £3500 so before I commit to sticking £3500 up someones shirt I was just wondering should I get the 5d MkI and then do a grand on a short zoom for every day stuff and stick with my primes for the gig stuff.
 
Simple answer is YES. If you don't want HD video and not too worried about the autofocus system for action photography (i.e. not the quickest, but no worse than your 450D), the 5D MKI is still a great camera and with the 5MKIII being announced, prices should be even more tempting.
 
It is still a good camera. The AF will be similar to your 450D, but menus will seem clunkier.
 
Who needs menus when you have pretty much complete control of all functions on the body.
 
Nothing has changed, the 5D is just as good (and bad) as it was before. There are now newer cameras that have some improvements here and there, at a higher price of course. In your case 5D is a clear improvement over 450D.
 
I looked at a Mk1 and a Mk2 a while ago and checked some websites or comparison images, I prefered the mk1 images, they were a little kinder to the eye (if that makes any sense at all).
I bought a Mk1 (so obvioulsy I prefer that). I've had a very rudimentry look at the Mk3 specs and tbh I cant see it gives much more in terms of "normal" use image quality (ok real world its probably a lot better than the brief look I had but at a heck of a price), I dont want video either, so for me the Mk1 is still a very very good photoraphic tool. I dont use the menus much so in that respect its almost like an old fashioned film camera (and all the better for it).

Matt
 
NeilMc said:
Guys

I am probably like most of us on here, always thinking about the next upgrade and trying to get the best for the funds available.

One thing I considered as a stop gap option was a 5d MkI, will still give me the same 12 meg as my 450d but obviously its a full plate camera so in theory give me better image quality.

Are they still something worth considering ? Or are there short comings that have come to light over its lifespan ?


My ultimate goal is to end up with a full plate body, an L grade lens for gig photography, probably 35mm F1.4 and then an L grade every day short zoom either 17-55 or 24-75 something like that.

But thats the best part of £3500 so before I commit to sticking £3500 up someones shirt I was just wondering should I get the 5d MkI and then do a grand on a short zoom for every day stuff and stick with my primes for the gig stuff.
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The 17-55 is an EFS lens (but as good, if not better than some L's).

I have a 5d mk1, its nice at low ISOs but dont expect miracles over 1600 iso but the sensor tech is old.

TBH I dont use it that much aside from the odd portrait, its quite slow and clunky to use and its AF and FPS rates are fairly dire. That said, its still a very good camera capable of stunning images, but its not a tool for every job.
 
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odd jim said:
The 17-55 is an EFS lens (but as good, if not better than some L's).
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But because its an EF-S lens, it won't work on a 5D body because EF-S lenses are only designed to be used on cropped bodies. So only EF lenses will work on the 5D, so you would be looking at 24-70mm f2.8 or a 25-105mm f4 lens as you standard walkaround lenses.
 
Or get a nice prime. ;) 35mm or 50mm is a good starting point.

The 50L sings on my 5Dc.

And yes, the 5D is a viable option if you're willing to look past the features you'd expect from newer bodies like live view and self-sensor cleaning etc.

Also, the ISO performance will be around 1 stop better than your 450D. So 800 on the 5D will be equivalent to 400 on your current camera.
 
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Thanks guys... once again you've all given me more to think about.

I think I'll see what the MkIII does to MkII pricing because if they start coming down it may make it a better option, especially as the autofocus on the 450d does seem to let me down sometimes.
 
NeilMc said:
Thanks guys... once again you've all given me more to think about.

I think I'll see what the MkIII does to MkII pricing because if they start coming down it may make it a better option, especially as the autofocus on the 450d does seem to let me down sometimes.
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The AF on even the mk2 will probably let you down as well then as TBH it's no better! Not to say it isn't useable though, it's just not fast.
 
The 5DI is a great camera for gig stuff[and lots of other things too], all of my early work was with one. There is a lot of pants talked about the AF in poor light IMHO! It rarely let me down and the quality and performance in low light/high ISO is fantastic. I have used a my 1D MKiii at gigs and it seems to struggle in all the same ways, I am sure that someone technical will have some figure to disprove this but in the trenches who care about calculations! Light years better than what you are using and would highly recommend.
They are a real bargain in all sorts of ways.
 
Duncan.F said:
The 5DI is a great camera for gig stuff[and lots of other things too], all of my early work was with one. There is a lot of pants talked about the AF in poor light IMHO! It rarely let me down and the quality and performance in low light/high ISO is fantastic. I have used a my 1D MKiii at gigs and it seems to struggle in all the same ways, I am sure that someone technical will have some figure to disprove this but in the trenches who care about calculations! Light years better than what you are using and would highly recommend.
They are a real bargain in all sorts of ways.
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The issue with the AF on the 5d series is simply it's speed, locking on in low light it's as good as any camera, and is more dependent on the lens 90% of the time.

For sports, personally I don't use the 5d (the 50d excels at that) but for gig photography you will notice an improvement over the 450d.
 
It's still a great camera and when you stick the 85mm 1.8 on it then for under a grand you can get some amazing photographs. Shorter lens, perhaps the Canon 17-40mm L?
 
gman said:
It's still a great camera and when you stick the 85mm 1.8 on it then for under a grand you can get some amazing photographs. Shorter lens, perhaps the Canon 17-40mm L?
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F4 not a good choice for gigs, I use a 1.4 and struggle sometimes!
 
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