The Canon 5D changed the game when it first launched, giving you full frame image quality at a price that was shockingly low for the time. Two decades later, it’s fascinating to look back and see just how much this camera still offers, even with all its quirks and limitations.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this detailed video walks you through the original Canon 5D to see how it holds up in 2024. Frost points out that while it was a $3,300 body in 2005, today, you can find it in good condition for around $150, sometimes even bundled with a lens. The 12-megapixel sensor may sound small compared to today’s cameras, but it still produces sharp, usable images, especially when shooting raw.
The video also covers some of the quirks that make the 5D feel its age. Autofocus is limited to nine points in the center, and there’s no live view, so every shot has to be composed through the viewfinder. The rear screen is tiny and low-resolution, making it hard to judge focus or color. On the flip side, Frost notes the build quality is exceptional, with a magnesium alloy body that feels rock solid. You get basic but reliable features like mirror lockup, long exposure noise reduction, and a surprisingly responsive shooting experience. It may lack modern refinements, but that simplicity can actually make it enjoyable to use if you value straightforward photography.
You also see the limits when pushing the sensor. At low ISO values, images are crisp and detailed, but noise creeps in fast once you pass ISO 400. By ISO 1,600, shadow areas start breaking apart, and the extended ISO 3200 looks rough. The lack of modern dynamic range tools means you’ll need to be cautious with exposure. Colors are generally good outdoors, but indoors under artificial light, auto white balance turns everything orange, a classic Canon trait of the era. These flaws stand out, but they also show how far technology has come in the past 20 years. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
This site is really something else.
I’d rather have a 1Ds MkII for $300.
Pony up a bit more for a D700. Embarrasses even a 5D II.