Canon 5D
- 13MP - Full frame Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Canon EF Mount
- 895g - 152 x 113 x 75mm
- Announced November 2005
- Newer Model is Canon 5D MII
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
55 Imaging
55 Features
41 Overall
49
Canon 5D summary
Canon 5D is Canon's Advanced DSLR digital camera first introduced on November of 2005. The camera comes with a 13MP, CMOS Full frame size sensor with a max resolution of 4368 x 2912.
Canon brought out the fresher Canon 5D MII (Read Full Comparison) to update this model.
The 5D is rated #61 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras & over all #451 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should check out our Advanced camera finder to get camera results based on your personal criteria.
Below is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.
Canon 5D history
The Canon 5D is part of a family of products. You can see the full list below.
Canon 5D Gallery
You can view the 5D from different angles in the gallery underneath.
Canon 5D Pros and Cons
Here is a checklist of advantages and disadvantages of the Canon 5D based on things that are often considered essential in a digital camera.
Canon 5D Sensor information
The Canon 5D is powered by the Digic II processor chip. The sensor specification on the Canon 5D is 36mm x 24mm (Full frame). The 864 mm² sensor can capture 4368 x 2912 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe CMOS sensor has 13MP and gives a standard ISO range of 100 to 3200. RAW format is supported which means that the user has more room to maneuver in post.
The graphic below illustrates the 5D's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The 5D sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is presented in green.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTo get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Canon 5D dimensions
Canon 5D has a weight of 1.97 lbs (895 grams / 31.57 ounces) & has outside proportions of 152mm x 113mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0"). The weight of typical Advanced DSLR camera is 776 grams and the Canon 5D is weightier compared to its competitors.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthBelow is a pic of the Canon 5D beside a softdrink to help you to get a sense of its size.
The top view directly below will illustrate the button arrangement on the 5D.
Canon 5D Lens information
The 5D works with the Canon EF mount and has 306 lenses on the market today. Here is a small number of the lenses we have in our collection that will work with the 5D.
Canon 5D Connectivity
The 5D has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
Digital cameras that come with NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to copy images and usually alter camera settings without connecting physically with the camera.
A few apps also enable a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external monitor. A lot of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack using the USB port.
Canon 5D Video information
Canon 5D does not take video. If you are searching for a digital camera to shoot just photos, it might not be a concern.
Canon 5D Weather Sealing
Canon 5D has environment proofing which makes it a good candidate for use in challenging climates. This can be especially useful in case you are uncertain about the conditions you may encounter in outdoor photography.
Canon 5D Screen and Viewfinder
The Canon 5D comes with a 2.5 inch fixed screen with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.
Please be aware that the screen has no touch support. The 5D also includes a Top LCD screen so you can instantly view camera settings.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe ViewFinder specs for Canon 5D are the following:
- ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
- Coverage 96%
- Magnification 0.71x
Viewfinders can be really beneficial in bright outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to see.
Canon 5D Shutter information
Canon 5D continuous shooting speed is 3.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.
Canon 5D Flash and Hot shoe information
Canon 5D has external flash support but with missing integrated flash. The max flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Canon 5D Autofocusing information
Canon 5D has both Phase Detect Auto Focus plus Contrast Based Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot quicker & accurate compared to Contrast Based focusing.
It comes with 9 focus points to pick from. Canon 5D can use manual focusing if needed in low light occasions or you need to have more accurate control on focusing.
Canon 5D Battery life
The battery pack (BP-511A) for the Canon 5D is made to last for 800 shutters based on the CIPA requirements making it lower as compared to it's competition. The usual Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 has the maximum (2260) battery life in this range of cameras.
Below is a collection of Advanced DSLR cameras that come with the best battery life:
Canon 5D for various categories of photography
The following chart indicates a outline of the Canon 5D for various categories of photography. To find out more, go to the specific paragraph below.
Canon 5D Portrait photography advice
The Canon 5D gets a points total of 65 which is very good, and means the camera is a very decent choice for portrait photography. Photographing portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support & capability to work with off-camera flash.
Street photography with Canon 5D
Coming in at a average points total of 56, the Canon 5D is reasonably suited for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of image quality plus portability.
Canon 5D Sports photography factors
A reasonable sports photography points total of 55 means the Canon 5D is somewhat acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera must have good autofocus plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Travel photography with Canon 5D
Weight is pretty crucial when choosing a camera for travel. All round, the Canon 5D gets a moderate 49 as a travelling camera which is somewhat acceptable for your travels.
Landscape photography with Canon 5D
For anybody who is looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photos, the most vital factor will be image quality. The Canon 5D and it's decent rating of 54 for a landscape camera is fairly adequate within the current marketplace.
Canon 5D as a Vlogging camera
A vlogging camera should really posses a articulating screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Considering every thing, the Canon 5D is simply not appropriate for vlogging as it delivers a really bad score of 9.
Canon 5D Alternatives
If you are trying to find alternatives to the 5D, below is a list of the highest ranked cameras that fall within the category of Advanced DSLR.
The line chart just below offers you an overview of the 5D compared to it's top ranking rivals suggested above.
Following are additional cameras you may see as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.