Believe it or not, the incredibly popular Canon EOS 5D will be 19 years old next month. Is such a classic camera worth adding to your bag in 2024?
Many photographers have fond memories of the original Canon EOS 5D camera. Not only was it the first full-frame DSLR camera with a standard body size, but it was also notable for its more affordable price point at the time. This allowed more people to experience the joys of full-frame photography than ever before. My first experience shooting on this camera was about a year after its release when I was shooting freelance in a studio I often worked in. Shortly after that, I managed to pick one up second-hand off eBay, and the love affair began.
While I do still own that particular camera, I must admit that I don't often use it these days. That's not because it's a bad camera, it's just that I have various other options at my disposal. Saying all that, If I found myself stranded on a desert island with only that camera at hand, I genuinely believe I would be more than content to shoot away with it until the rescue mission arrived.
So, is such a "classic" camera worth adding to your bag in 2024? I would personally say yes, but don't just take my word for it. Photographer Andrew Findlay seems to have reached the same conclusion as me in his latest video.
The video starts with Findlay going through some of the main features of the camera, which, considering it is almost two decades old, isn't that dissimilar to cameras on the market today. One important point mentioned is that some of these cameras can have issues with their mirrors falling off. Findlay talks about how this is repairable and how certain batches were more prone to this issue—saying that if you can find a fully working body on the market today, there's a good chance that if the mirror hasn't fallen off in the last 19 years then it's unlikely anytime soon.
Findlay gives the camera a thorough review and shows some sample images that almost have the appearance of film straight out of the camera. I particularly like how the video feels like both an in-depth review and a tutorial on how to use the camera in one. A format I'd love to see more of when trying to decide if a camera is for me or not.
It will come as no surprise to learn this camera has some downsides such as a 13-megapixel sensor, the focus points being less reliable than you may be used to, and the LCD brightness being rather dark in daylight. Saying all that, this camera is built like a tank, feels comfortable to hold for hours on end, and, most importantly, can still make impressive pictures after all this time. This camera is great for beginners or those who want to carry something without as many bells and whistles on it. The best thing is you can easily pick one up for less than $200 if you look around online. Just be mindful of the shutter counts these cameras have on them and try to get one with the lowest number you can find.
Would you shoot on a Canon EOS 5D in 2024? Are there any other cameras from the era that you'd recommend instead? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Sure. I could happily work with all of the cameras I've owned over the past 19 years. But, unless my budget were extremely constrained, I certainly wouldn't choose the 5D, as there are newer cameras I like better that are available quite cheap. My old Panasonic GX7 produced image quality equal to the 5D and even my 1Ds MkII. I could pick up a used one today for $250 and still have access to brand-new native lenses and batteries.
Maybe, depending on the model of 5D and how much better the DR of the vintage full-frame sensor is compared to contemporary cropped sensors.
I have an original model Canon EOS 7D (2009?) and it’s dire. In fairness, the build quality is excellent and I’ve got used to the ergonomics but the sensor is truly awful - we’ve come a long way since 2009! It is so bad that DR will be one of my highest priorities when choosing a camera in future.
Paul Parker asked,
"Is This 19-Year-Old Canon Still Worth Buying In 2024?"
As one who has taken hundreds of thousands of images with a 5D "classic", I would say that if you can get one with no glitches for $160 or less, then yes it is worth it. If you are spending any more dollars than that, then I think you can get something that performs better for the money.
I actually just got a 5d mark ii, super happy with it. I did consider the mark 1 but after looking around I think I prefer the mark II 's images more, plus the slightly better AF performance and higher resolution pushed me to the mark II
Throw in a bit more cash and grab a D700. So superior, even to the 5D II. Image quality is close to today's APS-C, so it's very usable in high contrast and low light situations. AF is excellent, too, and just obliterates the 5D and II.
No. I used to own 3 Canon EOS 5D's 18 years ago. Noisy images with night photography.
Of course it makes no sense to buy a 5D, especially not a Mk 1. Tiny LCD, poor autofocus, slow frame rate; why would you buy one? Can you even get memory cards and batteries it? (Probably.) I have a Canon 6D that I continue to use for landscapes and buildings. It's at least ten years old, but not 19. But I already own it and have other cameras for other uses. No, don't buy one. If you want a great full frame DSLR get a Nikon D850.
I spent a lot of seat time with this camera in its day. I loved it, but looking back on it, the autofocus was terrible, the lack of sensor cleaning was a real drag and it was just slow, in general. I switched to Nikon at one point and the D700, which played in the same class as this camera, was so much nicer with the professional-grade autofocus and professional build on the body.
If you're looking for a classic full-frame DSLR from Canon that's still usable in 2024, I'd say the 6D is it. I had mine up until the end of 2022 and it's still a great camera.