Full Frame on a Budget: Why the Canon 5D Classic Is a Steal Under $200 

Good video. I own three bodies. Not sure I'll ever sell them. Had the mirror fall out of one; glued it back same day. They were trying to sell these to film pros and the filmic sensor has never been surpassed in my opinion. I'm a Canon mirrorless user today, but it was the Canon 5D Classic that got me out of medium format film into digital.

I never get tired of a new 5D classic review; it's my second favorite camera (only behind the Nikon DF I recently picked up). Anyone that comes into the comments to rave about the MKii instead completely misses the point. I love my 5Dc because of the limitations, lack of video (which I wouldn't use), as well as the unique sensor rendering (which is not the same on the MKii). Great review; my mirror has fallen out twice now but hopefully sticks around for the foreseeable future lol. More 5D content is always welcomed!

I love the 5D classic for its limitations. It makes me put more thought into the pictures I take.

Interestingly I don't have any issues with the screen. It just doesn't serve the same purpose as newer cameras as it was never intended to be used to frame in live view. It's more of a quick review screen. I'd recommend trying the 10d, 20d or 1Ds to realize the 5D screen is actually pretty okay!

You can buy a compact flash to sd card converter.....you slip your sd card in it, then use the converter in your camera just like a CF card.....end of problems.

Nice perspective! Really like how you put this together and the points you touched on 👌

I have owned this camera multiple times. My last copy I bought in 2020 and it's a keeper. Other copies had issues with from or back focus. This one seems to nail focus 90 percent of the time. I take it out and shoot with it when the weather is nice and sunny. Still produces amazing photos with good glass. 12MP is more than enough for most users. Will continue using this camera and LOVE it because it's a true photography camera. No fancy video or any other bells and whistles you don't need. It's down to the basics of photography like it was intended. I wish camera manufactures would produce at least one body in their offerings that would be photo centric like this camera.

I absolutely 100 percent concur with your review. Every point was on point. I've welcomed the limitations and I'm SO happy with the images that I've gotten. There is a 5D look and when I get the composition right, it looks incredible. Sometimes people have a hard time figuring out which is the 12.8 and the 24.2 that I have. I'm about to procure a 6D, just for the modern conveniences, but I think that I'll always have a 5D in my kit for the rest of my life! Thanks for your affirming review!

This video is making me reconsider selling my 5D classic. I also didn't know about the mirror issue, I'll have to check mine as I haven't used it in years.

I own a lot of gear from Canon and Nikon alike and I always return to the 5dc, just for the feeling, the sound and the image quality. If your strong enough to travel with the 5dc, I would add a Canon 1dc (with the famous CCD sensor) to the kit with a good zoom lens. You can easily get those 2 bodies for under 700$ then put your money on very good lens. The 1dc is also special to me, kind of love/hate relationship because of the menu system and the raw file is .TIF but the learning you can get from those 2 is really helpfull. You must learn to shoot great picture right off your first shot, there's not much manipulation to do after that! :)

I had the 20D for a long while, and then went mirrorless. From there went back to the 5Dc because I was not happy of how the texture of the mirrorless images looked - lack of proper tonality, feel of artificiality. Back to the 5Dc felt like taking a massive hit with the AF and low light capability, using lower end / mid level EF lenses (such as the nifty fifty and the EF 28mm F1.8 USM). However, mounting a Sigma ART 35mm lens it changed everything. The AF is lightning fast and super accurate. Not just the center point, but every AF point becomes usable. Also, it has no problem focusing is low light, and the low light shots come out way sharper and way less noisy compared to the (non-L) F1.8 EF lenses. It does not do security camera level low light, but with the Sigma ART at F1.4 it sees a little more than I do with my own eyes. And that's another pro with this camera: it captures what YOU SEE, but will not fake what you do cannot see with your own eyes. It will not transform mediocre / poor light shots to stunners, and yet it will capture properly lit scenes with all their beauty. People who are disappointed with this camera are so because they expect that a mediocre scene will magically transform into a Technicolor/bokeh fantasy. And people who love it are the ones who have the eye to recognize good light, a good shot, and then the camera can take that with buckets and spades. No worries, if you are not there yet, this camera will guide you there. That's what's been happening to me. Since I have the 5Dc, I am transforming from a long-time stuck beginner who never could catch the moment, to a very comfortable and confident shooter.

I bought one of these in the last months after seeing videos like yours on here. I came from shooting an Eos R, but the 5dc really is incredible. I have been loving it and it has really driven me to shoot much more than I usually would. I've bought a few M42 lenses and OM mount to use with it which is great fun too. Just like you my mirror fell out on my first day with it, but superglue has held since!

5D is a great camera, I picked mine up with a battery grip, 32gb cf and 50mm 1.8ii for 150 usd, can't really go wrong. I enjoy the full frame look more than aps-c probably because I come from many years of shooting 35mm film so it's very familiar in terms of rendering. I put mine in my bag and never leave the house without it! I don't find it heavy but it's just what I'm used to carrying! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. Your pics look great! Ps try the Canon picture style editor app thing for your computer, you can just put your raws in and mess with all the picture styles - I've discovered that I like standard the most because it renders blue sky in a most pleasant manner, most similar to colour negative film!

Interesting that your video was suggested. I just purchased a mint 5D from my local camera shop about 2 weeks ago. They had a mint 5D and a really nice 18k shutter 5D MII. They were $200 each! I rushed over and snagged them both. I shoot professionally with an R6 and I do raw video with the Panasonic S5. I just wanted these two cameras just for my collection and to sometimes casually walk around and snap personal pics with. I like them both. I will say that the 5D color is so very different from every other Canon after it. I actually don't like the skin tones at all. Warm yes, but not a warm that I think looks good. More like a burnt orange. But none the less, I love the camera.

Great cameras and an informative video. I got mine for £150 and I use it with the magic drainpipe aka ef 80-200 mm f2.8 L and get great images. My only issue is that my canon software does not recognise the camera so i have use card reader as an interface to download to my laptop. great channel & thanks😀

I have actually printed up to 18X24 using my 5D Classic. They look awesome!

Regarding battery's, I believe bp-511-a Is that the same as the 30-50D are using?...... found my answer on dpreview Lithium-Ion BP-511A rechargeable battery (supplied & charger) • Supports BP-511 / BP-511A / BP-512 / BP-514 So I can use all those batteries I have for them..... cool.

I bought a used on in 2018 and traded for a 6D ( a very underrated camera). I regretted selling it immediately. Last month (2024) I bought an immaculate one for $220. I forgot how much I loved shooting it. I have a 40mm f/2.8 attached, shoot Monochrome jpg + RAW, and use it as my daily carry. (To be honest my daily carry is an X100V but this is my other daily carry). The sheer simplicity of it makes it a joy to use. Forget the rear screen it's junk (remember film cameras never had them for 100 years). Use the histogram. Re. Compact Flash Cards. Buy a $10 CF-SD adapter and use your SD cards. (You simply push an SD card into a CF adapter.) As for the weight, it's no worse than my 5D-SR (or any other 5D version). I keep to the 40mm lens so it's lighter than my usual 5D-SR setup (24-105, 70-200, 16-35).

Nice video and Nice Camera! Please do a video of how you edit the 5d classic files, show us the files limitation, please.

A great camera for leisurely portraits and walks. And yet it's the cheapest full frame. That says it all, it's a huge plus! I have been using it for 8 years and only pleasant emotions! By the way, there is a beta version of the ML firmware for it. One of the useful things for me is the ability to shoot timelaps and you can increase the saturation of the screen, so viewing photos becomes more comfortable and realistic. Also, when viewing, you can display additional information on top of the photo, I use a histogram and focus picking, which is also more convenient for understanding the final result. Otherwise, I shoot in jpeg more often and use camera profiles, it's convenient that you can set up 3 of your profiles. For me, another plus of the camera is ISO 50, I often use it during the day and I really like the result.

Mine did the same thing with the mirror. Quick fix tho, a little super glue and it has been working perfect.

Q: do you recommend using spot or evaluate metering ? also, do you recommend exposing to the right ?

They make a cf to sd adapter.

Great video! I use an adapter piece for my sd card so i can use my regular card reader. What settings do u use? AV? What photo style to get the nice canon colors? Neutral? Thanks

I use LR 5. I got my 5D last week. Walked around the neighbor and too photos with my 5d classic. Went to import the files into LR 5 and LR said that it could not read the files. What can I do?

The video functionality on the 5D becomes even more interesting when you add Magic Lantern which is an app that runs from the SD/CF card. You can unlock all sorts of video features which makes me wonder why these features weren't available first party. Anyway, I have a Canon 5D with a decent lens which I plan to sell soon, and it's fully functional!

I still miss that creamy 5D images and amazing colours and BW images it could produce.

You said at 11:50 that the camera is a literal tank. If this would be the case it would be able to shoot tank ammunition

This camera frustrates me. I love the colors and how it feels in hand. Then I add a battery grip and have the nerve to complain. I am an Olympus mft shooter for a reason. I have to back button focus to do the focus and recompose trick competently. I use this camera on paid jobs because of the separation and bokeh it captures. I only use 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8. I seem to buy and sell these things. Always replace rubber i/o seals. Back button focus is the only way to use this camera quickly.

As someone who used a couple of the original 5D's professionally, I will say it was a great camera at the time. The only thing they have going for them today is that they are cheap. The 5D Mk II is the first of the 5D's that I would even consider using for any reason these days. You cannot shoot video with the original 5D, it is not compatible with Magic Lantern. Spend your money on a T3i if you want a cheap way into video.

Whats an even better steal is a Nikon D700 under 200

With only 12 mp on a full frame, wouldn't it be a low light monster?

I'm in England. Try getting a 5 D for 209 quid 😁😁

I bought a body only for $137 and it turned out to be a steal,'till I bent a CF card pin.It is now away for repair $150 so not the steal I thought it was.The screen on my camera seemed to be ok,but I don't take any screen result as gospel anyway.......................................

Had the 5Dmk2 for 9 years. This is the camera I would go for and definitely not the original 5D.