At 9:34 I tried to make a point that I feel I didn’t wrap up well. Basically what I meant is that you CAN’T reproduce today the value that this camera currently offers, and that if you could it would be industry changing. I guess similar to the way you could buy a decently running older Honda today for $5,000 but you couldn’t find any new car for $5,000. And the only reason every single photographer doesn’t own one of these is probably just because it’s old so they’re worried there’s something wrong with it- but if it WAS a brand new camera at its current price it would be more common than the 50mm F1.8 STM, I mean EVERYONE would own one.
seems to be a problem with capitalism. like it’s hard to buy a car without all these unnecessary add ons because the people who buy new cars want them. i nearly bought a fuji xt5 recently but the 40mp puts me off. 40mp!!
@@Humungojerry enough with the "problem with capitalism" take. No one wants vehicles with a bunch of unecessary bells and whistles. Social-corporatism and cronyism are the driving factors. Have you never heard "socialize losses and privatize profits"? The majority of people don't want electric cars "Green energy" technology because it's too expensive, not really sustainable from recyclable or economic perspective, but WEF and government lackies are pushing it. Nothing capitalistic about it. Nothing free market about it. Now stop drinking the Globalist kool-aide.
You mentioned in your video about the photographer that to this day shoots with 5D Classics for his paid client wedding photography work. I know of some commercial photographers that are working with 7 year old Canon 5D SR DSLRs, even now. They have not embraced the R systems at all. They make the point that their clients come to them for the quality of their work, they don't need mirrorless systems for what they do. Granted, these are much higher resolution cameras, but the point is that professionals often keep their older systems and don't upgrade frequently because if their clients needs are met with the older systems. Why buy new bodies and lenses that are expensive and they don't bring in any more revenue? Therefore not adding to the bottom line. Upgrading can be an expensive game. In fact when I sold off my 5D Mark IV, it was purchased last year by a wedding photographer. He already had the same body in his kit along with a Mark II and he wanted a second body that matched his main camera. His reasoning was familiarity, so switching from one camera to the other gave him the same feel and that was a comfort zone for him when on the job. I really haven't attended to your point above, but a lot of professionals really don't want or need to upgrade their systems every year. If you apply that to casual photographers who want a flexible system, they can get a lot of horsepower out of older systems that in their time and even today are very fine systems. It's the marketing departments of the manufactures that drive the need in people to upgrade and suffer from G.A.S. They play on human weakness and desire. Getting not so straight to your point, the performance of the 5D could really exist successfully and shamelessly in the current line-up of cameras for people today. If there were a modern day version released, the only thing I might ask for in terms of stills photography would be higher ISO range. Even the limited dynamic range of this sensor, limited as it is, seems to roll of in a very pleasing way, so I could live with it.
Hey, it`s just an old camera man not some piece of magic. In the day it was nice, today it`s completely obsolete. No sense making more of it then it is.
‘A bland and sterile experience’…. That’s such an accurate description of using a modern mirrorless camera. I love them for the speed and accuracy, but it’s missing the soul of an old 5D…. Amazing.
Soooo strange! I took a picture of my window in the dark while on the McDonald’s drive thru. I focused on the raindrops on the window so the red lights of the car in front is just a huge bokeh ball and it looks BEAUTIFUL! And I thought, wow. I could just shoot photos of NOTHING!
I got a 5D Classic a year ago. I am a Sony shooter (A9/A7RIII + at least 5K on e-mount lenses). I nowadays use my 5D Classic way more than my Sony FF bodies. Like you stated, it's something about that filmic look which is great, especially when people are in the shot. Probably the best portrait camera ever. I will probably sell my A7RIII and most of my Sony e-mount lenses and keep the A9 and two zooms since it's great for fact action. Can totally relate with your thoughts Andrew.
This is not a rant - its a love story. I have a 6D (and recently got a mint 5D3 for action work) but actually long for the Classic, just to see what I get with it. You have made it VERY hard to resist. Fantastic story, thank you 👍
Having had the 6D, I think I can safely say that the 6D colour is very close to the Classic. Honestly I don't think you'd see much difference between these two cameras and with the 6D you have some valuable updates in the hardware.
If I was shooting a sport where I could anticipate where the action would be (like race cars, or maybe baseball) I wouldn’t have any preference between 5Diii and 6D but if I was shooting a sport where the action can move anywhere (like basketball or hockey) I’d prefer the 5Diii. Also, there is something really nice about having the same camera as a backup for your main camera, and not having to remember the subtle differences in the controls and feeling when you go from one to the other. Small benefits to the 5Diii over 6D is weather sealing (fairly certain 6D isn’t weather sealed, as I’ve had mine freak out after light rain), 1/8000 max shutter speed (I just ordered ND filters for my fast lenses when I take out my 6D, which maxes out at 1/4000) and also with the 5Diii you can save custom file prefixes which makes multi camera jobs a lot nicer to process.
This was my exact experience/reaction 😊 when i got mine roughly 2yrs plus. This gem reignites your passion for photography. Someone said the first iterations of most camera models had all the sauce, love and passion put into their first models making them absolutely special and that's absolutely true.
Excellent review. I still use my Canon 5D Classic and with each photograph it surprise me with its beautiful colors. Excellent camera, excellent experience, I really enjoy it.
Sold My 5D years ago, moved to a 5D mk3 which I've never liked that much. Kept looking back fondly at shots I took with the original 5D. Today I finally admitted that I love that old 5D look, and one is now on its way for the modest sum of 140 English pounds. Can't wait to get out shooting with it!
You nailed it!! Basically, what you said is the core fundamentals of photography is what's important!! Too many people teaching photography totally miss this. You're a photographer who doesn't earn his living from photography, but you totally get it. You need to have a solid foundation with the basics in ANYTHING you do if you want to be good at it. I am tired of people saying you have to have a 1.2 lens and set the camera to eye focus, blah blah blah...... I do the focus-recompose method of focusing with the center focus point, and I never have a problem with my images being in focus. The images you posted on this video are amazing.....Thanks for posting!
For few of us we’ve come full circle. In the early 2000’s I mainly shot with film cameras then in 2007/2008 I transitioned to dslr. Was shooting with dslr’s until 2018 then I went mirrorless. Mirrorless is great and I love them. However newer mirrorless camera seem to have AI that is able to do everything for you, which can take the fun out of taking photos. It’s just funny to me because that’s what so many people wanted. A very high tech camera with superb focus accuracy, and color rendering etc. But now here we are, where some of us are yearning for cameras of yesterday years. 😅
I've had a 5D classic, a 7D, a 5DMKII and I currently own a 6D Mark I. I have to say it, there's something about the 5D classic colors that was really, really special. I just can't explain it, but the quality of the images was fantastic. I mean , it didn't even have live view, real time eye tracking, it was super heavy and it had this huge CF low capacity card slot, but man, the photography it used to produce was mind blowing.
Excellent video, totally agreed. Started shooting 15 years ago with a Cannon 40D, upgraded to a 6D, 5D MK 2, MK 3. Upgraded all of my glass to L. Sold it all to chase mirrorless dream. A Sony A7R3 and G Master lenses. I primarily shoot street, city, urban and architecture. Walking around NYC & Philly with a few thousand dollars in gear, increasingly worried about theft, dropping and repairs. Sold all of the gear. Now use a 5D classic a 24 2.8 and a 50 1.4. $400 worth of equipment, great pictures and not a worry in the world.
Great points made on this amazing camera. Love the nostalgia a camera such as Canon 5D Classic has and agree with you 100% the images, rendering and colours of this camera are special. Canon 6D is also a great camera with extra features and produces similar creamy look to photos. Together, make a formidable pair of cameras for stills photography.
This is the best camera review I've seen on youtube. You explained your use case and the pros and cons so clearly and objectively. I would love it if this were more the general vibe of camera youtube. Great work!
Yeah!!! I finally found a 5d classic fan base. I keep on buying these cameras for nothing. I own 3 now, and none of them is broken down. I bought them for friends even. With this camera i can do things i would never do wuth another camera, like photographing my son swimming, because it is just not that expensive. But the result is priceless
My 5D is 18 years old. I have never regretted owning it, never lusted after newer models. Oh, BTW, lately I’ve been using it for black and white, which it renders beautifully! Looks like my beloved Plus X, may it rest in peace.
I jumped on the bandwagon and bought one for $140,within a couple of days I bent a CF card pin and had to send it off for repair ($143). I tried to wait but I was dying to try the camera out so I got another one for $127 and really liked the way it operates.Coming from a film background,it was a lot more familiar.I am now REALLY CAREFUL when messing with the CF card.So now the other one is repaired and serviced,I have two.......................................................
The 5D helped me find again, what I had lost over the years using digital gear. Your words have articulated so succinctly, how I've been feeling about photography for such a long time. Between the 5D(Classic), and my D700, all the basic elements of photography bring me joy again without newer and complicated technologies getting in the way. I can grab the 5D after not using it for months and just use it without complication. Great phots and content Andrew. Thank you for posting.
Loved your video. I'm a fan of the 5D classic and enjoy most videos put out by creators talking about this wonderful camera. It's not perfect but it's lovely.
I’ve got both the 5D and the 6D. I use the 6D for more professional use and the 5D for more personal projects. Sometimes vice-versa. They both have really good sensors.
Awesome video! Great watch! Ever since watching this video 8 months ago. I now own 2 5D Classics! Great walk around camera! This camera truly brings you back to the basics. Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks for the feedback! You should check out the 40D as well. Very similar charm, but with a snappier response and a surprisingly fast burst rate. I got one for $40 and another for $60, and I’ve been enjoying them in cases where I want more reach with less size- like when I would have used the 5D with a 70-200mm lens instead I’ll grab the 40D with a 24-105 F4 or a 100mm F2 and it’s way more manageable to throw into my shoulder bag
I sold my 5D Classic few years ago, I had it for many years. I bought 5D mark 3, and now when I go back and see those photos from the old 5D, I see a huge difference in rendering. I wasn't seeing it before, as that was it at that time. Now I regret selling it. But the extra regret I have is that I bought that 5D classic from a young photographer who kind of got a cult status now, and I had his camera which was just so cool. I am an idiot for selling it. I'll buy it again, just because I miss it. But it won't be the same as having that original one I had :(
Great video. Lo ve the 5D classic and the aps-c cameras from the same era like the 30D and 40D. As a musician, i kind of draw the analogy of new, state of the art modelling amps trying to emulate classic Fender and Marshall tube amps. Perhaps an idea may be to buy an actual tube amp? The flawless tech of new cameras; we edit to look like film, assume various casts and gradations etc. As you’ve stated, clearly they have way more latitude, speed, practicality but we lose the ‘soul’ somewhere. The 5D is pure photography.
I was thinking of the exact same analogy, solid state amps vs tube amps.... vinyl versus digital... I had an early 2MP point and shoot Canon, and then (after I left it on the beach) a 20D. They had that wonderful film-like (tubey ; ) look, and when I cropped into the pictures it still stayed film-like. Nowdays, with my M50 mark II while it has so many more pixels, but as I zoom / crop in, especially as I move away from ISO 100, the images quickly become useless. Jagged, the noise breaking up the image into shattered bts and pieces, color and tone draining out fast. I am looking to get that back, and as I flipped through the Flickr shots people posted with 5D classic are so much like those older shots I did with the 20D. (Since, sadly, my 20D passed away to camera-ever land, hence the M50.) Also, with higher ISO the 20D/5D gives that graceful transition into what looks like film grain, instead of becoming jagged, disruptive and alien. I am really tempted to pull the trigger on a classic.... esp as I can use the 20Ds battery, battery charger and CF card. (They are compatible ;). No kidding, my 20D original Canon battery still works well after 15+ years.....
@@realworldaudio the 20D from 2004 and it’s predecessor the D60 (2002) were great Canon aps-c cameras. They helped pave the way for the 5D. I made my living off of these 2 cameras from 2002-2010 and looking back in the images they are almost painterly, just beautiful. I sold them long ago and today the 5D is one of my go-to cameras.
Man, that was just phenomenol! I JUST bought the 5D for almost the exact reasons, the big one being full frame over crop sensor curiosity. It's coming in a few days and this was just the review I needed to see! Thanks for doing it!
I’ve been using the 5D every single day for almost a year now and it’s completely transformed photography for me. Revived my interest in the hobby completely. If you cruise over to my instagram (@Andrewdoeshair) I’ve got a lot more portraits with the 5D over there.
@@andrewdoeshair I had gone over there earlier as well. I appreciated your post on focal length and the effect upon one's face. i suppose I'm going to have to resent you though because you put a "need" in me for a 135 f2! :-) When my wife complains, I'll blame that post! :-)
I shot several concerts at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go and Troubadour with a Canon 5D, 50mm 1.8, and 200mm f2.8L. Never had low light issues. Like you said, it forces you to follow the lights and time your pictures for when your subject is in a light up part of the stage.
The 5d classic is special, anyone who disputes this is either a Canon hater or someone who hasn't used one. I've owned many cameras like you and came back to the 5d classic. Twice. More compliments with this camera. I'm now looking for a second because I want a back up.
"Anyone who disputes this .... " What about me who had one and sold it because it's just too outdated? Dust issues, back focusing issues, not as reliable as the ii.. lovely colours but there's just a lot of cons. With the price the ii is going for nowadays, I will pick the 5D ii.
Man you nailed it! My 5D does everything you just says it does. I like to use spot metering and let everything else just disappear. ( just like you said ) I also really enjoy iso 800 in B&W.
It wasn’t until I got this camera that I started using exposure lock in aperture priority, and as soon as it clicked I felt like I’d wasted the last ten years scrolling the thumb wheel back and forth while shooting. Back button focus, half press shutter for exposure lock, BAM, fast and accurate. So much fun to shoot that way.
I watched your video from beginning to end and I really, really sympathize with your feeling about using a "previous generation" camera. I was also shooting with the R6 until recently and the second I started shooting with it I didn't connect. Its technical perfection and bad colors really emptied me of the desire to go out and take pictures. And the pictures from it required a lot of computer processing from me to bring the picture to a place I would be happy with. I recently returned to a previously owned camera. The 5 is quite a Mark 3. I want to tell you that already on the first picture I understood what I was missing. The lack of a wide dynamic range, the simplicity of shooting with single focus points (without sophisticated eye tracking) simply made the photography experience much more enjoyable. Thanks for an excellent video.
7 minutes in and I’ve been in eBay and bought one. Now hunting for a lens. Been thinking about it for a couple of years and thought sod it. Love the video, love the photos.
Thanks Andrew. You are correct about the 5D classic being a bit of work to get good results. I love shooting mine, having come from the Kodachrome days, with it's Kodachrome like limited dynamic range and exposure latitude. Certainly not a camera for the novice but great for an old experienced shooter from the film days looking for a more organic look. I put some of my 5D prints up against my Kodachrome prints and there is a general similarity if one doesn't look too close. Probably would also be a good camera to give to beginning students in photo school.
Thanks for the feedback! I have a friend who keeps trying to buy and edit his way into better photos and he’s always complaining that his shots aren’t good enough so he must need to replace his $1,200 85mm with a $2,700 85mm… When he’s asked my advice I told him to slap a 50mm F1.8 on a 5D classic and shoot JPEGs only, I also told him to delete Lightroom for a while. He said “but my photos would suck then!” And I said “exactly, so your only option is to take better ones!” Basically exactly what you’re saying, if you do everything right with this camera it really pays off, but when you want the camera to do the work for you- this isn’t the one 😂
What an honest video! I've had a Canon 5D Classic sitting on the shelf for 13 years due to a broken rear screen. I can see the menus, but the image review feature doesn't work. During that time I also had a Canon 6D (unfortunately stolen) and a 5D Mark IV replaced the 6D. I had the holy trinity of lenses for the Mark IV with the 24-70 L, 85 and 70-200 lenses plus a 40mm pancake. Last year I sold off all of my FF camera gear save for the inactive 5D Classic and a 40 mm f2.8 pancake lens that nobody wanted and that ultimately was a fortunate no sale outcome. I switched over to M43 for my main gear, YES, M43. It's an Olympus E-M1 Mark III fabulous system that does everything that I need. And I do use this for 90% of my photo work.....worth a try for anyone that is curious. When required, the latest noise reduction software in Lr works brilliantly. ......until about 6 months ago, I was cleaning up and picked up the 5D classic. I realized that the camera is perfectly functional even without the working real screen, it was my own insecurity that had me shelf the camera. I recognized that I don't need to chimp with this camera. It captures the images flawlessly to the CF card and as long as my exposure settings are correct I get amazing images. Working with this camera is almost like the film days. I don't get to see the results until I get back to my computer. I'm never disappointed with the output from this camera, but I may be disappointed with my own performance. The simplicity of the menus and shooting with focus and recompose is a through-back to the time. It's like the primal roots of digital photography. I often find myself taking this camera along for street photography or for random captures while out on a bike ride. If you have healthy batteries, this thing can support taking at least 1,000 shots on one charge if you manage your power usage. That said, I've not used the .jpg feature on this camera. That's something that you've inspired me to try out. After all if I shoot raw and .jpg I'm covered if I need the raws. Perhaps, like you, I'll find that the .jpgs are such a joy that I won't need to shoot in raw. But then the file sizes in today's terms are small and don't require a lot of storage, so keeping the raws as an original negative style archival backup is not such a bad idea. Real magic seems to ooze from of this camera. It truly is only limited by the experience and talent of the user. I may just have to get another body as a back up.
Still rocking my 5d classic with nifty fifty and 70-200 and I love it, it's also a good travel camera because if you lose it or it gets damaged, then it's budget enough to buy again 😁 Even though I have gear that's more current and faster auto focus, the 5d just has this nice feeling to the images that come out of it.... Thanks for the great "rant" 😄great vid 👌🏻
I ALMOST sold mine! I had it before. Them gave it away to a church friend who was getting started with photography but I missed the images so much. So I purchased it again. But I wanted to thin down my gear for simplicity. And I wanted to get the x100t. (Which I also sold and immediately regretted it.) so I went online, set up a trade for my d750 and my 5D classic. But I also immediately went to FB marketplace and put up my d750 for sale. It sold immediate for the price of the x100t! So I could keep my 5D, and I’m sooo glad I did!
FYI: The dirt inside the viewfinder/prism of my classic was bugging me, so followed a RU-vid video how to clean. Disassembled the focusing screen, others screen and gave them a good clean. Now my back focusing issue is gone. Whether the clean or the reassembly fixed it, don’t know. It just works perfect now. 😊
That’s good to know! I might have to do that. I noticed that my diopter doesn’t have a sweet spot, or at least when it’s as good as it gets it still looks soft. I’ve wondered if it would be worth it to tear the camera apart and see if something is grimy or crooked in there
I bought my classic 5d when it first came out, feels like a million years ago, still works great.Thanks for your thoughts on this camera, agree with all!
I bought this camera in 2006 and shot with it for many years (no money to upgrade). My mirror fell off while in Jamaica during the first shoot on a 45 day trip! But fairly recently I upgraded to the 5D Mark IV and hadn't even gotten used to that camera when the R5 came out. For years I resisted moving to mirrorless but had to go for the eye autofocus that the R5 had. Although I wouldn't go back to a dSLR at this point, I did love my 5D classic for the many years I owned it. The camera is simply a tool and it is up to the photographer to get out of it what they want. "It's All About The Image".
At 19.29 - 'A good photograph doesn't capture everything in a scene - but hides what you don't need to see in the scene. I love that BTW. I think the 5d Classic major strength is its huge pixel pitch (FF sensor & 12MP) and the amazing colour depth. I wasn't even aware of the technical advantage when I started shooting with the camera. I - for the same reasons as you had gotten tired of the 'see it all' results of modern sensors, and the 5D classic produces a look that always brings a smile to the face. Even a boring subject has a 'beautiful boring' look. Thanks for the video/review/rant - I much agree with all your findings. The other cameras I've experienced shooting with, that provide a similar feel to the images are the Fujifilm X-pro 1 (1st gen XTrans sensor) with the Fuji 35mm f1.4, and the Panasonic Lumix GF1 with the Lumix 20mm f1.7. Both of them have their limits (dynamic range) but the mood they give to the pictures can't be matched by modern sensors and their edited images.
I loved my 5D, and like you, my mirror dropped out mid-wedding... then I felt I could never trust it again for paid work. I still shot Canon (now a 5Dii) but might go for a 1DXii if it drops in price, which it surely will as people move to mirrorless instead. BTW, I agree that I felt a bit like in the analogue days when I used it, I had to think more, read the light carefully and wait for all to fall into place before hitting the shutter. That is not a bad thing, it just makes me become a "better" photographer thinking outside the box. Not trusting a camera which shoots 100 frames a second with a dynamic range stretching from pitch black night to the Sahara midday sun + a resolution of astronomical proportions.
I honestly feel this same way when I shoot with my Canon XSI. What is funny is I feel more confident shooting with it than more modern cameras. It was my first and I learned every little thing about it and its limitations where most cameras now, you could never know everything about them because it is so much to use. I got so good with jpeg shooting that I knew my presents already and how they would look before I took the shot. So I knew to switch to other jpeg picture style settings in advance because I knew the image I would get already. Amazing experience.
I love the 5D. I carried it around today. Got great photos. But also, I've had a Ricoh GRiii in my pocket every day for the last two years. Love it. :-)
Great Rant !! ;-) ...... Since I got my 5D Classic, my EOS R sits on the shelf most of the time. it's amazing what this camera can deliver if you get it right. The colors, the vibe, you look at the photos and think: wow that is a nice photo! And if you have lenses that work well with this camera, you can take amazing sharp photos. I am mostly at around F2.8 and it almost always works well. Thankx again ! ...
Hi Andrew. The analogy that springs to mind about this post is you've learnt how to cook and enjoy the taste, smells and process of what you've created compared to fancy, yet predictable, takeaways you've gotten used to. My equivalent of the Canon classic is the Nikon D700 with a following as devoted to it as the Canon users are to the classic. The histroy of iconic photographs was done on cameras using manuel focusing. The method can still sit happily beside autofocus today (no problems with jpegs either) So, enjoy your new lease of life as photographer using the classic and reengaging with the those techniques you spoke of and the sense of accomplishment too. Fiinally, I use a quick release wrist strap made of parachute cord for my Nikon D700 because it may of only cost a few quid, however, the images and memories created while using it are priceless. Sending good vibes from London and enjoy the rest of your day.
thank you. you come off like a real photographer, the kind i knew when i took my MA in art/photography. you feel the experience -- that's what it feels like. when i shoot i experience the light flowing onto my sensor ( ok, yeah, it's like that ). so, i bought this camera just now, and i'll be using it with my old Leica R summicron. going to vienna and i'm getting old and my 1dx ii is getting too heavy ! so, i'm very excited about your experience with the look of the image. i've been shooting canon since the AE-1 and on and on because i really like canon color. thank you again for the wonderful review. happy shooting!
just watched your video, and i am new to this and just bought a 5d classic for $225 it came with a 40mm voightlander lens . and love it so far. the lens online used is $469 so i feel like i got a good deal.
My main shooter camera is the Sony A7RV but if i want fun excitement and enjoyment i grab my 5D classic everytime. Now here's a tip for you that will make you fall in love with your 5Dc all over again. You can actually check for critical sharpness on the backscreen if you raise your sharpness levels all the way up to 7. I've also managed to create a preset profile that actually makes the images look great in the back of the camera too. Use AWB or a fixed kelvin value of 5800 depending on your taste, then use the Faithful picture profile with sharpness all the way up to 7, contrast all the way back to minus, and saturation all the up to +. Leave color tone alone. I use this all the time when shooting raw so i can have a better representation of the histogram on the back of the screen. Just give it a try. Especially the sharpness to 7 will do all the magic for you as you will now be able to see where you focused pretty accurately. It helps to look at the backscreen from a certain distance like 50cm cause the low resolution will be perceived as HD at the right viewing distance. The images now come out alive from this thing. Hope that helped. Let me know how you like it. Cheers
imho this is a great tip - provided you’re committed to a raw workflow. All that sharpening gets baked into your jpeg, and there’s no way of dialling that back afterwards. If I know I’ll be editing my shots then this is the way I go - but if I want to use the JPEG’s I have to embrace the hit-and-hope focusing system (or play it safe with my DOF)
Thank you for the video! It's been emotional. I have a strong feeling that I have to get one for myself. Just imagine how mindblowing it could get, if I've only been using cropped 550D and 600D before! In fact, I've used 5D mk II for couple days like 10 years ago, but didn't quite know what to do with it back then. Glad I found your video, it did help a lot.
I understand what you want to say. I wouldn't want to shoot non-paid jobs with the 5D Classic, or one-off opportunities. Just because of the focus, that would be too uncertain for me. But for private photography just for fun, it's more fun than with the new cameras. Their focus is so good it's less fun. This perfection is boring and makes me feel worse. So I'm happy to live in a world where I can have both, depending on my mood.
I still have mine, got it brand new in 2007. Based on photo archives, my shutter is way beyond 500,000. In my opinion, the best Canon FF ever made…btw Kodak developed that sensor.
Loved the “rant”, I read a post on Reddit and someone asked which is a good ancient camera with a CCD sensor, and they got ripped apart for being a hipster. People were saying “so you want a crappy camera then”. I certainly agree with your points, I brought an Olympus e300 and a Sony A7c and GM lens on a 10 day trip. I think my keep rate on the “crappy” e300 was like 20 percent but I loved all of them over the Sony. Personally for me, maybe I’m a hipster wanting to go back to dinosaur cameras from shooting with the best of the best, but both the shooting experience and photos from these cameras are much more haptic. I’m in the market for a 5d classic too. Of course, like you, I’m keeping new tech cameras mainly because I wife wants good pictures of the kids in tough lighting situations, but if there’s good lighting during the day, I’m using these 150 dollar cameras all day.
For me it keeps coming back to “the camera I have on me” and the camera that makes me WANT to shoot. I grab my R6 when I know I absolutely have to get the shot, I use my iPhone when I didn’t plan to shoot but saw a reason to, and I grab this 5D when I just WANT to shoot. I don’t recall if I mentioned this in this video, but with my R6 I’ll get 200-300 shots in an evening and be thrilled with 2-3 of them, where with the 5D I’ll shoot 50-60 and be thrilled with 5-6 of them. Very rarely do I bring the 5D and wish I’d brought the R6, usually it’s cases where the kids are running around in unpredictable patterns, and maybe once it’s been dynamic range frustrations, but I find that most of the time when I do bring the R6 I leave it in the bag, or I’ll get a billion shots and dread digging through them later.
@@andrewdoeshair yeah absolutely , the Olympus makes me want to take it out. In fact, it was so dirt cheap, I keep it in my work backpack (no other protection) because I never know when a morning light will hit the flowers or architecture just right. It really takes me back to when I carried a Pentax MX with a roll of Provia around all day. You do slow down and appreciate the lighting / overall mood of the scene more because of their limitations. And you’re right, when presented with a darker situation, you begin to broaden your perspective of light and dark rather than focus on what you can do to post process all the dark or highlight details back in. All great points and I’m really excited to get the 5Dc having just sold my 5d4 like a week ago.
@@3sgtepwnzr oh man thats a whole other thing that blew my mind- I took for granted the cost difference between old and new gear. I’d been using newer stuff for so long that I wasn’t even flinching at $2,000+ for a lens or body, but when I sold my RF 70-200 I was able to buy this body AND a budget trinity (EF 17-40mm F4L, EF 50mm F1.8 STM, and Tamron 70-210mm F4) for less than half of what my RF 70-200 sold for. Like I got fully kitted out for less than the cheapest RF L series lens. Because I most seriously shoot portraits I do keep some equity parked in more serious lenses in the 85-135 range but for standard and wide lenses this exercise has absolutely made me start looking at $200ish 30 year old lenses (like I’m pretty close to getting canon’s 28mm F1.8 and their 100mm F2 to bring with my 50 1.8 for a tiny fast prime kit with the 5D).
Nice video, fun to watch. At 70 now, I used a Leica M-3 in the 1970's. Every shot was a guess until you printed a contact sheet. One thing I can't stand about digital cameras are the menus, the 5D has a short and sweet menu, you even have to manually choose the ISO. Thanks for the rant!
I also got a 5D, and it was the best purchase I ever made. I tried a Canon 800D, 6D, RP, and none of those cameras comes close to the experience and feeling of the Canon 5D classic. This is a camera that's gonna get expensive soon.
Hey man, really enjoyed the video! You have basically summarized my thougths perfectly. Bought it in 2018 as a fun cheap camera that I could toss around while travelling or with friends and felt in love with it. Whenever I am shooting for money, my sony cameras are the ones on my bag. They just make my life easier. Shooting for personal stuff and for enjoying photography? This is the digital camera that I am going to pick no doubt about it. Now I am trying to go a step further by diving into film photography with my dad´s Minolta and a 50mm. Knowing that every shot cost "x" amount of money and that I really have to work for it has made me into a sharper, slower and better photographer (just like the 5D did back in the day).
Thank for your lengthy rants! Although I find the 6D to be better camera overall I still like the look of the images the 5D can produce (when I get it right) and I would be using my 5D way more than I do if it had had WiFi or Bluetooth capabilities. One solution is to pull the SD card out of the 5D (using a card adapter) and stick it into my 6D which as you know has WiFi but if there's an easier solution I would love to know about it. Thanks for your lengthy rants, you're by far the RU-vidr I feel I have the most in common with when it comes to photo and photo gear.
Thanks! I just picked up a 6D to use when it’s too dark for the 5D. I did a lengthy rant about that one, too 😂 and then I decided to add a 40D to the collection, as well. Between those three I’m quite happy with my kit these days
Having a 14 year old here who seem to be very interested and talented in photography beyond just taking cellphone pics .. but she's used too and expecting modern cell phone technology. I'd like to know how to wirelessly connect a 40D or 5D to a cellphone. If that's not possible I will just have to get her a 6D and a 40mm ;-) @@andrewdoeshair
It is the Pastel King. When you're tired of seeing neon green grass on your TV & phone, the 5D beckons. Try the 50/1.2L or Sigma EX 50/1.4 to make it truly sing.
Brilliant review! I bought a 5D classic when it came out, as that coincided with my fist kid arriving and it’s still going strong. I’ve recently been looking at newer cameras, with a degree of envy, but came to the same conclusion as you that my iPhone is fine for group photos and every day use, when I don’t want to carry around a big camera. I’ve taken a few group photos with the 5D that I found quite disappointing, but almost every portrait I’ve taken and especially those with moody lighting have been stunning. I’m going to stop worrying about newer cameras now! 😊
Thanks for the feedback! Not to attempt to cause harm ti your wallet 😂 but don’t completely rule out the newer stuff, it has its perks still! I recently took my young children to an amusement park and felt like kind of a dork bringing along my R6 with a 70-210, but now I’m glad I did it because I’ve got amazing shots of their faces lighting up on rides that I couldn’t have gotten with an iPhone or with my 5D. Whenever I think about ditching the R6 I find a situation where I’m glad I have it. Although if the R8 was out at the time that I got my R6, I’d have that and not this 😋
@@andrewdoeshair Yes, completely see your point. Another temptation is a small mirrorless camera like the Fujifilm Xpro and Leica Q cameras. I have a mate who has both and the pictures they produce are lovely, with similarly superb JPEG colours. They don’t draw the same reaction from subjects as big DSLRs and I imagine they’d be great for some of your work. Very pricey though!
Thank you! I think I mentioned this in the video but switching to jpeg made photography way more fun again. For years it was neat to see what I could do in post but the time and storage to do that started to feel like a huge price tag for taking photos, and it made me shoot less often. Now I shoot jpeg for fun and raw for work
You’re awesome, we’re always looking for that special look buying camera after camera ,all the the latest and greatest technology and overlook the old cameras because they’re too old . I have a huge collection of old cameras because they have character and are not complicated, just stick a good lens in front and you almost have the Leica look . I think that’s the look we’re looking for 😊😊😊
Go back to 2007 this camera was the one every wedding photographer used due to its then hi iso performance. I loved mine. Upgraded to a Nikon D700 though that was better in every way
i have two 5d's... thinking about hoarding a few more as they are criminally cheap. (just found one for $95 in 9+ condition) or get a 6d or two. my current EDC (5d+40mm pancake) cost me less than a Leica Battery... if that sensor was housed in a Leica M body or in a more vintage looking SLR à la Fujji XTsomething, sold at a premium, hipsters and film bros would be all over it. The unique rendering combined with a weak low pass filter (it looks sharper than some of my much more modern cameras that have higher MP count) makes this camera a true classic. no problem checking for focus on the LCD as i push the sharpness to the max on the jpg preview. i barely touch my other rigs unless i need the speed and low light capabilities...
Pentax just launched a very basic film camera (Pentax 17) which has some toy camera like features .... for $550 !!!! I just bought my 2nd 5D for $200. There is no area where the Pentax film camera will produce a better image than the 5D. I can't believe these 5D cameras aren't just snapped up at this insane price. I really have to stop myself from buying all of them, because fairly soon the film hipsters will discover them, and they'll be $1,000.
I agere with a lot of what you say. The 5D is the only camera that I have not sold on after its useful life for me. Meaning its still very useful. You really should shoot more raw. It is only when you use the recovery tool that you get to know the cameras true dynamic range. It is surpassed by most moderns dslrs, but not by as much as you would think. The CCD gives something special to every shot and I love the look.
I really should spend some time getting to know the raw files, it’s just been hard to want to do it since it’s like, what I aim to get from raw I can get ten times better from my R6 and what I aim to get from shooting Jpeg I can get ten times better with my 5D… Shooting raw with my 5D or jpeg with my R6 feels like using a Lamborghini to go off roading and a Bronco to drag race 😂
These days I’m wishing it had the focusing system from the 6D, which is much more confident in low light, but I’ve been using the 5D almost daily for 11 months now so it must not be so bad after all
The reason why people like the 5d ? The image are a real representation of the world we see thru our eyes, not what camera software thinks the world should look like, heavy on greens and saturated colours . I am an old film photographer and the 5d comes very close to the old kodak ektachrome 35mm film..or the film most movies were shot in and the photos in national geographic.
Saw this comment as I walk from the mailbox with a 6D I just bought to use as a daily carry since this 5D has been frustrating to use in the winter months when it’s dark half the day
im also browsing for a copy myself and totally feel ya on this disgusting weather for photopgraphy. I basically only shoot BW these days because everything is flat otherwise @@andrewdoeshair
Some people make Big Mistake of selling their precious 5DMK1 or 5D Classic and upgrade to 5DMK3 or MK4 cause they Think it will make their photos Better, higher megapixels mean Better right? LOL! Most people fall into that Trap Trend nowadays. But what they don't know and realize both 5DMK3 or MK4 are NOT same Sensor like 5D Classic used to. Both cameras sensor don't make a Filmic Look with Character anymore...
AF microadjustment is a huge advantage. Other than that it's the perfect camera imo. But back focus issues pretty much makes it the worst camera... It's so frustrating, and I don't feel like shipping it away and pay hundreds of dollars to adjust it. But some day I might anyway...
We’re on a similar journey for different, very personal reasons. I had an evolution of GAS from Fuji X-T10, then Micro Four Thirds, then “had” to have a full frame and got the “amazing” Nikon D750. Then I thought I “needed” Mirrorless but went to two Fuji X-T1’s, which, admittedly, have amazing output. However, I truly hate the control dials. Hate them. I realize through my downgrade that i want to further downgrade to older equipment. Debating Nikon D700, 5D classic and 5D mark ii. Lenses are so inexpensive and images from older cameras are amazing. I too thought it was editing, but now I get it. The cameras are incredible despite fewer options. My more modern D750 could nearly see in the dark, superb dynamic range, but I couldn’t stand editing the RAW files because it’s natural blues and greens were awful. I can’t explain it, but I was forced to edit those colors every time I touched a photo. It became a huge drain on my motivation because I felt like the camera just got it wrong from what my eyes saw, where my X-T1’s just get it right. If they weren’t horrible to use, I’d stick with Fuji. Now I am in debate. Watching all I can and looking at tons of photos from each camera I listed to determine what I like most. So far it’s the Canons based on thousands of pics on FLICKR. But which? I haven’t decided. This is really tough. I have about $1400 worth of trade-in and want to get the best system I can for the money. So I’m also debating lenses. It’s a process and I feel like I’m moving backwards in time for the reality they have always produced since new. I no longer care about new cameras, lens perfection, etc. I just want good cameras with good lenses that produce gorgeous images, and I have found that in older cameras. Now I just need to pull the trigger on a decision and get moving. Thanks for the video. I feel your struggle. And I’m in my 50s wanting that old school photography without reverting to film.
Thanks for sharing! Something this camera did for me a few months after making this video is it got me more open to the idea of trying some older and more poorly-rated lenses. I started thinking that some 1990’s lenses made for film which got bad reviews when tested on a 32mp sensor in 2016 might not be so bad on a 12mp sensor. So these days I’m almost exclusively using an EF 28mm F1.8, EF 50mm F1.4, and an EF 100mm F2 (I bought all three for under $500) and I have been completely thrilled with the tiny kit. When I say tiny, I mean these lenses are incredibly lightweight and compact compared to the lenses I’d been using for a few years (various Sigma Art series lenses and Canon’s premium RF lenses). Like when I pack these three lenses with this body I want to go argue on the internet with anyone who says that a full frame DSLR kit is always big and heavy, because this is now smaller than any equivalent crop sensor or mirrorless kit (factoring for equivalency in terms of DOF/FOV, that is). I mean the closest you’ll get with a crop sensor to the look of a 28mm F1.8 on FF is maybe with Fuji’s 18mm F1.4 which is bigger, heavier, and costs six to ten times as much. You can’t match FF 50mm F1.4 with a crop sensor (30mm F0.9? Does that even exist?) and maybe the fuji 56mm F1.2 could come close to a 100mm F2 but that’s going to be another lens that’s 5X the price of the FF equivalent. Now don’t get me wrong, these older EF lenses are rife with soft corners, color fringing, jittery soap bubble bokeh, and would be destroyed on a technical comparison to any modern lens, but much like the character I found with the 5D I’m finding a great deal of enjoyment letting these “imperfections” color my photos. It’s almost like the lens’s character becomes a part of the photo, in that it says more about the moment than just what was in front of the camera, but also maybe about the tastes of the photographer 🤷♂️ maybe I’m over thinking it. Anyways, there’s just some intangible something about this body and those lenses. I’m taking a big trip soon and I had been planning for weeks to bring my modern gear so I don’t miss a single shot, but tonight I was shooting my kids with the 5D and decided I need to bring it because I’d rather love 100 shots of the trip than get 1,000 shots merely documenting it.
