Is The Canon 5D Classic Any Good In 2024?

Maybe we don't have to buy expensive cameras after all.

00:00 - Intro
01:14 - Why The Canon 5D?
05:20 - Ergonomics and Usability
08:20 - Sample Photos
13:00 - The Bad
15:15 - Final Thoughts

You should just be buying used at this point but affiliate links ahoy in case you're rich:

My YouTube Setup:

[brucewilco]

Thanks for this video! I own two 5D’s, with EF 28mm & 85mm f1.8 USM and 50mm f1.8 STM lenses. I love them all. A few comments:

Is the original Canon 5D a “pro” camera? It depends on your definition. Canon did not market this to professionals - they figured a real pro would want a 1D variant. Like the Nikon D200, the OG 5D was designed to be a camera for advanced users but not for heavy pro use.

Case in point: It’s *not* weather sealed. (The Mk II apparently has more gaskets, but not so much at the shutter button!)

Now, did professionals embrace the 5D? Yes, eventually, and more so with the Mk II, III and IV, which for so long have been staples in the pro wedding market.

So, Canon’s intent? 1D’s for pros, 5D’s for advanced users with money. Adopted by pros anyway? The 5D line, more so when features were added in later models (which weren’t as prone to having their mirrors fall out).

At least, that’s my understanding.

…none of which detracts from the “magic” of this camera. I see it as one of THE classics of digital photography .

[hunterhart]

I really think people are missing out on these pro cameras that cost so little. I agree, some of these images do look vintage! Great review Omar, thanks for shouting out my video!!

[CanoeToNewOrleans]

This summer, a buddy gave me an old 5D he hadn't used in years. It's such a fun camera and the images look great.

[ccoppola]

Nailed it with the dynamic range. That’s really a big part of the “magic”. Slide film like Kodachrome only had like 5-6 stops of dynamic range. New cameras have so much dynamic range that people have TOO much flexibility. Creative limitations are the key to good work.

Side note, I like the 5d images better than my xpro2.

[JerredZ]

Omar - I can't tell you how good this video is. I LOVE it. Let's try to normalize this kind of content - we totally need this in the photography space. I think it's become so much about new cameras and lenses, but this camera is AWESOME. The experience of using it is so different and so refreshingly simple - love it, and love your video. Great job, Omar!

[kermitage]

Enjoyed your narration, you've got a new subscriber :) Cheers from Warsaw!

[JeffreyHauser]

I still remember taking a photo of a young female senior high school student at her graduation ceremony many years ago. The skin tones & colors of the Canon 5D were beautiful.

[infinitesky-]

I used to have a 40d many years ago and when I returned to photography this year with a much later 5d Mark iii, I was less than impressed with the images. The 5d3 is a technically great DSLR but the images from my old 40d just look (to me) more... nostalgic.
I have now gone back to a 40d - for now at least. I have tried the 5d but find it just a bit too old and clunky.

I get the same 5d vintage look from the 40d (with only a very small loss of resolution) but...the 40d is a much more modern feeling camera to use and these days we now have some great, cheap and very light EF-S lenses for it which makes it feel much more portable than the clunky 5d.
Still looking for a camera to make use of my EF lenses though and it will probably be a 6d as this has a fairly close look to the 5d but has better performance.

[funfun_]

I’ve been using an r5 for a few years now but still like my old 5d classic that I’ve had for ages. I really like the film-ish look of its images and will never get rid of it!

[iphoneography]

I'd been an iPhone photography guy for years. Around 4 months ago, I bought an 1100D and loved it. Two weeks later, I bought a 90D. Now I'm suffering GAS, looking for lenses. I love it.

[jessbaumung]

I got a 5D when it first came out and it was amazing. I still own 2 of them and use them from time to time.

[losmalqueridos]

Omar, Old is gold 👏🏽
I was wondering if you could show us some samples of the the Canon 50mm 1.2 speed boosted on your XH camera. I can't really find anything on YouTube. Thanks 🙏🏽

[wkpad]

Thank you Omar for this realistic video. I bought 5D classic several times due to the YouTube hype but sold it every single time. I know its a good camera and its cheap but the ISO over 800/1000 and lcd resolution are both unusable. I believe the 6D mark 1 has similar IQ and much more usable for about the same price.

[quazisanjeed]

The old proverb old is gold stands firm and will stand firm forever. That's the rule of the game.

Despite emergence of high-tech mirrorless cameras; the older DSLRs or even film SLRs are still capable of doing the job. They will remain capable even several decades later.

Being a hobbyist; I use Canon 5D Classic, Mark II, III, 1D Mark IV and 7D. Needless to say; they are great imaging equipment that hardly suffer from mention worthy shortcomings.

Thank you for the video.

[esppics]

Great video. I still love the simplicity of the 5D. No frills down to the basics photo camera. I love the 5D but with DSLR cameras you need to find those lenses that focus good on that body. I just tried the 50mm 1.2 and focus was all over the place. But my 100mm F2, 100mm 2.8 macro, 200mm 2.8 and 40mm 2.8 focus perfectly on it. Still takes amazing photos. This camera loves light!!!

[Ahamilton]

High end EF glass on film really makes a difference as well. Where EF glass may struggle on modern mirrorless cameras, they shine on film or older digital cameras like the 5D.

[edvardasstalionis]

Hey, Omar, I am curious about card reader which you are use with this camera. Can you write the model of it? Thank you 😊

[gnorth]

Well done review. I like to use my 5D for street and black and white only. Gives it a very vintage feel.

[welcome]

Canon 5d classic is one of the best camera that time😍👌👌👌

[youngum]

I love these cameras from back in the day. I had both 5d and 5dm2. But let's be real here, it's not a film camera. The files do not look like film and they won't no matter how much you process them. If you want the film look, then shoot film.