Is the 5D Classic Worth It in 2024?

[@derrenleepoole]

Picked up the 5D at the end of last year based on other KZbinrs reviewing the camera. Never considered I would ever own or shoot a DSLR, but I don’t understand why. The 5D is simply incredible in many regards. It’s bulky yes, but not massively so, but the camera is so simple to use… you just set it and forget it. The OVF is bright and clear, the camera shoots for days with the batteries I have, the files are so nice to edit with gorgeous colour rendition and detail. The ISO performance is excellent. Even maxed out at 1600 iso I was surprised at how detailed the files are with acceptable noise, not an issue with today’s noise tools in ACR or LR. I’ve been shooting this thing non-stop ever since getting it with no regrets. Bought the 5Dii off the back of this purchase and now have an incredibly reliable rock solid workhorse. I use mine with the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM and adapted Olymous OM Zuiko glass and a few M42 lenses. Incredible value for money for a system that holds up very well today.

[@davidw.r.7801]

Did the same thing. Got both 5D and 5Dll from Japan. Both like new and love them. EF 35mm f2 a great lens for both.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Huge fan on the 5d classic, I was definitely blown away my the images!

[@kevinl1492]

I bought my 5D in about 2017, but don't shoot it a lot. I do love the output though. One thing that limits use is that batteries die when left in the camera, and it takes longer and longer to write to the card. I am thinking of getting another one. I hadn't thought about sourcing one from Japan. I bought my last 6D from Japan and have had good experience in general. So I don't know why I didn't think of it.

[@jdebultra]

Nice, realistic commentary on the camera. I'm in mid MI. The 5DC is my "get out of the creative rut" camera. It's a tool that gets out of my way and I adore that at times.

[@lukasvanderlende]

I totally see how it can do that, the color and shooting experience is very nostalgic for me

[@davelawrence8]

My fav of all time - combined with the EF 40mm, such a great grab-and-go. And hello from Jackson, Mich!

[@MartiMDN]

I got the 5DmkII a year ago and I love it. Never tried the 5D classic. Is it noticeable the difference between the 5D classic and the 5DmkII? Not in terms of quality, dynamic range, resolution, and all that stuff. I refer to the feel of the images and the character.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Definitely similar! Same lenses, similar sensor, but I think the 5d classic really shines in its affordability to get such a good picture quality

[@isaacrasmussen1637]

never thought I would see this video from you... great video my brother!

[@lukasvanderlende]

Thank you brother!!

[@reynaldohernandez1425]

I recently picked up one 5D classic and definitely produces nostalgic photos. Its limitations makes it special.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Absolutely! When you can get a camera that will do literally anything, having one that does a few things really well is special

[@toml7945]

I have three of them. Set it for just the one center af point, press half down on the shutter to hold the focal point then compose the shot and shoot. love the simplicity of the original 5D

[@lukasvanderlende]

They’re incredible cameras!

[@chrisdechristophe]

I liked the 5d so much I got 3! It's a steal at current prices for what was built to be a high end professional camera costing 1000s originally. Paired with the native ef lenses it's a fantastic camera to use. As for battery life, just get a new third party battery, you will get hundreds of shots for a full day (actually more like a full week) of shooting. The 5d was designed to create images as good or better than film because it was designed to appeal to professionals who didn't yet trust digital. Offering full frame was part of this, but also generating images with a 'filmic' look straight out of camera no need for raw editing. The build is on par with the pro canon film bodies of the time and of course it accepted all of the existing ef and L line up of lenses so that pro canon users only had to buy the body. Today the 5d is probably the best entry point to full frame shooting on a budget. There are few digital crutches here just the OG film camera experience with auto focus.

[@scionevotc]

I have 3 of them! They are fantastic camera bodies! The 5D forces me to slow down my shooting and focus more on the subject. Truly a fun camera to shoot with.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Love it! Yeah I totally get why you love them!

[@chrisdechristophe]

Hey, I have 3 as well! What a great camera it is! It really excels with eos lenses.

[@jklphoto]

About f/1.4 lenses...we needed them in the film era with ISO 100-400. Zero need now, unless you're shooting film. Also, modern/vintage focusing screens get no brighter after about f/2.5 and don't include focusing aids like micro-prisms or split image elements. So you're not alone in realizing that using native AF lenses is far more accurate. The OG Canon 5D isn't a film camera, but it has a WAY smaller impact on the environment than manufacturing/transporting/developing film. And gives you a filmic look. My Nikon D700 is the same. Would love to hear your thoughts on Chemical vs. Green Photography Lukas.

[@Brando90198]

What about 1.4 for Astro though?

[@jklphoto]

@@Brando90198 yes, you got me there, but that is a very niche use.

[@jimmay8627]

Agree that 1.4 is much less necessary now, but it still has its particular look, and is still a factor in making handheld shooting more practical (especially if you're up against the wall for noise avoidance). Sigma is still doing pretty well selling those 1.4 Art lenses. I have a 5D classic (original owner) and the screen does indeed get brighter all the way to 1.4, at least with an adapted manual focus Super Takumar - but I have the manual focus oriented Ee-S focussing screen instead of the original, so that might be why.

[@Twobarpsi]

I bought a 5D2 last year for the same reasons you mention about the 5DC. I picked it over the R5 and R6 MKII.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Something really nice about those early DSLR’s

[@Twobarpsi]

@@lukasvanderlende yes!

[@nict.9612]

I'm really tempted to use my 5D classic for upcoming events/weddings. I would like to take photos with a different style than I would have when shooting with my A7iii, not paying attention to the technology, the burst of shots, the super precise autofocus and other things. Yes, it might be crazy to shoot with the 5D instead of the A7iii, but the feeling I have shooting with the Classic is beyond. Even the look is really different in the photos. Knowing that to shoot weddings with the Classic I would have to get another one as a backup, in your opinion is it recommended to shoot with the 5Dc nowadays for weddings?

[@lukasvanderlende]

I don’t think it’s crazy to use for a wedding. The only major draw back I see is the single CF card slot. When I do a wedding I always like having two card slots for backups! But maybe bro going it along for some fun more unique shots to a few weddings would give you the practical experience you need to make that decision and if it’s right for your workflow!

[@esppics21]

Which picture style do you tend to use along with the A2,G2 WB adjustment?

[@lukasvanderlende]

Standard profile

[@gdjaybee742]

I think when people say you have to think of it as film camera, in the old days of film, each film has its own ISO sensitivity, so you have to plan a whole day on a specific film and ISO, specially when it is turning dark. In this case its easier to change ISO with a push of a button and turn of a dial. People didn't mean that the output or product would look like film, well maybe with higher ISO and grain in the picture, sure.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Totally!

[@codyallen3729]

Nice review and dope stetson! Curious how much editing you did on the family snaps? Colors look just perfect! I know you mentioned the WB shift so are they just sooc jpgs? I've only shot raws and edited my files in LR from my 5D.

[@lukasvanderlende]

Thank you! I still edit them, so not sooc but I find that that WB shift helps with the skin tones while I edit

[@larrymccormick3226]

Digital like photos ! You think ! Must have meant film like ?

[@lukasvanderlende]

Nope, just a bit of a joke with the thumbnail

[@Thephotosnatcher_]

I recently owned the canon 10d, 20d, 30d, 40d & canon classic 5D. Haven’t used my EOS R or M50 since

[@lukasvanderlende]

So many great cameras left behind because of new cameras coming out. A new camera doesn’t make your current camera worse

[@LaopsAR]

I have one and, considering that it is a 2005 camera, the AF is good and is more accurate than other cameras I have that are more recent. That's for stills and only the central AF point. Love it for landscape, portrait and for casual shots with just the 35mm f2 to keep it compact❤

[@lukasvanderlende]

Definitely a camera that has withheld the test of time!

[@mikafoxx2717]

Have an R6 and 5D Classic. Its my filmic feel slow down camera. I dont think it takes any better photos but it's the humbler when I think that gear will make me take better photos. Not really.. its alsi the sacrifice camers to take into the canoe or a downpour

[@toml7945]

Forget auto iso, practice to manually change iso on the fly by training your right hand to know without looking

[@lukasvanderlende]

Definitely, brought it up more for the review!

[@photosquare7]

I never liked the AF of the 5D, especialy with the EF50/1.4. I missed so many shots. The 5D III was so much better. I love this camera.

[@vincepetitjean]

Hey I think your thumbnail should be unlimited film photos but it says unlimited digital

[@lukasvanderlende]

It was intentional, just a fun goof

[@vincepetitjean]

@@lukasvanderlende I thought you were going for that clickbait and the "it's not the same as film" comments that the algorithm eats up

[@lukasvanderlende]

That probably would have been better for engagement, but I don’t find that as funny 🤷‍♂️

[@MerryKey-ei8oi]

Hello,great video What dy you mean by A2 G2 and neutral?? Can you please elaborate,it will help me,i have this same camera just bought it,i am a beginner in photography,thanks

[@lukasvanderlende]

On the first page of the settings there’s an option called white balance shift, I shift it +2 for A and +2 for G to help with skin tones.

[@MerryKey-ei8oi]

@@lukasvanderlende ok thank you

[@gr7dc]

Queen Mum still rules 4me, thank you for sharing. The pixels are 8,2um...maybe this and the canon colors are still a cool vintage view on this. And the Glass is important..ef50 1,2L i.e.Greetings from a leica fanboy....

[@lukasvanderlende]

Leica is still king for me, but this is a fun around the house camera!

[@ezragonzalez8936]

I think you mean "unlimited film like photos" lol

[@lukasvanderlende]

Nope! Just unlimited digital like photos with this camera!