How does a second hand 5d compare to newer models?

shez

shez

shez

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I am looking into buying a camera and I am tempted by a second hand 5d, they seem to be fairly reasonably priced at around £400-500. However I know they are quite old now, how would one stack up against a 600D or a fuji x100.
I would use the camera mainly for shooting out and about, no sports or wildlife.

Thanks
 
Way better than a 600D. Fuji x100 is a different kind of product though, as it's a sort of compact camera with a fixed lens, so you don't have so many options.
5D has a 35mm sized sensor so you have more control over DOF, but the x100 has allot better ISO performance.
 
An Exception said:
5D has a 35mm sized sensor so you have more control over DOF, but the x100 has allot better ISO performance.
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I'd go with the 5d, but then I would say that as I did go with the 5D.

I'd say go with the 5D if you think you think there's any chance you'll get into photography for its own sake (rather than just for taking snaps etc.). Being in full frame from the start means you don't have to weight up getting better (better on a crop) EF-S glass or glass that you can use on full frame etc.

Cameras like the 600D are very nice though, it just depends a lot on what you want out of your photography.
 
I'd take a 5D over the 600D any day. You're comparing apples and oranges with the x100, though.

I paid £650 for my 5D and don't regret it one bit. If you can get one for 400-500 then it's a steal.
 
I thought the x100 produced very good images and the latest firmware update seems to have sorted out focussing issues. The cost of a canon 5d and 50mm f1.4 would be about the same as the x100, hence why I was thinking about it.
 
shez said:
I thought the x100 produced very good images and the latest firmware update seems to have sorted out focussing issues. The cost of a canon 5d and 50mm f1.4 would be about the same as the x100, hence why I was thinking about it.
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Yeah I'm not saying its a silly comparison or anything like that, they are just two very different cameras. If you were into street photography I'd probably say the x100 was better.
 
I'm having a similar quandry at the moment, I want to move on from my trusty 30D as I'm finding particularly the ISO performance to be a bit limiting. Now I'd love to go full frame with a 5d II/III but the price is crazy so I'm stuck choosing bettween the 60D and the 5D classic. I want the 5D for the full frame loveliness but the high iso performance of the 60D is better and it has a much newer screen which would be a bonus as well. (I know the 60D is plastic etc but I've handled one and really liked it's size/weight)
 
a1ex2001 said:
I want the 5D for the full frame loveliness but the high iso performance of the 60D is better
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How many times must I do this?

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Crop cameras are only just getting up to full frame standards of 7 years ago and the Canon 18MP sensors are a few years out of date as well as being decidedly high resolution sensors.
 
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Well I decided to go for a 5D, it's in really good condition so hopefully it lasts. I just need to get a lens now. I think the Sigma 50mm f1.4 will be a good start.
 
shez said:
Well I decided to go for a 5D, it's in really good condition so hopefully it lasts. I just need to get a lens now. I think the Sigma 50mm f1.4 will be a good start.
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You won't be disappointed. It's certainly not shooting on easy mode when you're shooting at f/1.4 and have to expose carefully but it's very rewarding to get it right.

Good lens choice as well, as long as you buy it online you have 7 days if it misfocuses to return it so no real risk there (and the two sigma lenses I own have focused perfectly since day one). I've been considering swapping my 50 for a Sigma one, partly because of the optical quality, partly because it would mean all my filters work on all of my lenses, bar my macro lens. Let us know how you get on with it
 
Great decision. I have a mk1 as well as other newer cameras and still pick up the mk1 without a second thought, it's really a great camera. The Sigma 50 1.4 is a great choice as well, the both of them combined would make an excellent setup for street photography if that's your thing.
 
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Depends on your use. Personally I love the DOF that full format cameras bring to the table, something that you just cannot do as well with a crop.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Depends on your use. Personally I love the DOF that full format cameras bring to the table, something that you just cannot do as well with a crop.
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Agree 100%. Can get far more of the exact type of photos I want when I look at something with the effects I like with full frame compared to a crop camera. Used and owned both for reference.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Depends on your use. Personally I love the DOF that full format cameras bring to the table, something that you just cannot do as well with a crop.
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Absolutely agree with that too.

I also have a 5d Mk1 and have had it a while now, its still a fantastic camera that produces fantastic images.
 
The way I see it, if it was good enough for professional use 5 or 6 years ago it's good enough for me today. The image quality is fantastic.
 
im sure you will love the 5d. Ive got one last year and its a great camera that excells with portaits and landscapes. The processor in the camera is a bit slow by todays standards when uploading via usb. The lcd screen is small but i manage ok with it. Im very happy with the images it produces.
 
I LOVE my 5D. The LCD is ****, but what I find is that photos look ok on it, and then when you get them on the computer you're amazed at how much better they look. With my 5D2 they look good on camera, and the same on screen. Less of a pleasant surprise :p
 
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