The EOS 5D is Canon’s “entry-level” full frame SLR. It’s a stunning camera that has many advantages but it does require the very best lens in order to make the most of its features. Unless you’re printing up very large photos this camera could be a case of overkill.

Canon has produced an outstanding addition to its dSLR product line in the 5D, but its total cost of ownership may place it beyond the means of the average enthusiast. As a professional camera, the 5D may be a cost-effective alternative to the 1DS Mark II if you can live without its weather sealing and extra 3.9-megapixels of resolution.

The Canon EOS 5D represents a great value in a high quality, high performance, full-frame Digital SLR. You get excellent quality, high resolution images for less money than ever before. I found very little to critique or complain about. This camera will exceed the requirements of many photographers.

The Canon EOS 5D lives up to the hype. It breaks new ground with its full-frame sensor and huge rear panel LCD. Comparing it to Canon’s $7,999 flagship EOS 1Ds Mark II tells it all. The 5D offers a comparable full-frame sensor but beats the more expensive Canon with its lightweight construction, simple control layout, simplified menu, and a much larger LCD monitor.

We give Canon kudos for getting a full-frame sensor into the hands of serious amateurs, but Canon isn’t demonstrating the zany, out-of-the-box thinking that Nikon has with its D2X, which features an even more “cropped” mode to increase the frame rate from 5fps to 8fps at the cost of resolution.

The Canon EOS 5D is a breakthrough digital camera. It sets the stage for full 35mm film size sensors in prosumer cameras. The 5D itself produces excellent images that should satisfy the most demanding professional or advanced amateur.

By not increasing the resolution of the 30D, the 5D has become desirable both to photographers who’ve always wanted full-frame and those who simply want a higher resolution Canon body. There’ll certainly be plenty of 10D and 20D owners who, disappointed by the modest benefits of the 30D, will instead turn to the 5D for an upgrade.

The 5D camera is for those photographers, who have a lot of good optics, which full potential is not revealed when used with a small sensor. It’s for those who always process photos afterwards. Lens aberrations and distortions become noticeable at the edges, so you have to process the photo with utilities.

What we have here is a very highly specified machine indeed, but given its professional bent, there are a couple of surprising omissions.

Canon’s EOS 5D is the most affordable full-frame D-SLR yet, allowing lenses to be used without affecting their field of view.

Canon’s EOS 5D is the most affordable full-frame D-SLR yet, allowing lenses to be used without affecting their field of view. It’s quite a premium to pay even considering the 12.8Mp resolution, but if you curse the cropped view of cheaper D-SLRs, this could be the camera you’ve been waiting for.

The EOS 5D isn’t the ideal camera for everyone and there are some minor compromises as well as some excellent features. It isn’t a point and shoot camera by any means and both the body and the price tag are substantial – but it’s smaller and better priced than many full-frame sensor cameras. If this is your first foray up the chain of D-SLR’s and you don’t want to spend too much first time round, the EOS-5D is a good starting point.