Canon EOS 5D

[shelmec]

Does anyone know why this Canon Digital SLR does not use the EF-S lenses?

I have a 350D and am considering upgrade options. Forking out for the 20D for only small enhancements doesn't seem that good (come to think of it, neither does the list price for the 5D either but it's got sooooo many more megapixels....

[Rave]

It's because the EF-S lenses are designed for cameras with an CMOS sensor the same size as the 20D, the 300/350D etc. The 5D has a sensor the same size as a 35mm film frame and so the EF-S lenses don't have a large enough image circle to cover the entire frame. When used on a 350D/20D the EF-S 18-55 lens has a field of view roughly equivalent to a 28-80 lens on a 35mm camera- so if you want the same on a 5D you'll just have to use a 28-80 lens.

TBH if you're spending £2k on a 5D you should not be sticking sub-£100 lenses on it- unless it's the 50mm F1.8. The 24-105 F4L lens they plan on bundling with it will likely turn out to be an excellent all round lens, so just cough up a bit extra to get the kit.

[shelmec]

Thanks for the excellent feedback. I already have a number of Canon EF lenses, so don't want to change Manufacturer. I suspect I'll just have to save for that little bit longer....

[Stoo]

Or you can save a bit of cash and get the body only version and couple it with the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD (which is one of the best lenses on the market, and cheap too)

[Rave]

From the prices quoted in AP when they announced it, it looked like the body + lens kit was only going to be about £150 more than the body only- and £150 for an L series lens is a raging bargain. Have to see how it pans out when it hits the shops of course.

[Stoo]

Hmm, I would have thought the price differential for the body only would have been greater than that, might be worth waiting a month or two after it's launch and seeing what the prices are like then?

[Oakey]

you know, I have to wonder if someone who has to ask why the 5D doesn't use EF-S lenses and cares about how many megapixels it has should be buying that sort of camera...

[Stoo]

It doesn't matter, they ask the question, they get the answer.

The 5D is a valid upgrade from the 350D, and if someone has come from a film SLR background they might not know about the ins and outs of a digital slr, but want something closer to film quality.

[Rave]

So Oakey, care to give me the 35mm equivalent field of view of the 65mm lens on my Fuji GSW690II?

[rajagra]

you know, I have to wonder if someone who has to ask why the 5D doesn't use EF-S lenses and cares about how many megapixels it has should be buying that sort of camera...

Actually, there is a valid question to be asked. Could a new full-frame DSLR use EF-S lenses, while restricting you to using the central image area? Or even allow you to use EF-S lenses freely, and let you deal with vignetting yourself?

Technically, the answer to these questions is almost certainly yes.

It would be nice to be given the option, even if it is a poor one.

[Oakey]

Actually, there is a valid question to be asked. Could a new full-frame DSLR use EF-S lenses, while restricting you to using the central image area? Or even allow you to use EF-S lenses freely, and let you deal with vignetting yourself?

Technically, the answer to these questions is almost certainly yes.

It would be nice to be given the option, even if it is a poor one.

The original poster gave me the impression he hasn't really done any homework on the camera or have much knowledge regarding DSLR's, which makes you wonder why anyone in their right mind would spend somewhere in the region of £2000 (or is it more like £2700?) for something they know little about. I've noticed quite an influx lately in 'n00bs' buying DSLR's such as the 20D, mostly over at OcUK forums. I don't see why someone would go from a 350D to a 5D on the basis of "it has soooo many megapixels". Also saying the 20D only offers 'small enhancements' over the 350D is a bit, erm, exagerated.

to put it in shorter terms, anyone who was seriously interested in a 5D would do some research beforehand, in which they would no doubt find the answer to their original question. Nobody spends that sort of money 'blind'. This seemed more a case of wanting a 5D because it's the latest DSLR from Canon.

[Rave]

....or maybe shelmec is doing their research by asking questions on forums where they might reasonably expect to encounter people who have answers to their questions.

I worked for years in a camera shop, and plenty of the professional photographers who came in knew less about hardware than I did- could I shoot like them though? No. Ultimately a camera is just a tool you use to realise your artistic vision, it's not an object to fetishise and worship. Getting snotty about people who buy expensive cameras is like getting snotty about people who buy Vapochills without serving their time on Deltas and watercooling first. If you have a great eye for a picture, why not come and ask how you can best capture it?

[BlueMagician]

Actually, there is a valid question to be asked. Could a new full-frame DSLR use EF-S lenses, while restricting you to using the central image area? Or even allow you to use EF-S lenses freely, and let you deal with vignetting yourself?

Technically, the answer to these questions is almost certainly yes.

It would be nice to be given the option, even if it is a poor one.

IIRC, you can modify the mount on some EF-S lenses - people started doing this to use the 18-55 'kit' lens from the 300D on their 10D's, but I also remember there being a physical clearance issue - rear of the lens versus mirror mechanism - and it all ending horribly in tears when they pressed the shutter.

I guess the same experiments will crop up (no pun intended) with other EF-S's and the 5D...

S.

[Oakey]

....or maybe shelmec is doing their research by asking questions on forums where they might reasonably expect to encounter people who have answers to their questions.

I worked for years in a camera shop, and plenty of the professional photographers who came in knew less about hardware than I did- could I shoot like them though? No. Ultimately a camera is just a tool you use to realise your artistic vision, it's not an object to fetishise and worship. Getting snotty about people who buy expensive cameras is like getting snotty about people who buy Vapochills without serving their time on Deltas and watercooling first. If you have a great eye for a picture, why not come and ask how you can best capture it?

I'm not looking to argue, I'm just saying that if you think "i'm going to spend £2500 on a camera" you tend to read up on it beforehand. The DPReview preview for example mentions why the 5D doesn't use EF-S lenses.

The OP said "forking out for a 20D for small enhancements doesn't seem that good." The difference between the 350D and the 20D is what? £400-£500? The difference between the 350D / 20D and the 5D is about £1800 and £1200. The general consensus is that the 5D doesn't really offer a lot over the 20D, if you want a full frame camera then sure, it's an obvious choice. If not however, is it worth spending all that money? I think people are seeing the 5D as a successor to the 20D, that's not really what it is at all.

The guy is possibly going to spend a lot of cash he's worked and saved hard for, at the least shouldn't people be asking if the 5D is the camera for him, explaining what it offers, differences over the 20D, etc?

[BlueMagician]

...The guy is possibly going to spend a lot of cash he's worked and saved hard for, at the least shouldn't people be asking if the 5D is the camera for him, explaining what it offers, differences over the 20D, etc?

Agreed.

Also, if full frame isn't a necessity, but he doesn't think the 20D has enough for him, then perhaps a s/h 1D2 would be worth a look - at probably half the cost of a new 5D..

S.

[Oakey]

Agreed.

Also, if full frame isn't a necessity, but he doesn't think the 20D has enough for him, then perhaps a s/h 1D2 would be worth a look - at probably half the cost of a new 5D..

S.

Or he could hold out 2-3 months and see if Canon announce a 30D