I don't understand

I've had an Olympus E-P1 for 2 years. In those 2 years I have taken countless photos that are all beautiful and have their own memories.

I recently got a Canon 5D classic. My dream camera. I got a nifty fifty and an 85 f/1.8 to go with it. Every photo that I've taken with it somehow gives me the impression and feeling of both film, and real life, as if I am back in the moment when I look at the photo. The E-P1 never did that to me, as beautiful and amazing as any of the photos are.

I don't understand how this happens. Is the subtle differences in things such as depth of field and dynamic range really that strong to where it mimics your own eyesight more closely?

Am I simply making all this up since I like my 5D so much so I'm making it look the way I want? I really don't understand.

I'd say it could be a bit of both!

The 5DC is "reknown" because its bigger "pixel wells" collect more "good light" compared to generated noise, and so the "out of camera pixels" tend to be cleaner and (to some degree) "richer" in light and color, although how much that means to you can be pretty selective. You are not alone, though, in your appreciation for the 5D, it's a true "Classic"!

parodying wrote in post #15649165
I've had an Olympus E-P1 for 2 years. In those 2 years I have taken countless photos that are all beautiful and have their own memories.

I recently got a Canon 5D classic. My dream camera. I got a nifty fifty and an 85 f/1.8 to go with it. Every photo that I've taken with it somehow gives me the impression and feeling of both film, and real life, as if I am back in the moment when I look at the photo. The E-P1 never did that to me, as beautiful and amazing as any of the photos are.

I don't understand how this happens. Is the subtle differences in things such as depth of field and dynamic range really that strong to where it mimics your own eyesight more closely?

Am I simply making all this up since I like my 5D so much so I'm making it look the way I want? I really don't understand.

it's not your imagination - despite it's shortcomings (compared to current models) a lot of people like the 5D images, especially for portraits.

weak ass anti-alias filter ftw.

ride5000 wrote in post #15650621
weak ass anti-alias filter ftw.

yep, loved that 5D when I had one.

I loved my 5Dc except for constantly cleaning the sensor.

bcd01 wrote in post #15651212
I loved my 5Dc except for constantly cleaning the sensor.

Just shoot f/4 or larger. Problem solved.

I tried several cameras before finally ending up with a 5D. It definitely has a WOW factor. I only got rid of it in favor of the 5D3's greatly improved ISO and AF performance. But image quality from the 5Dc was top notch

Full frame will do that.

I'll qualify that by saying landscapes are too monumental to be perfectly represented in most photos, but portraits can come out looking more detailed than what you see with your own eyes. Then you put some L glass on it...

All the big stories about new 5Ds are all built by solid, reliable, one of the kind Classic 5D.
Probably one of the best camera bodies Canon ever made.
No wonder it took so many years to replace it, after all how can you improve Perfect. But then time brings new tech and that is what is going on. You will have wonderful images from that body. Enjoy it.

splathecat wrote in post #15652213
Full frame will do that.

I'll qualify that by saying landscapes are too monumental to be perfectly represented in most photos, but portraits can come out looking more detailed than what you see with your own eyes. Then you put some L glass on it...

Hmm...are you suggesting some 5DC owners shoot with non-L lenses (shudder)?

Ermm, Joke (or at least a semi-joke)!

samsen wrote in post #15652271
All the big stories about new 5Ds are all built by solid, reliable, one of the kind Classic 5D.
Probably one of the best camera bodies Canon ever made.
No wonder it took so many years to replace it, after all how can you improve Perfect. But then time brings new tech and that is what is going on. You will have wonderful images from that body. Enjoy it.

The 5DC was truly groundbreaking in various ways -- I remember back in '08 shooting a sports event without even using the 5DC for my "action" shots and Nikon shooters would drool when I'd pull it out of my bag, and by then the 5D2 had been released...

I still don't know why my photos seem more realistic though. I guess I'm asking more of a technical question. Does Full Frame mimic our eyes more than a cropped sensor? I can take two photos with 2 cameras of the same thing and I can tell the difference and which one makes me feel more like I'm actually in that moment when I look at it.

Large sensor means spread of individual sensor element on larger area.
This cause a lot less element to element interference and "Noise".
Type of sensor and its built determine type of color spectrum it collects & renders.
sensor's filter, circuities algorithm all contribute to well fair of image in camera as it is saved on storage.
A combination of all is what makes 5Dc, 5Dc.

parodying wrote in post #15656717
I still don't know why my photos seem more realistic though. I guess I'm asking more of a technical question. Does Full Frame mimic our eyes more than a cropped sensor? I can take two photos with 2 cameras of the same thing and I can tell the difference and which one makes me feel more like I'm actually in that moment when I look at it.

It's a full frame vs a micro 4/3 camera, it's all the loud and solid clunk that the 5D makes when taking a photo, plus I bet it's the natural vignetting, that's what got me hooked on the 5DII when I had it.

parodying wrote in post #15656717
I still don't know why my photos seem more realistic though. I guess I'm asking more of a technical question. Does Full Frame mimic our eyes more than a cropped sensor? I can take two photos with 2 cameras of the same thing and I can tell the difference and which one makes me feel more like I'm actually in that moment when I look at it.

Did you read the previous comments about the larger, richer "pixel wells" as well as the comment about the "milder" anti-aliasing filter? These add up to sharper, richer pixels with the 5D...