Impression of 5D after one week (vs 40D 30D)

I just want to share my first impression after some real life shooting and comparison with 5D vs 30D vs 40D. The lens used is 17-55IS, 50f/1.8, 85f/1.8, 24-70L and 70-200f/2.8IS. It is not a control testing. I feel that a real life experience is more important than test chart. The following was my impression from the moment I open the 5D box.

Build: 40D > 30D >= 5D
First pick up 5D, I was not impressed by the build quality. I know it is the same as 30D, but somehow it feels more "hollow" when tapping on the it. On/Off switch also feels more filmsy then 30D. Again, I know they are the same, but I expected more from its price tag. 40D is better than both. It feels more sold and more rugged.

Holding in my hand: 5D > 40D > 30D
5D just feels more comfortable and sure in hand. It is more chunchy than both. It also have the deepest index finger indent. 40D is not bad, but 5D seems "thicker". Both are better than 30D. 30D feels small next to them although when I measure their size, the differences are within a few millimeters.

Viewfiner size: 5D >> 40D = 30D
I compared them by holding 2 of them at protrait orientation (oppositely) at the same time. Each of my eyes looked into 1 viewfinder at the same time. No comparison here. 5D is a lot larger. 40D is just so slightly larger than 30D but insignificant. Both 30d and 40D are noticeably larger than XT but differences are not as dramatic as in the 5D case.

Viewfinder brightness: 40D=30D > 5D
I don't know if this is just me. Both x0D's viewfinder seems brigher and whiter and more crisp. 5D feels a bit yellowish (only) in comparison. You will not notices it unless you look through them side by side tho.

AF ability to lock: 40D > 30D > 5D
One-shot, center point. This is how I use it 90% of the time. 5D has more trouble locking them the other 2. This is only when light condition is very low. I am not sure if it is due to shallower DOF of 5D or the 24-70L because I use 17-55IS on 40D and 24-70 on 5D. In brighter condition or with focus assist beam from 580ex, they are all about the same.

AF speed: 40D = 30D > 5D
Again, one-shot, center, 17-55IS on x0D, 24-70 on 5D. This I feels is not a fair comparison because 24-70L is noticeable slower than 17-55IS. Judging by the speed the USM is turning. I would say the 17-55IS is at least 2x faster.

DOF: crop > FF (more DOF from crop)
You all know this, but you will be amazed how shallow DOF can FF be. I was so used to crop so quite a few of my picture with 5D turned out not having enough DOF. I definitely need to make adjustment about the DOF vs F ration relationship. FF is definitely the way to go for subject isolation.

Out of camera JPEG: 5D > 40D ~> 30D
If you shoot JPEG and don't want to do any PP, 5D is your friend. It is just smoother, more pleasing to look at. I cannot pin point any tecknical differences, maybe due to the shallower DOF. Both x0D look about the same to me.

Sharpness: 5D > 40D = 30D
24-70L on 5D is noticeably sharper than it is on x0D. On crop, my 17-55IS is sharper than 24-70L, but 24-70L on 5D is sharper than 17-55IS on x0D. Difference is small and only visible in pixel peeking. I never think it is critical, I just thought you guys may want to know.

NOISE at pixel level: 5D > 30D > 40D
Viewing at 100%, 5d and 30D is about same up to 800. At 1600 and 3200, 5D is a little better. 5D seems to be able to maintain details where 30D has lost due to noise. Both 5D and 30D is better than 40D above 400. I know noise at pixel level doesn't mean much,

NOISE when view at same size: 50D > 30D = 40D
I use dell 2407 (1920x1200), calibrated. Viewing at this size, 5D files looks better, it is smoother. Noise seems to be in finer grain and less obstructive. I can easily tell which is from 5D especially at 1600 and 3200. 3200 file with 5D is very useable. People say 5D has 1 stop noise advantage, I can comfirm their observation.

Overall IQ: 5D > 40D = 30D
After a few hundred pictures with 5D, I can comfirm people's claim about IQ. I also understand what is that "3D" looks of 5D. Although I think it is due to shallower DOF. If you are after IQ, 5D is the way to go. 30D and 40D are about the same. They are very good. But I would give 5D edge.

Overall useability: 40D+17-55IS >= 30D+17-55IS > 5D+24-70L
It is the lens. 24-70L is big, slow AF, 5D+24-70L is heavy. This combo makes 40D+17-55IS feels small and light. The 24-70L is sure a very good lens especally in studio setting, but in day-in and day-out shooting, the 17-55IS is superior due to fast AF and IS.

After one week with all these nice equipments, I would say I am not a big fan of the 24-70L. I will NOT upgrade to 5D+24-70L from 30D+17-55IS. IQ of 5D is amazing, but nothing matter if AF is behind. IS also make a setup more handheldable, thus more useful. This coming weekend, I will try to get a hold of the 24-105IS and see how this lens and 5D combo compare to my trusted 30D combo. i will post my impression when I got enough time with them

eel

Yup, the 5D's only advantages are the sensor and the viewfinder. Of course, it the advantages depend on your subject... I think the 5D AF is more than adequate for studio or landscapes

I don't think the AF speed comparison is fair though... maybe put the same lens [85/1.8] on all three bodies to compare?

Your experiences matched mine almost exactly, with the exception that I found all to have about the same AF performance.

My 5D viewfinder also has a yellow cast; why is that?

TheHoff wrote in post #5893840
My 5D viewfinder also has a yellow cast; why is that?

Must be the radioactive Thorium glass they use for the pentaprism.

I don't know if mine is yellow anymore or not as I don't have a second body now to compare.

I did add the EE-S matte focus screen to my 5D which I like a lot. It makes my f/4 lenses a little darker but the ability to actually discern focus is well worth it. The only time I don't like the matte screen is when I add a TC to my 300/4....I'm always thinking 'who turned out the lights?' at f/5.6.

TheHoff wrote in post #5893840
My 5D viewfinder also has a yellow cast; why is that?

More glass.

On the subject of "build quality", I find that my impressions of same don't mean much in the real world. I have an Exakta 66, which is an updated version of the Pentacon Six. Both are made in the former East Germany. In every respect, they both look good and feel gorgeous. Both have fragile and unreliable film transport. On the other hand, the lowly Kiev 60 looks like garbage, sounds like garbage, has plastic leatherette that peels, jiggly controls, and a lousy finish. But it's built like a cheap alarm clock--the kind that still works after sitting on the nightstand for 45 years.

I just want the camera to work. And in terms of durability, that moves that evaluation completely out of the realm of "first impressions".

Rick "whose 10D has proven itself durable, but who doesn't go swimming with it, and whose 5D seem fine but had not yet withstood the test of time" Denney

JeffreyG wrote in post #5893996
I don't know if mine is yellow anymore or not as I don't have a second body now to compare.

Hold the camera to your eye, point to a white wall, open your other eye

TheHoff wrote in post #5894033
Hold the camera to your eye, point to a white wall, open your other eye

That just....might....work!

hold please.......

Yes, I can confirm a very faint yellow cast.

I would mostly agree, except the part about the 30D's AF being better than the 5D.

40D > 5D > 30D definitely...

As for build...the 30D and 5D are almost identical. The 40D feels more "tight"...

Having shot around 1300 motorsport pics with my 5D, I can confim that it's pretty good in the AF speed & accuracy. Issues are down to the lenses and the extremity of the conditions.

Interesting write-up though.

ohtoberich wrote in post #5893687
Yup, the 5D's only advantages are the sensor and the viewfinder. Of course, it the advantages depend on your subject... I think the 5D AF is more than adequate for studio or landscapes

I don't think the AF speed comparison is fair though... maybe put the same lens [85/1.8] on all three bodies to compare?

The only advantages? you missed the part about overall image quality, that for me at least far outweighs any nitpicking about on/off switches not feeling so tight

GilesGuthrie wrote in post #5894102
Having shot around 1300 motorsport pics with my 5D, I can confim that it's pretty good in the AF speed & accuracy. Issues are down to the lenses and the extremity of the conditions.

Interesting write-up though.

I agree that the different AF speed between 30D and 5D are most likely due to difference lens used. I really think 24-70L focus slow compare to 17-55IS. The 17-55IS has a higher speed USM and less amount of rotation from lock-to-lock. These both makes the 24-70L felt even slower. I will try 24-105 on 5D and report back.

However, the ability to achieve focus lock in dim light, (say ISO1600, F/2.8 1/30s), I do see 30D can achieve lock more often then 5D, specially with subject without a lot of texture. With 5D, I have find something with more define textture to AF on.

As for AF accuracy, I think 30D and 5D are about the same, probably even better than 40D. 40D seems to achieve lock quicker and easily but not necessary more accurate.

eel

I love my 5D, my only issues with it is the guy pushing down the shutter, damn that would be me. I need to stop shaking, but at 45 I am not the kid I once was!

thanks for the great input. would like to see your review on 5d+24-105

Thank you for the detailed report. This is why I am waiting on the 5D II.