Canon EOS 5D

Connectivity
Software (8.25)
The Canon 5D comes with Digital Photo Professional, an integrated browsing and editing application. Digital Photo Professional can sort images and work as a viewer, with options for adjusting color and sharpness, and cropping and rotating images. It opens and edits Canon RAW files, offering controls over white balance, brightness, and sharpening. Digital Photo Professional is integrated with EOS Capture, a program for operating the 5D via a Macintosh or Widows OS computer.

It's likely that some photographers will be interested in using the 5D in tethered mode in studios. The controls available via computer are: exposure mode, white balance, ISO, metering pattern, file size, exposure compensation, and white balance fine-tuning.

It would be convenient to be able to change the focusing mode or autofocus point in tethered mode. Burst shooting isn't available in this mode either, though it's hard to think of a use for tethered burst mode on a 3 fps camera. Bulb is also not available, which is more of a notable omission – tabletop shooters might like a Bulb mode to allow multiple pops of their flashes. There are no locks for autofocus or exposure. The program includes an intervalometer and timer. The intervalometer will only take pictures every 5 seconds – perhaps the limit is intended to make sure that the images can be transmitted to the computer properly.

Canon also includes Image Browser, a consumer-level browser and editor that is packaged with Canon’s PowerShot cameras, and PhotoStitch software for creating panoramas. PhotoStitch is fun, and may serve as a point of entry into panorama shooting. It's easier than Photoshop's integrated panorama maker, but not as flexible.

Jacks, Ports, Plugs (8.75)
The Canon 5D features a USB 2.0 port for connecting to computers and printers. It also offers analog video out, PC-cord flash sync, a 5-pin hot shoe, and a wired remote control.

Direct Print Options (8.0)
The Canon 5D offers direct print options. The Direct Print button above the LCD permits quick access to the printing interface.

Battery (7.0)
The Canon 5D is supplied with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a charger. The battery, which is similar to the unit in the Canon 20D, fits in a compartment in the handgrip via a latching door on the bottom of the camera.

Lithium-ion cells have given the best performance of all the battery types we test, and they are lighter than other common types to boot.

While our testing confirmed assertions that the 5D does not shoot as long as the 20D between recharges, it is not altogether a surprise. Running a full-frame sensor and writing 12.8 megapixel files clearly takes extra power.

Memory (3.0)
The Canon 5D does not have any built-in memory. It accepts CompactFlash cards, and given the size of the files it writes, bigger CF cards are better.

Other Features (6.5)
Mirror Lock up – Accessible through the custom settings, the 5D offers a mirror lockup feature to reduce vibrations stemming from the mirror. This is generally useful on longer exposures, macro shooting, or when using a long telephoto lens.

Depth of Field Preview – There is a depth of field preview button fixed to the body of the 5D, just below the lens release. Pressing the preview button will stop down the lens aperture to the selected F-stop and display the planes of depth within the composition.

Adobe RGB – Canon included multiple color spaces on the 5D. One of these is Adobe RGB, which is generally reserved for commercial printing, although it can also be used for effect.

Camera User Setting – On the 5D’s mode dial, the user defined setting is marked with a “C” centered within a square. Using the “register camera settings” option within the menu, users can customize this mode to their desired preferences. Both shooting and menu settings can be customized.

Sensor Clean – There is a Sensor Cleaning option within the menu that will lock up the mirror and open the shutter curtain, enabling users to manually clean the 5D’s CMOS chip.

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