Ode To The Canon 5D Series

A Digital Classic

We can all assume there will be no Canon 5D Mk V. I’m wondering if Canon will release any new pro-caliber DSLR cameras ever again. It’s safe to assume we are at the end of an era. Many photographers will be happy to see them go. Who wants to bother with AF fine-tuning. Pro caliber DSLRs are big, bulky, noisy, have limited frame rates, and ugggg — optical viewfinders.

I for one am sad to see them go. There’s a lot to be said for optical viewfinders and the very best control layouts on some. The replacement R series cameras are very good. The mirrorless replacements' performance advantages are clear. The R series in general are well done from a size, feel, and control layout perspective.

With more than enough perspective, all of those ”advantages” in performance don’t seem to manifest themselves in the vast majority of still photography circumstances. I’ll venture to say that most are irrelevant beyond arguing in forums which camera has better specifications.

My 5D series saga is a tale of an on-again, off-again relationship. The original launch way back in ’05 caused an earthquake in the digital camera market. I’ll admit, I was one of the bah-humbug crowd as I was not a Canon shooter at the time. Secretly, I lusted after the 1Ds… and of course the 5D. I was sure the other guys would catch up and surpass this one-off from Canon any minute. Then came the 5D Mk II which was mind-blowing. I had to see for myself, I had to have one. Like countless others, I took the plunge and bought the kit. You know, the 5D Mk II bundled with the now ubiquitous 24-105mm f4L.

I wasn’t fully committed to the 5D series at this point. In retrospect, I should have been. This era of digital was extremely volatile, every year there were bigger, better, stronger faster cameras. I was on the fence given I had only two lenses for the EF mount and a gaggle in F-mount. Then a strange thing happened; A now typical ”Canon thing”.

As we all waited for the next universe-altering 5D iteration, speculating on its wonders we waited, and waited, and waited. It seemed like an eternity during those heady times. After four endless years, the 5D Mk III was here. The camera-buying audience was not pleased. Instead, everyone was confused. What the hell? Were’s my more megapixels? It’s like the same camera as before but way more expensive. How the hell can Canon do this to us? Like many others, I did not jump at the 5D Mk III.

Instead, I embarked on a multi-year camera and system swapping mission that even the most crazed camera review lunatic would shake their head at. Never satisfied, mostly disappointed over various quirks, little things, and having way too much grass is greener mentality. I even went so far as to buy a 5D Mk III, just to see. I liked it, maybe even loved it but only kept it for a short while. I still had that 24-105 lens along with one prime. The 5D Mk III was getting “old” and there were other shiny objects. I stupidly continued my quest for perfection. I built a Fuji system, I tried to like my Nikons, I messed with Sigmas, etc.

During this quest, after selling the Mk III, I used one again. Not mine, it was a participant’s camera at a workshop I was hosting. Then it hit me. I loved the 5D Mk II and the 5D Mk III. All of the other dalliances were far less satisfying. The best I ever felt was neutral, most of the time I hated what I was using for various reasons. That was it, the breaking point. It just so happened that Canon announced the 5Ds and 5DsR. I bought one and one more “L” lens at the same time.

In 2021 I have to say I still love my 5DsR, I love my 5Ds. I love them so much I have nothing bad to say about them. Like the 5D Mk III before them, they are not exciting and new. The newer 5D Mk IV is passé at this point. Exciting and new is more lust than love. Exciting and new is fueled by ones imagination not grounded in reality. With all of the 5D series cameras I have owned one word comes to mind; Satisfied.

On the whole, I submit the entire 5D series are “classics”. I’m sure others will have differing opinions. I’d bet that whatever camera they are arguing is more of a digital classic is a one-off rather than a closely related series that has been a staple and a workhorse across an entire spectrum of photographers for more than 15 years. What other camera can one name where the very first model is still used and loved by thousands of photographers? Hell, many new photographers are rediscovering the wonders of the 5D now; At bargain basement prices.

The defining 5D in the line is the 5D Mk III. That’s where the maturity, refinement, and general combination of components, features, durability, and performance made the whole greater than the spec sheet. That particular camera, the one that didn’t seem to have the “wow factor” that was expected was the camera I should have bought the day it was out. I could use one today and be happy. In a way I do. The 5Ds and 5DsR are everything the 5D Mk III was only better in every aspect. I could use the Mk IV and say the same thing. For my use, the 5Ds/5DsR are the ones but in reality, those three cameras are the same. Differences are niggles.

Don’t buy into common internet wisdom or worse, Canon marketing. The 5Ds and 5DsR are not so so specialized that you’d be better off with a 5D Mk III or a 5D Mk IV. I think Canon wanted to sell photographers two cameras at the time where one would do the job.

The Canon 5Ds, one of the versions of the much-maligned 24-105L, and one large-aperture prime suited to your use is the ultimate budget still-photography kit in 2021. Want to spend even less? Go for a Mk III but believe me when I say the 5Ds is better in every single way and cost about the same if you are diligent. The 5Ds specifically is a dark horse. You don’t see as many around and my guess is Canon sold far fewer. Last year I saw them being blown out everywhere around $900 brand new. I already had one, yes I had a 5DsR as well.

Right now? The 5Ds is crazy expensive even used, it’s hard to touch one for under $1600 unless… You sit on the Canon refurb site and wait. If you look every day, eventually you’ll see a 5Ds show up for about $1000. These cameras are actually new with a new warranty. I just bought one, another one. Why the hell would I do that? Well, last year when they were being blown out at Amazon, and B+H, and Adorama, and everywhere else I implored a few photographer friends to grab one while they lasted. They didn’t and missed it. I was sorry I didn’t grab one at $900.

This time I did. What will I do with it? I don’t know yet. I may offer it to one of those guys/gals that missed it the first time around. Maybe I’ll turn a profit on eBay? More likely I’ll keep it for when my other one will die. Or… maybe I’ll do some sort of contest here and give it to a worthy party.