From the 5D to the 5D

20 Years ago (October 2005) Canon released the “original” 5D into the world. Back then it was a big deal – but let me re-wind a little. When I worked in the camera store, I changed cameras often. When a second-hand camera came in, if I hadn’t tried one of its type before, I’d often change. Eventually I got a few more lenses and settled on the Pentax K mount. For most of this period I owned a Pentax ME Super. There were still others to try, a Cosina for example, was still a PK mount, so I took one of those on my travels around Italy!

Eventually auto focus appeared. There was a Pentax AF system, built into the lens, it was clunky, expensive and slow. Most people concluded that they could focus quicker themselves! The first “proper” auto focus camera I sold was the Yashica 230AF. Then Canon brought out the EOS range. March ’87. They were expensive, heavy, took a whole new range of lenses, but they caught on.

My first EOS (Electronic Operating System) was the EOS 750, film of course. Over the years that followed I had several incarnations, most notably the 5 and the 3. Then came digital. Again the early models were expensive and clunky…. I wonder how much an original 10D is now worth? At the time they were north of £1000. I jumped when the 20D dipped below the £1000, just. One of the main considerations was that I could use my existing lenses which by then were Canon EF’s.

The 20D was a great camera! Apart from all the day-to-day stuff, holidays in the UK, I also took mine around China, Peru, Hong Kong, and Bolivia, and got some good photo’s. A few I even enlarged up to 20×30 inch prints. Quality is subjective, one man’s good is another’s awful, but they looked good to me! When I look back, I wonder why I ever part exchanged it! The lure of “full frame” was too strong however, so when it was released, I purchased a 5D.

This time I purchased one from Jacobs (a large UK camera supplier no longer with us!), at what was then called “Focus” the large photography exhibition and trade show that used to happen in Birmingham. The bill this time however was nearer to £2000 as I also got the 25-105mm L series lens with it. One of the first things I did was to set up my EOS 3 with a roll of Fuji Reala 100 (remember that?) fine grain film, and my new 5D, and take the same photo’s with the same settings and lenses, just different body. The results, I remember were illuminating! I printed a quarter of the image to 8×10, same as printing the whole image as 16×20 – the digital was certainly better!

I used the camera a lot, then, of course, there was a MK2! This was a big step up in resolution and it added full, proper, HD video! A major up-grade, so I kept the lens but traded bodies – I was firmly on the digital treadmill! Both great cameras, and I don’t regret buying either, they served me well.

I used them for wedding photography, a little studio work, and so on – and to a degree that was the downfall. When it is work, it’s a different animal to “hobby for fun”, and I missed that. The side I didn’t enjoy much was the editing/processing and spending hours sat in front of a PC. What I missed was handling film, the darkroom, developer. Eventually I got back into the swing of film, and with a little more disposable income available, purchased most of those cameras I enjoyed. The Pentax ME Super is a case in point.

The wheel begins it’s second turn, when last month I came across a Canon EOS 5D for £100 – I have lenses I use with my two film EOS – so I purchased it. Welcome back!