Canon EOS 5

Back in 1992, I came across one very popular photography magazine which had a review of the brand new Canon EOS 5. It was the time when I was getting obsessed on what camera I should buy (I ended up buying a Praktica) and the canon was the number one on my dream-camera list.

Six years later, my Praktica had suffered a damage beyond repair so I was thinking that it was time to buy a new one. I went into the shop to buy a Nikon F50 and i ended up leaving with a Canon EOS 5 paired with a cheap plastic Sigma 28-80. At that time it cost me one and a half salary to get it but I was thrilled with the prospect of using the eye control focus.

It's been twelve years since then and I think that it is about time to write a short and biased review based on my experience working with this camera.

So I suppose the main question is : How good is it? It is simply amazing, even after 12 years i am still amazed of what this camera can do.

The EOS 5 lived under the shadow of it's own fame, i.e the first camera to offer a ECF. Actually the ECF is the least useful feature of this camera. It even doesn't work as I would like it to. It does not work on portrait and depending on how you look through the viewfinder, it is not always accurate. So I tend to switch it off and let the camera decide automatically. But besides the ECF the camera delivers big time. According to reviews the AF is as fast as the flagship's EOS 1 and focuses accurately and without hesitation. The winder offers 1 frame-per-second, 3 frames-per-second and 5 frames-per-second without any external motordrive. Three different and very accurate lightmeter options including spot metering, 16 custom functions, a very clean layout (once you play with it, you will be able to operate other Canon models with no problem), a continuous (predictive) AF, mirror lockup, silent (extremely silent) rewind and film advance due to coreless motors and belts which operate by friction. The EOS 5 was one of the best Canons AF which could focus in complete darkness without hesitation, something that the EOS 3 and EOS 1(N or V) couldn't (they required external AF assistance from flash units). Top speed of 1/8800 secs and flash synch on 1/250. On aperture priority the shutter becomes completely stepless. Very bright focusing screen . Multiple exposures and auto-bracketing. Depth of field preview just by looking on the square on the top left corner in the viewfinder. The EOS 5 has an excellent reputation among professionals for being a well build camera. It is not weather-sealed buy mine has stand heavy rain without any problems. The EOS 5 was on production for eight years, outliving the production of their flagship EOS 1N by 2 years. Also, the EOS 5 had steady sales even two years after it's successor - the EOS 3 - was on production.

This list could go on and on. But let's turn on the downside of this camera. Does it have any?

Nothing is perfect in this world and of course the EOS 5 isn't too. The biggest problem with this camera is the command dial which tends to break. Sadly enough, Canon never admitted that there was a problem with it (as this would affect the warranty of the camera) but they tried to address it silently by providing redesigned spare parts. There is a rumor that the models built between 1992-1997 had problems with the command dial while the 1998-2000 where ok. This does not seem to be right, mine was made in 1998 and still suffered a broken dial. After i had it repaired, it keeps giving me a trouble free service for ten years now. 

Another thing that I thing that was badly designed is the lock switch on the back of the camera. If you accidentally switch it to "1" then with the slightest turn of the dial on the back you are setting an exposure compensation. You get an indication on the LCD panel and on the viewfinder but if it goes un-noticed you'll probably end up with a over-under exposed film. I overexposed two films because of this, so I would like to see it re-designed somehow. One more thing that i would like to see in thiscamera was increments in exposure by 1/3 stops (as opposed to 1/2 stops). 

There are quite some good resources on the internet about the EOS 5. Here is a article on how find out the production date of your camera and here are some DIY instructions on how to repair the command dial.But unfortunately, I've also come across some reviews  that don't do any justice to the EOS 5. One of them while discussing the accuracy of the matrix meter wrote: "I find Canon's matrix meter to be less intelligent than Nikon's. Bracket, think, and use negative.". That's rubbish, I really have no idea what the reviewer is talking about. I've taken loads of pictures using Velvia 50 and all came out correctly exposed. In the same review the reviewer complains about the inferiority of the viewing system compared to Nikons F801 and F90. I haven't used a F90 but i have used a F801 and the viewfinder on the Canon is much brighter and you can very easily see when the image snaps into focus and when not. Anyway, to get a blurry picture from a wide angle lens you must have done something horribly wrong, the depth of field on those lenses is enough to forgive miscalculations.  

Conclusion

Long story short. This is a great camera. It has it's shortcomings and the command dial can be a nightmare if it breaks. It cost me about £50 in 2000 to have it replaced but i had no problems since then. The Canon EOS 5 is one of the cameras (together with the Leica IIc and the Ikoflex Ib) which I'll not sell. Probably I'll buy a EF 50 f/1.8 to replace the old Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 which starts showing signs of the its age.

It seems to me that the EOS 5 is the ultimate point-and-shoot camera. When i trust myself about exposure and distance calculation, i pick up the Leica IIc. For all the other cases, i'll pick up the Canon.

Lasting Impressions

This camera has been by far the most effective/efficient camera I ever laid my hands on. Canon has done a fantastic job with creating a camera that will take a perfectly focused/ perfectly exposed picture under any possible situation, instantly and reliably. This is my main camera when i need a 50mm lens on (with the Pentax MX being my mechanical back up) and it has never disappointed me. I just love this camera, i trust it 100%. For the £40 that they fetch on the Internet, you really have no excuse not to have one!