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Canon EOS 5D Image Quality

Now vignetting, loss of illumination, uneven coverage - whatever you want to call it, is an issue with the 5D. With most lenses it’s only really obvious at wide apertures, but it’s there. I’ve included these really boring pictures - the test target is off in the distance - to show what I’m seeing on a lot of the thumbnails of test images with all sorts of lenses - telephotos included. Most full aperture results at full frame look like the frames above. The arrival of APS-C size sensors in digital SLR’s meant vignetting almost disappeared overnight. I’m sorry to say that with the 5D and probably the 1Ds - it’s back.

Sigma 70-200 f2.8 APO EX DG HSM with the Canon EOS 5D

Although this lens is designed for digital - darkening in the corners is still quite noticeable - even at f5.6 at some focal lengths, although less of a problem than with some other lenses.

Full frame at f5.6 there is still noticeable darkening in the corners - although less than at f2.8.

Out of focus image quality / corner image quality

Normally out of focus greenery looks quite attractive. Results from all the 5D tests so far look different in the extreme corners. There’s an impressionist swirl feel to them rather than the usual soft diffused highlight look. 

No camera is perfect, so it would be unreasonable to expect the Canon EOS 5D to be so. In normal use, at middle range apertures, none of these issues change the fact that the 5D is capable of superb image quality - Just avoid, full aperture - especially with wide angle lenses. When you think about it, that’s just how it’s always been. Probably the best answer with critical subjects is to shoot RAW and then use Canon DPP - V3, has a tool to correct “Peripheral Illumination, Distortion, Chromatic Aberrations and Color Blur” with supported lenses. The Canon EOS 5D is a great camera, hopefully the 5D mk2, whenever it finally arrives, will be even better.                

All text and images copyright David Gold 2006 - 2008
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davidgold@ezeedsl.co.uk