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Canon 5D PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Canon EOS 5D? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Canon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the 5D offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Canon EOS 5D below.

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In any case, the 5D is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was revealed to the public on August 11th, 2005, which means that, as of today, the camera is 6804 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark II as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Canon's instruction manual for the 5D

The camera's instruction manual is 180 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the 5D is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Canon EOS 5D manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Canon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Canon 5D manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Canon EOS 5D

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your 5D by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Canon 5D is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find 5D guide book at
amazon.com

Canon 5D FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the 5D.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Canon 5D?

The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Canon 5D to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Canon equipped the 5D with the DIGIC 2 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon 5D?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 50-3200.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS 5D?

Canon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the 5D. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the 5D over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

Does the Canon 5D feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon 5D for flash photography?

The 5D's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Which battery does the Canon 5D use?

The camera gets its power from the Canon BP-511A (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Canon 5D?

Yes, Canon offers the BG-E4 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

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Further reading

How does the 5D stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Canon EOS 5D.

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Canon 5D
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date August 2005
    Launch Price USD 3 299
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 36.0 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 864 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.7 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4 368 x 2 912 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 8.25 μm
    Pixel Density 1.47 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1 600 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 3 200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 2
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 71
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.9
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.1
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1368
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 96%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel
    LCD Size 2.5 inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Canon BP-511A power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 152 x 113 x 75 mm
    (6.0 x 4.4 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 895 g (31.6 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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