I recently purchased the best digital camera available today. This camera is the Canon EOS 5D.

Canon offers an extensive line of digital SLR cameras:

• EOS Rebel XSi EF-S / EF-S / XTi EF-S / XS
• EOS 40D / 50D
• EOS 5D
• EOS 1D / 1Ds

The EOS Rebel cameras and the EOS 50D are fine cameras, but I wanted a full-frame camera for best picture quality and for best lens compatibility.

The EOS 5D and 1D lines both use a 24×36mm sensor — exactly the same size as one frame of traditional 35mm film. This takes great photos in low-light conditions. It also matches the same optics as a 35mm film camera.

The EOS 5D has a 13 megapixel resolution. That, like almost any other digital camera made today, is far more than is necessary. The 5D can store images in a variety of formats, including RAW. The 5D provides an ISO range between 100 and 6400.

You can read all of the specifications for the EOS 5D Mark II here.

Why not the EOS 1Ds?

The EOS 1Ds is in many ways a better camera, but:

• It is nearly twice as large
• It is more than twice the price
• It has suffered some very annoying software bugs

Lenses

The choice of lenses is arguably more important than the choice of a camera body. Luckily, the full frame size of the 5D and Canon’s market leadership mean that some very fine lenses are available for this model.

I have purchased Canon 50/1.4 USM lens for general-purpose work and a Canon 16-35/2.8L wide-angle lens for outdoor work. My next lens will be either a Canon 24-70/2.8L USM or a Canon 100/2 USM telephoto lenses. The USM lenses have better (ultrasonic) motors and the L lenses have upgraded optics.

Flash

I’ve topped my EOS 5D with a Canon Speedlite 580EX II. It’s a beast to carry, but it’s well-built and it has a quick cycle time.