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It's hard not to like the EOS-5D. It offers amazing performance and photo quality and a full-frame sensor in a body that doesn't weigh almost three pounds (like the 1Ds Mk II). If you want a camera that lets your lenses be used as intended (without any crop factors) then it may be worth spending the extra cash on the 5D over the 20D. If all this full-frame isn't too important to you, the 20D will probably satisify you as well. Whichever one you choose you'll have an excellent digital SLR."

While a truly excellent photographic tool though, it doesn't automatically represent a slam-dunk choice between it and a sub-frame camera - or even between it and the much more expensive EOS-1Ds Mark II. The 5D struck us as an odd mixture of consumer and professional aesthetics, a slightly uncomfortable fit in the current world of d-SLRs. For people addicted to ultrawide angle photography with a substantial investment in full-frame wide angle lenses, it will probably be a no-brainer. But for someone not already invested in wide-angle glass, you could buy an EOS-30D and Canon's excellent little 10-22mm EF-S wide-angle lens and have more than just change to spare relative to the cost of the 5D body alone."

The EOS 5D is a good compromise for a sizable number of photographers who want high image quality combined with the ability to shoot wide-angle without resorting to EF-S lenses (in fact you don't have the option since EF-S lenses won't mount on the 5d) and who would like the advantages of full frame (e.g. smaller DOF). If you don't need super high frame rates and don't need to regularly shoot outdoors in pouring rain, at around $4200 less than it's nearest full frame competitor (the EOS 1Ds Mk II), it's a very attractive camera."

We've had a chance to try the 5D with a number of lenses ranging in focal length from 17 to 400mm, and have also spoken to numerous existing owners to learn about their own experiences. Our extended review period has additionally allowed us to compare the 5D against Canon's latest EOS-30D along with what's probably its closest rival, the Nikon D200.

Build-wise the EOS-5D may be little more than a 20D or 30D with a higher resolution, full-frame sensor, but the resolving power is a big step-up from 6 and 8 Megapixel cameras, and while you may need technical charts to notice any detail advantage over Nikon's D200, the benefits of the low noise full-frame sensor are clear and rivalled only by Canon's high-end 1Ds Mark II."

The D200 is a much faster camera with a more logical ergonomic design. With the Nikon, users can turn the camera on and snap off a shot in a single motion - an action that would require two hands and far more time with the 5D. The D200 can also shoot 5 frames a second, while the 5D can only muster 3. This combined with the D200’s more robust body (not to mention its more affordable price tag), makes it a much more formidable alternative for photojournalists or casual shooters."

Build quality and ergonomics are excellent, with the 5D looking and feeling like a slightly larger version of the earlier 20D. Measuring 152x113x75mm and weighing 810g without battery, it's also considerably smaller and lighter than Canon's flagship full-frame body, the 1Ds Mark II.

Canon's EOS 5D is the most affordable full-frame D-SLR yet, allowing lenses to be used without affecting their field of view. At £2,539 for the body alone, it's quite a premium to pay even considering the 12.8Mp resolution. But if you curse the cropped view of cheaper D-SLRs, this could be the camera you've been waiting for."

The Canon EOS 5D is a very capable camera, which produces silky smooth images right up to ISO400 and beyond that, noise levels are still very well controlled thanks in part to the full frame sensor. Sensor size is also to blame for another trait, vignetting with wide angle lenses is a real problem if you like to shoot wide open."

The EOS 5D isn't the ideal camera for everyone and there are some minor compromises as well as some excellent features. It isn't a point and shoot camera by any means and both the body and the price tag are substantial - but it's smaller and better priced than many full-frame sensor cameras. If this is your first foray up the chain of D-SLR's and you don't want to spend too much first time round, the EOS-5D is a good starting point."

Our test images from the Canon EOS 5D are superb overall. Its 12.8-megapixel sensor delivers loads of detail and smooth, rich tonality. The dynamic range in our photos equaled-or bested-the results from every other dSLR we've tested, with the exception of the Fujifilm S3 Pro. Noise in our ISO 1,600 and 3,200 test images is astonishingly low, yet detail is retained. It was easy for us to get natural, smooth skin tones with many complexions. All in all, this camera is a top choice for shooting portraits, still-lifes, landscapes, architecture, and some kinds of commercial studio subjects, especially if you need or want to make 16x20 or larger prints.