gdanmitchell wrote: Pixelpuffin wrote:
For the past few years I’ve had this reoccurring wish
I’d love canon to do a mirrorless version of the sensor found in the canon 5d and 40d
The colours those cameras gave still to this day give me goose bumps. Just stunningly beautiful colours and tonal range.
A modern mirrorless take on a FF 12mp sensor with peaking and moveable rear screen would for me be the gift of the gods.
I absolutely adore the files from those old canon sensors.
Sorry to disillusion you, but there’s nothing magical about those older sensors. They were great at the time, but current sensors are, at a minimum, equal to them and in most ways are better.
Perhaps what is making you think that older sensors produce better results is the fact that poor older work tends to fade away, leaving us with best of that time. Meanwhile, from contemporary systems you see the full, unfiltered mass of current work, much of which will not stick around that long.
Yes, I used cameras from that era, including a different APS-C camera with the same sensor and a 5D. I have photographs from the 5D that are beautiful, but I also have them from newer cameras and even from other brands.
That’s fair enough, but just doesn’t sit right with me at all, sorry
A few years back I bought a canon 40d for £40. It was described as dusty
Well honestly I almost sent it straight back… but something about it made me look deeper. The card pins looked brand new, the rear screen foil that was dog eared and had fluff stuck to it. I decided to waste no time. Pulled off the foil and sprayed the entire camera with spectacle cleaner, then buffed it furiously, repeated this several times. It was and is 😎 absolutely pristine. Updated the firmware and fitted the 55-250is stm then popped outside and took a snap of next doors plant pot sat atop of their wall. Went back inside and fitted the card into the card reader to view the shots.
Seriously, I’m not kidding the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The colours… my god the colours… I wanted to swim in them gorgeous sumptuous deep hues of colour. I raced upstairs grabbed my 80d swapped the lens, set the exact same settings and retook the shot.. this was within 20mins of the first shot. The result did not even compare. The picture was flat and extremely sterile looking.
I haven’t used the 40d since that day it arrived. But I fully intend to use it.
There are a few videos online that compare older sensors to modern sensors, the difference is night and day.
I’m assuming it’s not so much the sensors back then but the processors that were used.
The colours and nuances are very different to modern outputs - how could they possibly not be??
You were blown away by the results of a camera a few years ago and then didn’t use it anymore?
At the time I was using a 7dii and a 5diii for sons football matches. Rattling off 1-2000K a game. I’d then have to go through all of them editing, cropping etc etc - this is whilst working full time too. So, I just didn’t have time to go out taking snaps as every sat/sun I was taking football/pictures (he played for 2 separate teams)
This year is the first year I’ve not done it as hes taking a year off
Tbh, after doing that every weekend come rain shine / sleet or snow I’d had enough.
I’ve spent most of this year catching up on diy jobs that I never got chance to do previously.
However this is why I kept all my stuff. Always knew one day I’d have more time.
Dec 06, 2025 at 12:38 PM
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