We reckon it’s quicker and easier to use too: the 5D employs a thumb-operated command wheel on the rear to quickly cycle through menus and settings which is both tactile and intuitive. The LCD information screen on the 5D’s upper right surface also boasts much greater detail than the 350D / Rebel XT’s modest rear info screen. Overall it’s a big improvement in ergonomics.

While the 5D’s design, controls and build quality are a massive upgrade from the 350D / Rebel XT though, they’re virtually indistinguishable from the 20D and 30D. Certainly if you’re a 20D or 30D owner looking for a tougher Canon camera, you’ll need to upgrade beyond to the 5D to the 1D / 1Ds ranges.

That said, despite looking and feeling very similar to the 20D and 30D, the 5D sports at least three physical differences which align it more closely to the professional 1D / 1Ds lines: first, the 5D has a simpler mode dial with no scene presets; secondly it features a soft-touch shutter release, which while no reason to upgrade, is certainly nicer to press; and third, it doesn’t feature a popup flash.

The lack of popup flash may not sound like a particularly big deal, but can prove one of the major hurdles 5D upgraders face. Popup flashes may not be that powerful, nor avoid casting shadows from larger-barrelled lenses, but they can be a genuinely useful facility. For example they’re great to have on-hand for occasional fill-ins, without having to splash out on – or lug around – a separate Speedlite flash gun.

We certainly wish Canon produced a really compact Speedlite for the 5D to satisfy the basic flash cravings of those upgrading from bodies with popups. One small consolation in the 5D’s favour is the lack of popup flash at least makes the camera’s head section stronger. People upgrading from the 350D / Rebel XT may also benefit from the 5D’s PC Sync port for other lighting options, although this connectivity is also offered by the 10D, 20D and 30D.