Has Canon killed off the EOS 5D?

Has Canon killed off the EOS 5D?
(Image credit: Canon)

Is the DSLR dead? The Canon EOS 5D line certainly is, if the latest reports are to be believed. According to the rumor mill the 5D Mark IV will be the last of its bloodline, with the manufacturer having abandoned plans for a Mark V. 

• Read more: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV vs EOS 6D Mark II

While not as prolific as its predecessor, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is one of the most popular cameras on the market – and until recently had been the camera of choice for many Canon professionals, thanks to its fantastic image quality, rugged build and dual memory card slots. 

Amid all the hyperbolic criticism of the Canon EOS R when it launched in 2018, one thing that critics were absolutely right about was that few pros would migrate to the new camera due to the lack of dual card slots (regarded as a necessary for professional work). As such, the Mark IV continued its reign unabated. 

Best lenses for Canon 5D Mark IV

However, the arrival of the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 changes the dynamic completely, with both cameras offering dual memory cards along with a bevy of mirrorless features such as in-body image stabilization. Where, then, was left for the Canon EOS 5D Mark V to go? 

Onto the scrap heap, according to Canon Rumors. 

“I have been told that the EOS 5D series is going the way of the EOS 7D series,” wrote the outlet. “There will be no direct DSLR successor for the EOS 5D Mark IV. The source claims that the EOS 5D Mark V development was stopped ‘some time ago’, and that there are no plans to make an EOS R5 version of the popular professional DSLR line.

“The same source adds that Canon is obviously aware of the popularity of the 5D line and the fact that there are still a lot of shooters that will prefer the DSLR experience. The source suspects that there is some kind of development going on to appease those users, but didn’t know exactly what it was.”

It’s sad, but not a huge surprise. As we reported at the start of the year, Canon has stopped developing new EF lenses, and has been consolidating its DSLR range (amalgamating the 7D and 80D lines into the Canon EOS 90D, and the 800D and 77D into the Canon EOS 850D / Canon EOS Rebel T8i). 

Day by day, Canon’s future is increasingly a mirrorless one – and there are only going to be more DSLR casualties from here…  

Read more: 

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review
Hands on: Canon EOS R5 review
Hands on: Canon EOS R6 review

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.