Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash

sinlam · 8th December 2005

I would like to know why Canon did not want 5D to have built-in flash as in 350D, and have optional external flash if needed. Please advise, thanks!

shinken · 8th December 2005

My take is that the 5D is not meant as a prosumer cam, and not an all-in-one, point-and-shoot camera. People who use the 5D are likely to use external flash rather than in-built ones, because of their needs, which is beyond that of a prosumer.

crackpot · 8th December 2005

prosumer and pro-dollar... if u can afford a 5d now, incremental pain to wallet minimal in adding a decent flash. but what do i know?

JediForce4ever · 8th December 2005

agree..no one would buy a 5D to shoot on auto mode....

JediLights · 8th December 2005

Originally Posted by sinlam

I would like to know why Canon did not want 5D to have built-in flash as in 350D, and have optional external flash if needed. Please advise, thanks!

Ask Canon Loh!..

billpepsi · 8th December 2005

Would be nice to have a built-in flash for fill-in even on the pro body, esp for travel, street photography.

Ah Pao · 9th December 2005

5D have no built-in flash? I didn't know that...

Anyway, pro-level cameras don't have built-in flash all the way in the EOS-1/5/3 SLR series. Probably because it's a engineering decision as well, since built-in flash may reduce the weather-resistance of the body.

Or, they are expecting users of these pro-level cameras to use big lenses with big hoods...

yangbeng · 9th December 2005

look at the internal construction of a FF camera~ you should be able to know the reason why canon CANNOT put an inbuilt flash unit in the 5D.

if you still don't get it...look at the internal construction of a 20d 10d 300d and 350d and compare to 5D.

if you STILL don't get it...oki...here's the reason why 5D and 1 series camera no inbuilt flash. cos the PENTA PRISM and FF reflex mirror is damn BIG...cmos sensor and viewfinder also DAMN BIG...so no space for inbuilt flash.

then you will say...why film camera can have inbuilt flash...well...i can onli say 1 is digital the other is film...you can't find a cmos sensor on a film camera...can you?

mpenza · 9th December 2005

It's a matter of design. Some bigger (and smaller) film SLRs also have inbuilt flash and 1.5x crop DSLRs like Nikon D2h and D2x do not have inbuilt flash.

Russ · 9th December 2005

I have a 300D and hardly ever use the internal flash. Will not miss it.

In the old days, Canon had a 1000 and a 1000F. One with and one without internal flash - and that was an el cheapo $500 with kit lens model!!.

Once you are serious, you will not use it that much. I use an external even for fill in flash outdoors.

Canew · 9th December 2005

Originally Posted by Ah Pao

Anyway, pro-level cameras don't have built-in flash all the way in the EOS-1/5/3 SLR series.

Ah Pao, FYI, EOS 5 SLR does come with a built-in flash.

kayaro888 · 9th December 2005

Originally Posted by Canew

Ah Pao, FYI, EOS 5 SLR does come with a built-in flash.

I 2nd that. I still having EOS5. Is a great cam at that time.

Belle&Sebastain · 9th December 2005

Originally Posted by sinlam

I would like to know why Canon did not want 5D to have built-in flash as in 350D, and have optional external flash if needed. Please advise, thanks!

its a design issue really

mpenza · 9th December 2005

Originally Posted by Canew

Ah Pao, FYI, EOS 5 SLR does come with a built-in flash.

The inbuilt flash comes with a "zoom" head as well

Belle&Sebastain · 9th December 2005

Originally Posted by Canew

Ah Pao, FYI, EOS 5 SLR does come with a built-in flash.

i know how you feel, but maybe he was refering to the eos 5D.

oracle0711 · 9th December 2005

let's look at it this way. If canon can price its 5D to such a price, it is definitely expecting the buyers to buy more stuff. Marketing it as entry level pro camera, Canon would definitely love to see purchases for other accessories such as external flash, remote trigger, L lenses....

to many of us photography is a passion, but I think to manufacturers, money making is their passion...

holeinone · 9th December 2005

Originally Posted by oracle0711

let's look at it this way. If canon can price its 5D to such a price, it is definitely expecting the buyers to buy more stuff. Marketing it as entry level pro camera, Canon would definitely love to see purchases for other accessories such as external flash, remote trigger, L lenses....

to many of us photography is a passion, but I think to manufacturers, money making is their passion...

Win win for all... they make the tools for us to enjoy our hobby and we pay for them so that they can make $$. That's what I love about the world.... everyone has a role to play.

sonix · 9th December 2005

Good question and some good answers here.. Thanks for asking and answering, next time got people ask I can answer liao

Tsangstudios · 9th December 2005

Built in flash quite handy as a desperate backup but, using it more often than not casts a shadow when it hits the barrel of the lens. The spread of the flash is also quite weak when you zoom out to skip the shadow but light is uneven with very noticale light fall off at the edges. So people use external flash to bouce here and there. Have a backup external flash better :P

user111 · 9th December 2005

because the 5d is more pro level

and

more pro level means no built in flash

(built in flash means less pro level)

hence to avoid ideological contradiction, 5d has no built in flash

8th December 2005	#1
sinlam New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12	Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash I would like to know why Canon did not want 5D to have built-in flash as in 350D, and have optional external flash if needed. Please advise, thanks!

8th December 2005	#2
shinken Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 1,270	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash My take is that the 5D is not meant as a prosumer cam, and not an all-in-one, point-and-shoot camera. People who use the 5D are likely to use external flash rather than in-built ones, because of their needs, which is beyond that of a prosumer.

8th December 2005	#3
crackpot New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: south of bedok Posts: 21	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash prosumer and pro-dollar... if u can afford a 5d now, incremental pain to wallet minimal in adding a decent flash. but what do i know?

8th December 2005	#4
JediForce4ever Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Singapore, CanonGraphers.org Posts: 3,163	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash agree..no one would buy a 5D to shoot on auto mode....

8th December 2005	#6
billpepsi Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The 3rd Rock Posts: 1,272	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash Would be nice to have a built-in flash for fill-in even on the pro body, esp for travel, street photography.

9th December 2005	#7
Ah Pao Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,578	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash 5D have no built-in flash? I didn't know that... Anyway, pro-level cameras don't have built-in flash all the way in the EOS-1/5/3 SLR series. Probably because it's a engineering decision as well, since built-in flash may reduce the weather-resistance of the body. Or, they are expecting users of these pro-level cameras to use big lenses with big hoods...

9th December 2005	#8
yangbeng Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Along the Eastern Coast Posts: 268	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash look at the internal construction of a FF camera~ you should be able to know the reason why canon CANNOT put an inbuilt flash unit in the 5D. if you still don't get it...look at the internal construction of a 20d 10d 300d and 350d and compare to 5D. if you STILL don't get it...oki...here's the reason why 5D and 1 series camera no inbuilt flash. cos the PENTA PRISM and FF reflex mirror is damn BIG...cmos sensor and viewfinder also DAMN BIG...so no space for inbuilt flash. then you will say...why film camera can have inbuilt flash...well...i can onli say 1 is digital the other is film...you can't find a cmos sensor on a film camera...can you? __________________ My Flickr \| My Blog Last edited by yangbeng; 9th December 2005 at 02:51 AM.

9th December 2005	#9
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash It's a matter of design. Some bigger (and smaller) film SLRs also have inbuilt flash and 1.5x crop DSLRs like Nikon D2h and D2x do not have inbuilt flash.

9th December 2005	#10
Russ Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 1,613	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash I have a 300D and hardly ever use the internal flash. Will not miss it. In the old days, Canon had a 1000 and a 1000F. One with and one without internal flash - and that was an el cheapo $500 with kit lens model!!. Once you are serious, you will not use it that much. I use an external even for fill in flash outdoors.

9th December 2005	#16
oracle0711 Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Serangoon Ave 2 Posts: 552	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash let's look at it this way. If canon can price its 5D to such a price, it is definitely expecting the buyers to buy more stuff. Marketing it as entry level pro camera, Canon would definitely love to see purchases for other accessories such as external flash, remote trigger, L lenses.... to many of us photography is a passion, but I think to manufacturers, money making is their passion... __________________ Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oracle0711 \| http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypro

9th December 2005	#18
sonix Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sengkang Posts: 1,314	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash Good question and some good answers here.. Thanks for asking and answering, next time got people ask I can answer liao __________________ My humble gallery

9th December 2005	#19
Tsangstudios Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,149	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash Built in flash quite handy as a desperate backup but, using it more often than not casts a shadow when it hits the barrel of the lens. The spread of the flash is also quite weak when you zoom out to skip the shadow but light is uneven with very noticale light fall off at the edges. So people use external flash to bouce here and there. Have a backup external flash better :P __________________ www.tsangstudios.com

9th December 2005	#20
user111 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,719	Re: Curious why FF DSLR have no built-in flash because the 5d is more pro level and more pro level means no built in flash (built in flash means less pro level) hence to avoid ideological contradiction, 5d has no built in flash