What would make $3500 for 5DmIII justifiable for you?

[zim]

The price of $3500 would be justified to me if...

* there were 13 or more stops of DR in the photos and nothing less
* there was 1 (preferably 2) or more stops of improvement in signal to noise from ISO 100 through to ISO 6400
* USB 3.0
* clean HDMI out at 1080i or better
* better sealing on the buttons, etc, to keep out dust and moisture

As long as the number of megapixels was at least the same as the 5D Mark II, I'm not particularly concerned.

What I want is better quality photos for pulling out detail from dark regions and less noise.

Dilbert says it all for me (in RAW photos) Everything else is ‘nice to have’ (for me) that’s why I’m waiting on proper analysis before I decide. (the OP doesn’t have that as one of the options)

PS thanks for the smite WTF!!!

[kalmiya]

My wife made it very clear this morning:  unless you can drive in it, it's a no-go ^^

[meli]

@ dilbert & Zim
I've thought about adding an option concerning sensor features (such as snr, color & DR) but i decided against it cause there would be people saying: "well we dont know nothing about  the sensor and it might as well be etc" and they would have a point, although the fact that Canon hasnt been touting about it in their marketing is kinda disheartening.

[x-vision]

I think this poll is missing the following option: "nothing, i think the price is not justified (as i'm only a hobbyist)".
   
All of the updates on the 5DIII are very welcome. As a hobbyist, though, I cannot justify $3500.
I was all set to make the switch to FF and was eagerly waiting for the 5DIII to do it - expecting the same intro price as the 5DII.
Alas, my switch to FF is on hold for now . 

[dilbert]

@ dilbert & Zim
I've thought about adding an option concerning sensor features (such as snr, color & DR) but i decided against it cause there would be people, saying that "well we dont know nothing about  the sensor and it might as well be etc" and they would have a point, although the fact that Canon hasnt been touting about it in their marketing is kinda disheartening.

Well, lets look at the poll another way.

The poll doesn't offer any option for "better image IQ" unless you subscribe to the "more megapixels = better IQ".

[twdi]

What about the reason:

just because I like to take great pictures,
enjoy life
and life can be over tomorrow?

[tasteofjace]

I think this poll is missing the following option: "nothing, i think the price is not justified (as i'm only a hobbyist)".
   
All of the updates on the 5DIII are very welcome. As a hobbyist, though, I cannot justify $3500.
I was all set to make the switch to FF and was eagerly waiting for the 5DIII to do it - expecting the same intro price as the 5DII.
Alas, my switch to FF is on hold for now .

Well, there's never been a better time than now to purchase the MK2  - You can save some cash, and know you are getting a very favorable body.

I was in the same boat as your, but I feel perfectly fine with the $3500 price tag.

[dwischnewski]

For all those, who think that the price got higher, here is an interesting article: http://www.eos-network.com/2012/03/cameras-banks-and-the-financial-crisis-or-why-cameras-prices-seem-so-high-these-days/

Confirms my gut feelings. Thankfully someone did the math. Yet, I do not like the "new price" so much myself.

[AvTvM]

For all those, who think that the price got higher, here is an interesting article: http://www.eos-network.com/2012/03/cameras-banks-and-the-financial-crisis-or-why-cameras-prices-seem-so-high-these-days/

Confirms my gut feelings. Thankfully someone did the math. Yet, I do not like the "new price" so much myself.

all those pseudo-economic "justifications" from a "poor manufacterer in Japan" are completeley irrelevant and does not change anything. Truth is: 5D III is definitely not worth more than Nikon D800 ... from a photographers/purchasers perspective. Actually, to me it should be priced a couple 100 Euros lower, since the D800 can and do full double duty as FF-camera (superior to 5D III based on early indications of image quality) and as APS-C camera and has both ...  top-AF module (as D4) and top-metering module (as D4) as well as matching any other feature of the 5D III.   

Now go and smite me if you want ... but be warned: it won't change the truth. :-)

[Ivar]

Yet for some reason Nikon managed to have a better price.

While the cameras seem to have different aims nevertheless there is no feeling that the D800 is somewhat inferior.

For me personally it looks even other way around the 5D3 being inferior but this is a personal opinion based on:
* less DR than the competition (Sony, Nikon, Fuji)
* still banding though a bit better compared to the 5D2, limiting even more useful DR
* Nikon has full pro-AF in the D800
* Nikon D800 has full weather sealing
* I'd have liked more MP

For all those, who think that the price got higher, here is an interesting article: http://www.eos-network.com/2012/03/cameras-banks-and-the-financial-crisis-or-why-cameras-prices-seem-so-high-these-days/

Confirms my gut feelings. Thankfully someone did the math. Yet, I do not like the "new price" so much myself.

[danski0224]

User interchangeable focusing screens would be nice.

[Tijn]

Increased Dynamic Range performance (at least on par with the new Nikon) seems to be the new thing that would make the 5D mk3 price (un)justifiable for some people.

[caMARYnon]

None of the above options justify the price for me.
My opinion is they would have to improve that function poorly in 5D2 with things already used in series 1 (Dsmk3 or Dmk4, not the DX) and maintaining an affordable price for a full frame version. For a more expensive version (over2500US$), only if the market demands, would have to release 3D or something like. For Canon top tech we have 1 series already.

[scrappydog]

Truth is: 5D III is definitely not worth more than Nikon D800

The 5D3 is worth what people will pay for it.  The most relevant current competitor is the D800.  Nikon is a Japanese company, just like Canon.  Nikon was subject to the same tsunami.  Nikon is subject to the same "quantitative easing" as Canon.  Despite this, the 5D3 is $500 more than the D800.  Do you get $500 more?  I'm not so sure.  One feature I would not mind is the ability to easily add/remove the AA filter.  This would make it a little more competitive with the D800E.

[meli]

What about the reason:

just because I like to take great pictures,
enjoy life
and life can be over tomorrow?

Well, it would be kinda retarded if in a poll about the technical side of a tool, inside a product forum, between 6 other options concerning hardware parameters, i had also:

# Yes! because I like to take great pictures, enjoy life and long walks in the beach with my 5d hanging on my neck and albatross flying majestically in the horizon

If that's what you want to talk about, then i suggest you look for another forum.