Serious Banding at ISO12800 :(

[sevimli]

I was using my new 5dmk3 happily for 2 weeks now.

Today I took some low light shots. I am in shock with the results.

Could you please let me know whether this is a hardware problem or not?

If it is something cannot be fixed, can I get a replacement?

Many thanks!
1st picture (Sears Tower) was taken at 12800
2nd picture (1-A74C0807.JPG was taken at H2
3rd picture (1-A74C0808.JPG) was taken at H1
4th picture (1-A74C0809.JPG) was taken at 25600

[JR]

Your 4th shots done at ISO 25600 actually looks fine to me!  I have not played with the H1 and H2 a lot when I had the mkiii for a few days so cannot comment on them.  Maybe some other member would know that part...

[sandymandy]

That doesnt look normal to me at all. Memory card problem perhaps?

[cpsico]

I was using my new 5dmk3 happily for 2 weeks now.

Today I took some low light shots. I am in shock with the results.

Could you please let me know whether this is a hardware problem or not?

If it is something cannot be fixed, can I get a replacement?

Many thanks!
1st picture (Sears Tower) was taken at 12800
2nd picture (1-A74C0807.JPG was taken at H2
3rd picture (1-A74C0808.JPG) was taken at H1
4th picture (1-A74C0809.JPG) was taken at 25600

What raw converter did you use?

[jrista]

It looks like you have used Picasa as your RAW converter. I've heard many, many things from many people about problems with Picasa's RAW converter. I can't say for sure that is the problem, but I would run those same photos through Canon's DPP, and if you have the option, Adobe ACR/LR4.1. Canon RAW files have some specific nuances that need to be handled in a very specific way for RAW conversion to produce the best results. At the moment, the only software officially qualified to do so is Canon's own DPP. Adobe ACR and LR4.0 use preliminary/beta converters that are not yet fully tuned to process 5D III files best, and who can say how far along any Picasa converter is.

[dichiaras]

You got a 5DmkIII and you use Picasa to convert your RAW? 
That's really something... get at least LR, or better DxO and Photoshop: you'll finally really take advantage of your amazing camera. 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I downloaded picasa, it does not convert raw files, but pulls the jpeg thumbnail from the image.  It looks awful.
 
The OP needs to use software that supports his camera.

[Daniel Flather]

You got a 5DmkIII and you use Picasa to convert your RAW? 
That's really something... get at least LR, or better DxO and Photoshop: you'll finally really take advantage of your amazing camera. 

Will this DxO and Photoshop offer an advantage over LR, or even DPP as a RAW converter?

[neuroanatomist]

Will this DxO and Photoshop offer an advantage over LR, or even DPP as a RAW converter?

I personally prefer DxO as a RAW converter - lower noise whlie mainiatning sharpness, and better lens corrections.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

You got a 5DmkIII and you use Picasa to convert your RAW? 
That's really something... get at least LR, or better DxO and Photoshop: you'll finally really take advantage of your amazing camera. 

Will this DxO and Photoshop offer an advantage over LR, or even DPP as a RAW converter?

Photoshop uses the same conversion engine as lightroom, but has a lot of editing features that can be used.  It also takes a lot of practice to understand them and use them.
 
DXO tends to produce very good and sharp images upon conversion, but is also slow and attaches sidecar files with the conversion formula that must be kept in the same folder as the image.  LR keeps the conversion and edit info in a database, but has a option for sidecar files, or for writing the info into a DNG file.
 
It really boils down more to personal preference, each has its pro's and cons.  With LR dropping their price by such a large amount, Lightroom is going to be very popular.
 
Another popular low cost editing tool is ACDSEE PRO.(The non pro version does not edit in RAW)  I used it for several years with jpeg images, but when I switched to using RAW, I went to lightroom.  RAW files is not as user friendly as Lightroom.

[Daniel Flather]

This is Dx0:

http://www.dxo.com/us/photo


Right?


I've only ever used DPP and have been very happy.

[Aglet]

Raw converters have their pros n cons.

Used to prefer DxO for ultimate sharpness and detail, still do when absolutely needed, but sometimes comes at cost of lost fine color detail (reds) if CA corrections are used. v6 and v7 both suffer that.

DPP isn't much good at NR but maintains that "Canon look" and can maintain color detail with very good fine luminance detail. Gives DxO a good run for the money. Oh wait, DPP is FREE.

LR is great when you really want to push or pull extremes and its NR is still better than DxO 7 on the tough images I've used to compare them.

If you can only afford one, my suggestion is LR.  Tho lookin' fwd to latest iteration of DPP later this month to see what it can do for sharpness with its new optics modelling deconvolution blah blah blah.

[sevimli]

Apologizes for my late reply.

Thanks for your responses.

These are NOT converted cr2 files. Indeed I have the raw files but I haven't process them yet. In fact they all show the same problem regardless of the file type.

These all are straight OOC jpegs with STD settings and I assure that I didn't touch any of those other than resizing them to upload here (lifting shadows, changing exposure, etc.)

[PerroLoco Imagénes]

I don't have a 5d Mark III.  But that is worse banding than on my 7D.  All four pictures are completely unacceptable for straight out of the camera.  I'd be exchanging that camera quickly if it were mine.

[sevimli]

I don't have a 5d Mark III.  But that is worse banding than on my 7D.  All four pictures are completely unacceptable for straight out of the camera.  I'd be exchanging that camera quickly if it were mine.

That's what I am planning. But the other issue is the availability of the body.   I know that the store I got mine is out of stock currently.

I can only return it at this point if they would accept. or the other option is to send it in to the Canon Service Center. I really don't like this option, this is a 2-week old brand new camera at the end.