Should I buy the 5D Mark III Kit?

[ernande]

If doing so isn't going to take food off the table, then YES. By all means, get the kit package. It's a great deal on L glass and the 24-105 is a fantastic walk around lens.

I took the plunge a few weeks ago and I'm so happy I did. The IS combined with the high ISO shooting of the mkIII means you can still shoot in low light situations. For really low light, I'd use a prime anyway.

[prestonpalmer]

yes.

[pdirestajr]

Out or curiosity, why do so many people say "take the plunge" when referring to buying a digital camera with a sensor that equals that of 35mm film? What do you say if you move on to medium format? "I just spent my kid's college fund!", or "I just sold the farm!"

My suggestion to the OP is why not buy a super sweet 5D mkII for 2K, and invest the rest of your budget in glass? I'd get the kit lens too, why not? You can always sell/ trade it for no loss. Or buy an EOS 1V monster for like 500 bucks and enjoy your EF lenses on a "full frame" gem that won't be outdated in a few years? Then use the rest of the money and take a vacation!

[V8Beast]

If the money is burning a hole in your pocket, then why not ? I love my 5DIII, but the xxD bodies are very, very capable pieces of hardware. If the money isn't burning a hole your pocket, then I'd say hold off on taking the full-frame plunge until you feel like your xxD body is holding you back.

[unkbob]

One of the biggest advantages of a FF camera is the DOF control. The 24-105 may be a great walk-around lens, but the 5D3 is more than just a walk-around camera and it really starts to shine at wider apertures. For taking pics of kids around the house, sure, the 24-105 would work, but so would a 60D and a 17-55.

I would personally get the body only and the Sigma 50mm 1.4. You can shoot people all day (and night!) with that and I often take it out as my only lens. Then look at the old-but-good Canon 24-70 L or the new Sigma 70-200 OS (optical stabilisation) depending on what you're shooting.

Just my 2p.

[Dylan777]

Buy 5D III body ONLY + Canon 50mm f1.4 -  SAVE your money for the new 24-70 f2.8 II.

I just SOLD my 24-105. That money will be used toward to my new 16-35 II,  for landscape.

I'm enjoying my 5D III + Canon 50mm f1.4 sooooo MUCH

[JR]

Buy 5D III body ONLY + Canon 50mm f1.4 -  SAVE your money for the new 24-70 f2.8 II.

I just SOLD my 24-105. That money will be used toward to my new 16-35 II,  for landscape.

I'm enjoying my 5D III + Canon 50mm f1.4 sooooo MUCH

yeah the 50 1.4 is a great lens.  I had one up until recently when I decided to streamline on some of the lenses i have... in the end I think it is very depending on what you want to do...

[BaconBets]

The camera is sick and the 24-105 is discounted with the kit and is the best all purpose for both photography and videography.
Spend $15-30 on a Vello flash cord
Add a 50mm for low light/no flash
Then take pictures.
Down the road, when you've got some cash, review your pictures and find your "go-to" focal length, and buy the prime.
If you wish, you can now sell the 24-105 for barely less than you paid for it.

[ratnev]

Dear members,
Sorry for posting my reply in this thread but I have similar question with some options... ))
I'm going to have some vacation this summer and want to visit Paris. This is my first trip to France and I want you to give me some advices. Sure if it's possible?! 
In 2-3 day I'm getting my new camera, the 5D mk3 and I haven't made my decision yet. What to get: body only or kit version?
The advise I need from you guys is about lenses I should take with me to Paris.
From my bunch of lenses I have: 24-70 f2.8L; 16-35 f2.8L II; 70-200 f2.8L II; 85 f1.2L; 50 f1.4.
I prefer to shoot landscapes and portraits and some all around photography.
So, what lenses I should choose?
And what about the 5d mk3, should I get body only or kit? Or I should buy a new lens to complete my setup?

[Tcapp]

Dear members,
Sorry for posting my reply in this thread but I have similar question with some options... ))
I'm going to have some vacation this summer and want to visit Paris. This is my first trip to France and I want you to give me some advices. Sure if it's possible?! 
In 2-3 day I'm getting my new camera, the 5D mk3 and I haven't made my decision yet. What to get: body only or kit version?
The advise I need from you guys is about lenses I should take with me to Paris.
From my bunch of lenses I have: 24-70 f2.8L; 16-35 f2.8L II; 70-200 f2.8L II; 85 f1.2L; 50 f1.4.
I prefer to shoot landscapes and portraits and some all around photography.
So, what lenses I should choose?
And what about the 5d mk3, should I get body only or kit? Or I should buy a new lens to complete my setup?

Body only. Just bring your 24-70, or maybe your 16-35. and maybe your 50 cause its small and light.

[ratnev]

Dear members,
Sorry for posting my reply in this thread but I have similar question with some options... ))
I'm going to have some vacation this summer and want to visit Paris. This is my first trip to France and I want you to give me some advices. Sure if it's possible?! 
In 2-3 day I'm getting my new camera, the 5D mk3 and I haven't made my decision yet. What to get: body only or kit version?
The advise I need from you guys is about lenses I should take with me to Paris.
From my bunch of lenses I have: 24-70 f2.8L; 16-35 f2.8L II; 70-200 f2.8L II; 85 f1.2L; 50 f1.4.
I prefer to shoot landscapes and portraits and some all around photography.
So, what lenses I should choose?
And what about the 5d mk3, should I get body only or kit? Or I should buy a new lens to complete my setup?

Body only. Just bring your 24-70, or maybe your 16-35. and maybe your 50 cause its small and light.

Thanks. I was also thinking about getting the 35 f1.4L. What do you think? 

[unkbob]

Dear members,
Sorry for posting my reply in this thread but I have similar question with some options... ))
I'm going to have some vacation this summer and want to visit Paris. This is my first trip to France and I want you to give me some advices. Sure if it's possible?! 
In 2-3 day I'm getting my new camera, the 5D mk3 and I haven't made my decision yet. What to get: body only or kit version?
The advise I need from you guys is about lenses I should take with me to Paris.
From my bunch of lenses I have: 24-70 f2.8L; 16-35 f2.8L II; 70-200 f2.8L II; 85 f1.2L; 50 f1.4.
I prefer to shoot landscapes and portraits and some all around photography.
So, what lenses I should choose?
And what about the 5d mk3, should I get body only or kit? Or I should buy a new lens to complete my setup?

Body only. Just bring your 24-70, or maybe your 16-35. and maybe your 50 cause its small and light.

Thanks. I was also thinking about getting the 35 f1.4L. What do you think?

The 35 1.4 is awesome, but I would bring the 50 1.4 on holiday because it's cheaper, lighter and arguably more versatile. Something wider like the 16-35 / 24-70 would be good to have too, just be aware of weight and theft / loss risks. Hard to beat the 24-70 as an all-rounder.

[ratnev]

Dear members,
Sorry for posting my reply in this thread but I have similar question with some options... ))
I'm going to have some vacation this summer and want to visit Paris. This is my first trip to France and I want you to give me some advices. Sure if it's possible?! 
In 2-3 day I'm getting my new camera, the 5D mk3 and I haven't made my decision yet. What to get: body only or kit version?
The advise I need from you guys is about lenses I should take with me to Paris.
From my bunch of lenses I have: 24-70 f2.8L; 16-35 f2.8L II; 70-200 f2.8L II; 85 f1.2L; 50 f1.4.
I prefer to shoot landscapes and portraits and some all around photography.
So, what lenses I should choose?
And what about the 5d mk3, should I get body only or kit? Or I should buy a new lens to complete my setup?

Body only. Just bring your 24-70, or maybe your 16-35. and maybe your 50 cause its small and light.

Thanks. I was also thinking about getting the 35 f1.4L. What do you think?

The 35 1.4 is awesome, but I would bring the 50 1.4 on holiday because it's cheaper, lighter and arguably more versatile. Something wider like the 16-35 / 24-70 would be good to have too, just be aware of weight and theft / loss risks. Hard to beat the 24-70 as an all-rounder.

Thank you once again. Yes, the weight is very important. I don't want to walk around with bag of lenses for every shoot scenario. Just want to be as "light" as possible without loosing versatile.

[ramon123]

It would be great if we could get the topic back to what was being discussed before, namely helping me in an important decision. Here's what was posted.

I'm seriously thinking of upgrading from a Canon XXD camera and want to know if those of you who have bought the 5D Mark III recommend taking the plunge. Obviously going from a Canon XXD camera to the 5D Mark III is a considerable jump however most photographers around including on this forum have said that there's no limit for how good a picture can be.

Purchasing the kit would mean this would be my first full frame camera as well as my first L lens. $4299 pretty much fills up my $4500 budget for photography.  I do have a concern that there have been quite a lot of "returned units" due to malfunction etc. There have been quite a few issues popping up and that makes me a bit more nervous to buy something so expensive. What are the chances of getting a "dud unit?" and are all these issues that have come up able to be fixed through a firmware update?

I would say that I fit into the category that Canon mentioned below "advanced amateurs and emerging professionals".

Canon Press Statement:
"The EOS 5D Mark III is Canon's answer to hundreds of thousands of advanced amateurs and emerging professionals looking for a compact, high-quality camera system to help them achieve their artistic vision, whether it be through still or video imagery. The EOS 5D Mark III introduction coincides with Canon's 25 th anniversary celebration of the EOS camera system."

Please provide an answer with some backing behind your recommendation.