Rebel T4i vs 5D Mark III - $850 vs $3499 - Is it really worth 4 times the price?

[shunsai]

I have a 60D and I just got a 5D Mark II yesterday.  With only 15 minutes of shots of birds and flowers with the 5D, I can immediately tell a difference in the images.  With the 5D, the light rolloff is smoother, the depth of field is more isolating and almost three-dimensional, and the shots are more enticing to look at.  This probably sounds excessively flowery, but it's difficult to describe the differences unless you shoot with both full-frame and crop.  If the 60D shots look good, the 5D shots look great. 

Thanks for your impressions. Actually, your description sounds spot on. I actually went ahead and picked up a 5D Mark II last night as well. Since it was already dark by the time I got back home, I didn't get much of a chance to test it out, but what you say about smoother light roll-off, and what others have said about the brightness of the viewfinder I've found to be true.

Actually, I feel I got a pretty good deal here in Japan. A brand new Mark II is selling for 162,000 yen (at today's exchange rate it works out to about $2000 USD; but I still prefer thinking of it as a 1:100 ratio, ie. $1620). The 5D Mark III just isn't what I want for the price I want. So to answer the question posed in the title of this thread: Nope, not for me.

I don't know if I will go back to APS-C and get the Rebel T4i at this point. But with the rumors of 4 more DSLRs on the way this year, maybe there will be a genuine successor to the Mark II, both in capabilities and price. But for now, I'll try to get the hang of my new camera and find out it's limits for myself. Hopefully, by the time I do, I'll have more options to upgrade to.

Thanks again for all your helpful thoughts and insights!

[scrappydog]

The 5D Mark III just isn't what I want for the price I want. So to answer the question posed in the title of this thread: Nope, not for me.

Congratulations!  I hope you like it.  If the 5DIII had about 3 more stops of dynamic range, I would seriously consider getting it.  Alas, I will wait for the 5DIV.

[RLPhoto]

I'm not sure the t4i is worth the 850$. If I had to start again, Id jump straight to a full frame 5Dc and a 50mm 1.4.

[sleepnever]

I have a T2i and I'm pondering going 7D or FF all the way to a 5Dmk3. The one thing I've been enjoying on my crop 1.6x is the extra reach in my lenses and I haven't seen that brought up at all here (unless I missed a post?). That is something that I will lose on the long end, but then I will gain wide angle on the short. I have a 24-70L and love it, but its not wide enough...however I have that extra reach at 112mm. Anyone that has converted from crop to FF, do you miss that extra reach?

[D_Rochat]

I have a T2i and I'm pondering going 7D or FF all the way to a 5Dmk3. The one thing I've been enjoying on my crop 1.6x is the extra reach in my lenses and I haven't seen that brought up at all here (unless I missed a post?). That is something that I will lose on the long end, but then I will gain wide angle on the short. I have a 24-70L and love it, but its not wide enough...however I have that extra reach at 112mm. Anyone that has converted from crop to FF, do you miss that extra reach?

Do you remember what the focal length looked like with your kit lens? It will be the same as the 24-70, only much much nicer on a FF. Lose some length, gain some width. Everything else a FF offers makes losing "reach" worth it IMHO.

[shunsai]

I have a T2i and I'm pondering going 7D or FF all the way to a 5Dmk3. The one thing I've been enjoying on my crop 1.6x is the extra reach in my lenses and I haven't seen that brought up at all here (unless I missed a post?). That is something that I will lose on the long end, but then I will gain wide angle on the short. I have a 24-70L and love it, but its not wide enough...however I have that extra reach at 112mm. Anyone that has converted from crop to FF, do you miss that extra reach?

Newly converted (as of yesterday), so a bit too early to say. But my first impressions are that I do miss the extra reach just a bit. I'm not quite sure why. But it is nice not having to multiply by 1.6 to figure out what the equivalent range is. A Canon full frame with a crop mode would be nice.

[Vossie]

A Canon full frame with a crop mode would be nice.

You can always crop in post..... I don't see a value in having a "crop mode".

[scrappydog]

Anyone that has converted from crop to FF, do you miss that extra reach?

I am holding on to my crop camera for times when I need the reach.  For example, I take pictures of birds and I shoot at the zoo, where animals are far away.  On a bright cloudy day, a crop camera will give me what I need.

[pwp]

It's a little like discussing the pros & cons of a 5D3 vs 1 Series. They're going to suit some shooters but not others. The T4i really does look like a significant upgrade, and shows all the signs of being an extremely competent camera. On face value it does make the 5D3 look expensive, just as the 5D3 makes a 1-Series look expensive.

I know I could do a great deal of my work with a T4i, but there are daily moments where the 5D3 pushes a good result across the line for a winning result. Also, there are frequent situations where the 1D4 achieves results where the 5D3 would have fallen short. They have different strong points and abilities.

You could push the argument back the other way too. A great deal of published work could be adequately shot on a G12 or S100, or even an iPhone in some cases, provided that tool is in the right hands. It's a blurry scenario isn't it?

Whether it's in business or seeking a creative or technical edge, there are enough times when the advantages of a 5D3 or 1-Series are so completely unambiguous. You quickly get to know your own required level, whether that be an S100 or a 1DX.

PW

[dpedro]

     I am seriously considering either a second T4i or buying the D Mark III for my main and keeping my T4i as a back up.  I am currently shooting families and models, but some day, I'd like to shoot weddings.  If I stay clear of weddings, would you just stick with good glass on a T4i?  You can see what I am able to accomplish with just my t41 and various lenses. (link below)  Primarily, I shoot with my 35 L 1.4 and my 17-55 2.8.  Every so often, I also use the 85 1.8.  How much better can my images improve with the D Mark III?

http://www.facebook.com/AFlashInTimePhotographyByDonPedro

[KurtStevens]

I've gotten shots otherwise impossible of capturing, so yes.  Worth the price difference.

[ScottyP]

More like $2900.00 or $3100.00 according to recent sightings on the 5D3.

Anyhoo, that is still 4x the price of the T4i. 
Your shots look very nice.  You could certainly live without the more expensive camera.

I have the T3i, and I do wish I had better AF with more points, like the T4i or 7D or the 5D3. 

The one thing I would be tempted by on the 5D3 is the low noise at high ISO.  Frankly, I am sort of pissed that I cannot shoot at 800 ISO without what I consider unacceptable noise when shooting people.  On the T3i, 800 would be fine for a dim-light cityscape or something intricate like that that hides the noise a little.

I look at what the pros say about shooting indoor basketball and such, and they say they routinely shoot at 6400 ISO to allow for fast enough shutter speed for moving targets, which is just a crazy dream on my camera.  That is where you would see the value.  If you are shooting posed stills, and if you have lighting, then maybe that is not worth the extra bucks.

[Policar]

The returns are diminishing, but if you need the better AF and better low light performance that's pretty significant.

The finder is GREAT on the Mark III.

The low light for video is much better.

The look of fast, sharp, wide primes wide open can be really striking on full frame, but the differences in IQ at normal ISOs are not that startling otherwise.

[jondave]

Simply put, the answer lies in the spec list. If the spec list doesn't convince you that the 5D3 is worth 4x the price, then go with your guts and buy the T4i and slap L glass on it. It's a much better use of money than buying a 5D3 and using mediocre glass.

I'm speaking in terms of practicality. This forum will go on and on telling you how the IQ is worlds apart, but if you don't know that already then you most likely don't have a need for it. No offense, but most people I know who've asked this question actually need to upgrade their photography skills, not their camera body. Skilled photographers don't even ask this question IMHO, because if they don't have the budget for it they either make do with the equipment they have or sell an arm and a leg to come up with the money.

The best solution for your question? Rent one so you can make a more informed decision. Or just buy the 5D3 if you have the money.

[jondave]

A Canon full frame with a crop mode would be nice.

Crop mode at full resolution! I wish some engineering genius can do that.