Just picked one up today, had a bit of time to play with it indoors.

First impressions are very good. It handles well; zoom and, more importantly, focus rings operate very smoothly with slight damping and very little dead-play from one direction to another so MF is quite usable (~150 degrees end to end) and much better than on the f/2.8 version I passed on because of sticky MF feel.

AF is quiet and fast, especially when the 3m and beyond limiter switch is on. AF accuracy in low light, using center (cross type) AF point on a D5100 body was spot on at all distances between MFD of about 1m to about 8m I had available.

The VR (optical stabilization) worked very well also, getting pixel-sharp handheld shots at 200mm and 1/15s with no problem. I suspect it could go even slower and still maintain a reasonable keeper rate.

Still have to do stop-down focus shift tests, check the bokeh, CA and corner shading on FF but so far, so good. I'm looking forward to putting it to more tests and then shooting some real subjects with it. The smaller size and reduced weight are pleasant changes from hauling around the big 2.8 glass. (altho the new Tamron 2.8 is interesting and will be considered as an option for my F-mount systems)

I did not opt for the very pricey OEM tripod mount. I'll wait until there's a better value alternative but I would deem it a necessary item if using this lens with a lightweight body like the consumer-oriented D5100 or similar. It's just too much mass and length to hang off the end of a plastic body when using a tripod. It might be OK when mounted on a more substantial body like the D800 or other semi-pro or pro chassis.

Since I rarely use my EF 70-200 f/2.8 L 2 wide open, this smaller, lighter, and possibly as-sharp option may supplant one more bit of my Canon kit. The latest Canon classic fast zoom has been disappointing me with ugly bokeh too often anyway. I didn't use the EF 70-200/4 IS so can't compare it.

So if any Nikon users are considering this lens... YES, it's certainly worth considering.

Hey everyone,

I have a 5D Mark III which I purchased new, directly from Amazon when they were released early this year.
This summer, around June/July I noticed what appeared to be discoloration or pealing paint under the camera where the metal body meets the plastic. It was initially very minor and I thought I must have scuffed it somehow on a table or while the field. However, it has been consistently 'growing' ever since then. It has grown from pea sized to the entire bottom of the camera within a few months.

Examples of this phenomenon are attached.

I am not one to coddle my equipment; but I also don't throw it around either. I certainly don't drag it around on things which would peal off the paint like this. Usually a tripod mount is on the bottom which would prevent this anyway (I took it off specifically for these pictures).

If you look closely, the discoloration is also along the screw holes and speaker grill. The discoloration is also not uniform. I don't believe it's a result of being dragged or rubbed against anything. Is this some sort of chemical reaction to something? Only the bottom area of the camera is affected. The top, front, and lenses are all flawless.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Hi,

Just a quick pedantic question about the super tele's. Is it ok to store them upright on their hoods or must they be kept horizontal in their cases.

Just got back from a long shoot in the middle east. Here's a teaser profiling the experience, along with a few stills.

Shot on the MKiii with an assortment of canon glass.

https://vimeo.com/54168002

More stills / updates on the project can be found @ LKFilms.com

Enjoy!

Woodruff

Had several requests to measure the focusing speed of the 6D vs 5Diii vs 5Dii using a Speedlite (in this case 600ex) in low light conditions. Its a redo of the other focusing test I did this week, only this time using the red-af assist light.

Target 1 Evenly exposed at 1/60, 2.8 ISO 400, about 20 feet away
Target 2 Underexposed about 7 stops with the same settings, about 4 feet away

I ran each camera through 30 focus locks back and forth.

Interesting results:

Canon 5Dii - 45 seconds
Canon 6D - 52 seconds
Canon 5Diii - 70 seconds

I should note 2 things: the 6D does very well even without the AF assist beam. The 6D & 5Diii both feel as if there are 2 stages of focus, a larger followed by a smaller step. The 5Dii seems to lack this.

Let me know if you guys have any questions.

MM

Also are most photographers of the opinion that the focus points on the 5Dmkiii being black when activated is a major difficulty in low light or is it not such a major problem.

Looking for opinions (good & bad) on photog whom r using quantum external power packs with canon flash.
Have heard can cause some damage to flash unit . Considering the "blade" model so I will not need a cable from battery pack on my belt connecting to the flash. thnx pete

looking at upgrading from orig 5D & 580ex flash to 5Dmkiii & 600ex , reading folks having problems due to very slow locking in focus in low light with infared beam from flash . Would like to know if this is what most photog are finding b4 I commit to purchase. Thnx Pete

Hi Everyone

Just picked up a new 5d Mark III and would like to test it quickly to make sure all is in order. Specifically, I'd like to test for any dead pixels. I know such things can be edited out of images in Photoshop, but I'm more concerned about dead pixels affected video footage as those aren't so easily removed.

I'm a 5D classic user and new to video on the 5d. What would be a good quick test to check for such pixel problems -- shoot a short shot against a dark background? white background? Then, check for white or colored pixels that remain fixed in the image? Is there a particular resolution I should be shooting at to evaluate?

Should I see any in the still imagery, I'm aware of the manual sensor cleaning technique to attempt to clear those aup.

Appreciation in advance for taking the time to provide input.

This is my first attempt of video on the Canon 5D Mark III.
Alot of room for improvement but I've been inspired by some of the people here to give it a go.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fergalocallaghan/8265738680/#secretfc61824cd1in/photostream

great video and review..

Canon 6D vs Nikon D600 vs 5D Mark III

So after hours of reading, I'm still not sure about the answer to 2 questions about the 5D mkIII, both of which are probably known by anybody who's been shooting a lot of video with one:

1) Are SD cards good enough for video? There is endless discussion about CF being faster, yada yada, raw burst rates, etc - I don't care, I only shoot video. Are SD cards (assuming class 10) fast enough for video use in either video codec mode?

2) Has the ALL-I vs IPB thing been resolved? All the reading I see shows a lot of disagreement as to which codec to use generally; All-I is better on paper but many people are getting same or better results with IPB. Anybody know? I generally have to shoot hours of interviews per day and so would rather have a more compact codec if there is no difference in quality.

I was looking for a spot to place this so I created a new subject called Abstract Interiors.
This is the inside of a Hotel in Cork City Ireland shot with a Fisheye Lens.
It reminded me of something out of a Stanley Kubrick movie.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fergalocallaghan/8264366397/#in/photostream
Would love to get some comments or some other abstract interiors.

Hi guys,

Just asking a little advice, basically I'm doing a production where I'll be filming a number of short interviews in office/business style environments, with very little/none outdoor or moving around shots. So I'm focusing on getting very good still/tripod shots for it and I'm slightly torn between which lenses to buy.

We have around a £3k budget for camera and lenses, and I'm looking at a 5D MK III with Canon lenses, either:

50mm f/1.4 and a 24-105mm f/4.0

or a 50mm f/1.8 and a 24-70mm f/2.8

I don't know whether it would be better to get the cheaper prime so I can get the larger aperture on the Zoom, or whether I should do it the other way round.

What would your guys suggestions be?

Thanks for your help in advance,

Gary

If this has been hashed out before, I apologize, but I did try to search the topic but only got ISO results

As an excited owner of a new 6D and got the 24-105 L with it I noticed a very noisy sound from the lens while keeping the shutter button half depressed (i.e. locing focus). I know this is the IS and even confirmed by switching it off and the noise goes away.

Now I understand that IS is actually a motorized movement of a lens group and thus expect a bit of a sound and all of my IS lenses does that, but this sounds suspiciously louder, louder even than my Sigma 17-50 F2.8 OS and that I did not expect.

Is this normal or should I take it back to the store? To describe the noise level is difficult, but it is noticebly louder than my 100L macro and as my Sigma

Thanks

I Have 70-200 f/2.8L II USM, and i need little longer zoom .

Is it worth buying 2x EF Extender III for 70-200 f/2.8L II USM (or) would it be better to go for 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Autofocus

Body: 5D Mark III

Please provide your valuable suggestions.

Thank you

I got my 6D yesterday and thought I will share my initial impressions. These impressions are from a Canon shooter coming from Rebel bodies (450D & 500D) and I thought it will help someone that is in the same boat as I was in figuring our whether or not to upgrade to the 6D.

What I use a camera for:
Family (with kids running around) and Travel. Nothing for payment

Physical Attributes
Weight: Heavier than anticipated and with the 24-105 kit much more than the Rebel. I had a 17-50 F2.8 Sigma on my Rebel which made it heavier than the out of the box kit already, but the 6D is beyond that. I am glad I have a Black Rapid strap. Would not like this around my neck. However, the balance (not tipping over so much) is better than my 500D/Sigma combo and although heavier, definitely usable all day long.
Size: I like the physical size over the Rebel. Using both hands on it feel much more comfortable. I handled a 5DIII&5DII in the store, and I prefer the 6D size. For me, coming from a Rebel, the 6D feels great in the hand while the 5DIII felt like a stretch.
Feel & Buttons: Everything felt better - body, buttons, shutter sound (love that ;D). I have to get use to using the top plate buttons, but the rest of the button layout felt very familiar even to the dated 500D.

Operation
Name an attribute, and it is better than the 500D, and you can't help but think that "this is how it is supposed to be". The level of customization really impressed me. I appreciate that the 5DIII and 1DX is even better at this, but coming from a Rebel, WOW! What I particularly liked is:
- C1 and C2 functions
- Minimum shutter speed setting
- Customisation options in general. Like AI Servo assignability to the DOF button, ISO limits, Different Focus points in Portrait v Landscapes
- Direct access to Drive, ISO etc. on top plate
- GPS & Wifi: Did not explore this other than pairing to my iPhone and (it has a slight lag) I can see this being handy for shots where I am in front of the camera with the family.
- HDR: I liked that this is built in.
- WB: I might miss a dedicated button for this, but the Q menu does accomodate this.

Performance
ISO: High ISO is so much better than the 500D. Expressing it in Stops is beyond my ability, but with the 500D I did not use 1600 (except in the rare circumstances where shutter speed was more important than IQ). Now with this I can see no problem going to 6400 and I think 12800 will become the new 1600 (which is still 1 stop below native max). So what is that 3 Stops ? Off course this is dependent on what you can tolerate in terms of noise.
FPS: It’s faster than my 500D so that’s an improvement for me and I see it as adequate for the "action" type shots I sometimes need.
Focus: I played with it indoors (dark outside) and with the 24-105, 50 1.4, 100 L Macro and 70-200 F4 Non-IS. My approach was not scientific at all but the focus on the centre point was snappy and quicker than my Rebel. The Macro was slow as usual. I used the outer points, and as I Rebel user could not complain about speed or accuracy.
Viewfinder: Forget that it is not 100%, this is much better/brighter than the Rebel's

Conclusion
Yes I am sure a lot of people can and will nitpick over many of the (missing) features. But coming from a Rebel, most will be blown away. So, is the upgrade worth it? Well, I felt I had to upgrade from my 500D. So it was either a 60D/650D (body only) at $800 or this. So does the extra $2000 ($1200 body + 800 lens) make you a better photographer? No, but it will make the pictures you do take look better, especially in low light.
Why not 5DII? I liked the smaller/lighter size, Overall newer tech, Digic 5+, GPS & WiFi options and I am confident that this will now last me a very long time.
Why not D600? To commited to EOS (Lenses and Flashes) and I handled it in the shop, it felt very foreign.

Our 70-200 f/2.8 IS mkI hit the concrete this year, and after sending it to Canon for a repair quote, it'd cost more to repair it than to buy another used one ($1500).

Canon shipped the lens back to me, so now the question is: What should I do with it?
Do people actually pay ok money for shattered lenses?

I've heard of people turning lenses into cool household items like teabag holders. Any neat ideas?

If you're curious, here's what Canon says needs to be fixed:
RING, FOCUS ADJUSTMENT
FOCUSING ASS'Y, USM
LENS ASS'Y, 1ST GROUP
FRONT RING UNIT
LENS ASS'Y, 3RD GROUP
ZOOM UNIT
KEY, GUIDE
BARREL, INTERMEDIATE
RING, FOCUSING

I saw this while I was at Fry's Electronics.:

Canon 5D III got picked as camera of the year by Popular Photography. I believed they compared to D800, Sony A99 and others....I didn't read it in detail

Hopefully a simple question. Can I use my camera as a advanced light meter for a medium format film camera? I could just get a light meter, but if I could see in advance exactly ( or very close ) what the image will look like, I would prefer that.

I'm thinking about picking up the 50 1.4 for a fast option instead of lugging my 24-105 around to family events etc. Is anyone using one on a 5d3? Your thoughts?

On the Facebook page of Lenscoat company, they announce that they have received the 200-400 from Canon for making the Lenscoat protection !

May be the ghost lens is arriving

I'm looking to sell at least one of my lenses but I'm stuck on which one. I shoot with a Canon 7d and here are the the lenses I have:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM

Tamron AF18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC

I just got the Canon 17-55 and I love it so I know I'm keeping that one. If it helps, 90% of the time I shoot family, baby/children and high school senior portraits.

I've thinking about purchasing a second camera body. I currently have a 7D with the following lenses:

EF 35mm 1.4L
EF-S 15-85mm 3.5-5.6
EF 70-200mm 2.8 L IS II

I mostly photograph the kids (ages 7 months to 14) around the house, outdoors and at sports activities including from wrestling, cross country, football and baseball. The 7D really does a great job at the sporting events.

Recently, I've become more interested in landscape photography. We visited Arizona, Utah and Colorado for vacation last summer and I ended up taking hundreds and hundreds of landscape shots in addition to family shots at different places we visited.

I've been thinking a full frame camera will enhance my landscape photography IQ. I have been considering a 5D Mkiii's, but the new 6D looks like a good option for landscape photography also. Since I plan to keep the 7D for sports photography, speed really isn't an issue. I have enough money saved for either, so price isn't a primary concern.

Also, if I buy a FF camera, I will probably need to add a walk-around lens for the FF. My 35mm is a good lens for that, but I would have a gap between 35mm and 70mm (on the 70-200).

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Hi everyone,I have been using a 7d for about a year now and I know its limitations quite well.I am sure ff is the way to go for the future though I am pretty sure a 6d isn't the answer for a 7d user (atleast me).

I'm 17, still a student and 10 years away from a ff upgrade the 100 macro might as well be my last lens so I was wondering if its the right choice for a portrait/lowish light lens with a macro bonus.or should I consider something else within that budget (not the non l version I'm pretty sure about that too)

P.S- I love taking shots in low light and light painting (i know, 7d is a perfect camera for that) so I am pretty frustrated on being limited to bright daylight shots so any tips are welcome,after all in 10 years point and shoots will have better ISO performance so i'll make the switch then

Thanks in advance

P.P.S- this is my first post ,really interested on what neuro has to say