5D MK3 vs. D800 - fredmiranda

[Gothmoth]

both tests are interesting i think.
as a guy who always goes for best image quality the D800 looks incredible.
im not so much a high iso shooter.

i have to give it to sony... the sensor is fantastic!
the 5D MK2 was a game changer in video.. the D800 is nearly as impressive for stills i think.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/

There is no question that the D800 does not disappoint in signal to noise ratio (SNR) at low ISO and has higher dynamic range. I'm still shocked by the differences.

I know this is disappointing for Canon shooters but on the bright side, there is a workaround if you shoot RAW. Start by overexposing (up to 1 stop) above the correct exposure before taking your shot and then normalize the exposure later in software. This gives you the correct exposure but the shadow detail is much cleaner, just in case you need to push it a stop or two. Alternatively you could use ISO L (50) for low contrast situations whenever lighting and wind conditions allow. However, make sure that there is no clipping in the highlights (blinkies) because essentially when you are using ISO 50, you are already compromising highlight detail by about one stop. I've used this workaround for many years and have been happy with the results.

In regards to the Nikon D800 handing of noise in the shadow areas, I have to say it's nothing short of amazing! Kudos to Sony and Nikon for the new sensor partnership. The Exmor sensor is exceptional and there is so much detail in the shadows. I can push the shadows more than 4 stops without any hint of color noise. WOW! Let's just say the D800 sensor is a breakthrough in sensor technology.

here are some more examples of what the D800 can do.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/nikon_d800__e_initial_impressions.shtml

canon has to move into faster gear and work on it´s sensors.
low iso quality is as important as high iso quality.

i have not thought it.. but i will not deny it.... i realy like the D800 for it´s image quality.

that said, privatly i will stay with canon.

 

[Razor2012]

both tests are interesting i think.
as a guy who always goes for best image quality the D800 looks incredible.
im not so much a low light shooter.

i have to give it to sony... the sensor is fantastic!
the 5D MK2 was a game changer in video.. the D800 is nearly as impressive for stills i think.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/

There is no question that the D800 does not disappoint in signal to noise ratio (SNR) at low ISO and has higher dynamic range. I'm still shocked by the differences.

I know this is disappointing for Canon shooters but on the bright side, there is a workaround if you shoot RAW. Start by overexposing (up to 1 stop) above the correct exposure before taking your shot and then normalize the exposure later in software. This gives you the correct exposure but the shadow detail is much cleaner, just in case you need to push it a stop or two. Alternatively you could use ISO L (50) for low contrast situations whenever lighting and wind conditions allow. However, make sure that there is no clipping in the highlights (blinkies) because essentially when you are using ISO 50, you are already compromising highlight detail by about one stop. I've used this workaround for many years and have been happy with the results.

In regards to the Nikon D800 handing of noise in the shadow areas, I have to say it's nothing short of amazing! Kudos to Sony and Nikon for the new sensor partnership. The Exmor sensor is exceptional and there is so much detail in the shadows. I can push the shadows more than 4 stops without any hint of color noise. WOW! Let's just say the D800 sensor is a breakthrough in sensor technology.

here are some more examples of what the D800 can do.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/nikon_d800__e_initial_impressions.shtml

canon has to move into faster gear and work on it´s sensors.
low iso quality is as important as high iso quality.

i have not thought it.. but i will not deny it.... i realy like the D800 for it´s image quality.

that said, privatly i will stay with canon.

Not enough to make you cross over though?

 

[briansquibb]

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-11676-12544

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I have one coming, and I do low light photography, but not at huge print sizes. I'm keeping my Canon lenses, but i'd like to find out just how good the images are. i've never been happy with my landscape photography, so I'll give it a try.

If I don't like it, I can always sell it, likely for more than it cost.

 

[Gothmoth]

Not enough to make you cross over though?

i have the luck that i sell them both.
but for private use im a canon guy since my childhood.

so i hope canon will release something as impressive for low iso.

 

[cpsico]

We have all seen how well the d800 handles shadow detail, and I am impressed. I just wonder is it done at the expense of high lights? Has anyone done any comparisons in that area? I do a lot of landscapes and was considering the new 5d, but at 500 less and the price of a great zoom for a d800 i have much to think about!!

 

[jlev23]

i was shooting a commercial on a lit stage with the epic, but i brought my 5Dmk3 to do some tests, there happen to be a stills guy doing behind the scenes photos with a d800, so at lunch we put them to the test.
so, two things; honestly, no one could tell the difference btwn the pictures, we brought them up on true waveform monitors and probably the most expensive monitors that youd ever view anything on...we took a poll, no one could tell the difference of the final results. neither could i.
though there was one thing that did occur that was huge for me, when shooting the tests, we had to slow down the nikons shutter to 1/200th to get the exact same stop as the 5Dmk3 at a shutter speed of 1/500th.
but again the final result was indistinguishable.

 

[DavidRiesenberg]

Dammit, so that means I cannot take good photos now?

 

[DavidRiesenberg]

Yes, I always push my shadows 5 stops so that would really be noticeable.

 

[azizjhn]

Hi guys it is just products no need to be loyal to any one of them because they always loyal to your money, beside this is the best thing in competition so every company will fight to provide the best product for us the consumers.

Second thing we should not care about sensor, processor, web site reviews, Etc...
It is not about technology it is about the final result you get from your camera is it good for you or not. Doesn't matter what is better at what, you can just take what you need or what is more valuable for you.

Sorry my English is not very good cause it's not my native language.

 

[Canon-F1]

Yes, I always push my shadows 5 stops so that would really be noticeable.

sorry but you react like stupid fanboy.

the fact that you can push the shadows 4-5 stops does not mean you have to.
but it´s fantastic that you can do it.

only a fanboy or blind can be unimpressed by the sony sensor at low iso.

seeing the results from fredmiranda and LL i have to say the D800 has an incredible sensor.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/t/canon-mk3-2b.jpg

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/t/nikon2b.jpg

with 36 MP... and that shadow noise.. just WOW.
something i would not have believed 3 month ago.

canon can have all video improvements in the world.. i care about image quality.
for landscape or studio i also don´t care much about AF performance.

in fact i would be 100% fine with the 5D MK2 and just a sensor like the D800.
it doesn´t need to be 36 MP for me. but with that perfromance.. i can only say ..why not?

 

[cpsico]

We have all seen how well the d800 handles shadow detail, and I am impressed. I just wonder is it done at the expense of high lights? Has anyone done any comparisons in that area? I do a lot of landscapes and was considering the new 5d, but at 500 less and the price of a great zoom for a d800 i have much to think about!!

You should ask that sort of question about the D800 over on the luminous-landscape.com forums.

With all the know it all's in this forum surely some one must know with out having to go to another forum

 

[Hathaway]

Yes, I always push my shadows 5 stops so that would really be noticeable.

sorry but you react like stupid fanboy.

the fact that you can push the shadows 4-5 stops does not mean you have to.
but it´s fantastic that you can do it.

only a fanboy or blind can be unimpressed by the sony sensor at low iso.

seeing the results from fredmiranda and LL i have to say the D800 has an incredible sensor.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/t/canon-mk3-2b.jpg

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/t/nikon2b.jpg

with 36 MP... and that shadow noise.. just WOW.
something i would not have believed 3 month ago.

canon can have all video improvements in the world.. i care about image quality.
for landscape or studio i also don´t care much about AF performance.

in fact i would be 100% fine with the 5D MK2 and just a sensor like the D800.
it doesn´t need to be 36 MP for me. but with that perfromance.. i can only say ..why not?

I continue to find it interesting that the technical people of these forums (Canon Rumors, DPReview, FM, etc.) only focus on Fred's pictures of the shadows from the buildings. I will be the first to say it is extremely impressive what Sony/Nikon has done with the sensor, but if you continue to read Fred's review and look at all of the pictures he takes for the articles, he points out some serious flaws in focus with the Nikon. So much so that he quit using it for the rest of his trip and mainly stuck with the Canon. In addition, he uses the TS-E lenses and indicates that nothing Nikon has can match that glass.

If you also slow down and look at the photos Fred took for the article, they are fantastic and would look good printed to pretty nice sizes. Bottom line, as someone that does not make a living in photography but was looking to upgrade to the 5d3 for landscapes, I was extremely encouraged. Landscape photography is about maximizing the capabilities of your equipment in often challenging conditions (light, location, perspective, etc.). All in all the photographer (in this case Fred) managed to use the tool (the 5d3) to create fantastic images.

It was actually quite encouraging article for me and now has me looking for the 17 and 24 TSEs!

 

[briansquibb]

Yes, I always push my shadows 5 stops so that would really be noticeable.

sorry but you react like stupid fanboy.

the fact that you can push the shadows 4-5 stops does not mean you have to.
but it´s fantastic that you can do it.

only a fanboy or blind can be unimpressed by the sony sensor at low iso.

seeing the results from fredmiranda and LL i have to say the D800 has an incredible sensor.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/t/canon-mk3-2b.jpg

http://www.fredmiranda.com/5DIII-D800/t/nikon2b.jpg

with 36 MP... and that shadow noise.. just WOW.
something i would not have believed 3 month ago.

canon can have all video improvements in the world.. i care about image quality.
for landscape or studio i also don´t care much about AF performance.

in fact i would be 100% fine with the 5D MK2 and just a sensor like the D800.
it doesn´t need to be 36 MP for me. but with that perfromance.. i can only say ..why not?

I read Davids response as an attempt at humour 8) 8) 8) as no sensible person pushes shadows by 5 stops

 

[cpsico]

This may be considered insanity by some here but how about comparing a perfectly exposed 5dIII image to a perfectly exposed D800 image with the same contrast,color temperature, and color saturation settings?

I realize there are a lot of people that struggle with exposure and may need to nuke the heck out of there files in photoshop. I could see an advantage for the d800 in a program like topaz adjust that really pushes an image but not so much for normal shots without high contrast.

Not to mention one other item, how much is nikon cooking there raw files vs canon? Is some sort of noise reduction being done to the file even as a raw?

 

[risc32]

From nearly every test i've seen anywhere, the sony sensor is amazing. But I have to ask, are many of you guys boosting shadows by these amounts? Maybe it's just me, but I've never come anywhere near doing this stuff. Let me repeat, the sony sensor is amazing, but isn't this just silly?

 

[JR]

From nearly every test i've seen anywhere, the sony sensor is amazing. But I have to ask, are many of you guys boosting shadows by these amounts? Maybe it's just me, but I've never come anywhere near doing this stuff. Let me repeat, the sony sensor is amazing, but isn't this just silly?

The most i would push shadows for my type of pictures would be two stops max. That said i agree the new sony sensor seem really great.

 

[smirkypants]

I have both. Initially I liked the 5D3 more, but I think that had to do more with familiarity than anything else. Don't get me wrong, I like the 5D3 plenty but as I'm learning more and more about the d800 I'm liking it more. What I'm constantly amazed by is being able to take images with things in dark shadow and extract amazing detail and beautiful color from it. Stunned is more like it. I'm finding myself drifting more and more away from my Canon gear. Sad. I've been a Canon shooter for a very long time.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

From nearly every test i've seen anywhere, the sony sensor is amazing. But I have to ask, are many of you guys boosting shadows by these amounts? Maybe it's just me, but I've never come anywhere near doing this stuff. Let me repeat, the sony sensor is amazing, but isn't this just silly?

It's not necessarily silly at all, it depends upon what you shoot. Tons of my shots have no need for that at all, many even need shadows crushed, and yet I all the same I constantly run into DR limitations all the time too, it's not that hard to do unless you only stick to the straight and narrow of one single style/type of shooting that happens to never need it.

What is silly is that if it were the 5D3 with the better sensor everyone here would be going on about how the D800 is 100% useless for ANY type of photos.

Nikon people generally admitted our sensors trounced their sensors to pieces back in say 20D/5D days.

 

[sarangiman]

I shot a Stouffer Transmission Wedge (13.2 stops DR total) with a 5DII, 5DIII, & a D7000.

The 5DIII required 1/3EV less exposure than 5DII to keep any channel (meaning: green, since that blows first) from blowing out in the brightest patch of the wedge. The D7000 needed 2/3EV less exposure than 5DII (i.e. 1/3EV less exposure than 5DIII) to keep any channel from blowing out.

But regardless of the highlight handling, the D7000 retained a SNR>1 down to the darkest patch, giving it ~13EV DR if your lower limit is SNR of 1. The 5DIII was stuck somewhere around 11.3EV DR (again, assuming lowest acceptable SNR is 1), b/c its SNR went to 1 at patch #35 (whereas D7000 maintained SNR>1 down to patch 42). These patches are 0.1 density increments, so you can calculate the DR by doing the following calculation:

DR = log2[(10^#of patches for which SNR>1)/10)

So that pretty much debunks the whole theory that the Canon sensors might still have really good DR b/c of how they handle highlights.