After DPREVIEW of D800 would you still get the Canon 5d mark iii?

[V8Beast]

Thanks V8 for what I call a constructive answer an a positive debate. I admit I have no absolute knowledge, and I am always pleased when people criticize positively... the main thing being to keep an open mind

Likewise. Keeping things positive isn't always the case online!

1- I agree Canon's has carefully decided the 20mpx range was the sweet spot for most of his customers, and I can understand that. For the glass, are you sure this is an absolute limiting factor here ? Do you think the current lens range can not handle more pixels ?

No I'm not, which is why I welcome someone that's more knowledge than myself to chime in Someone posed a theory that the reason why the 24-70II costs a small fortune, and why Canon has filed so many patents for lenses lately, is that they're preparing their lens lineup for a mega resolution sensor. Obviously it's just a theory, but I've heard far crazier theories online before

2 - I don't fully agree about the megapixel race; we saw the Nikon D1 as a marvel with 2 mpx, the 5D1 one as a wonder with 12 mpx, the 5D2 with 21mpx and so on. I am not saying 36mpx is so wonderful, I just think there is a bit of room ahead and the trend should continue to add resolution in the future, though at a slower pace. My guess is that few people would have complained if the mk3 would have been around 28mpx.

I agree that 28 megapixels looks better on paper, but what does that translate to in terms of usable resolution? In other words, how much larger can you print 28 mp image compared to a 22 mp image? Someone smarter than I will have to answer that, but this is a pretty interesting read:

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/d-resolution-tests

The trend being to cut on every budget, it might be a decent alternative for some medium end work.
My guess is this is what Nikon is trying to do with the D800E.

That's a good point. A buddy of mine used to work for an agency in Chicago that did product shots for many mid-tier and several high-end clients. According to him, many mid-tier clients are now taking product shots with their iPhones to save money With dwindling budgets, I can see how the D800 would be appealing for projects that might have once been deemed medium format territory.

4 - I agree as well the D700 was almost the perfect camera, but lacked a bit of resolution, in this sense, the 5D3 is probably a much better all around camera. Nevertheless I am curious to see if they'll release something else....

Me too. If the D800 poses a threat to Canon's market share, they'll have to respond.

 

[moreorless]

2 - I don't fully agree about the megapixel race; we saw the Nikon D1 as a marvel with 2 mpx, the 5D1 one as a wonder with 12 mpx, the 5D2 with 21mpx and so on. I am not saying 36mpx is so wonderful, I just think there is a bit of room ahead and the trend should continue to add resolution in the future, though at a slower pace. My guess is that few people would have complained if the mk3 would have been around 28mpx.

I'd guess the problem is that 28 MP would have come at the cost of FPS and lower video quality.

To me it seems like Canon are focused on making sure each FF body addresses a market very specifically, the 1Ds mk3 has given way to the 1DX thats more focused on the high end sports/jurno market and the 5D mk3 looks to be targetted at event photography. I'm guessing that alot of event photographers are also moving into videography aswell these days, videography in enviroments where there not in control of the lighting so ISO performance is a big factor.

3/5 - I fully agree with the problematic of the medium format and the relationship with the clients budget, what I am just saying is the high res sensors can provide a quality closer (not equal) to the medium format for a much lower cost. The trend being to cut on every budget, it might be a decent alternative for some medium end work. The same way film makers were so happy with the video capacity of the 5D2 to provide high end movies for a low budget, although it doesn't play in the same category as an Arriflex...
My guess is this is what Nikon is trying to do with the D800E.

Besides the typical "the 5D mk3 can do anything" comments your obviously going to get at launch there have been hints that Canon isnt blind to this, talk of seeing how the D800 performs and then responding.

I think its easy to see why a large conservative company would behave that way as like you say pushing MP into the 40ish region is a very different market and one thats not aswell understood. Perhaps a less a case of whether Canon looks to up MP and more a case as to what form they'll take, 30MP? 50MP? what kind of spec for the body in terms of AF, FPS etc.

 

[psolberg]

There are all these claims that the D800 is better than the 5D3, most attribute this to DR and resolution. So far, the DR claims have mostly been a bunch of numbers or graphs. I have yet seen any photos showing what difference that XX ev has resulted in. Not even lab photos.

As to resolution - yes, it is clearly visible in the photos. However, this statement from dpreview illustrates just how difficult it is to get that kind of resolution advantage (even in a highly controlled lab environment).

"We should note, however, that we had to work quite hard to get this amount of resolution. We used flash to eliminate any risk of blurring due to vibration, we focus-bracketed in extremely fine increments, and we used an excellent lens (the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G) at an aperture optimal for central sharpness of F4.5."

Moreover, this resolution advantage - achieved through considerable efforts - carries a price. Larger files mean less space for photos on your memory card, lower frames per second, longer upload time, longer processing time, more hard drive space required, etc...

On the other hand, the 5D3 has a faster frame per second, less moire and aliasing in video, more advanced in camera movie functions (although some professional had to remove the AA filter to achieve an acceptable resolving power), an advanced AF system from the 1D series and a free bundled RAW conversion software.

Looking at the two cameras from this perspective makes one wonder which is really the better one...

Week 2 of my switch to the dark side and the D800 still impresses with DR beyond any canon DSLR I've ever shot with period. As you say, all these "claims" are a bunch of charts and numbers. So I encourage you to rent one and see for yourself. It is really impressive specially if you shoot landscapes. I wouldn't shoot a landscape with any other camera at this point short of a Hassy. There is just something about those RAWs that keeps pulling detail out of nowhere. I've never seen anything like this on a canon. It has transformed the way I post process. Most of the difference is at ISO100-400 where the D800 is just plain unmatched by anything south of medium format.

I have to fully disagree with the idea that it is hard to get resolution out of it. That's just ridiculous. The amount of detail I've pulled out is just insane and it took nothing more than what I had with the 5DMKII. That is: just a simple tripod, stable technique, and proper focus. Anybody spraying and praying has no business with the masterpiece that is the D800. And you know what pisses me off? oh why didn't I order the E model! The stuff that is coming out of it looks even better than the D800 and here I was thinking that was not possible.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/nikon_d800_d800e_first_comparison.shtml

If you want to learn how to properly shoot the D800, forget dpreview shooting with a 500 dollar Nikon lens. Go here:

http://diglloyd.com/

the 24 f/1.4 Nikkor on the D800 is like heaven on earth for detail. But you know what don't take a former canon player word for it. Or for heaven's sake forget DP review. Anybody even remotely interested in landscape/studio needs to handle a D800 at least once. Then and only then talk.

 

[smithy]

There's no stock of D800s in any of the camera shops I've been to. I don't know if they've even landed in my country yet. Therefore, despite my best efforts to try out the Nikon, I'll be buying a 5D3. Tomorrow, probably. Being able to physically obtain a camera is usually more important than minor specification differences.

And after my 10 megapixel 40D, 22 megapixels will be a considerable upgrade, I suspect.

 

[vbi]

After your 40D the amount of detail the FF sensor captures will blow you away.

 

[psolberg]

Forget silly reviews. best way tho judge gear is to try it out. weekend shoot at NYC with the D800 coming up so I'll get to test it some more with lots of diverse conditions. Looking forward to night shooting and using a 2x TC on a 300 f4 and some other glass. I'm hoping the touted ability to focus with f8 effective apertures works to my expectations. I'm meeting a lucky MK3 owner to compare notes and test the others gear. Maybe I'll convert him