Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware adds HDMI & AF Upgrades

[Marsu42]

People always want more. The August 2013 update might give 5D3 12FPS.

I'm sure Canon will release the occasional feature update, competing with Nikon they seem to have made good experiences with the 5d2 & 7d upgrades and it's the alternative to releasing a new model every year like with the Rebels.

But the missing af indicators are really unfortunate, it doesn't matter at all on 60d/5d2/... that don't do good tracking anyway, but for a camera with the 1dx af system this indeed seems to be a drawback for many. So they have to go for the 1dx. Canon wouldn't mind

 

[infared]

Looks like there will be no AF-point illumination for the 5DIII. If that was going to,happen, then it would have been announced. The lack of the illuminating pts is one thing I really find lacking on my $3500 camera body. Canon?

 

[expatinasia]

And in response to someone who said this isn't a pro camera...tell that to the Canon Rep.

That would be me. A Canon rep? Someone who is trying to sell you the camera? Why not get something in writing from Canon themselves. Their own website states: "The new semi-professional EOS 5D Mark III Full Frame Digital SLR camera". No room for misunderstanding there.

Please do not misunderstand me. The Canon 5D Mark III is an amazing camera and can be used by pros in many situations. It is however quite different from the 1DX.

Wish there was more competition...

I agree fully. I find it very poor of Canon to release a pro US$ 6,XXX camera and not have an AF system which is suitable for low light, no USB 3.0, no headphone jack, in-built GPS and the list goes on. The flagship should be just that, a flasghip, which has all the bells and whistles.

It is good to see Sony getting more creative and I have to say Nikon are playing ball with their new D600 which seems to have impressive specs.

Competition is good.

But, getting back to the firmware upgrade. I still think it is ridiculous that they have released a statement about a firmware update 6 months in advance. Someone at Canon needs a kick up the ***, because more and more people are beginning to ask why Canon locks in so many features. They aren't idiots, they (we) know why, and as the competition increases, and brands such as Sony come out with new models that can do A, B, C and D, with free apps that do E, F and G, more and more people will begin to think whether they should switch.

Canon knows it has a problem. You have people with massive glass that can't even get firmware updates without sending them in. Only now, are they able to do that through the camera with the very latest FW updates. I can only wonder how long it will be before they launch a new camera that will require an entirely new L ii lens structure for the best results.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I'm still baffled as to why there is such a long lead time for this firmware....it's available for the 1D-X already and it's the same AF array. April??? Come on....

 

[Loswr]

Re: Precedent for f8 AF -- not just for the 1 Series

So it is not unreasonable to expect a 5D mkIII to af at f8 with the central point (or points). Not unreasonable to expect that of a 7D mk II either, I say.

I doubt the 7D line will ever see f/8 AF - the precedent to date is only that cameras having Canon's top of the line AF system have had the capability.

The precedent for digital was only the 1-series gets the top AF system, and the 5DIII broke that precedent. So why not f/8 AF in a 7DII?

once our 7D reaches the end of its life, that gives a way of getting the same level of reach on full frame, as I have doubts about buying another crop frame DSLR

...and that's why! The ability to add a 1.4x TC to an f/5.6 lens and retain AF goes a long way to mitigating the 'reach benefit' of APS-C, and that combined with the 6 fps and excellent AF of the 5DIII makes that an easier up-sell from the 7D line.

Could Canon be hurting supertele sales by allowing people with a non 1-series body to get AF at 600mm (300/4 + 2x)? Probably not much...the IQ of a 600mm lens substantially better the 300/4 + 2x combo (or the 400/5.6 + 1.4x combo), and only businesses and a limited subset of individuals can afford a supertele anyway. In fact, it may benefit supertele sales, as people start shooting at 560/600mm with a TC and aren't as pleased with the optical results as they hoped, and consider a supertele more seriously.

 

[jlev23]

I'm still baffled as to why there is such a long lead time for this firmware....it's available for the 1D-X already and it's the same AF array. April??? Come on....

are you saying the firmware that gives you clean HDMI out is available for the 1D-X already? right now???

 

[Marsu42]

Re: Precedent for f8 AF -- not just for the 1 Series

In fact, it may benefit supertele sales, as people start shooting at 560/600mm with a TC and aren't as pleased with the optical results as they hoped, and consider a supertele more seriously.

Beep beep beep - conspiracy theory warning, one point added to your account - beep beep beep :-> ... though it does make sense, I'm sure their marketing division does not make quick decisions.

 

[schmidtfilme]

What about the 6D ??

 

[Loswr]

What about the 6D ??

What about it? The AF sensor is different (inferior by a good margin), unlikely that it can support f/8 AF. No cameras in the wild, no idea about clean HDMI out yet, could be added. The 6D should not have the AF point illumination in Servo 'issue' because it doesn't have the transmissive LCD, but rather the standard, etched focus screen like the 5DII.

 

[victorwol]

It's great to get an HDMI output. But comparing it to an Alexa is going a bit too far...

Is it? Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 - Part One: Starting With Darkness on Vimeo

I agree with you on the grading part, and definitely an iphone 4s requires much more effort
to deliver anything usable. But "revenge of the great Zacuto shootout" shows very well that
the camera is nothing without the talent driving it.

Sure, no piece of equipment is anything without the right talent. But for a big client of us for which he hire great shooters and DPs, we use a mix of Canon, 5D, 7D, C300, Sony F3, Red, Alexa, all in different teams, all at the same time in different locations, Ill keep the 5Ds for the B-Roll stuff, but will never take it for the talent delivering lines. Too much of a risk. That comes from Alexa or F3 recording out to a Samurai in 10 bits, which you end saying thanks after you get the stuff needing extreme grading for being totally overcast days...

 

[victorwol]

For those wondering about the Uncompressed HDMI out and why it's important, in the most basic sense, the video files that the 5D creates are compressed .movs with a h264 codec, in a color space of 4:2:0, what this means is that you don't have much latitude to play around with colors or video levels in post (think of it as RAW vs. JPEG) H264's also aren't immediately ready to edit with (of course you can if you want to, but they really should be transcoded to a different codec such as Apple Pro Res before editing)

What the Uncompressed Output with HDMI allows with the aid of an external recorder (such as the Atomos Samurai) is to record in the Apple Pro Res HQ codec (perfect for editing straight away and the same format the $60,0000 Arri Alexa cinema camera records in (what they shoot Mad Men on)) in a color space of 4:2:2, which gives you more latitude to grade (grading is post processing video) with. Hopefully that makes a bit of sense, and makes it a bit clearer that this feature isn't really for the average consumer shooting a bit of video on their HDSLR, it's more for the Pro's / Enthusiasts who are looking for a bit more flexibility and convenience in post production.

It's great to get an HDMI output. But comparing it to an Alexa is going a bit too far... The Alexa can record RAW and 4:4:4 and also output HDSDI 10 bits. Of course you will probably get something beautiful and muuuuch better than today. But for sure wont rival the RED Epic and Alexa... We still have to see the quality of that HDMI output. Noise, etc. I get everyday people coming to our shop with prosumer cameras footage recorded in a Samurai thinking will be as good as a big camera just because is recorded in Prores... Ajjjjj... Grading that crap is so nasty...

Ah of course not, the Alexa is an amazing camera, I was just trying to put it in layman terms so to speak, that by using an external recorder you can record into an edit ready format that even some of the best cameras use. It by no means was meant to imply that you're going to get similar results to a $60k cine camera. Sorry for the confusion. Of course, DSLR footage is still just that, and can't come close to anything from the Red or Alexa.

It is fun though to have to grade and put in the same timeline side to side Alexa, Red, F3, 5D, 7D, Gopro... That is a day of my life... Thanks Lustre for exist !!!

 

[Jim K]

Making the best of the six month delay I figure I will put $10 or $20 in a jar each week and then when the upgrade comes out I'll get a 2.0 X III extender for my 500 and it will be almost "free."

Then compare the 5D3 with 500 + 2.0 X (1000 mm) vs my 7D with the 500 + 1.4 X (1120 mm) and see which one wins.

 

[tron]

Making the best of the six month delay I figure I will put $10 or $20 in a jar each week and then when the upgrade comes out I'll get a 2.0 X III extender for my 500 and it will be almost "free."

Then compare the 5D3 with 500 + 2.0 X (1000 mm) vs my 7D with the 500 + 1.4 X (1120 mm) and see which one wins.

Well this is interesting! I do have a 2X but I miss a ... 500mm!
How many days must I do the same ? (Yes, I can divide please don't answer!)

 

[schmidtfilme]

What about the 6D ??

What about it? The AF sensor is different (inferior by a good margin), unlikely that it can support f/8 AF. No cameras in the wild, no idea about clean HDMI out yet, could be added. The 6D should not have the AF point illumination in Servo 'issue' because it doesn't have the transmissive LCD, but rather the standard, etched focus screen like the 5DII.

My question was only referring to the HDMI out. Do not care about the AF, I shoot landscape which usually holds still .

In principle it shouldn't be a problem for Canon to add it if they can at the 5DMIII

 

[Loswr]

My question was only referring to the HDMI out.
In principle it shouldn't be a problem for Canon to add it if they can at the 5DMIII

In principle. If only Marketing believed in principles other than the Principle of Product Differentiation

The 6D might have clean HDMI out, but it may be more likely that Canon wants you to shell out for a 5DIII if that feature is critical to you...

 

[schmidtfilme]

My question was only referring to the HDMI out.
In principle it shouldn't be a problem for Canon to add it if they can at the 5DMIII

In principle. If only Marketing believed in principles other than the Principle of Product Differentiation

The 6D might have clean HDMI out, but it may be more likely that Canon wants you to shell out for a 5DIII if that feature is critical to you...

Sure I get that - Just was interested if something leaked about it. D600 has it. Just saying.

 

[Velo Steve]

April?

I'm expecting to have some of the most amazing photographic opportunities of my life in February. Does it really take that long to add a feature for the 5D III which already is figured out for the 1D series? I only care about the autofocus change.

Maybe they're just trying to torture me .

 

[Marsu42]

Sure I get that - Just was interested if something leaked about it. D600 has it. Just saying.

If Magic Lantern was able to unlock it on the 5d3 *and* Ml will run on the 6d at all it is likely that they can port this feature, too - the cameras aren't that much different as far as the firmware goes, they all use functions of the digic cpu which is the same on all models.

Maybe they're just trying to torture me .

That's the way it works - early adopters have to pay a premium. So get a 1dx or a better paying job, will you

 

[DMITPHOTO]

6 months canon >.< hahaha I just bought a 1d4 for the f8 autofocus because the 5d3 didn't have it lmfao and they are going to enable it on the 5d but I have to wait 6 months... That's ridiculous lol

 

[Marsu42]

If only Marketing believed in principles other than the Principle of Product Differentiation

... and they just succeeded: The 5d3 was known to have the same af system as the 1dx, now it hasn't anymore since the servo indicators make a big difference.