DPReview 5D3 review out

[psolberg]

DP review summary score graph (bottom of conclusions page):

Build Quality -Tie
Ergonomics - Tie
Features - 5DmkIII win
Metering/Focus System - Tie
Image Quality (raw) - D800 win
Image Quality (jpg) - D800 win
Low light/high ISO performance - D800 win
Viewfinder/Screen -Tie
Performance - 5DmkIII win
Movie/Video - D800 win
Value - D800 win.

D800 total wins: 5
5DmkIII wins: 2

Technically the D800 has a higher score if you sum and average all the bars, but apparently that's not how DP review calculates the overall score...very strange...or maybe they weren't willing to deal with the amount of fanboy mail from angry canon people that are too inmature to accept these are just tools? : I guess giving both the same score is the most logical choice. Or maybe it would be best to take the score out from every camera since it is clearly fudged to tell people what they want to hear. ;D

But regardless, this pretty much matches my own experience with the D800 having ACTUALLY USED one for several weeks now. I know, crazy idea, considering I can fully evaulate the D800 by reading to message boards and seeing 100% crops right .

Both are very close but at the end of the day choice comes down to the personal needs and expectations of each photographer. In my case, a mere 2 fps and a few more ISO stops which are barrely up to my standard of usable just aren't enough to keep me with canon. Not to mention the soft video output and lack of 4:2:2 output of the 5DmkIII was a huge letdown.

I'll be looking forward the 5Dmk4 and D900 to address the remaining weak points of each camera. For now, I got 3 years of D800 images ahead of me.

life goes on 8)

 

[awinphoto]

A very good and thorough review. A few things I did see, on the dr tests, if you turn off ALO for canon and the Nikon equivalent, the DR is pretty much equal with each other. Secondly a Pentax and the 7d scored better than both the 5d3 and the d800 which raises some eyebrows. I understand everything is based off each other, supposedly, and the 7d was groundbreaking at the time, but, to say the 7d is better than the 5d3.... A stretch

 

[traveller]

A very good and thorough review. A few things I did see, on the dr tests, if you turn off ALO for canon and the Nikon equivalent, the DR is pretty much equal with each other. Secondly a Pentax and the 7d scored better than both the 5d3 and the d800 which raises some eyebrows. I understand everything is based off each other, supposedly, and the 7d was groundbreaking at the time, but, to say the 7d is better than the 5d3.... A stretch

From what I read, I think that the graphs on DPR are based upon jpeg output, which would not give you a true impression of the D800's legendary ability to recover shadow detail.

 

[niccyboy]

Meh. I love the mk3.

The Nikon ergonomics aren't there for me. Might be my weird hands, but i shoot 50% of the time with d3x's (Clients choice) and 50% with Canon mk3s (my choice).

In my opinion the AF, Low light capabilities, rate button and dual slots made it the perfect upgrade for me from a mk2...

However i wouldn't think it's good enough to upgrade from a 1dsmk3.... and i don't think it's bad enough to swap to a d800.

I found the 3 part video series that was posted the other day to be a great analysis of the two cameras. Especially the video quality of the d800 vs mk3.

 

[tomscott]

I still dont understand the need to swap... but each to their own.

DR is useful but I will continue to raise the point that if you are a good photographer, your exposures should be correct out of camera.

 

[jalbfb]

Oh, those crazy 5D3 people. Another server on the verge of collapse because of apparent overwhelming interest. I just died several times over a 15 minute period to see their review of the Canon %D Mark III and I get as message that the server can't handle the present volume try again later. De ja vu, all over again.

 

[PhilDrinkwater]

DP review summary score graph (bottom of conclusions page):

Build Quality -Tie
Ergonomics - Tie
Features - 5DmkIII win
Metering/Focus System - Tie
Image Quality (raw) - D800 win
Image Quality (jpg) - D800 win
Low light/high ISO performance - D800 win
Viewfinder/Screen -Tie
Performance - 5DmkIII win
Movie/Video - D800 win
Value - D800 win.

D800 total wins: 5
5DmkIII wins: 2

I personally don't care how many points each camera gets. However, reviews should be fair and honest.

I believe the 5d3 has a much better screen - even Nikon people say that. High ISO is also better on the 5d3. Video (when tested by proper videographers) is a win for 5d3. Most seem to say that the ergonomics (ie. how the body feels in the hand) is better on the 5d3 too. In fact one Nikon guy I know said he'd take his d3x to a wedding next time as it made his hand ache.

I don't have an issue with any of the other points.

In the end, we all know the capabilities of both cameras inside and out now.

 

[awinphoto]

A very good and thorough review. A few things I did see, on the dr tests, if you turn off ALO for canon and the Nikon equivalent, the DR is pretty much equal with each other. Secondly a Pentax and the 7d scored better than both the 5d3 and the d800 which raises some eyebrows. I understand everything is based off each other, supposedly, and the 7d was groundbreaking at the time, but, to say the 7d is better than the 5d3.... A stretch

From what I read, I think that the graphs on DPR are based upon jpeg output, which would not give you a true impression of the D800's legendary ability to recover shadow detail.

Could be... Their page doesn't specify raw or jpeg... Looking at it again, it wasn't ALO, it was HTP for canon (my bad) and ADL for nikon... turning both off makes it pretty much equal and turning them on, (high for nikon) gains them 1-2 stops extra shadow detail while on the opposite side, canon gains an extra stop of highlight detail. In theory, jumping on the assumption that they are both raw, or both jpeg or both the same output type, the nikon would have half to a full stop more DR than canon, not the 2+ stops that Dx0 suggests, however eitherway doesn't make a bit of difference to me. If you get confirmation either way on what file type they used, feel free to post later on. As to phildrinkwater, i tend to agree with your observations in contrast to DPR's conclusions, but in the end it is what it is... It's a mix of objective and subjective findings and I think overall other than their jpeg findings, they were happy with what they got to test out.

 

[K-amps]

I just love the sound of the 5Diii's mirror/ shutter clinking... can't put a rating on that

 

[kevl]

Its interesting that when doing a direct comparison to the 7D the metering and focusing accuracy and the ergonomics and handling are rated much higher than the 5D3. When the 5D3 is very similar in handling if not I would say better, and with the better metering I would say the 5D is better there too.

More reason to think that things are is slipping.

I tried comparing it to the T3i and found the T3i won in several areas... I don't think that is the case. If so then the 5D3 is grossly overpriced.

Kev

 

[K-amps]

Its interesting that when doing a direct comparison to the 7D the metering and focusing accuracy and the ergonomics and handling are rated much higher than the 5D3. When the 5D3 is very similar in handling if not I would say better, and with the better metering I would say the 5D is better there too.

More reason to think that things are is slipping.

I tried comparing it to the T3i and found the T3i won in several areas... I don't think that is the case. If so then the 5D3 is grossly overpriced.

Kev

And that is probably my only gripe with the 5D3.... it IS overpriced and Nikon showed it to them.

 

[psolberg]

DP review summary score graph (bottom of conclusions page):

Build Quality -Tie
Ergonomics - Tie
Features - 5DmkIII win
Metering/Focus System - Tie
Image Quality (raw) - D800 win
Image Quality (jpg) - D800 win
Low light/high ISO performance - D800 win
Viewfinder/Screen -Tie
Performance - 5DmkIII win
Movie/Video - D800 win
Value - D800 win.

D800 total wins: 5
5DmkIII wins: 2

I personally don't care how many points each camera gets. However, reviews should be fair and honest.

I believe the 5d3 has a much better screen - even Nikon people say that. High ISO is also better on the 5d3. Video (when tested by proper videographers) is a win for 5d3. Most seem to say that the ergonomics (ie. how the body feels in the hand) is better on the 5d3 too. In fact one Nikon guy I know said he'd take his d3x to a wedding next time as it made his hand ache.

I don't have an issue with any of the other points.

In the end, we all know the capabilities of both cameras inside and out now.

for a video review by videographers, go to Phillip Bloom's site.

http://philipbloom.net/2012/05/13/fullframeshootout/

he fairly exposes the flaws on the 5DIII and why it isn't the best video dslr because of its soft output. Likewises he looks into the D800 and concludes it does a lot of things better but also has a few flaws. Yes the 5DIII is better for low light, but to put a blanket statment that it is better all the time would ignore that the D800 edgest it out on detail and uncompressed footage option.

there is not such thing as a "win" for either camera. it is just a question of what matters to you. If you shoot motion, nature, details, the D800 is the way to go. If you shoot a lot of dark footage, 5DIII will be better suited. As Bloom concludes, neither camera scores a win overall ;D and yes he is a videographer, and a canon videographer so he should know right 8)

lastly "some say" doesn't mean anything useful. Having actually used a D800, I guess I'll be part of the "some" that say it feels great, as good as the 5DIII. So there, "some recenly switched to nikon guy" just contradicted "some other nikon guy with a D3x" 8) That's the problem with obscure anecdotal evidence of "some guy" who is a "friend of a friend that knows some guy that told him".

Don't put weight on such silly comments. They are best taken as noise.

 

[Marsu42]

In a sign of their political awareness, the 5D3 scored the same (82%) as the D800.

I guess they were concerned about either group ddos'ing their website or lynch the pets of the reviewers.

DP review summary score graph (bottom of conclusions page):
D800 total wins: 5
5DmkIII wins: 2

I don't think boiling down the differences to simple "wins" is adequate, but reduces complexity too much in contrast to "usage scenarios". But this and the final scores at least point in the direction I hope Canon will accept sooner or later: Pricing the 5d3 as it is and esp. in contrast to the d800 was too greedy.

 

[awinphoto]

But this and the final scores at least point in the direction I hope Canon will accept sooner or later: Pricing the 5d3 as it is and esp. in contrast to the d800 was too greedy.

Asians being greedy with money??? I thought that was an american trait... oh nevermind

 

[Marsu42]

Asians being greedy with money??? I thought that was an american trait... oh nevermind

"Learn from the winners" ... oh, the Americans aren't winning ... but so aren't the Europeans or Germans, I only see Japanese dlsrs around.

 

[V8Beast]

"Learn from the winners" ... oh, the Americans aren't winning

Ahem, Americans are beating everyone in the obesity department

 

[awinphoto]

"Learn from the winners" ... oh, the Americans aren't winning

Ahem, Americans are beating everyone in the obesity department

We're #1, We're #1 haha

 

[AAPhotog]

DP review summary score graph (bottom of conclusions page):

Build Quality -Tie
Ergonomics - Tie
Features - 5DmkIII win
Metering/Focus System - Tie
Image Quality (raw) - D800 win
Image Quality (jpg) - D800 win
Low light/high ISO performance - D800 win
Viewfinder/Screen -Tie
Performance - 5DmkIII win
Movie/Video - D800 win
Value - D800 win.

D800 total wins: 5
5DmkIII wins: 2

I personally don't care how many points each camera gets. However, reviews should be fair and honest.

I believe the 5d3 has a much better screen - even Nikon people say that. High ISO is also better on the 5d3. Video (when tested by proper videographers) is a win for 5d3. Most seem to say that the ergonomics (ie. how the body feels in the hand) is better on the 5d3 too. In fact one Nikon guy I know said he'd take his d3x to a wedding next time as it made his hand ache.

I don't have an issue with any of the other points.

In the end, we all know the capabilities of both cameras inside and out now.

for a video review by videographers, go to Phillip Bloom's site.

http://philipbloom.net/2012/05/13/fullframeshootout/

he fairly exposes the flaws on the 5DIII and why it isn't the best video dslr because of its soft output. Likewises he looks into the D800 and concludes it does a lot of things better but also has a few flaws. Yes the 5DIII is better for low light, but to put a blanket statment that it is better all the time would ignore that the D800 edgest it out on detail and uncompressed footage option.

there is not such thing as a "win" for either camera. it is just a question of what matters to you. If you shoot motion, nature, details, the D800 is the way to go. If you shoot a lot of dark footage, 5DIII will be better suited. As Bloom concludes, neither camera scores a win overall ;D and yes he is a videographer, and a canon videographer so he should know right 8)

lastly "some say" doesn't mean anything useful. Having actually used a D800, I guess I'll be part of the "some" that say it feels great, as good as the 5DIII. So there, "some recenly switched to nikon guy" just contradicted "some other nikon guy with a D3x" 8) That's the problem with obscure anecdotal evidence of "some guy" who is a "friend of a friend that knows some guy that told him".

Don't put weight on such silly comments. They are best taken as noise.

Yes, Bloom said it was soft in camera. but he also said in more than one place that the footage is EXCELLENT when sharpening in post!

For a video review between the two
Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800 Part 3 with Chad Tweten

 

[FrutigerSans]

for a video review by videographers, go to Phillip Bloom's site.

http://philipbloom.net/2012/05/13/fullframeshootout/

he fairly exposes the flaws on the 5DIII and why it isn't the best video dslr because of its soft output. Likewises he looks into the D800 and concludes it does a lot of things better but also has a few flaws. Yes the 5DIII is better for low light, but to put a blanket statment that it is better all the time would ignore that the D800 edgest it out on detail and uncompressed footage option.

there is not such thing as a "win" for either camera. it is just a question of what matters to you. If you shoot motion, nature, details, the D800 is the way to go. If you shoot a lot of dark footage, 5DIII will be better suited. As Bloom concludes, neither camera scores a win overall ;D and yes he is a videographer, and a canon videographer so he should know right 8)

lastly "some say" doesn't mean anything useful. Having actually used a D800, I guess I'll be part of the "some" that say it feels great, as good as the 5DIII. So there, "some recenly switched to nikon guy" just contradicted "some other nikon guy with a D3x" 8) That's the problem with obscure anecdotal evidence of "some guy" who is a "friend of a friend that knows some guy that told him".

Don't put weight on such silly comments. They are best taken as noise.

you’re leaving out a lot of his opinions in your summary.

Like the ‘unusable’ (his words) level of moire in the D800 images - the fact that he had to stick in a custom, 3rd party AA filter into the D800 speaks volumes of just how bad it is. Or the fact that the D4 only has good output in 2.7x and not the usable FX and DX modes.

Or the fact that he’s also completely enamoured with the 5D3’s output AFTER its’ been sharpened in post. Anyone who has actually seen the video would see he the 5D3 files a lot for the mileage in post it gives him - sharpening without return artefacts or moire.

If you’re out to inform people, the least you could do is give a completely summary - an incomplete one is probably as devastating as those comments you classify as noise.

 

[Invertalon]

I took some video in faithful with 0 sharpening at all. The video is soft, but as stated above, sharpens well. Once I added sharpening, it looked really good.