Introducing the Canon 5D Mark III

[psolberg]

looks as expected. faster, better AF (as if that was hard), improved high ISO performance in line with industry advances and slight tweaks. a worthy update but nothing revolutionary. this is an evolution/refinement to address prior shortcomings.

No 1080p60 or uncompressed HDMI? glaring omissions. No the video revolution from the 5DII. This clearly shows canon wants top dollar for top video. Get you C line wallet ready.

Old metering sensor which doesn't recongnize subjects and aids in AF is a HUGE letdown IMO for a camera with such capable AF and framerate. this was off course crippled by design. This isn't your baby 1DX.

lack of f/8 capable AF is expected as the sensor is the same the 1DX has. and further proof the 1DX can't focus at f/8 no matter how much people think it will. If it could, this camera would have done it. It's a hardware issue, not firmware.

finally, 1 more MP. I guess it is better than nothing.

cool camera buy my jaw ain't dropping at 3500 bucks.

 

[sublime LightWorks]

Samples are here
http://cweb.canon.jp/camera/eosd/5dmk3/samples/

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/inside_canon_eos_5d_mark_iii.do

Image portfolio in the latter complements the former.

Astonishing image quality samples undisputably far better than the MkII, sheer joy to have such power at hand for the price, over and above the term "enthusiast's level", I'm glad they didn't fall for the megapixel race, I'm ordering one before they change their mind and give us back the MkII!

Some note from Planet5D and their hands on and comparing the 5D3 to the 1Dx:

The stills we were shown were significantly better than the 5D2 – the noise levels were reduced and at the higher ISOs the color was better. The Canon EOS-1D X is even better still. It has 1 stop better but the pixels are also a bit larger because the Canon EOS-1D X is only 18mp.

Said this over the past 2 weeks that the 1Dx would have the better IQ. 5D3 looks better than the 5D2, but there was no way on God's Green Earth that Canon was going to let the 5D3 surpass the 1Dx in IQ.

 

[noodles]

New DPP is available for download now.

I can't find it on the Canon USA website. Do you have a link?

 

[melbournite]

Can someone explain to me why it's hundreds of dollars more in Canada even though the exchange is almost identical?

camera prices have nothing to do with exchange rates.

besides, you're lucky! if the US price of $3,500 were converted to AUD it would be $3,244 (according to Google), but here the body alone is going for $4,200...!

I figure that since I have plans to buy this camera, and the new 24-70 II, and the new 600EX, and maybe event the WFT-E7, it might be worth while doing a trip to the states, having a short break and picking them all up there? I figure that if the aussie exchange rate stays where it is, i might save money even after paying for the air fares? Anyone interested in a shopping trip?

 

[BRNexus6]

I saw a 1080p clip on youtube and the footage looks solid.

 

[King Conquer]

sticking with the Mark II

 

[Cinnamon]

My 5D in 'Auto ISO' can only go up to 3200, and I have to manually select anything above 3200? Are they wrong, or is there something I've been doing wrong all this time?

What they mean is, that *you* can select up to 6400 all the time, but the *camera* will only select up to 3200 in auto. You have to set a Custom Function for *you* to be able to select 12k. Same as my 7D, custom functions get me to 6k and 12k, but auto is only ever 3200.
My sister's 550d, and my mum's pentax ist*dl and new k5 all let you set a min-max range for auto ISO, but my 7D doesn't. I hope that's finally coming to the expensive models...

Thank you for the quick response, dr croubie!

 

[dswatson83]

I must say I think Canon is going a bit high on the prices lately with the 5D Mark III, new flash, and 24-70. I still think they will sell plenty of the Mark III since it's such a great camera though I don't think they will see high sales on the 24-70mm f/2.8L II. As a 60D shooter looking to upgrade to full frame, the Mark III is WAY more expensive than I was looking though I have a concern with buying the Mark II. The Mark II is still a great camera but I feel like that greatness is only going to last another year. Once a new 7D hits, the Mark II will be lost similar to the Nikon D300 when the D7000 came out. It will go down in value FAST ($1000+ in the next 3 years) and be very difficult to sell. I feel like in 3 years, the Mark III will still be worth within $700 of the purchase price and still be a popular item for resale. As such, I would be better off financially when I sell or upgrade and get the benefit of a better body. Where am I wrong

 

[DJL329]

Very happy after several years of waiting but why did they not put in a rotating back display??????

Weather sealing, perhaps? ??? I realize it's not a 1D series body, but it's not a Rebel, either.

The additional cost is another possible factor.

 

[MazV-L]

Sorry if I've missed it but anyone know the flash sync speed?

According to here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/professional_cameras/digital_slr_cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii#Specifications
X-Sync is 1/200s

Thankyou for finding that information. This does disappoint me alittle as even my 50D is 1/250s.

However the 5Diii sounds like a great camera in other respects, it's on my shopping list and am looking forward to experimenting with the multiple-exposure function and testing it's low-light strengths in particular!

 

[fotoray]

Pre-ordered my 5D3/24-105 today from Amazon. From what I've read they should be shipping by the end of March.

I bought the 7D when it first came out and like it a lot, especially the AF, 8fps, and friendly controls. However, I had the opportunity to use a 5D2 and have wanted a FF ever since. The 5D3 upgrades the AF (nearly same as 1DX) and has controls layout almost the same as 7D. I like the new location of the DOF preview button - makes much more sense. Looking forward to using new multiple exposure capabilities - about time Canon. And HDR seems to allow in-camera processing and/or save for later in Photomatix or PS.

I'm jazzed!!!

 

[jdavis37]

Why still no AF point linked spot metering :'( :'( :'(

This is part of the Canon heritage. years ago when other manufacturers were putting ISO in the viewfinder, Canon resisted and kept that feature locked to the 1 series. Now the people who bought the 1 series were glad to ahve their investment protected ( how do you think the Nikon D3 people felt when the D700 + grip came out? is why there was never a D700S camera).

That said, I find the lack of a spot meter to track with the selected Af indicator to be the single biggest irritation my 7D brings me. And find it lame that a $3500 camera cannot do that given 41199 nikons can. Just a rant.. not dissing Canon as I have had Canon since 1980. But at this price point I think this is a feature they should have afforded the 5D to have.

The 5D3 looks like a FF 7DMkII though it would not surprise me for Canon to leave the 19 pt Af in the 7DMKII in order to protect the 5d3 buyers. Canon has a history of protecting the upper cameras by not sharing features. trouble is other manufacturers are more willing to share. 5d is 4500 more than D800 and appears to be less weather sealed, features like the spot meter, the D800 offers the full nikon best Af module, etc. Perhaps the 5d will have some advantages such as it accepts Canon lens mounts. But it does make one wonder how long can Canon do what theya re doing( in recent days their lenses are considerably more expensive than Nikon's.. $11K for a 400 f2.8 Canon 8.9K for Nikon's ) and now their camera bodies cost more. I guess as long as sales stay up.. like gas prices!

 

[JoeDavid]

1D X AF sensor layout = +1
No spot AF listed in any of the specs = -1
In camera HDR function = +1 (if it works)
In camera HDR outputs a JPEG only = -1
Two card slots = +1
One of them is an SD, not two CF = -1 (for me at least)
Better metering than the 5DM2 = +1
Vastly inferior metering than the 1D X = -1
Canon's sample images look better than the 5DM2 = +1
Canon's sample images from the 1D X look sharper in the "in focus" areas = -1 (stronger AA filter perhaps for video?)
6FPS = +1 (compared to 5DM2)
Crazy high price = -1

So far I'm adding it up to be a zero. The funny thing to me is that, if you read through the CPN information on the Canon-Europe site, they reference features "first introduced in the 1D X". Wouldn't the 1D X have to actually be available before the 5DM3 to make that statement! Late March versus late April; hummm...

 

[Martin]

AF point-linked spot metering not provided......no comment!

 

[MazV-L]

1D X AF sensor layout = +1
No spot AF listed in any of the specs = -1
In camera HDR function = +1 (if it works)
In camera HDR outputs a JPEG only = -1
Two card slots = +1
One of them is an SD, not two CF = -1 (for me at least)
Better metering than the 5DM2 = +1
Vastly inferior metering than the 1D X = -1
Canon's sample images look better than the 5DM2 = +1
Canon's sample images from the 1D X look sharper in the "in focus" areas = -1 (stronger AA filter perhaps for video?)
6FPS = +1 (compared to 5DM2)
Crazy high price = -1

So far I'm adding it up to be a zero. The funny thing to me is that, if you read through the CPN information on the Canon-Europe site, they reference features "first introduced in the 1D X". Wouldn't the 1D X have to actually be available before the 5DM3 to make that statement! Late March versus late April; hummm...

No spot AF, really

 

[JoeDavid]

1D X AF sensor layout = +1
No spot AF listed in any of the specs = -1
.
.
.

No spot AF, really

I didn't find it mentioned anywhere in the specs or in the technical info at Canon Europe:

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/inside_canon_eos_5d_mark_iii.do

Unless I missed it. I'd love to be proven wrong...

 

[MazV-L]

1D X AF sensor layout = +1
No spot AF listed in any of the specs = -1
.
.
.

No spot AF, really

I didn't find it mentioned anywhere in the specs or in the technical info at Canon Europe:

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/inside_canon_eos_5d_mark_iii.do

Unless I missed it. I'd love to be proven wrong...

Actually it does have spot AF and metering, Phew! (check out Necator's link on page 6)

 

[JoeDavid]

Actually it does have spot AF and metering, Phew! (check out Necator's link on page 6)
[/quote]

Thanks I missed it. I guess that's +1. It's really +2 becuase I left out the improved bracketing capability in the original post.

 

[nschwarz]

We shall have to see what the picture quality is compared to the Nikon D800.
So far we are being asked to pay more for less MP, No built in flash and no autofocus during video mode.
The D800 is looking like a tough competitor. Shame that Canon is charging a premium.

 

[jdavis37]

Actually it does have spot AF and metering, Phew! (check out Necator's link on page 6)

Thanks I missed it. I guess that's +1. It's really +2 becuase I left out the improved bracketing capability in the original post.
[/quote]

This isn't what some of us have been expressing our disappointment about. Yes the 5D3 has spot metering. yes it has Spot AF. Identical to the 7D.

it does NOT however have spot metering tied to the AF sensor: Per the link provided by Necator on Page 6):

·AF point-linked spot metering not provided.

This probably won't be an issue for many people, but for those who use spot metering often it creates issues. The spot meter in the 5D is linked to the center Af sensor only.

Thus if you move to a different sensor while shooting in spot metering mode, your exposure can do all kinds of whacky things ranging from complete overexposure or underexposure. This omission is magnified by fact very inexpensive bodies made by other manufacturers provide AF point linked spot metering.

Not to rant or jump off a cliff or anything but this is a lame decision on Canon's part IMHO. The body is $3500. It is not entry level. But Canon has always worked hard to protect its 1 series and this may well be another example

On other hand the 1D-X:

AF point-linked spot metering (Custom Function)
-Linkable to all AF points.

This sounds like a firmware crippling of the feature on the 5D3 unless it is tied to the metering hardware (which it could because it sounds like the 5D3 is using the 7D metering system).

Am really not bashing the 5D3.. am sure it will be a very good camera. I just cannot figure out Canon's marketing at times but am sure they know what they are doing.

This is from the Nikon D7000 specifications:

Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5 % of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)

An $1199 body and it has this feature.