Zoo Photos with 5D MIII

[pgsdeepak]

Hi Everyone -

Got to try a Canon 5D Mark III from CPS, to help my decision to buy it or the 6D. I have taken it to a zoo and took some pictures. Please check and share your comments. Hopefully it will help me to make up my mind and go for 5D MIII.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98679084@N00/sets/72157632995715763/

 

[rwmson]

I really like that lioness shot with the kid's reflection!

 

[canonball93]

You need to make up your own mind! Hasn't enough been said about both cameras for you to determine which one fits your needs. If you are really at a point where you can't chose one over the other, buy them both!!
Regards,
Canonball

 

[robbymack]

The shot of the female lion nd the kid is fantastic. Perfect moment!

To your dilemma, unless you need the af performance of the 5diii then IMHO the 6d is just as good, cheaper, and adds wifi and GPS (fwiw). For the record I own a 5diii and love it, but if I wasn't shooting sports on the weekends then I'd probably just as soon opt for a 6d.

 

[bchernicoff]

I love your pictures. I've not tried a 6D, but I think having 61 AF points to choose from in single point mode was critical to me nailing focus when using my 400mm f/2.8. All of these subjects were moving at the time I took these. I just don't see how I could have nailed focus without the Mk III.

 

[bchernicoff]

one more...

 

[sleepnever]

I agree with others that the shot of the lion with the child is fantastic! Great shot.

With regards to the camera, I don't know if one trip to the zoo would help you decide. It really comes down to what you want out of your camera. I moved from a T2i to the 5D3 because I wanted FF for wide angle, low light performance, better AF perf, weather sealing, etc. I love it and while I have come nowhere close to mastering the AF, it hasn't done me horribly wrong yet.

Here's a shot I took last saturday at our zoo with my 5D3 + 100-400. I was using the center point + surrounding in AI Focus through 3" of curved glass while this guy was on the move and the AF nailed it.


2013 Jaguar WPZ by sleepnever, on Flickr

I'll also be shooting a newborn and after that a roaming toddler around the house, so this will be great. The lack of AF system on my T2i and the 6D is why I went with the 5D3 in that area.

 

[MrFotoFool]

I do a lot of zoo photography. I have a 5D mk2, which is fine in most instances but with moving subjects the AI Servo focus is too slow unless the animal is walking fairly slowly. I imagine the 6D will have similar issues while the 5d mk3 has drastically improved autofocus. I would upgrade to mk3 myself if I could afford it, but I cannot.

So if you like doing a lot of moving animals, I think you might have regrets if you get the 6D. If you do mostly still animals (which the above samples seem to show) then I am sure the 6D is just as good and will leave extra money for you to donate to your zoo or wildlife conservation.

 

[sleepnever]

Beautiful shots bchernicoff !

 

[bchernicoff]

Beautiful shots bchernicoff !

Thanks! Credit to Color Efex Pro 4 for making the cheetah pics pop. I probably ought to re-edit the others at some point.

 

[unfocused]

I really like that lioness shot with the kid's reflection!

Yeah that's a great one. It's one of those shots that you can clean up with at the right photo contests. Good eye.

 

[steven kessel]

Those are terrific photos, simply great. And, I'm sure that the photographer contributed far more to these pictures than did the camera.

I have a Mark iii. I've said often that it doesn't make me a good photographer but it gives me the opportunity to be one. For me it's a case of total love. What I love most about the camera are its ability to suppress noise even at relatively high ISOs, its terrific dynamic range and, above all, its superb and very fast autofocus. I do mostly wildlife photography in the field and sometimes in zoos. I have the camera's autofocus more or less permanently set as a single point, centered, and in A1 Servo mode. That works brilliantly for me. Prior to getting this camera I'd never been able to capture birds on the wing. My other camera, a 7D, is outstanding but its autofocus just doesn't acquire objects quickly enough for my taste. But, the Mark iii is lightning fast and I've had lots of success with it. Most of the time I team mine up with the 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS. It's a winning combination for me.

So, if you can afford it buy it. You will not have buyer's remorse.

 

[PhotographAdventure]

Beautiful shots bchernicoff !

Thanks! Credit to Color Efex Pro 4 for making the cheetah pics pop. I probably ought to re-edit the others at some point.

Yeah, some of those shots are epic! I haven't been to a zoo in years, but if I do go sometime those are the shots I would want to bring home with me. Not sure if I could capture it though.