Hot on the heels of the Nikon D800, The Canon 5D Mark III will hit tomorrow for $3499

40 Comments

1. Nikon D800 with Standard ISO of 6400. Its a cheap piece of junk like most of the Nikon crap that’s made in Thailand. 36 MP is great, pitty they don’t make the sensor themselves. Pixel count is high thanks to Sony. The nikon fan boys are spitting their lattes all over their Mac Book Pro keyboards right now. LOL! Nikon begged borrowed and stolen parts from sony and poorly constructed in Thailand by shemales.

2. 2 Things surprise me in the discussions: With high iso, people only look at noise. I’m not interested in noise. With good RAW processing, you turn noise to a nice grain. First ask yourself: how many high-iso shots do you make (wedding parties do not counts as valid, as they end at 640×480 pixels on Facebook)? So high-iso is not as important as you might think. Look at the D800 samples at 25600 iso: the D-range is amazing. They say the D800 has a larger version of the D7000 sensor: The D7000 is king of D-range at the moment, and even beats a Phase One 90 mpixel camera!. The 5DmkIII will have much cleaner high-iso, but it will be much duller too. Less brilliance, less dynamics.

   The second thing is the OOHS and AAHS about the 36 mpixel over the top resolution: YOU DON”T NEED TO USE IT. Nikon offers a very professional set of croppings, down samples and aspects. You can do 4×5 aspect at 30 mpixel for high quality fashion that would normally require MF camera’s, but also 9 Mpixel wedding shots in dark parties if you are unfortunate to earn money with that crap. If you extrapolate the scores on DXO, the D800 will earn the highest sensor score of all camera’s, including all current MF listings! The 5D will not match that. So the D800 is going to offer a very nice range of options: from high res landscape and fashion, to very pleasing high-iso.

3. The high iso looks excellent on the 5Dmk3, as does the AF. The price is too high for me, £3000 in the UK and as I’d want a pair to replace my 5Dmk2’s that’s a lot of cash. I will wait and see if the price drops once the dust settles. The 5D2 is around £1600 here, so the new camera is almost twice as much.

   I didn’t have any issues with the auto focus on the 5D2, so it’s only the improvement in high iso that interests me.

4. My ideal DSLR kit would be a 24/1.4 and a 50/1.4, and maybe a 85/1.8. A 5D3 kit and a D800 kit would cost almost exactly the same now (when the 5D2 was discounted before, Canon was almost a grand cheaper) – I really don’t know which one I’d go with.
   Ultimately, it would probably depend on 3200-6400 quality at equivalent output sizes.

5. Each time I read re-read the specs, or read another pre-view, I seem to learn something new to like about the 5D3. One thing for sure, is that I am glad I skipped buying a 5D2 when that window of opportunity was open, and instead bought a pre-owned 5D1, which enabled me to afford several lens and flash purchases. It is still too early for me to know whether I will buy a 5D3; my photography may change direction, to Leica or another brand, or I may deem my 5D1 and 7D cameras sufficient for my needs for the duration of the 5D3 production cycle, or I may look past the 5D3, to the 1D level. If my photogrqpghy earned money, the decision would be easier, but though I do perform photographic duties at work, I am not paid more money just because “picture” is added to my job title. A cropped-frame DSLR is adequate for evidentiary photography.

6. If I started fresh today, I would buy the D800 for sure! Built-in flash, 14-24G, 28-300G and resolution would be the reasons for that. I would probably miss my 85L but thats about it.

   I see no reason to switch to either camera as I already own 5D Mark II and a bunch of lenses. Also have m4/3 setup that I tend to use more and more.

7. I dont get why people are ‘disappointed’ with the specs. I would have traded half the resolution of the mk2 for twice the light sensitivity and a half-decent AF. Now we essentially get a mk2 that works in the dark. that is a worthy upgrade

8. Like the frog in the slowly-warming stewpot, I think I’m noticing a pattern. For the last two years or so, it seems that every new camera, from every manufacturer, is just a little more expensive than everyone thinks it should be. And the prices aren’t coming down over time; the X100, for instance, is still $1200, after a year on the market.
   Prices always go up, but it seems to be happening faster recently.
   I’m not suggesting that there’s some grand conspiracy, but there’s something going on with exchange rates or labor costs or something.
   Anybody here actually know anything about the economics?

   • Most of these cameras, in one way or another, come out of Japan and their YEN has been insanely strong post financial crash, making their exports more expensive.

9. I am a bit disappointed with the 5D mk3 as well, at least at the quoted price. If Canon held the price roughly constant this level of improvement would have been almost worthwhile. Based on Moore’s Law the performance should have doubled or the price reduced by half.

   Even the announced price reduction on the mk2 is a disappointment.

   PaulB

10. I’m stumped by the negative views expressed here.

    The 5DIII will have a vastly superior autofocus system compared with the woeful autofocus on the Mark II.

    It also has dual card slots – a great bonus for any pro.

    It has better weather sealing.

    Image quality will no doubt be a step forward.

    In addition its use for video has been improved.

    Those are pretty big improvements.

    Whether they’re big enough for you, only you can decide. But to say that this camera isn’t a step forward is, I think, not right.

    Roger

    • But Roger, Nikon has had all of these for years! I don’t think the upgrades in the 5DIII is reason enough for most to spend the $3500 and upgrade from the 5DII. I’ll go with the Nikon D800!

11. can’t wait to read your comparison of the MkIII and the D800. I’m a film maker and will buy one of these cameras… but I need the down and dirty before dropping all that coin. Would love to hear what you have to say about the video capabilities of both. love your reviews!

    • Thanks! I plan on having photo and video testing…

12. The parade of new cameras is dizzying and non-ending. Love my Leica M7 and M6 TTL and that’s where I’m staying. All of this new gear is not going to make me a better photographer. It’s just enriching a plethora of camera/lens companies. However, my love for Olympus cameras will force me to buy the new Olympus OM-D. Will sell some “gear” to buy the Olympus. But, that’s where it ends.

    • lovely lovely olympus primes. I am VERY happy with the micro4/3 prime lenses. oly 45. panaleica 25, pana 20, pana 14. lovey lovely lovely. looking forward to the 75 oly. (the 12mm is too expensive for me as I do have a 14 which does not compare of course). I got the pana G3, but you’ll be VERY happy with an oly, recommended it to some friends (epl1,2,3) all very happy including me, getting those nice pictures to see 🙂

13. I didn’t think the image quality differed that much from a 5D1 to a 5D2. The files were larger but really not that much better. Just bigger versions of the same look. High ISO is a different story but I really don’t shoot higher than 400 anyway. I’m not seeing much advancement again in the samples given from Canon. I’m really very underwhelmed by the camera and was looking forward to something big.

    The samples are soft and lack micro contrast and detail.

    Wake T.F.Up Canon.

14. This is a very good evolution of the already existing 5dm2, which is a pretty good job. However, I don’t like the fact that they jacked up the price from 2000-2500usd to 3500usd.

    Just like how they did with the 7D. In my view, 7D was supposed to be called 60D, as it is just some advancements over 50D but instead they called it the 7D. The price went from ~1200usd to ~1900usd and 60D was released as a dumbed down model from 50D.

    Maybe they’ll also release a sub-2000usd FF DSLR too. If they don’t, I’ll lose my hopes that Sony would release a sub-2000usd FF camera, because with D800 being at 3000usd, there’s no reason for Sony to not to price their A99 at 2500-3000usd.

15. WOW! very surprising for the not many improvements on the canon new camera, 5d mark iii. Good luck to waste your 3.5k.

16. It’s for real… Canon Australia’s press release today.

    http://www.canon.com.au/About-Canon/News-Events/News-Press-Releases/IMR-EOS-5D-Mark-III

17. It’s for real… on the Canon Australia site.

    http://www.canon.com.au/About-Canon/News-Events/News-Press-Releases/IMR-EOS-5D-Mark-III

18. I was really pumped to see Canon’s answer to the D800 but am unimpressed with the specs I’ve seen so far. I think I’ll have to wait for a few reviews to come out before I’ll drop 3K+ for what seems to be marginal upgrades to the MKII. Hopefully the new Canon turns out to be exceptional because I’m in need of a new full frame but don’t want to switch my glass to Nikon. We’ll see.

19. DP review have a hands on preview up now

20. It took them 3 years to fit their 1 series AF to their 5 series camera? Canon shooters can only hope the new sensor is a stop improvement in high iso….

21. Personally, I think this is a bit of an unfair poll since we’re comparing the known D800 vs speculation. We don’t really know what to expect from Canon until they actually announce it. The 5D is definitely due for refresh though, being almost 4 years old…

22. I’m stuck. The Mk III just doesn’t move me. In any way. I’m primarily a ‘canon person,’ but i also have Nikon film bodies. The D800 DOES move me. If i were starting from scratch, and didn’t factor in the lenses, i’d definitely go with the Nikon. But, the glass is the thing, and i vastly prefer Canon’s primes, for bokeh concerns alone. If i bought the Nikon, i’d end up using Sigma’s 50 and 85mm lenses and being dissatisfied with the Nikon 35 and 28…. I’m definitely interested in the purported Canon 50/1.8 and 35/2 with IS….

    This is what I want from Canon:
    A 5DMkII-sized body. With an articulating screen. 1D-ish AF. 33MP. And get rid of the ‘idiot knob.’ Replace that UGLY amateur dial with something that looks like someone from Contax designed it, or the 1-series button set.

23. Right now we just have numbers. I want to read some hands on reviews before making any decision.

24. Seems like more of a refinement: evolution vs revolution. I am more compelled to be curious about the D800E but will wait for the dust to settle on this. I have long since left Canon for Leica, and this camera doesn’t excite me that much….

25. I’m more curious about the video specs. Doesn’t say above.

26. I like the fact that they fixed the AF!!! 61 point system. Good time to buy a 5dmk2 as it will drop. It’s already at $1.900 on canon website.

27. I vote for Nikon as I don’t like Canon (being a Olympus E5 User). However, what is Good about the Canon is that they left it at 22MP. 38MP is just over the Top for a DSLR.

    Btw my chrome M9P arrives Tomorrow

    B

28. Looks like the high resolution champ for landscape photographers remains with Nikon.

29. Better low light focusing, high Iso and twin slots. If it has all of those I will stay with Canon. Otherwise…..

    Cheers.

    Dav

30. I sold my 5D2 about a year ago and it looks like I’m not going back to Canon anytime soon. Only things that stood out for me were

    61-point high-density reticular AF (up to 41 crosstype points)
    Silent & low vibration modes

    But they are not enough for me to go back.

    • I had a Canon 5d II and although it made beatiful photos very rich in color, I sold it quite quickly because many shots were out of focus as the AF could not keep up. So hope this AF is a lot better.

31. I don’t see a killer feature. So I am with Chris, no point in upgrading judging from the figures so far.

32. For me to dump the 5d2 and eat the extra $2000 or so between what I’ll get for the 5d2 vs cost of the 5d3 — this needs needs a healthy bump in DR and IQ and it needs to have smarter video processing to eliminate rolling shutter, otherwise the upgrade is marginal. The quality of the video may sway me, but that’s a tough pill to swallow with my heart set on a Nex7 or an Xpro1 as a portable DSLR alternative. I do like the headphone jack though, sure wish the 5d2 had one…

    • Ditto

33. High ISO capability! And smaller and lighter than a MkII? Looks a bit smaller.

    • Mark III is slightly taller than Mark II

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