Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review
October 2012 by Y. Haynes
Review based on Factory Canon EOS 5D Mark III with firmware v1.1.2
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/7/0/16706106/2619593.png?504)
FROM THE EOS 650 THE
5D MARK III…
Canon released the EOS 650 worldwide in 1987. It had a fully electric lens mount, in-lens aperture, focus motors, and reliance on electric button and dial operation, Canon’s EOS system set the standard for all EOS Digital Cameras following. Now 25 years and many models later, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is the latest in the line.
Until recent, the 5D series has been the leader. The original EOS 5D of 2005 was the first ‘affordable’ full frame SLR, and the camera that cemented the 24x36mm sensor as the format of
choice for many professional applications at a time when many were questioning its continued relevance. The 5D Mark II was the first SLR capable of recording full High Definition video, the feature that changed the market in the most profound way, In a way that Canon never expected. At face value, the latest model seems unlikely to make the same impact.
5D MARK III…
Canon released the EOS 650 worldwide in 1987. It had a fully electric lens mount, in-lens aperture, focus motors, and reliance on electric button and dial operation, Canon’s EOS system set the standard for all EOS Digital Cameras following. Now 25 years and many models later, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is the latest in the line.
Until recent, the 5D series has been the leader. The original EOS 5D of 2005 was the first ‘affordable’ full frame SLR, and the camera that cemented the 24x36mm sensor as the format of
choice for many professional applications at a time when many were questioning its continued relevance. The 5D Mark II was the first SLR capable of recording full High Definition video, the feature that changed the market in the most profound way, In a way that Canon never expected. At face value, the latest model seems unlikely to make the same impact.
"the Mark III is really not a just a upgrade, but a complete overhaul"
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/7/0/16706106/1358567607.jpg)
Yes, the “5” name itself is almost misleading; compared to the Mark II, the Mark III is basically a completely new model, with every major system upgraded and updated.
In a way the 5D Mark III is better seen as a full-frame 7D, with that camera’s control layout, extensive customization options and 63-zone metering sensor. The 5D Mark III, gets a long list of additional tweaks and improvements in response to customer feedback:
In a way the 5D Mark III is better seen as a full-frame 7D, with that camera’s control layout, extensive customization options and 63-zone metering sensor. The 5D Mark III, gets a long list of additional tweaks and improvements in response to customer feedback:
Customer feedback
![d5 right side](/uploads/1/6/7/0/16706106/1358568264.jpg)
These range from *Dual Slots for CF and SD cards, through a *Locking Exposure Mode Dial, to a *Large Depth of Field Preview Button that’s repositioned for right-handed operation, and can be reprogrammed to access a number of other functions.
See below and find out how the 5D Mark III performs in our real-life tests, how we liked its handling and operation and if it is the right camera for your requirements and type of photography.
See below and find out how the 5D Mark III performs in our real-life tests, how we liked its handling and operation and if it is the right camera for your requirements and type of photography.
The Canon EOS 5D Mark III’s Main Specifications
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- 22MP full frame CMOS sensor
- ISO 100-25600 Standard, 50-102,800 expanded
- 6 fps continuous shooting Shutter rated to 150,000 frames
- 1080p 30 fps video recording, stereo sound via external mic
- 61 point AF system
- 63 zone iFCL metering system
- 100% viewfinder coverage
- 1040k dot 3:2 LCD
- Dual card slots for CF and SD
A side by side comparison of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EOS 5D Mark II
Most of the key specifications are seriously upgraded in comparison to the 5D Mark
II. *The new sensor, with Canon’s latest *DIGIC 5+ processor, offers a standard ISO range of 100 - 25,600 that’s expandable to 50 - 102,800. An *8-channel sensor readout enables continuous shooting at 6 fps. The *shutter is rated to 150,000 cycles and has been refined for quieter operation; the Mark III also inherits *the ‘silent’ shutter mode previously seen on the 1D-series. *Viewfinder coverage is a full 100%, and the 1040k dot, 3:2 aspect ratio 3.2” LCD screen has improved anti-reflection properties and a hardened glass cover to protect against scratching. And let’s not forget that* 61-point focus system from the 1DX - the first time Canon has put its top-spec AF sensor into a non-1-series camera since the film-era EOS 3.
II. *The new sensor, with Canon’s latest *DIGIC 5+ processor, offers a standard ISO range of 100 - 25,600 that’s expandable to 50 - 102,800. An *8-channel sensor readout enables continuous shooting at 6 fps. The *shutter is rated to 150,000 cycles and has been refined for quieter operation; the Mark III also inherits *the ‘silent’ shutter mode previously seen on the 1D-series. *Viewfinder coverage is a full 100%, and the 1040k dot, 3:2 aspect ratio 3.2” LCD screen has improved anti-reflection properties and a hardened glass cover to protect against scratching. And let’s not forget that* 61-point focus system from the 1DX - the first time Canon has put its top-spec AF sensor into a non-1-series camera since the film-era EOS 3.
5D Mark III’s Movie Mode
The 5D Mark II’s movie mode out did the competition, and the 5D Mark III even takes that several steps further. The Mark III’s ergonomics gains the 7D’s rear movie mode-live view switch, so you no longer have to compromise your stills Live View settings when setting up for video recording.
There’s a built-in headphone jack for audio monitoring, and rear control dial gets new touch-sensitive ‘buttons’ that allow recording parameters (shutter speed, aperture, ISO and sound volume) to be changed silently. The video output specifications are basically unchanged in terms of resolution and frame rate (1080p at 30 fpm max), **Canon says the processing is improved to minimize moiré and other artifacts, and has included the higher quality All-I and IPB interframe compression options introduced with the EOS-1D X. What you don’t get though, is the uncompressed output over HDMI seen in the latest Nikon models.
New Features…
There’s a couple of entirely new features too; the 5D Mark III becomes Canon’s first SLR capable of in-camera High Dynamic Range shooting, in an unique well-planned and flexible way, and gets expanded auto-bracketing options too (up to 7 frames covering a vast +/- 8 EV range).
It can also record multiple exposures, if you like. The introduction of DIGIC 5+ means that JPEG processing (finally…) includes chromatic aberration correction, based on lens profiles which are stored in-camera (limited to Canon’s lenses).
And, playback mode adds the ability to compare images directly side-by-side, in a number of different views.
The 5D Mark III also has a new menu system, essentially based on that of the EOS-1D X. It’s not completely different to the 5D Mark II’s (so existing users will be familiar), but it has a completely new tab for managing its complex AF system, based on a range of usage-scenario presets. The ordering of options has been rationalized, and a number of functions that were previously hidden deep within the custom functions have bubbled-up closer to the surface as top-level menu items, perhaps most notably mirror lockup and Highlight Tone Priority.
Our conclusion:
The all-important question:
“Should I buy one?”
an easy one to answer...
“The 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera is easy and fun to use,
You get Professional results,
even in less than optimal conditions”
You can get your Mark III below with or without a lens
from Amazon.com
without lense
|
with Lense
|
Product Description
The latest in the line up of Canon’s enthusiast full-frame 5D series - the EOS 5D Mark III.
This 5D has been improved over previous models in most areas and comes with a 22MP full-frame sensor, 6 frames per second continuous shooting and 1080p video at 24, 25 or 30 fps, offering the high quality intraframe (All-I) compression method and greater audio control. A 61-point AF system and 63-zone metering provide focusing speed and metering accuracy.
The 5D Mark III is a great camera and for current 5D Mark II users and owners of Canon full-frame lenses.
This Mark III is simply fun to shoot with.
Competing models like the Nikon D800/E have a few unique features (36MP capture and an option to record uncompressed video footage) but for most people, most of the time, the differences wouldn’t be important enough to warrant swapping systems.
- Newly designed 22.3 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, wide range ISO setting 100-25600 (L:50, H1: 51200, H2: 102400) for shooting from bright to dim light and next generation DIGIC 5+ Image Processor for enhanced noise reduction and exceptional processing speed
- New 61-Point High Density Reticular AF including up to 41 cross-type AF points with f/4.0 lens support and 5 dual diagonal AF points (sensitive to f/2.8).
- iFCL Metering with 63 zone dual-layer metering sensor that utilizes AF and color information for optimizing exposure and image quality.
- EOS HD Video with manual exposure control and multiple frame rates (1080: 30p (29.97) / 24p (23.976) / 25p, 720: 60p (59.94) / 50p, 480: 30p (29.97) / 25p) with 4 GB automatic file partitioning (continuous recording time 29 minutes 59 seconds), selectable “All i-frame” or IPB compressions, embedded timecode, manual audio level control while recording, and headphone terminal.
- 3.2-inch Clear View II LCD monitor, 170° viewing angle, 1,040,000-dot VGA, reflection; magnesium-alloy body with shutter durability tested up to 150,000 cycles, enhanced dust-and-weather resistance, and updated EOS Integrated Cleaning system for improved vibration-based dust removal.