The Canon 5D MK III is here.

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Hey there photo nerds. We’re all in this together and today Canon just added more fuel to the HdDSLR fire – the much-anticipated Canon 5D MK III is here. They made some interesting choices on pixel count, recording modes, etc. So let’s review the skinny of it all.

Here’s some highlighted specs:
_22.3MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
_3.2″ Clear View High Resolution LCD
_DIGIC 5+ Image Processor
_61-Point High Density AF
_Full HD 1080/30p and 720/60p Formats
_Built-In HDR and Multiple Exposure Modes
_Extended ISO Range (50-102400)
_Up to 6.0 FPS Continuous Still Mode Shooting
_Dual CF and SD Memory Card Slots
_Magnesium-Alloy Construction

The curve balls for the people I’m talking to? The no 1080 at 60p. Please note I HAVE NOT touched one of these cameras – unlike Nikon, Canon doesn’t trust me with a 10-foot pole and I get no advance copies of these cameras.

The look? She’s small and sleek. Click thru a range of images of the camera via the above tabs.

Now, not unlike what I’ve done with the recent launch of the Nikon D800 and Nikon D4…rather than me spouting off about having played with the system or telling you what your feelings about this system should be, I’m turning the tables back to you. What’s your take? Love, hate, indifferent? Insights? I know that Canon folks, including, ahem, Chuck Westfall read this blog, so your comments on this post – glowing or otherwise – might help inform Canon and the rest of the camera manufacturers about what your thinking…

Link to all the Canon 5D MK III details and/or purchase here via B&H.

Canon.. guys comon! this is a midcycle update not a new model. Most of us have lived and worked around the crap autofocus and fragile body and other quirks, but despite moaning about those we continue to love the mkII and know how it can make spectacular images with care. – and importantly at a great price.

Now all the quipes of the mkII have been addressed with this camera and at a notably more expensive price, its too little too late. Especially after the lower end prosumer 7D had much better features and autofocus, then the 1Dx we were expecting nothing less in those terms. So an improvement and jump that gets us excited would have to be 32-36MP, less s/n ratio, 16bit images and uncompressed video out on top.

Now Nikon just managed most of that that out of the blue.. how, and their autofocus just works brilliantly and cameras feel much more sturdy and tactile. Also top end lenses are cheaper than L’s.

I for one are really confused at who this is aimed at now? the hi-end stills shooters – studio/ location design and advertising like myself? No- i can still happily work with my mkII to get the same size and Q results.
hi-end wedding shooters – maybe if they have worn out their mkIIs and hav some spare cash for an expensive replacement, rather than now buying up discounted mkII stock as backups.
Press guys – well unless ur just a student or emerging freelancer ur going to get the 1DX its that simple as it needs to be v quick and robust.
Now photo students and video indie guys – well these were the people that bought them in droves and were an unexpected, I estimate 35% of the market for the mkII. So guess what .. they have now blown that market out and sales in mkIIs new and secondhand will rocket since the price will be cut due to the mkIII. OUCH!
Is a student, freelancer, indie or business going to spend £3000 or £1380 (current Hdewcameras price) on a new 21-22Mp stills or video camera – £1380 is the answer – as it does the same as MkIII but doesnt operate quite as well. I guess you would have to be a very quick tempered erreatic shooter thats a bit carless with equipment that wouldnt mind spending £3000 on a replacement. And i guess if you were that type of shooter you would have swapped to Nikon a long time ago to enjoy the quickness and solidness of their cameras.
However I think a lot of small & medium video companies will update their mkII to this for the sound monitoring and better video resampling although I have heard from fellow video producers that they will be buying the D800 as they already legacy nikkor nice glass that they using on 5D mkIIs.
So this camera will really split the crowd, I imagine no 5D mkII owner will be really rushing out to buy it straightaway, maybe if their current mkII breaks in the next 6 months, but many will decide to go (back) to nikon and many will have older nikkor lenses lying around to help them jump.

Interestingly one website/forum spoke to a Canon rep before the release and vaguely said that canon was not gong to release a massive MP version next but if they felt customer feedback was wanting one, then they could respond with a very impressive product. So canon may well be holding back or still developing a monster 36-45MP that would be the reported 5Dx or 3D later in the year, and especially since they have developed new autofocus, Digic 5 processors and better build quality – then that would truly be a killer camera for the next 3-4 years . What will be the 7D mkII next year .?!

i’m severely hoping that Canon havent been asleep or misguided thinking the 5D mkIII is the best one yet and 22mp is fine, and more that its a interim update to keep consumers happy(er) for the moment. Then they will kick nikons ass with quality v soon.
Otherwise in 6 months if nothing on the horizon them myself and many other long term professional canon uses will sell their glass and jump to NIKON.
And a last word – mentally high ISO low noise.. who cares , I wouldnt do a job over 1600 ISO, who actually uses this regularly to warrant the R&D into it? 90% is shot on ISO 100, 200 or 400 or 160 and 320 if your being a purist.
Just give photographers 16bit optional, 30MP very low noise at 25-160 and current noise at 200-2400 and then let everyone admire the quality this camera could produce- for years. .And 5pfs is perfectly acceptable for most people apart from press people needing 8+pfs will buy the 1Dx or Nikon.

154 replies on:
The Canon 5D MK III is here.

Jim says:

March 2, 2012 at 6:46 pm

I like the Nikons shiney shutter button.
Ed says:

March 2, 2012 at 6:37 pm

A bit disappointed, especially with the price.
D says:

March 2, 2012 at 5:42 pm

As a still camera, it’s a dream come true. As a video camera, besides the uncompressed HDMI output, what else do you want? Shoot raw video? If the 5Dmkii was good enough to shoot Act of Valor, then mk3 will be even better, now with new compression algorithm, etc.

Pixel count.. C300 is 8mega pixels. 8. Eight. If that’s good enough for a 50ft screen, then what the hell is there to complain about? It’s not just one extra mega pixel, it’s 22 completely different mega pixels. Please keep that in mind.

Am I blown away? My jaw is not on the ground for sure. But I pre-ordered this thing in a heartbeat. It fixes pretty much all of the problems I have with my 5Dmk2.
stevo says:

March 2, 2012 at 4:27 pm

Canon.. guys comon! this is a midcycle update not a new model. Most of us have lived and worked around the crap autofocus and fragile body and other quirks, but despite moaning about those we continue to love the mkII and know how it can make spectacular images with care. – and importantly at a great price.

Now all the quipes of the mkII have been addressed with this camera and at a notably more expensive price, its too little too late. Especially after the lower end prosumer 7D had much better features and autofocus, then the 1Dx we were expecting nothing less in those terms. So an improvement and jump that gets us excited would have to be 32-36MP, less s/n ratio, 16bit images and uncompressed video out on top.

Now Nikon just managed most of that that out of the blue.. how, and their autofocus just works brilliantly and cameras feel much more sturdy and tactile. Also top end lenses are cheaper than L’s.

I for one are really confused at who this is aimed at now? the hi-end stills shooters – studio/ location design and advertising like myself? No- i can still happily work with my mkII to get the same size and Q results.
hi-end wedding shooters – maybe if they have worn out their mkIIs and hav some spare cash for an expensive replacement, rather than now buying up discounted mkII stock as backups.
Press guys – well unless ur just a student or emerging freelancer ur going to get the 1DX its that simple as it needs to be v quick and robust.
Now photo students and video indie guys – well these were the people that bought them in droves and were an unexpected, I estimate 35% of the market for the mkII. So guess what .. they have now blown that market out and sales in mkIIs new and secondhand will rocket since the price will be cut due to the mkIII. OUCH!
Is a student, freelancer, indie or business going to spend £3000 or £1380 (current Hdewcameras price) on a new 21-22Mp stills or video camera – £1380 is the answer – as it does the same as MkIII but doesnt operate quite as well. I guess you would have to be a very quick tempered erreatic shooter thats a bit carless with equipment that wouldnt mind spending £3000 on a replacement. And i guess if you were that type of shooter you would have swapped to Nikon a long time ago to enjoy the quickness and solidness of their cameras.
However I think a lot of small & medium video companies will update their mkII to this for the sound monitoring and better video resampling although I have heard from fellow video producers that they will be buying the D800 as they already legacy nikkor nice glass that they using on 5D mkIIs.
So this camera will really split the crowd, I imagine no 5D mkII owner will be really rushing out to buy it straightaway, maybe if their current mkII breaks in the next 6 months, but many will decide to go (back) to nikon and many will have older nikkor lenses lying around to help them jump.

Interestingly one website/forum spoke to a Canon rep before the release and vaguely said that canon was not gong to release a massive MP version next but if they felt customer feedback was wanting one, then they could respond with a very impressive product. So canon may well be holding back or still developing a monster 36-45MP that would be the reported 5Dx or 3D later in the year, and especially since they have developed new autofocus, Digic 5 processors and better build quality – then that would truly be a killer camera for the next 3-4 years . What will be the 7D mkII next year .?!

i’m severely hoping that Canon havent been asleep or misguided thinking the 5D mkIII is the best one yet and 22mp is fine, and more that its a interim update to keep consumers happy(er) for the moment. Then they will kick nikons ass with quality v soon.
Otherwise in 6 months if nothing on the horizon them myself and many other long term professional canon uses will sell their glass and jump to NIKON.
And a last word – mentally high ISO low noise.. who cares , I wouldnt do a job over 1600 ISO, who actually uses this regularly to warrant the R&D into it? 90% is shot on ISO 100, 200 or 400 or 160 and 320 if your being a purist.
Just give photographers 16bit optional, 30MP very low noise at 25-160 and current noise at 200-2400 and then let everyone admire the quality this camera could produce- for years. .And 5pfs is perfectly acceptable for most people apart from press people needing 8+pfs will buy the 1Dx or Nikon.
Derek Anson says:

March 2, 2012 at 3:22 pm

I’m a wedding photographer and currently use the Canon 5D2 and 7D, both are fantastic. The only change I really wanted was the AF capability of the 7D added to the 5D2. The increased high ISO performance and dual card slots is the icing on the cake. On paper at least, this looks to be THE camera for wedding photographers and in my opinion a solid upgrade to an already fantastic camera.

Regarding the dual card slots, Jeff Ascough makes a good point… “Dual CF’s would mean an increase in body size and better card management on the photographer’s part if the cards are used for backup.” I completely agree. http://blog.jeffascough.com/photographers/2012/03/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-review.html

I’m pleased the pixel count stayed pretty much the same as the 5D2 and hopefully file sizes? I normally shoot around 1500 images per wedding and the thought of these files being any bigger than they currently are is not something I was looking forward to, thank you Canon 😉