Canon EOS 5D Mark III evaluate

The Canon EOS 5D sequence appealed to discerning fanatic {and professional} photographers from the very starting however its reputation actually took off with the arrival of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and its ground-breaking video expertise. It was voted by AP readers in early 2012 as The Biggest Digicam of All Time and no doubt it set new requirements particularly for its Full HD video expertise.

Just a few years after its launch, the EOS 5D Mark II was beginning to look dated, particularly its restricted 9 zone AF system, and within the spring of 2012, Canon launched the EOS 5D Mark III. With its headline options of a 22MP full-frame sensor, 61-point AF system, 6fps steady capturing and enhanced video expertise, the EOS 5D Mark III quickly had hordes of Mark II homeowners upgrading to it in addition to attracting many new followers.

Over the EOS 5D Mark III’s working life it benefitted from a sequence of firmware updates to enhance its expertise and Model 1.3.6 was the final in September 2019.

Even now, the rugged and solidly constructed EOS 5D Mark III appeals as a extremely succesful DSLR and it’s out there within the pre-owned second-hand market at round $628-829 or £369-620 for the physique solely. Store round for an excellent situation mannequin and it ought to give dependable service for years to come back.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Options

Picture:  With no house between the gapless microlenses of the EOS 5D Mark III, extra of the sunshine coming into the digicam might be directed onto the photodiodes

With Sony providing a 24.3-million-pixel, APS-C-sized sensor in its Alpha 77, and Nikon’s D800 boasting a 36.1-million-pixel, full-frame unit, it might appear somewhat unusual that the decision of the EOS 5D Mark III has solely been elevated 1.2 million pixels from its predecessor.

Canon clearly believes that this stage of decision is completely satisfactory for fanatic {and professional} photographers, and has as a substitute labored to supply a extra environment friendly sensor.

A technique wherein Canon has completed that is via using the identical gapless microlens know-how discovered within the EOS-1D X. Microlenses focus the sunshine that reaches a digicam’s imaging sensor into the photodiodes. If there aren’t any gaps between the lenses, much more mild will attain the photodiodes and be transformed to {an electrical} sign.

Even small will increase within the quantity of sunshine reaching the photodiodes can enhance dynamic vary in shadow areas, successfully bettering the digicam’s efficiency in low-light situations. This additionally helps to chop down on picture noise.

The sensor has been additional improved by including a noise-reduction circuit within the picture sensor. This circuit ought to assist even earlier than the uncooked knowledge is produced, at which level noise is additional lowered.

The digicam’s sensitivity of ISO 100-25,600 is expandable to ISO 50-102,400. It is a 2EV improve on the prime finish of the digicam sensitivity spectrum in comparison with the ISO 50-25,600 expanded sensitivity vary of the EOS 5D Mark II.

The elevated sensitivity vary is right down to a 14-bit Canon Digic 5+ processor, which is liable for controlling all of the 5D Mark III’s circuitry.

Mixed with the quick DDR-SDRAM reminiscence, the digicam is ready to shoot at 6fps, which is 2.1fps quicker than the 5D Mark II. When utilizing a UDMA 7-compatible CompactFlash card, the reminiscence buffer permits as much as 18 uncooked photographs to be shot in a single burst, or as much as 16,000 JPEGs. A second reminiscence card socket for SD playing cards can also be current on the 5D Mark III (though not on its predecessor), and this permits video footage to be saved to 1 house and stills to a different.

Two of the opposite main new options have already been talked about: one is the 63-zone metering system, which can also be used within the EOS 7D; and the opposite is by far the most important enchancment – a very overhauled AF system (extra about this later).

61-Level AF System

With so many AF choices, the EOS 5D Mark III’s devoted AF menu makes the daunting process of  selecting the proper settings a lot simpler

Options In Use: 61-Level AF System

Through the use of the identical AF system within the EOS 5D Mark III as that used within the EOS-1D X, it’s the first time that Canon has used its top-of-the-range AF system in any DSLR exterior its EOS-1 sequence.

With a capturing fee of a decent 6fps and a quick and correct 61-point AF system, the 5D Mark III is a big improve on the easy nine-point AF system and three.9fps of the 5D Mark II.

In consequence, the brand new digicam will discover itself getting used way more for motion photographs than its predecessor is. Of the 61 AF factors, a powerful 41 are of the extra delicate cross kind, with 5 of those being double cross kind. That is as spectacular an AF array as may be present in any DSLR.

So customisable is the AF system of the 5D Mark III that it requires its personal menu, with 5 sub-menu screens that permit as much as 15 totally different options to be set. Fortunately, there are six default settings, referred to as things like ‘versatile multi-purpose setting’ and ‘immediately focus for topics abruptly coming into AF factors’.

Urgent the data button gives assist about when to make use of every default setting. Do you have to want to tweak the default modes, then the monitoring sensitivity, acceleration/deceleration monitoring and AF level auto switching settings can all be adjusted. Once more, the data button can be utilized to get recommendation on every adjustment.

Putting the AF settings brazenly relatively than tucking them away in customized menus, and having a helpful collection of presets and a assist display, make the AF system much more clear. This could in flip allow photographers to tweak the settings to their very own specific necessities way more simply.

Total, the AF system is a marked enchancment over that discovered within the 5D Mark II and one which many Canon customers will respect. It definitely raises the 5D vary to a stage at which will probably be thought-about by extra skilled photographers. Sports activities photographers and photojournalists ought to discover the AF system, mixed with the digicam’s decision, a really useful gizmo.

Picture:  The fundamental know-how within the Canon EOS 5D  Mark III’s AF system works in a lot the identical manner as another SLR digicam. Gentle enters the lens and is then mirrored off a secondary mirror, behind the primary viewfinder mirror. From right here a sequence of lenses and mirrors mirror the mild onto the AF sensor

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Construct and Dealing with

The physique of the EOS 5D Mark III is fabricated from magnesium alloy, and is across the identical dimension and as reassuringly sturdy as its predecessor. Just like the 5D Mark II, the digicam is snug to carry, with a  however well-contoured handgrip and a groove wherein the forefinger rests whereas utilizing the shutter button. One side of the physique that has been improved is the climate sealing, which ought to assist to guard inner elements from splashes, sand and dirt.

These aware of fanatic {and professional} Canon EOS DSLRs will be capable of decide up the 5D Mark III and use it immediately. As said, a lot of the structure is derived from the EOS 7D, together with the situation of the ability swap behind the mode dial on the highest plate, a lock on the rear management dial to forestall unintentional use, and a devoted swap to shift between dwell view and video seize. The mode dial may also be locked to forestall any unintentional switching of modes.

Some new buttons are current on the again of the digicam subsequent to the LCD display. One among these permits fast entry to color and distinction picture settings, together with image kinds, in-camera HDR and a number of publicity mode.

Nonetheless, when in playback mode it additionally gives a side-by-side picture view. This allows two photos to be in contrast, and magnified if required, for extra correct evaluation of element and focus.

There’s additionally the choice to check the histograms of the 2 photographs to examine for burnt-out highlights or black shadow areas. It’s a pretty contact, and can little question be very helpful for photographers wanting to verify they’ve captured the absolute best shot.

The Price button is one other helpful enhancing instrument. Urgent it in playback permits particular person photographs to be rated out of 5 stars. This characteristic was beforehand seen within the Canon EOS 60D, and any star score utilized to a photograph is saved within the picture file and may then be utilized by enhancing and library software program, comparable to Adobe Bridge, Lightroom or Aperture, to assist organise photographs.

Picture:  The colors produced by the EOS 5D Mark III are punchy, even in the usual image fashion setting

Metering

It’s exhausting to fault the 63-segment metering system of the EOS 5D Mark III. This is identical system as used within the EOS 7D, which is a big improve from the 35-zone metering system of the EOS 5D Mark II.

I received up early to {photograph} the morning mild over the coast and was impressed with how the evaluative metering system of the 5D Mark III coped. Exposures are usually spot on. I hardly ever used the publicity compensation management, and once I did it was within the type of conditions to be anticipated, comparable to when capturing straight into daylight. On a few events I did cut back the publicity by 0.3EV, simply to ensure that spotlight element was retained, and to assist make blue skies look much more vivid.

Indoors, and below synthetic mild, the efficiency of the 5D Mark III’s metering was what I can solely describe as real looking, with photographs as vivid because the scene being portrayed. Though this was technically correct, I did discover myself growing the publicity of some photographs by as much as +1.3EV to be able to lighten shadow areas and add punch. Nonetheless, this was of no actual concern, being straightforward to appropriate utilizing publicity compensation.

Evaluative metering can also be linked to the AF level in use, so it’s price remembering this, notably in case you are within the behavior of focusing and recomposing. Apparently, spot metering is simply linked to the central 1.5% of the viewfinder, to not the AF level in use. Partial metering, which takes up 7.2% of the body, and centreweighted common are additionally out there.

Picture:  A superb quantity of element from each spotlight and shadow areas may be recovered from uncooked photographs

Dynamic Vary

The dynamic vary of the EOS 5D Mark III is mostly good, with the digicam doing a fantastic job of constructing positive there’s spotlight element. After all, this generally leaves shadows barely underexposed, though sufficient element may be recovered with out introducing noise, notably at decrease sensitivities.

Photographers who seize photographs as uncooked recordsdata have much more scope for recovering spotlight and shadow element in raw-conversion software program. Nonetheless, these capturing JPEG photographs might wish to benefit from the 5D Mark III’s spotlight tone precedence mode.

This appears to work by underexposing photographs to retain extra spotlight element, after which boosting the shadows and midtones to compensate for the underexposure. I discovered that the discount in publicity was normally as little as 0.3EV, which is sufficient to recuperate some finer spotlight particulars whereas solely requiring a slight increase to shadows.

Because of this noise in these darker areas doesn’t change into way more of a problem. As soon as once more, although, to minimise the impact of noise, I might advocate utilizing the spotlight precedence tone solely on sensitivities under ISO 400.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Noise Decision and Sensitivity

With a 22.1-million-pixel sensor, the element decision of the EOS 5D Mark III is superb, with JPEG photographs nearly reaching 30 on our check chart, and barely extra element being resolved when uncooked photographs have been adjusted. That is virtually precisely the identical because the element resolved by the 5D Mark II.

Noise is effectively managed inside the usual sensitivity vary. There are indicators of noise at ISO 800, however it is just when ISO 6400 is reached that luminance noise actually turns into seen, notably in darkish midtones and shadows. Pictures created at these sensitivities are nonetheless usable, although, notably as color noise is definitely eliminated utilizing raw-conversion software program.

At ISO 25,600, JPEGs present each luminance and color noise, worsening at prolonged sensitivities. As traditional, these settings ought to solely be used when there is no such thing as a different possibility – they’re prolonged settings for a motive.

Whereas the AF and capturing fee are a lot improved over the 5D Mark II, the 5D Mark III remains to be very a lot geared toward studio, panorama, journey and road photographers. As such, there’ll hardly ever be the necessity to shoot a lot greater than ISO 1600, so the noise at greater sensitivities shouldn’t be a problem.

These photographs present 72ppi (100% on a pc display) sections of photographs of a decision chart, captured utilizing the Sigma 105mm f/2.8  macro lens. We present the part of the decision chart the place the digicam begins to fail to breed the traces individually. The upper the quantity seen in these photographs, the higher the digicam’s element decision is on the specified sensitivity setting.

Autofocus

With a 61-point AF system borrowed from Canon EOS-1D X, you’ll anticipate the 5D Mark III to focus rapidly and precisely, and it doesn’t disappoint. In good mild, the AF is extraordinarily quick and responsive, and people pondering of shopping for the 5D Mark III for documentary images might be very happy.

In low mild the 5D Mark III’s focus additionally performs effectively, though with out with the ability to make a direct comparability I didn’t suppose it was fairly pretty much as good as that of the Nikon D4. We hope to have the ability to check the 2 AF techniques facet by facet after we evaluate the Canon EOS-1D X towards the Nikon D4 within the coming months.

Viewfinder, LCD, Reside View and Video

This picture was brightened by +2EV in each Adobe Digicam Uncooked and Canon DPP software program. With default settings, the picture transformed utilizing DPP reveals much less shadow noise

As you’ll anticipate for a digicam of its worth, the viewfinder of the EOS 5D Mark III is vivid, clear and provides 100% protection, bettering upon the 98% protection supplied by the 5D Mark II.

The scale and determination of the LCD display have additionally been elevated barely to three.2in and 1.04 million dots respectively. Though the display is simply 0.2in bigger than that of the 5D Mark II, the fractionally higher house permits the three:2 ratio photographs created by the digicam to take up all the display.

Beforehand, there was a black bar on the prime and backside of the picture. This minor improve makes the picture appear far bigger and extra detailed, and is best for reviewing photographs in consequence. Equally, 16:9 video footage additionally has much less of a letterbox impact (black bars on the prime and backside of the display), which makes it simpler to evaluate video footage.

As with the EOS 7D, dwell view and video seize have a devoted swap, and a begin/cease button simply to the correct of the viewfinder. Video seize – one of many key options of the 5D Mark II – has been refined within the 5D Mark III. One enchancment has been to the rolling shutter challenge that may have an effect on some cameras. It was a slight downside with the 5D Mark II, however is now even higher managed and can solely be noticeable to those that pan extraordinarily rapidly.

These utilizing the digicam’s built-in microphone might be happy that the 5D Mark III has a headphone socket for dwell audio monitoring. Like its predecessor, the 5D Mark III additionally has an exterior microphone socket.

The brand new sensor produces wonderful picture high quality, however one characteristic that’s missing is the clear HDMI output to an exterior system for recording. In contrast to the Nikon D4, HDMI video is outputted at 720p, however has knowledge on the feed so it’s not appropriate for exterior seize.

Whereas the 5D Mark III is considered one of, if not one of the best digicam for video seize, there are a couple of touches that might have actually set it other than its rivals. One among these would have been an articulated display. Sadly, it’s troublesome to do that whereas sustaining the excessive stage of weatherproofing that photographers demand.

White Steadiness and Color

Picture: The EOS 5D Mark III’s monochrome capturing mode has quite a few totally different distinction choices, together with colored filter results

One factor that at all times impresses me when utilizing Canon EOS fashions is the energy of the colors delivered straight from the digicam. Even in the usual setting, photographs are vivid and vivid, and skies particularly look stuffed with element.

The brand new image fashion button makes it fast and simple to modify kinds, and there are three customized settings. Every fashion can have its color, distinction, saturation and color tone adjusted, and the monochrome fashion replaces the saturation and color tone with filter impact and firming impact choices.

The 5D Mark III’s auto white stability setting works effectively, producing good impartial outcomes whether or not capturing inside or out. I favor a touch of colored mild left in a scene, so I discovered myself tweaking the white stability of uncooked photographs ever so barely. Those that shoot JPEG photographs would profit from utilizing the preset or customized white stability settings to get one of the best outcomes from the 5D Mark III.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Verdict

It was at all times going to be a problem to switch the EOS 5D Mark II. Fortunately, Canon has been smart with its improve, selecting to concentrate on bettering its weaker areas. So, whereas the decision is basically unchanged within the 5D Mark III, the sensor’s low-light and high-sensitivity efficiency is markedly higher.

Nonetheless, for me, the best enchancment is to the digicam’s AF system. The 5D Mark III focuses quicker than its predecessor and has all of the superior settings one would anticipate from Canon’s EOS-1D skilled sequence of DSLRs.

What these two main new options imply is that the enchantment of the 5D Mark III might stretch to an excellent higher vary of photographers than the Mark II. Nonetheless, these extra considering video could also be left wanting somewhat extra.

Total, it’s troublesome to fault the 5D Mark III, given its audience and worth. I’ve little question will probably be a well-liked and profitable digicam; the one query could also be whether or not current 5D Mark II customers will really feel the modifications warrant an improve – or whether or not these in search of their first full-frame DSLR might be lured in by the Nikon D800’s greater decision as a substitute.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III – key factors

Amplify button

Moderately than separate enlarge and shrink buttons, the EOS 5D Mark III makes use of this single button held down, whereas the management dial is used to zoom out and in.

Silent capturing

The silent capturing characteristic might be notably helpful for occasion photographers. It slows the mirror’s actions in order that it doesn’t slap, the purpose being to scale back the sound it makes when a picture is taken. It really works effectively, though the capturing fee is lowered and the viewfinder is blacked out for somewhat longer. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t be a problem in case you are capturing a quiet, and presumably slow-moving, occasion.

In-camera uncooked conversion

When in playback mode, there’s the choice to transform uncooked recordsdata to JPEGs. Brightness, white stability, image fashion, auto mild optimiser, color house, noise discount, picture dimension, vignetting, lens distortion and chromatic aberration can all be adjusted earlier than a JPEG file is created.

Flash

Because the EOS 5D Mark III is taken into account considered one of Canon’s professional-level cameras, it doesn’t have a built-in, pop-up flash. As a substitute, the digicam has a hotshoe and is suitable with the Canon vary of Speedlite flashguns.

In-camera HDR

By urgent the picture fashion button on the rear of the digicam, it’s attainable to pick a number of publicity and HDR mode. The latter creates an HDR picture in-camera, with the flexibility to select from a collection of HDR kinds and bracketing choices. Pictures may also be aligned, so offered you might be moderately regular it is probably not essential to make use of a tripod.

Reside view/video swap

This swap prompts dwell view and video seize, with the button used to start out and cease recording

LCD display

Canon has lowered the reflectivity of the brand new 3.2in display

The Competitors

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III’s essential competitor is the Nikon D800. With an analogous sized physique however a better 36.1-million-pixel decision, the D800 would appear to have one thing of a bonus, though its capturing fee doesn’t fairly match that of the EOS 5D Mark III. We can have a full check of the D800 subsequent week (AP 28 April).

With no dramatic enchancment in decision between the EOS 5D Mark II and Mark III, the occasional fair-weather photographer who shouldn’t be within the improved low-light efficiency, quicker AF and capturing fee might choose to benefit from the superb worth of the 5D Mark II. With a road worth of round £1,700, the older digicam is a relative discount. What’s extra, with devoted photographers additionally upgrading, it might quickly be attainable to purchase a used 5D Mark II at an much more inexpensive worth.

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