Отзывы о Цифровой Фотоаппарат Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Edited: January 1, 2013For those of you familiar with the Canon 5-series, you know one of the main things this series has been lacking is a decent autofocus system. While the Canon 5D Mark II was a game-changing camera, its 9-point autofocus system was extremely lacking. The 5D Mark III solved that problem, completely revamping the autofocus system and giving it virtually the same system as its big brother, the Canon 1DX.The following review is based on my personal experiences as a photography instructor. I currently own and use the Canon 1DX, the 5D Mark III, and the 7D and have owned the older 5D Mark II, 1DS Mark III, and the 1D Mark IV so I will try to describe how I feel this camera compares to these other possible contenders.First of all, this is a game changing camera for not just wedding, landscape, and studio photography, but also for WILDLIFE AND BIRDING! I honestly didn't think it could compare to the 1D Mark IV when it came to wildlife and birding but after extensive testing, it kills the 1D Mark IV (and yes, I own both cameras so I'm not knocking the 1D4, just saying, the technology here, several years after the 1D4 came out is superior and it shows.)HIGH ISO NOISE IMPROVEMENTS:The best improvement over the 1D Mark IV in this regard is the high ISO noise reduction and the improved autofocus. Noise is non-existent even at ISO 1600 which is about the highest ISO I shoot at for wildlife. Sure, you can remove noise in post but that comes at a cost in IQ so this camera saves some shots that were previously quite difficult to achieve.AUTOFOCUS:Autofocus is phenomenal... absolutely phenomenal. There are about 5 tabs in the menu system just for the autofocus system, giving you precision controls you normally didn't have access to. Besides the high-ISO noise improvements, the autofocus is the other improvement that completely destroys the 1D Mark IV.COLOR ACCURACY AND IMAGE SIZE:The color accuracy and vibrancy out of the box is great, even shooting with a "neutral" or "faithful" color setting. RAW files are about 24 MB in size, 45 MB if you convert to DNG and embed the original as I do.OTHER:The ergonomics are better, more on par with the 7D. The buttons are more responsive, the LCD is clearer and more accurate. The menu system is completely different, although if you've used the 7D, you will notice the similar layout.5D3 or 1DX:I was torn between this camera and the new 1DX whenever it comes out. I still plan on replacing the 5D3 with the 1DX after it's been out for a few months just to get the upgraded weather sealing, increased shutter durability, and pro-grade construction but I'm telling you, this camera is going to cost Canon a lot of sales of the 1DX because this camera can do almost everything the 1DX can, at a higher megapixel count and more compact size, at HALF THE PRICE!"LIGHTLEAK ISSUE"People who are obsessed with finding anything wrong with these cameras have found that in the first batches, there was an issue where if you shooting in complete darkness and were using the cameras metering (impossible), AND you happened to have the top LCD panel light on, the camera may display a slightly inaccurate metering reading. This is absurd that people are even obsessing over this. First of all, these people don't know how to use a camera and should spend some time learning photography before buying one of this caliber. This is obvious because any experienced photograher knows, you can't use metering in complete darkness anyway because these are long exposure shots that require trial and error to get right. The issue has been fixed by Canon and users of the original batch of cameras can send theirs in to Canon to be fixed for free. Again, this is seriously a non-issue so don't let it scare you off from buying this camera.*** I DO NOT work for Canon or any other camera manufacturer. This review is my own personal opinion. I am a professional wildlife photographer and use these cameras on a daily basis. ***

I own a Canon 50D a several different lenses. I rented this camera for 4 days and shot over 4,000 pictures with it. The majority of those pictures came from low light environments. The first event was a Halloween safe night for a local town. I used my 24-70mm f2.8 and 580ex II flash. The only time I found the 5d3 seeking focus was when I was outside in the dark with barely any street light. Had no issues inside a dimly lit fellowship hall with a fog machine going. ISO4000 and some ISO5000. If there is any digital noise in my images it is minimal. Very acceptable and much better than my 50d at ISO800. If there is any noise, it's like a very, very fine grain and there is still a lot of detail in the face.The next situation was at a high school stadium at night. I usually use my 50d along with my 24-70mm 2.8 lens, but when I rented the 5d3 I had also rented the 70-200mm f2.8. Fantastic combo! Focus system did well and I used the camera to capture our marching band performance and photos of seniors and their parents. So many shots I would have either not gotten or had to have thrown away due to the struggle that my 50d seems to have in a low light environment. I was very impressed and now would also love to own the 70-200mm.What made me really love this camera was shooting Bandmasters in Memphis, a big marching band competition. I shot using my 100-400mm lens throughout the entire competition. After dark I was still able to use the lens. This was at The Liberty Bowl in Memphis and lighting is much better there than in the high school football stadium. At ISO4000 using the 100-400mm most times I was able to get a shutter speed close to 1/400 or higher at f8. This varied if the uniforms were darker or lighter, but I was really impressed with the sharpness and how much less digital noise I saw in the images than my 500d at ISO800.I've had my 50d over 4 years now and this 5d3 really brought the quality of my photography to a whole new level. The focus issues and quality I've desired with my photography were achieved this weekend. Hope to eventually purchase this camera.

Ive gone from the Canon 20D to the Canon5D to the 5dmk2 and recently made the decision to upgrade to the Canon5dmk3. Both of my 5Dmk2 shutter lives were over the 150,000 "clicks" from Canon so I used that to justify my upgrade. I sent in the 5d2 for service as I am going to keep one of them for backup and to second shoot.I have reviewed things before like the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 v2 lens HERE. Once again this review doesn't contain any charts and scientific mathematical optical graphs comparing the 5dmk2 to the 5dmk3. But I do have real world (for me) tests.Ive had 5 sessions with the new 5DMK3...here is MY mini review with 5 images (edited in LR and CS6)1) Focus is light years better than mk2. Canon finally got it right. My 50mm 1.2 that I never use because of poor performance with my mk2 (even after sending it in to Canon to have them calibrate it together) is now spot on. You can pick your focus point with your zoom or primes at IT NAILS IT. Using the dials I can pick the tiny red square where I want it to focus on my portraits and guess what? It nails it! No more trying to lock focus at 2.8 or wider then recomposing, zooming in, trying it again, over and over. Although it is a hard habit to break from 4 years with the 5dmk2s. But I finally feel confident when the shutter clicks (which is probably how most Nikon users already feel).2) The camera seems "faster".The shutter makes a more "confident" sound without being louder... and is quicker. Sounds like a "quiet" machine gun that the other cameras (like Nikon) must sound like when shooting multishot.3)The screen is gorgeous, bright, and HUGE. The magnification with one press takes you right into a zoom. No more plus, plus,plus,plus,plus to look at eyes then minus,minus,minus,minus,minus to back out. It looks amazing and clear...even outdoors in bright sun at the beach. Its like going from a 13inch laptop screen to a 30inch monitor. The only thing that it a hard habit to break is Canon moved the magnifying glass to the other side of the camera so I keep pressing the wrong button with my thumb to magnify. It is now on the left which will take some time getting used to.4)The 70-200 firing INTO direct sun at sunset was a little slow to focus and had a little difficulty. The primes 85 and 50 did not. The 85 is my go to lens for my portrait work so I don't see that being to much of an issue for me. Also the 24mm 1.2 L performed amazing with the 5d3 as it had some of the same problems on the 5d2 as the 50mm 1.2 did.5) The "cloudy" WB setting in RAW (which is what I usually shoot under for nice skin tones) comes out a little too "orange" with the 5d3. I went back to AWB. I can adjust in LR if needed or I may just set it myself in camera slightly cooler than 5500K. But it is noticeable to me.I am trilled with the camera at this point. The focus issue is worth the upgrade to me. The images are gorgeous...just like the 5d2. I really didn't expect to see a HUGE difference in the quality of the final image. For me and my workflow it is the ease of use and speed that I GET those images that is a huge plus for me.*I think you have two choices: Trade to the Nikon system OR get the 5d3 to stay with Canon. I have shot with Nikon before. It feels like that when shooting with the 5d3-fast, confident, spot on focus. Everything else is the beautiful images that canon users have learned to love and the fast prime lenses love this camera as well.

I Have been waiting for a long time to buy this camera since it came out. I am not a Professional yet as I am still learning the photography, but this camera is by far the best thing since slash bread. I love this camera. I hold many different camera in my hands but I fall in love with this before I even take a shot. Its kind of like a beautiful girl you are looking at from a distance; she looks great and you start getting to know her and find out that she has a great personality. And when thing get serious... well, you know what i mean, and you realize she got the whole package. You can't believe what you just discover. You never want to leave her.. This 5D Mark III will do that to you. Photograph is my hobby and I take it very serious. Using this camera with a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II , and 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2.8 Macro is a thing of beauty. I would recommend this camera to anyone that serious about photography and who don't settle for nothing but the best. If you have the money to spend on this camera, don't even think about consider other option just get this one.. you will not regret the money you spend into this camera. This camera is also build to last.. I will post more review as after longer use of this camera but for the past six months i had this camera, it doesn't bring me anything but joy. I have the T2i and i wanted to upgrade to a full frame; i still using my T2i but this camera sometimes make me forget about my T2i which is still an awesome camera.

I bought a 7D two years ago as my entry to the world of high-end DSLRs. The camera's engineering and ergonomics were awesome and it produced some great images for me. However, that full-frame sensor on the 5D has been calling my name ever since. I sold the 7D on ebay last month and bought a Mark III. If any 7D owner is wondering whether the upgrade is worth the price, I say absolutely. The camera operates almost exactly like my 7D and so I had little or no learning curve. In some ways, the interface is improved (sub-menus, for example). The rear screen gives a better view of the finished picture. So what did I get besides a camera that works as I expect? Image quality. In spades. The full-frame sensor is magnificent, and with the 35MM 1.4L lens and the 2.8 24-70 L II lens, produces incredibly sharp, detailed images. Seriously beautiful stuff. The camera brings out the best in 'L' glass -- I see it in the images, but look at the DXO ratings for confirmation. The 2.8 24-70 lens gives me better results in almost all shooting modes than I got on the 7D. The extra usable ISO makes up for the lack of IS on the 2.8 lens -- but since grandchildren are often the subjects, IS is not much use anyway. The focus system is much more accurate and easily controlled and the images (I use RAW) require less post-processing than with the 7D. There will be some additional distortion and light falloff in the corners, but with LR, PS, or DXO these problems disappear on RAW images with the click of a button. I would often start editing a picture from the 7D and puzzle about what it needed to 'pop' -- the 5D's added dynamic range and its metering system produce images that are closer to 'right' at first look. I have far less need to adjust exposure, contrast, and WB than I typically did with the 7D. An impressive pickup is the wider usable ISO range of the larger sensor. I didn't want to go much above ISO 800 on the 7D because of noise, but I am getting several additional (3-4) stops before seeing much noise with the 5D. This makes the camera almost perfect for indoors available-light shooting. So, I have a camera that is as familiar to me as my 7D, and as well-engineered, but produces significantly better images. While I wouldn't have been comfortable using the 7D in auto-ISO mode, I can do so with the 5D. This body was twice the money of the 7D but is equally refined in terms of build quality, engineering, ergonomics, and the image quality of the 5D III matches the rest of the engineering. The sensor may not have the high pixel count of some of the Nikon's, but the sensor has artistic chops. It can produce breathtaking detail, sharpness, and color.

If you are on the fence between the 5D Mark III and the 6D, perhaps my experiences will help:This is the second 5DIII I've purchased and I've also owned the 7D, 6D and 70D (all of which I've sold to fund this beast). Take it from someone who has lost hundreds of dollars buying a 5DIII, then selling it for a 6D, and then selling the 6D for a 5DIII again after realizing how much I really missed the 5DIII; there is simply no comparison when it comes to AF performance, unless you are willing to spend twice as much on a 1DX, which also has the same AF system as within the 5DIII!So if you are trying decide between the 6D or 5DIII and you already have some good glass first and foremost (AND you can afford either), seriously...just buy the 5DIII. You won't regret it. If you plan on using the outer AF points instead of just the center one (especially for fast glass, like the 85 f/1.2L II), it's a no-brainer...the 5DIII wins hands down. However, if you are willing to compromise and rely mostly, if not solely, on the center AF point and just crop as needed, then by all means save yourself a few hundred bucks and go with the 6D, and use the remainder for some other photographic goodies, such as the aforementioned 85L or 24-70 f/2.8L II (both are stunning combinations)! The image quality differences between the two are negligible at best, so it really comes down to the static features (or lack thereof) that they offer and your particular needs:5DIII - more robust body, superior AF system, faster X-sync speed, dual card slots, RAW video w/ Magic Lantern, etc.6D - smaller and lighter body, center cross-type AF point sensitive to -3 EV (but only the center point), allows interchangeable focusing screens for improved manual focusing, etc.I hope this helps. Either way you decide, you'll have an amazing tool for capturing your artistic vision. Good luck!

I recently sold my Canon 7D and saved up to get this camera. After hearing so much talk about how much better the D800 is and how the Mark III is not worth the money, I decided to give it a shot rather than be influenced by comments on the web by people who never shot with the camera. Upon first inspection after opening my kit I was impressed at how sturdy and professional the camera felt. I always felt the 7D was very tough and sturdy but the 5D takes it to another level. The grip is great and sticks to your hand. It also covers the batter compartment. The camera grip has a great indent for your hand and an excellent thumb rest. Overall ergonomics are fantastic and the camera has a slick look but is bigger than the 7D at every dimension. No confusing this with an entry or midlevel camera. It screams pro, even without a grip.The settings were easy to navigate and the dials are all in familiar places for the most part. The new zoom requires an extra keypress but I found it better to use the wheel than the old zoom in/out buttons once you get used to it. The new rate button on the left side seemed a bit useless to me but I reprogrammed it to protect images. The LCD was big and bright and shows lots of crisp detail when zooming in. Also very usable for macro with it's quick focus zoom. The best LCD I have ever seen on a camera. The Viewfinder also big and bright. Huge improvement over what you see using a cropped sensor. This is one of the many reasons to go full frame.Now onto using the camera. Coming from the 7D I enjoyed pretty good autofocus but the 5D Mark III dominates it in every way. It is super fast, accurate and locks on in really dim light. There are several action modes to select for the autofocus that react to the type of movement that you choose. Really groundbreaking stuff. I found nothing negative to say about it. I spent an afternoon shooting a kids party outdoors with the 24-105 f/4. The kids were running around like maniacs and I came away with many great in focus shots.In the past when using Auto ISO in manual mode I was nervous when it went to 3200 because of noise. No such case with this camera. Indoor photos without a flash are no problem. Especially when you use a nice bright prime. I can shoot ISO 6400 all day and it will look like ISO 1600 on a 7D. I know most people dont shoot Jpeg but if you ever want some painless shots of your kids or family and dont want to mess around with too much post processing, this camera produces the finest jpegs you will find in a camera. Obviously raw files are sharper and I found the RAW files from the MKIII to be sharp and contrasty. Noise is well controlled though obviously noisier than the jpegs. Overall the image quality is excellent.A new addition to the camera I thought was awesome was the silent mode shooting. It does reduce your frame rate to 3 FPS but what you get in return in this mode is virtually silent performance with much less shutter vibration. A really awesome and underrated feature. One of the many improvements people forget to mention about this camera.I have to say there is something special to me about the 5D Mark III. It's a camera that I just have fun with. Its fast, easy to use, produces great results at perfect file sizes. Gives you various options for jpeg and RAW to meet your needs. I'm sorry I cannot review the video but I have not had a chance to test it in detail in order to provide one.I know people constantly say that it's $500 more than the Nikon D800 but the truth is that it really isnt. In the end you will end up spending more on Nikon gear because it's just more expensive. Just an example.D800 + 24-120 f/4 = $4,2995D MKIII kit with 24-105 f/4 = $4,299Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 = 1,899Canon 24-70 f/2.8 = 1,375add the grip, other lenses and a flash and you pay more than the Canon equivalents.

I have been using this camera for just over a year now. I have a few different cameras, and the 5D Mark III isn't my most used body. It's a bit too big for me to carry everywhere, quite frankly. But when I *must* get shots, either for an assignment or when I'm doing serious personal work, I usually reach for the Mark III. The camera is close to flawless in its operation.Ergonomics are absolutely excellent. The camera is large, easy and comfortable to hold on to, and the layout makes sense. I know where all the necessary buttons are without taking my eye from the viewfinder. Build quality is excellent; this camera can take abuse. Functionality is well thought out, and all commands are extremely responsive. Nothing lags, and nothing is fiddly or difficult to operate accurately.The AF system is top notch; you will get more keepers in tough situations if coming from anything except maybe something like a 1D Mk. IV. It is extremely customizable and you'll want to read Canon's separate instruction book on the AF system that can be found online. (It's written for the 1DX, which has the same AF system with a few exceptions.) I've found that metering is good, although I personally feel it under exposes by about 1/3-2/3 EV in most conditions.Image quality is excellent. The only complaint I could level at the sensor is that the shadows can't take that much abuse in post production; you don't always get a ton of good detail when pushing. This becomes more of an issue at higher ISO's. Otherwise the files are beautiful and wonderfully detailed. Noise performance is excellent, and I usually don't even bother with noise reduction in post unless I'm shooting at ISO 3200 or above. I'm comfortable using this camera at 6400, and 12800 is good enough if you need it. (Quite frankly you could shoot at 25600 if you're just doing shots for the web or small prints, with light post production.) This is quite impressive, honestly, and the ability to shoot at 3200 with impunity is a boon to those who do a lot of low/lousy light work like myself.One last word of advice: Read the manual. Twice. The Mk. III is extremely customizable and versatile and you won't take advantage of features you might like if you don't even know they exist.This isn't a cheap camera, but it's an absolute workhorse that gets the job done, no questions asked. If you need this type of camera for the functionality it can provide, you will not be disappointed. A top notch piece of equipment.

Over three years, 22 countries and more than 18,000 images, for both leisure and work, I've used the Olympus 4/3 format (e-620). Their lightweight bodies and spectacular glass equaled an amazing combination that shines through in the images I took. As a matter of fact, Olympus is known for saying that the 4/3 sensor produces images that are of a quality that's more than enough for what most photographers need. I can attest to the truth of this statement. However, over time this system became not enough for what I came to need. Eventually, I outgrew the equipment. That fact, coupled with many comparisons of images taken with full frame cameras from several manufacturers, sparked my interest in the Canon 5D MKIII specifically. From the onset of handling the MKIII it's quality is apparent. It screams of a certain rare capability, ergonomic usefullness and build that, to my eye, altogether is stunningly beautiful. From its deep grip to the broadness of its shoulders to the sleek curvature of it's pentaprism hump the 5D MKIII is everything that the MKII desired to be. The ergonomics are superb and all of the proper buttons either click or pleasantly mush as need. For example, the shutter button effortlessly presses through past the focusing point, almost floating down. Then, devoid of any discernible interruption, the shot breaks. This fluidity, without the commonplace "click", equals a vibration-free capture reducing camera shake which, in theory, equates to sharper images. The gripping surfaces of the camera's body are tackey and impart a confidence of positive grip. The camera, handheld, never feels like it's going to slip--even with sweaty hands or in moist environments. In fact, this tackiness combined with the aforementioned deepened grip make the camera feel almost attached to the hand as if IT doesn't want to let go. Furthermore, the placement and enlargement of the DOF preview button is within perfect access to the ring finger; not once have I missed this button when I've needed it. In reading several other reviews about this camera I've come across a few complaints about the rearrangement of some of its rear buttons. Although this rearrangement prevents total one-handed operation of the camera's most used functions, I personally see a method to Canon's madness......draw an imaginary line down and through the viewfinder and LCD......on the right half are all the primary buttons needed for image capture. On the left half are all the buttons for everything else. It really is that simple. Which, I believe, was Canon's direct intent: to distill down and simplify this rendition of its 5D moniker to the most purpose-driven and purpose built, no nonsensely refined and polished version to date.

I waffled between the 5D and the 1D Mark III (I do mostly sports and dance and I REALLY wanted the higher FPS), but I simply couldn't justify the cost difference since I'm not a "professional". That said, I came from a 40D and this thing is awesome in so many ways I can't even get into it, but here are the highlights:Fill frame and expanded ISO = WOW. With my 40D I had trouble shooting at 1600 ISO, much less 3200 ISO, but with the 5D I have no issues letting it get into the 12,000 or even 25,000 ISO range because the images are so big post camera noise reduction is a breeze. I use Lightroom and for the most part I can clean up a 25,600 ISO image without using Photoshop and Noiseware. Very impressive.I can go manual and set my shutter and aperture and truly let the camera determine what the ISO should be (up to 25,600ISO I think). This is a REALLY big deal coming from where I was where the 40D could only move between 100 and 400 ISO, and generally stayed firmly planted in the 400 ISO setting. LOLThe camera working with my flash in manual mode works much better than the 40D. I can't really explain this one other than taking shots in manual mode with flash on the 40D was always a challenge having to adjust ISO, shutter, and aperture to keep images from being over or underexposed. This baby just does it - period.All in all a very good purchase and one that my wife would certainly choke me for if she had any idea what this baby cost. She certainly enjoys the image results of our little dancing/cheering/tumbling beauties as well as baseball, football, volleyball and basketball, so it's worth it to me!

"Wanna see something real cool?" asked the old photographer."Sure. What is it?" I said curiously."The new Canon 5d!!! Check it out!". The old pro quipped as he brought it out as if it was some jewel.Szzztuck! Szzztuck! Szztuck! The guy who shoots for the likes of Quiznos and Honda let ripped the massive shutter from the first compact body full-frame camera from Canon. That was late 2005. The price of that Canon 5D was $4499+tax. Some stupid price that I as a budding photographer could not fathom. I just bought a Rebel for an insane price of $899. Hahaha.It felt so long ago. It has been two generations of 5d-series since that faithful morning.Today we have the 5D Mark III. I'm not gonna go into all the feature doodads on this review. 276 reviewers before me has done enough. I will share my thoughts as a user.As a portrait/wedding shooter, this camera is nigh on perfect. It is FAST. It made my already fast 7d felt slow and sluggish. I love how I can run around the 61-AF points. I am no longer limited to using the center-point for reliable AF-ing (5d/2). It opens up my compositional creativity.The silent shutter allowed me to get in and close to the ceremony without being an annoyance.High ISO capability is astounding.22mp is perfect file size for me as I go through hundreds to thousands of images at one go.Sure there are other FF cameras are good at this or that. Sure. I give you that.What really make the 5d3 stand above the likes of D800, 6d, d600 or even 1ds3 is its wonderful ergonomics. I've used all of its rival cameras and the 5d3 fits like a glove. It doesn't make you think through or do finger acrobatics to change settings. Canon put a lot of thought in revising the functional button placements. Like the 7d, a focus group was referenced on button placements. The result is a tool that allowed me to get the job done - take pretty photos.It is not without its faults. Most glaringly, the slow SD card read. The burst depth goes down when the SD card is used as dual write.Contrast to the price of the old 5D Mk I, the 5d3 is ridiculously well priced for what it can deliver. Only your style of photography dictate whether you will benefit from this camera or settle with something else.

I bought the Canon 7d the day it came out and loved it. I didn't know what I was missing in a full frame.First off, some people will not like the pictures this camera takes without post processing. You might ask why, as this camera has in camera processing, excellent resolution, great noise reduction and amazing color. Well, those are all the "problems". This camera is so good, it shows every blemish on the subject. Every mark, every wrinkle, every strand of hair and every spec of dirt will be in the picture.Now that we got past that part, lets talk full frame. Some people like the crop factor of the smaller sensors, especially on telephoto. I was one of them. I was psyched to have the ef-70-200mm L IS on my 7d as it was like having a 320mm at the long end. What I learned was I am not losing anything in zoom with the full frame, but gaining more of the picture on the short end. If I crop the picture on the 5DM3, I can "zoom" in on the picture to any point I want and the resolution is so good, it actually looks much better overall.There is truth in the fact that you don't need a billion megapixels to make a good image. The sensor is larger, so you would think you would want more mp overall, but the larger pixels gather more light, reduce noise and are just sharper.What I found is that I told myself that my crop sensor was awesome because I have all L glass and the pictures looked amazing. Then, when I paired that same glass with the full frame, I find it hard to want to pick up the 7d again.So, let me sum it up. The 5DM3 is an amazing camera and I am not a good enough photographer to make use of all of the features and awesomeness Canon put in my hands. Its not all about the equipment, I know people that shoot amazing shots with a point and shoot, but for me, it is one more cool tool in the tool box.5 Stars from me. I love my 5DM3.

I started out in DSLR's in 2007 with a 40D. It took me some time and learning and this was a great beginner camera. Eventually I had good quality glass and some know how and the 7D grabbed my attention. I bought my 7D in 2010 and haven't had a camera more than 1 year since. Then the 5D Mark III was introduced. I have been longing for it ever since. I was able to pick one up about 2 months ago and I positively love it. There are plenty of reviews here and elsewhere that cover the camera in detail, so I will focus on comparing it to my last 2 cameras; the 7D and the 5D Mark II.AF:I bought this camera for the AF system. If the 5D2 had a focus system similar to the 7D, I probably would have stuck with it. If the 7D had been full frame, I would have stuck with it. I loved the way the 7D AF system worked, so I was thrilled to see they brought the 5D series up in this regard. The focus system lives up to my expectations.High ISO Noise:I thought I bought the camera for the AF system. Then I started taking pictures at higher ISO speeds. WOW! I am positively blown away. The 7D took what I would consider clean shots at ISO 3200 and decent at 6400. The 5D2 was great at 3200 and reasonably clean at 6400. The 5D3 is cleaner at 12,800 than the 5D2 was at 6400! Time and time again I'm blown away. I already have more shots at 12,800 with the 5D3 than I have at 6400 from either of my past cameras.Ergonomics:Lastly, the 5D3 gets the layout of the 7D with some additional improvements. The video/live view mode setup is much better than it is on the 5D2. The M-Fn button is great to have for flipping through AF point modes. The DoF button set up for toggling drive modes is great. But most of all, in conjunction with the ISO performance, I can now set the camera to Av mode, leave it on Auto ISO and pretty much forget the rest of my settings. I set a minimum shutter speed and fire at will. The results are outstanding and this camera is an absolute joy to use!Conclusion:If you have the cash, I would not hesitate to grab this camera if you are really into photography. I am just a hobbyist, but I cherish the pictures I take of my kids. Now being able to shoot in low light at ISO 12,800 with good shutter speeds I am getting far more "keepers" and I honestly don't long for anything more from a camera body. I believe this one will be with me for longer than I used my 40D.

I have had this camera for a week and with a lot of reading and experimenting I think I have mastered it...well, maybe 10% of it anyway! This is truly a professional level tool and although I was / am very impressed with the T2i this camera is on a whole different level. From the moment I took it out of the box I could feel the quality with the magnesium frame and solid controls. There are a number of excellent reviews already posted on this camera so I thought I would write one from the perspective of someone coming from a more entry-level / Rebel level camera to the 5Dm3 in terms of what to expect when you "take the plunge" - quite a plunge indeed, considering the cost.Here are the top advantages (IMHO) compared to the T2i:- Higher ISO. Way higher. I can't wait to take this to an upcoming campout with my daughter. I'll finally be able to take existing light pictures at the campfire!- Full Frame. I used to shoot film years ago and this is (of course) my first non-crop camera. It is wonderful that 24 mm MEANS 24 mm again! I was not expecting this to be such a big factor for me.- The viewfinder is wonderful! Pentaprism is the way to go. It feels like I was looking through a porthole before and now it is a window.- Focus. There are almost too many options to choose here. Whatever you are shooting, from moving 1 year olds like another reviewer to 9 year old soccer players like I have to professional sports or weddings focus is spot on. (though I have to admit not personally shooting professional sports or weddings - though this camera makes me feel like I could.)- Dual Card Slots. Allows many possibilities including use of EyeFi while still having plenty of capacity in a CF card.- Huge amount of control down to the ability to micro-adjust / "fit" each of your lenses to the camera for tack sharp focus.- Nice to have the scene modes out of the way (not present) on the mode selector dial. But also nice to have a full auto "just in case" for that emergency grab of the camera to take an ASAP shot with no time to think.Cons:- Cost. Of course.- It is heavier than the T2i but it "wears it well" - feels balanced in the hand / fits like a glove.- No flash. I know, I know if you want good flash results you don't count on a pop-up - but it would be nice to have in a pinch; though high ISO does make up for this somewhat.- No autofocus in Video. I wonder if they will somehow implement this via firmware update now that it is available on the T4i? Well, I bought this for stills anyway.Not Better or Worse just Different:- Menu layout is familiar but with the joystick and 2 wheels can be confusing at first; but already I am getting used to the logic.- Mode selector dial on left not right.- LCD display on top of camera. I suspect soon I'll move this to the advantages.Overall I am very impressed with this camera and would highly recommend it to other advanced amateurs considering the move from something like the T2i. The cost is certainly a factor, of course, I would not have taken the plunge without a recent bit of good luck in the market. Thanks AAPL!

This was an upgrade from a Canon EOS 5D Mark II for me.Auto-focus* As most people know, the auto-focus on the 5D Mark II was a horrible weak spot -- only the center point was a "cross point", so none of the other points were accurate enough for fast f/1.2 and f/1.4 lenses, and the focusing speed in general was just not great. Mark III has professional-level autofocus now, with a wide array of cross point locations (exact number varies depending on the lens you are using), and very fast focusing speed. What was a major down-side is now a major up-side.Low Light* As mentioned above, the autofocusing is improved, and the differences in low light are very noticeable.* Canon also claims a major improvement in noise at high ISO's. Personally, I do see an improvement, but not a huge improvement.Exposure Bracketing / HDR / Stacking* The Mark II supported only 3 exposures with bracketing, the Mark III now supports 7 exposures -- A huge improvement in the software for anyone doing HDR.* The Mark III has in-camera HDR processing, which is nice (perhaps to get an idea how something looks, on the spot), but not something I'll actually use for final images (I'm sure the processing abilities of HDR software on my desktop is going to be better than in a battery powered camera).* The Mark III supports in-camera image stacking, which can be used for a variety of creative and scientific effects -- I haven't played with this yet, but this may be very useful for me.SD Card* Having a second slot, with the second one being SD is a very nice addition, you can now put an Eye-Fi in your second slot, save jpeg to the eye-fi, have photos show up on your iPad in realtime, and have the RAW's saved to a CF card. Great for both pros and hobbyists.* You can have two 32GB cards, one CF, one SD, and store all of your pictures with two backups in case one card fails -- great for pro's.* The software actually interacts with an Eye-Fi, so you can see the status of what the card is doing, a huge improvement over the hack-ish CF->SD->Eye Fi support in the Mark II.Silent mode* Your wedding photographer can now take many photos of the exchange of vows without making it sound like a paparazzi session.* It is perhaps quiet enough for you to even take a few shots in places where photography is generally frowned onBurst mode* 6FPS is a major improvementPhysical feel* This is something that doesn't really fit on a spec sheet, but the Mark III generally feels much stiffer / heavier / "professional" than the Mark II -- much closer to a "1" feel.Megapixels* This was of course a let-down to many (including me). I do a lot of landscape photos, and very little sports/clubs, etc ... For my photos, noise reduction can be handled with very long exposures, and low ISO (and other methods). That said, the camera was such a large improvement in every other way, I am still happy.Learning Curve* There are so many new features / modes, it will actually take some time and practice (and reading to fully utilize the new body), not a complaint -- but I was not expecting this coming from a 5D Mark IIUPDATE: After a trip to hawaii and a few weeks of usage, my opinion has improved a lot, and I've changed it from 4 stars to 5. The lower noise enables handheld macro photography in lower light situations than possible before, and the intuitive improvements to software have really made some huge improvements. While there is a large improvement to the autofocus, but only a minor improvement to pixel count -- the very large number of minor improvements in the software have made it to the point that I couldn't imagine going back to the 5D Mark II. Great job, canon!

Recently switched from Nikon to Canon, after 12 years using Nikon Bodies and Lenses. To me, I can probably live with all the cons listed below, but they are certainly an annoyance.Here are my quick findings in comparison to my last Nikon camera which was a Nikon D700.Pros compared to D700:More lens choices and selection. There isn't a wide angle Nikon Tilt/Shift available for architecture photography.Great Auto White-Balance results most of the time.Beautiful LCD Screen.Quick Dial - 10 times easier to use than Nikon's navigation pad.Intuitive video controlsIntelligent and fast autofocusGreat high iso noise performance.Silent shutter mode, very quiet.IR Remote can trigger Bulb mode with one click, and stop B-mode with another click, instead of having to hold the button for that.Pros compared to 5D Mark II:Better high iso noise performanceBigger buttonsThe quick dial is touch sensitive during video recording, you don't have to rotate the dial, all you need to do is just lightly tap up/down/left/right and settings change during video recording. This reduces camera generated noise.Dedicated video recording/LV buttonWider range in auto-isoFaster continuous shootingSlightly better ergonomicsBetter AF system/AF speedBetter (only slightly) exposure metering.Cons of 5D Mark III (compared to Nikon D700):"Spot" metering is only for center focusing point, you can not assign spot metering to any other focusing point. Which makes composing a photo in difficult lighting situations more time consuming.Highlight gets easily blown out if highlight tone priority is turned off. If you turn highlight tone priority on, shadow detail gets very noisy.Horrible metering system, it's extremely hard to get a perfect exposure during tricky lighting conditions. Where Nikon's sophisticated 3D matrix color metering would always get you exactly what you want. (For example, people in shadows, people/objects against very bright/dark background, in the snow) In this case, manual exposure is the only way to go, except it's much slower to adjust for settings.There is no way to turn quick dial to go back to previous photos during image preview, immediately following taking a photo. One extra button needs to be pressed to view previously taken photos, where on Nikon I can just press left and right to immediately view previous photos taken.Opening CF/SD card door turns camera off.JPG performance is horribleIn camera HDR is pretty much useless and generates sub-par results, better do it in software than in-camera.No interval-timer build in.I honestly think that the 5D Mark II is a much better value, if you don't need the faster continuous shooting rate or video functions.I hope my review can help you in deciding for the correct camera to own.

I've used Canon digital cameras for about 10 years now. (in 35mm days I was a Nikon guy.) The 5DIII is my favorite - it just feels "right". The button positions and functions all work as I expect them. You can customize many functions through the menus so I could make it feel like I wanted it to.In the last year, I've taken a bit over 10,000 frames, including a wedding and a trip to Europe.I find the additional light metering points and control to be very useful and is much better than that 5DII.I find the auto focus works far better and faster than the 5DII as well (using the same Canon L lenses). Even in tough situations it gets that razor-sharp focus point right where I want it when I push the button. When it doesn't its invariably my fault, and many times when it would be my fault it gets it right anyway.The low-light capabilities are STUNNING (and very handy!) - I routinely shoot at 6400 and even 12500 ISO. In fact, this camera lets you FIX the aperture AND the speed and then it adjusts the ISO. I've used this capability at stage performances and when shooting children - instances when I needed speed and DOF, but the light levels were flipping all over the place. You can also set a limit to how HIGH it will let the ISO go (over 12,500 I find that noise gets too high for some uses). This prevents unpleasnt surprises later.The quality of the RAW files is superb. (SIDEBAR: I don't bother with JPEG's anymore. It is just too easy to shoot raw, load it into Adobe Lightroom, zip through doing crop and adjustments, and then export to whatever sized JPEGS I need. Using RAW has let me resolve many color balance problems (mixed light sources) and has allowed me to bring back detail in shadows and highlights that would have been lost in JPEGS.The self-cleaning sensor has yet to miss a spec of dust, which is saying a lot, since I'm continually having to clean the sensor on my 5DII and my 20D's (yes, I still use them from time to time.)I bought this primarily for the "silent shutter" mode for use at my daughter's wedding. I've found that amazingly helpful when shooting people, but the real upgrade is in the focus, metering and sensor quality.VERY MUCH worth the investment (well, ok, the expenditure, since my only real return is great pleasure in getting the photos I want.)

I'm still getting used to this amazing tool! I upgraded from a Canon 50D and could not be more pleased. It took me a long time to wrap my brain around the pricetag, but a good sale and a whole bunch of Amazon Bucks made it happen. The ISO sensitivity is absolutely incredible! Combine that with the excellent Image Stabilization on this "kit" lens and handheld photos in low light are MUCH more likely to be sharp with minimal noise. Crank the ISO *WAY* up and the noise gets pretty noticeable, but I can deal with that much better than a blurry image from camera shake or a slightly moving subject. Batteries seem to last a long, long time. Where I used to carry 5 extra BP-511 batteries for the 50D for a day of walkaround shooting, I have not yet managed to drain 3 LP-E6 in a casual day with the 5DMkIII. A lighter battery load helps make up for the chassis weight. Yea, this beast is heavy. Ad a 70-200 IS 2.8L and it can make for a very long day, indeed. Fortunately, when you are eating Ibuprofen like candy and icing your back while downloading the images, the overall image quality makes the pain a bit more bearable!Summary: I am quite happy that I took the leap!

The new 5D Mark III from Canon truly sets a new standard among DSLRs. With an array of improvements over the 5D Mark II, you WILL be able take better quality video. The only question, is CAN you? Although this camera is featured widely on the internet as a great HD video recording camera, it is not for everyone. You need to know how to properly use it, else you will end up like many of the people griping about the camera. While the equipment has made great leaps since the mid-80s when I started, users have taken a step back in terms of understanding of video. Newer generations can't take the time to learn their cameras. However, if you do take the time to learn it, and really study DSLR filmmaking, you are sure to make great videos. And no, you don't need an XLR input on a DSLR. There are many reasons why Canon did not include those types of audio connections on the upgraded 5D Mark III, and I won't get into that here. There are plenty of alternatives including external audio (like the real pros do it) or adapter boxes like the one from Juicedlink.All in all, this camera is a great step above the 5D Mark II and I highly recommend it... IF you are a professional or willing to act like a professional when you use it.

I'm a photo enthusiast and have been actively shooting for 10+ years. I own a 7D, whichs is my baby in the crop sensored camera world. After many years of shooting with my 7D, I wanted to upgrade to full frame. I was never interested in the 5D series, because I was more than happy with my 7D. Then along came the 5D Mark III.the 5D Mark III is the perfect upgrade for any 7D owner looking to invest in a truly full frame (24mm x 36mm) camera. The superbly constructed body and button layout are well designed for hours of shooting comfort and camera exposure operations. It's very similar to the 7D and so original 5D owners will need to get use to the change.The 61 point High Density Reticular AF with 41 cross type and 5 dual digital focal points are INSANELY FAST and ACCURATE. It doesn't matter what you focus on with this camera, you will get the shot, keep your eye on the subject and your finger on the trigger and you got it. By far the best AF system I've ever experienced.The LP6 battery life is exceellent. You can easily shoot 700 photos and have plenty of power remaining.I love the metering in this camera. If you want to save time by not having to process photos, this camera will surely cut your post processing time in half. The color rendering with the 63 zone IFCL will accurately give you the neutral (what you see) exposure.Night shooting with the Mark III is phenomenal. This camera has the night vision of a barn owl and will grab the shot you least expect to grab in EXTREMELY low light. I often shoot between 3000-5000 ISO with very good results.A pop-up flash would have been a great addtion for this camera. However, not having one isn't a show stopper by any means. I'm sure canon had their reason for leaving off the pop-up flash - Maybe to keep it more 5D like. Othewise, just call it the 7D-2.with dual memory cards, you won't run out of storage space. The LCD display is remarkably clear and precise, even in direct sunlight. In my opinion, it's far better than any other camera in it's class. The camera show's you, in full and accurate color detail, what your eyes see.I can go all day telling you about what I Love about this camera. Now let me tell you I found challenging about this camera. With all the new upgrades the menus are a bit challenging. The menu layout is fairly simple, but you'll have to practice and remember how to quickly access the great features and customizable tweaks you can perform on the camera.The 5D Mark III is a tremdous tool. It's loaded with power, precision and have all the features necessary to capture any type of shot you have your sights on. the 22.3 Mega Pixel are just the right amount needed to provide you with crystal clear shots. This new camera is well worth the money spent and you will be more than satisfied with it's performance and Canon's customer support is very good.Happy Shooting!

I am a heavy Magic Lantern user. I used to think that the 5d mkIII was an overpriced camera, that the functionality wasn't there to justify the cost. I was wrong on every count. This camera is a beast in it's own right. With Magic Lantern installed, it's the best value in DSLR's hands-down. I can shoot RAW at 1080, and while the quality might not rival the Arri or Black Magic, it is certainly in the same ballpark and a massive improvement over H.264. The expanded dual-iso mode has simplified my real estate workflow 10-fold. The new AF is crisp, responsive and accurate. Build quality is superb, and ergonomics were carefully thought out. Coming from the 50d, I resent having to invest in full-frame glass but I would make the investment again if I had to. If you can't afford to take the plunge, wait and save. It will be worth it in the long run.

Though I don't consider myself a professional photographer (since I do not make my living from photography), I upgraded from a Canon EOS 7D to the 5D Mark III about 9 months ago, and have thoroughly enjoyed the additional photographic opportunities that have opened up to me. Just a few of the compelling features on this solid, workhorse of a camera:- Superior low light performance; you can shoot comfortably with high ISO settings, knowing that you will get useable results (pair it with an f2.8 or f1.8 lens and this camera can see in the dark !)- Fast, accurate auto focusing- Silent shooting mode; no one will know you're even in the room- Auto bracketing of up to 7 images (the crop sensor models only permit 3 images)- Big bright display- Very useful Quick Menu to navigate through settings readily and view camera status at a glance- Comfortable grip- Long battery life; quick charge cycleIn addition, the 24-105mm F/4 L kit lens is a great walk-around lens; versatile whether you're shooting landscapes or portraits. It rarely leaves my camera.The camera has accompanied me on countless trips and photo outings. I have shot at least 40,000 images in the 9 months that I've owned it, and I have some fantastic images to document my travels. I have not had a single issue with the camera and am perfectly satisfied that I made the best decision. Everywhere I go, people comment on how impressive the camera is and state that I must be a "pro" - after which they say that they're satisfied with the images from their cell phones and point & shoot cameras; I just smile and nod, smug with the satisfaction that they don't even know what they're missing :)

This is the fourth Canon DSLR I have owned. I started with the D60 then got the 1Ds and last owned the 1Ds III. Each was a step up in color quality, detail and features. I got the 5D III to get live view, better low light performance, and I hoped for better autofocus. Here are the biggest improvements I have found.1. Color. The color of the 1Ds III was very good. The D60 was good but seemed artificial. The 1Ds was much better. The 1Ds III was as good as the 1Ds but smoother due to the higher MP and had more detail. But as good as the 1Ds III was its images were not quite real. I often fussed with the color in post processing and ultimately got good rich detailed color but as good as it got you often knew you were looking at a photo. The 5D III has even better color and approaches a sense of seeing the real thing. One of the most powerful features of photography is freezing reality and revealing details we miss in the flow of perception. Shots taken with the 5D III grab more than any other camera I have used. It is like seeing the real thing suspended in time, not a photograph of the real thing. The effect is subtle and hard to describe but quite impressive. I rarely adjust color post processing with the 5D III except shots taken in low artificial light. The camera just nails it.2. Autofocus. One thing that bugged me about the 1Ds III was the autofocus. It too often missed, especially in close ups and shooting wide angle at infinity. The D60 was really bad in that sense as well. The 5D III fixes that problem completely. It has a very versatile system but just shooting spot focus on the center square almost always gets it right on. This is the first time I have gotten really sharp telephoto shots of kids playing and even more impressive now is close ups with the new 24-70 II zoom.3. Live view. This is a great feature for shooting with mirror lock up. Focus is slow so it doesn't work for shooting kids or anything else moving but is great for landscape shots.4. Low light. Best in class. The new Nikons are reported to be better in the shadows but I have no complaints. The 1Ds III only went to ISO 1600. The 5D III goes much higher. With the 1Ds III ISO 400 was certainly useable but had noticeable grain. There is hardly any grain in the 5D III up to ISO 800.I have not shot the new Nikons but I will say without reservation that the 5D III with the new Canon zooms, especially the new 24-70, is state of the art. It has also finally sunk in that bodies, even the very best, become outdated after a few years. Spending $7,000 for a 1D body makes sense for someone who beats a camera up making a living but the 5D series now offers a much better option for everyone else.

Upgraded from Canon 7D and WOW I like the images from the 5D MK III. I thought my 7D took pictures, but with the 5D MK II you can tell which camera took the pictures by looking at the images. The new magic Digit 5 processor and full frame makes a difference. Color reproduction is true to life. the camera focuses fast and accurate and one of the nicest features that I found is its ability to focus quickly in relatively low light. I have taken pictures at 4000 ISO that took as good as my 7D at 1000 ISO. There were other reasons why I purchase this particular model, such as full frame sensor dual storage media, 3.2 screen is awesome and load of new features. But once you hold this camera in your hands you will quickly see that you have made the right decision.