At last the replacement to theCanon
EOS 5D MKII is here
and it's called the Canon EOS 5D MKIII. After months and months of rumour and
speculation, we finally have the full specification.
As there has been so much discussion perhaps the biggest surprise
is that the 5D Mark III's specification seems so familiar and there are no
really major revelations.
Nevertheless those who have been contemplating investing in
an EOS
1DXnow have reason to rethink their prospective purchase and perhaps
save themselves a bob or two.
Sensor
One difference between the EOS-1DX and the 5DMKIII is the
sensor, the 5D has a higher pixel count with 22.3 million pixels. It also has
just one Digic 5+ processor rather than two, which in combination with its 8 channel
readout means that it has top continuous shooting speed of 6fps.
This is half the rate of Canon's top-end camera and it may
disappoint those hoping for something in the region of 8fps or more. It's a big
jump from the 3.9fps of the 5DMKII though and the burst depth is an impressive
8 raw images or over 16,000 JPEGs (when a UDMA 7 card I used).
The fact that the pixel count doesn't compete a little more
closely with the Nikon D800's 36Mp and is only a little higher than the 21.1Mp
of the Mark II may also disappoint a few Canon users, but as with the 1DX,
Canon may have opted to go down this route to ensure cleaner results in low
light and at higher sensitivities. Time and testing will tell.
Looking on the bright side, it also means that the files are
smaller and quicker to download and adjust.
Autofocus
The EOS 5D Mark III has the same 61-point wide-area AF
system as the flagship EOS-1D X. This is a big improvement on the 5D Mark II
which has 9 user selectable AF points and 6 assist points, giving a total of
15.
Of these 61 points, 41 are cross-type and five are dual
cross-type points, which is good news for accuracy. The customisable AF
pre-sets introduced in the EOS-1D X are also available, which Canon claims
helps when shooting more challenging subjects – something we look forward to
testing.
It doesn't offer the f/8 sensitivity of Nikon's latest
system though, it only extends to f/5.6, which restricts the use of
teleconverters.
Metering
Predictably, Canon has upgraded the metering system to it's
iFCL metering. If this performs in the same way as it does in other Canon cameras,
existing 5D Mark II users may find it takes a little getting used to as it
reacts in a similar way to centreweighted metering and puts greater emphasis on
the subject under the active AF point.
In some situations this is a blessing, but with exceptionally
dark or light main subjects the results may not be the same as the 5D MK II
would produce in its evaluative metering mode.
Video
Its video capability was one of the big successes of the EOS
5D Mark II and Canon hasn't changed much of its specification for the Mark III
version, but there are some significant improvements. Firstly there's the
introduction of a live view/movie switch on the rear like on the EOS 7D to
speed up movie activation.
There's also a headphone socket for monitoring the stereo
audio which can be adjusted in the same way as on the EOS-1DX.
HDR
Until now Canon hasn't had an SLR with in-camera HDR
recording, but the 5D MKIII is capable of recording and merging three shots to
produce a high dynamic range image. It will be interesting to see whether the
company has opted for a blend or a more dramatic look. We are hoping for
subtlety with the ability to adjust for stronger effects.
Build and ergonomics
It's great to see that Canon has upgraded the
weatherproofing for the new camera. Photographers that invest nearly £3000 in a
camera expect it to be able to withstand some exposure to the elements.
We are also pleased that Canon has given the 5D Mark III the
same 3in 1,040,000-dot LCD as the 1DX. This screen provides a sharp, clear view
and although we have yet to test it outdoors, the fact there is no gap between
the LCD and the glass cover should mean that reflections are kept to a minimum.
Given the 5D's reputation as video camera, it's a shame that
Canon wasn't bold enough to give the Mark III version an articulating screen.
Perhaps the hinge is considered too much of a weak point, or maybe Canon is
saving that for the 4K capable camera it
announced was in development back in November last year.
In recognition of some of its new features Canon has given
the EOS 5D Mark III a Creative Photo button. This enables users to select
Picture Styles, capture multiple exposures and access the HDR shooting mode.
For enthusiastic chimpers, pressing the Creative Photo button in playback mode
displays two images side-by-side to allow photographers to view, magnify and
compare the quality of different exposures mid-shoot – that could make the
journey home from a shoot much more productive.
Conclusion
On paper the EOS 5D Mark III seems like a very capable
camera, but we can't help feeling a little disappointed that Canon hasn't added
any major wow factors. Although the upgrades from the EOS 5D Mark II are very
significant, this camera has seemed a little out of step ever since the EOS 7D
was introduced way back in September 2009.
On the whole the upgrades for the 5D Mark III are fairly
predictable; for example introducing the iFCL metering system which has been
spreading throughout the EOS range and adding the new AF system from the
EOS-1DX.
However, because we have seen many of the systems and
features before it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the 5D Mark III offers
much of the technology of Canon's flagship camera in a more affordable package.
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