Canon EOS 5D Mark III launch
Canon has finally unveiled their much-awaited EOS 5D Mark III full-frame camera (more photos after the link). The Canon 5D Mark III is the successor to the 5D Mark II launched almost 4 years ago in 2008 and wow, it’s a huge step up from the previous model. The 5D Mark III sports a new 22.3 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which is a relatively modest step up from the 5D Mark II’s 21.1 megapixel sensor and not quite as high as that 36 megapixel monster found on Nikon’s competing D800 SLR. However, the 5D Mark III bests them both in terms of maximum ISO setting, which goes up to ISO 102,400 on this camera (the Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D800 max out at 25,600) - which means there are some potentially awesome uses for the 5D Mark 3 in terms of low-light photography, especially when paired with a nice and bright prime lens.
Back of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
The Canon EOS 5D Mark 3 also has a new 61 point autofocus system, possibly the same AF system as Canon’s top-of-the-line flagship EOS 1D X digital SLR which is slated to become available sometime in the next month or two. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III has also received a redesign to have a control layout that’s consistent with other recent Canon SLR models (its top controls and buttons on the right side are just about identical to the Canon 7D, while the 5D Mark III has also received some unique playback buttons of its own on the left side).
- 22.3 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
- Canon EF lens mount; no crop factor (camera does not take EF-S lenses, as usual)
- Rugged construction with improved build quality, dust and moisture sealing
Shutter life rated at 150,000 cycles - 3.2 inch LCD (1.04 million pixels)
Optical viewfinder with 100% coverage - Full manual controls with RAW support and flash hotshoe
Default ISO range 100 to 25,600, expandable to ISO 50 - 102,400
Shutter speed range of 1/8000 to 30 seconds, bulb mode available - New 61 point autofocus with 41 cross-type focus points
- 6 FPS continuous shooting mode
- 3 Custom mode positions; mode dial has ‘position lock’ first seen on the EOS 60D
- In-camera HDR and multi exposure modes
- 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) movie mode
Manual controls available - Ports for external microphone, wireless dongle and HDMI
- Dual memory card slots (Compact Flash and SD/SDHC/SDXC)
- Uses a lithium-ion battery (LP-E6 battery; same as EOS 7D and 60D, and other models)
- Available for $3500 body only or $4300 with the EF 24-105 mm f4L IS USM lens
Top of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
As with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and other Canon full frame cameras of the past, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III will probably perform optimally with a Canon L-series lens (like that recently launched Canon EF 24-70 mm f2.8L II), though there are some good non-L EF lenses such as the Canon EF 85 mm f1.8.