The Canon 5D Mark III has arrived!

by Katie Dix 2 March 2012

After three years of rumour and speculation Canon have officially announced the 5D Mark III. Building on the Mark II the new 5D closes the gap between the 5 and 1D series cameras but will it live up to our expectations? Let’s have a look at the specs.

Specifications

22.3 megapixel CMOS sensor (36 x 24 mm)
A standard ISO range of 100-25,600 (expandable 50-102,400)
Next-generation DIGIC 5 image processing engine
Full HD 1080p movie capability
3.2" 1,040,000-dot LCD screen
Dual card slots: one for CF cards and one for SD cards
Up to 6 frames per second
61-point AF system (41-cross type sensors)
£2999**

The Canon 5D Mark III holds onto the impressive level of specification as the respectable and legendary Canon 5D Mark II but with a boost of technological enhancements in all the right directions.

22.3 Megapixels

With only but a little nudge in megapixels, Canon has chosen not to enter the 5D Mark III into the race of “who has the most megapixels” and focus more on what is essential to users looking to upgrade.

The revolutionary DIGIC 5+ Processor

Wildlife and Sports photographers who require a fast burst rate will be pleased to see Canon have increased the frame rate from 3.9fps (found in the Canon 5D Mark II) to 6fps. Working together with the CMOS sensor, the Digic 5+ processor ensures fast continuous shooting and provides exceptional image quality, even in low light. The Digic 5+ processor is equivalent to the one found in the 1D X, not only is it 17x faster than the Digic 4 (again found in the 5D Mk II) but it is also designed to create 75% less noise.

61-point Autofocus System

While the Canon 5D Mark II was everything and more, the obvious and headline improvement would be that of the AF system – Canon has hit the nail on the head with this one! The Canon 5D Mark III now features an impressive 61-point AF system including 41-cross type sensors, the same found in the Canon 1D X. Like the 1D X, the 5D Mark III can also detect a subject that is completely out of focus by utilising the entire sensor, rather than just a single AF point, thus ensuring rapid and effective AF control at all times.

Night capability, ISO 50-102,400

The standard ISO ranges from 100-25,600 is impressive in itself but the ISO performance doesn't stop there, the Canon 5D Mark III’s ISO can reach down to as low as 50 and expand to a remarkable 102,400.

Get the full view

The new viewfinder as been upgraded to offer 100% coverage (98% on the Canon 5D Mark II), on par with the 1D X.

Movie mode

With a quick press of the dedicated Movie/Live View shooting button, the Canon 5D Mark III can record Full HD 1080p movies, offering manual control over depth of field, exposure, shutter speeds and in a selection of frame rates – 30, 25 and 24, with 60 and 50 available at resolutions of 720p. Using the Quick Control movie tab you can adjust the sound levels during recording plus the standard 3.5mm microphone and headphone socket permits audio monitoring to assist in capturing the soundtrack your movie deserves. The Canon 5D MK III gives you the best out of both digital worlds too, whilst recording you can simultaneously capture still images.

Design and Weather Sealing

In terms of its size, the Mark III isn't much bigger to its brother the 5D Mk II, but what it does gain is a completely new button layout based on its older cousin, the Canon 7D - a great incentive for anyone looking to upgrade. The weather-proof construction as a whole is a lot stronger, with extra sealing throughout the body – around the buttons, LCD, battery and more importantly the memory compartment.

Dual card slot

With the addition of dual SD and CF card slots you now have the option to duplicate all files to both cards, or record JPEGS to one and RAW files on the other, giving you a more efficient work flow.

Comparison table

	5D MK II	5D MK III	1D X
Megapixels	21.1	22.3	18.1
ISO range	100-6400	100-25,600	100-51,200
Max extendable ISO	100-25,600	50-102,400	50-204,800
Image Processor	DIGIC 4	DIGIC 5	DIGIC 5
HD Video	1080p (30fps)	1080p (24, 25, 30fps)	1080p (24, 25, 30fps)
Autofocus	9-point	61-point	61-point
FPS	3.9	6	12
Card Slot	CF	Dual SDXC & CF	Dual CF
Screen (dot resolution)	3.0" LCD (920k)	3.2 LCD (1,040,000k)	3.2" (1,040k)
Weight*	810g	950g	TBC
Price**	£1688	£2999	£5299

*approximate body only weight (without battery or memory cards)

Along with the launch of the Canon 5D Mark III Digital SLR there a number of accessories to go with it.

Wireless transmitter WT-5 - £789**

Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT Flashgun - £679**

Canon Speedlite 600EX Flashgun - £639**

Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip for EOS 5D Mark III - £329**

Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver - £299**

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter - £309**

Canon WFT-E7B Wireless Transmitter - £789**

**Prices as of today (2nd March) and are subject to change

We caught up with Canon at Focus to find out a little bit more on the new Canon 5D Mark III

Final thoughts

The wait is over, so what do we think? Let's rewind, so when the Canon 5D Mark II first hit the market, it was priced at £2299.99, so that’s £699.01 more to save up in your piggy bank. Whilst not exactly cheap, the Canon 5D Mark III is still within reach of many photographers and with this set of impressive features there will be many clamouring to buy one. Watch this space for more specifications and important updates on this impressive full frame DSLR.

Sample Images

We’ve sourced a few sample images from Canon (original source here) for a first look at what the Canon 5D Mark III can produce. More sample images will be added here as they become available.