canon EOS 5d mark iii

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review

In 1987 Canon unveiled the EOS 650 to the world. It was the Japanese manufacturer's first 35mm autofocus SLR and the start of the EOS system. With its fully-electronic lens mount, in-lens aperture and focus motors, and reliance on electronic button and dial operation, Canon's EOS system established a blueprint that all successive camera systems have followed. Now, 25 years later, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is the latest model in the line.

Up until now, the 5D series has been a dynasty of slightly unlikely revolutionaries. The original EOS 5D of 2005 was the first 'affordable' full frame SLR, and the camera that cemented the 24x36mm sensor as the format of choice for many professional applications at a time when many were questioning its continued relevance. The 5D Mark II was the first SLR capable of recording full HD video, a feature that revolutionized the market in a fashion that no one could possibly have envisaged at the time - least of all Canon. On the face of it, though, the latest model offers little that looks likely to make the same impact.

The 5D Mark III has a 22MP full frame sensor in a body that's based on the EOS 7D design, and with a 61-point AF system borrowed from the flagship EOS-1D X. From the glass-half-empty point of view, this could be seen as an unambitious update that trails disappointingly behind Nikon's 36MP D800 which was announced around the same time. But for those whose glasses tend more towards the half-full, it might just turn out to be the camera that 5D Mark II owners always really wanted.

Indeed the 5D name itself is almost misleading; compared to its predecessor the Mark III is essentially a completely new model, with every major system upgraded and updated. In a way it's better seen as a full-frame 7D, with that camera's control layout, extensive customizability and 63-zone metering sensor. But it also gains a raft of additional tweaks and improvements in response to customer feedback; these range from dual slots for CF and SD cards, through a locking exposure mode dial, to a large depth of field preview button that's repositioned for right-handed operation, and can be reprogrammed to access a number of other functions.

Read on to find out out how the 5D Mark III performs in our studio and real-life tests, how we liked its handling and operation and if it is the right camera for your requirements and type of photography.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III key specifications

• 22MP full frame CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-25600 standard, 50-102,800 expanded
• 6 fps continuous shooting
• Shutter rated to 150,000 frames
• 1080p30 video recording, stereo sound via external mic
• 61 point AF system
• 63 zone iFCL metering system
• 100% viewfinder coverage
• 1040k dot 3:2 LCD
• Dual card slots for CF and SD

Canon EOS 5D Mark III and II key differences

Most of the key specs are substantially upgraded compared to the 5D Mark II. The new sensor, coupled with Canon's latest DIGIC 5+ processor, offers a standard ISO range of 100 - 25,600 that's expandable to 50 - 102,800. An 8-channel sensor readout enables continuous shooting at 6 fps. The shutter is rated to 150,000 cycles and has been refined for quieter operation; the Mark III also inherits the 'silent' shutter mode previously seen on the 1D-series. Viewfinder coverage is a full 100%, and the 1040k dot, 3:2 aspect ratio 3.2" LCD screen has improved anti-reflection properties and a hardened glass cover to protect against scratching. And let's not forget that 61-point focus system from the 1DX - the first time Canon has put its top-spec AF sensor into a non-1-series camera since the film-era EOS 3.

	Canon EOS 5D Mark III	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Sensor	22.3 MP full-frame CMOS	21 MP full-frame CMOS
Processor	Digic 5+	Digic 4
ISO range	50 - 102800	50 - 25600
Maximum shooting rate	6fps	3.9fps
Viewfinder coverage	100%	98%
LCD screen	3.2" - 1,040,000 dots	3.0" - 920,000 dots
AF Sensor	61 points	9 points
CA correction	Yes	No
All-I and IPV video compression options	Yes	No
Touch-sensitive rear dial	Yes	No
Headphone socket	Yes	No
HDR shooting	Yes	No
Multiple exposure	Yes	No
Silent shutter	Yes	No
Side-by-side image comparison	Yes	No

Movie mode turned out to be the 5D Mark II's trump card over its rivals, and its successor naturally offers improved capability in this regard. In terms of ergonomics, the camera gains the 7D's rear movie mode/live view switch, so you no longer have to compromise your stills Live View settings when setting up for video recording. There's a built-in headphone socket for audio monitoring, and rear control dial gains touch-sensitive 'buttons' that allow recording parameters (shutter speed, aperture, ISO and sound volume) to be changed silently. The video output specifications are essentially unchanged in terms of resolution and framerate (1080p30 maximum), but Canon says the processing is improved to minimise moiré and other artefacts, and has included the higher quality All-I and IPB interframe compression options introduced with the EOS-1D X. What you don't get though, is the uncompressed output over HDMI seen in the latest Nikon models.

There's a couple of entirely new features too; the 5D Mark III becomes Canon's first SLR capable of in-camera High Dynamic Range shooting, in an unusually well-implemented and flexible fashion, and gets expanded autobracketing options too (up to 7 frames covering a vast +/- 8 EV range). It can also record multiple exposures, if you so desire. The introduction of DIGIC 5+ means that JPEG processing (finally) includes chromatic aberration correction, based on lens profiles which are stored in-camera (and therefore limited to Canon's own lenses). Last but not least, playback mode adds the ability to compare images directly side-by-side, in a number of different views.

The 5D Mark III also gains a refreshed menu system, essentially based on that of the EOS-1D X. It's not entirely dissimilar to the 5D Mark II's (so existing users will still feel at home), but it gains a completely new tab for managing its complex AF system, based on a range of usage-scenario presets. The ordering of options has been rationalized, and a number of functions that were previously hidden deep within the custom functions have bubbled-up closer to the surface as top-level menu items, perhaps most notably mirror lockup and Highlight Tone Priority.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III specifications

Price
MSRP	Body only: $3499, €3299, £2999 with 24-105mm: $4299
Body type
Body type	Mid-size SLR
Body material	Magnesium alloy
Sensor
Max resolution	5760 x 3840
Other resolutions	3840 x 2560, 2880 x 1920, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480
Image ratio w:h	3:2
Effective pixels	22 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	23 megapixels
Sensor size	Full frame (36 x 24 mm)
Sensor type	CMOS
Processor	Digic 5+
Color space	sRGB,Adobe RGB
Color filter array	RGB Color Filter Array
Image
ISO	Auto, 100 - 25600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 51200, 102400 as option
Boosted ISO (minimum)	50
Boosted ISO (maximum)	102400
White balance presets	6
Custom white balance	Yes (1)
Image stabilization	No
Uncompressed format	RAW
JPEG quality levels	Fine, Normal
File format	JPEG (Exif 2.3 [Exif Print] compliant) Design rule for Camera File system (2.0) RAW: RAW, sRAW1, sRAW2 (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition) Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
Optics & Focus
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Selective single-point Single Continuous Face Detection Live View
Autofocus assist lamp	by optional dedicated Speedlite
Digital zoom	No
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	61
Lens mount	Canon EF
Focal length multiplier	1×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Fixed
Screen size	3.2″
Screen dots	1,040,000
Touch screen	No
Screen type	Clear View II TFT LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage	100%
Viewfinder magnification	0.71×
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	30 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/8000 sec
Exposure modes	Auto+ Program AE Shutter priority AE Aperture priority AE Manual (Stills and Movie) Custom (x3)
Built-in flash	No
External flash	Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus Sync connector)
Flash X sync speed	1/200 sec
Continuous drive	6.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Metering modes	Multi Center-weighted Spot Partial
Exposure compensation	±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±3 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Videography features
Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Format	H.264
Videography notes	1080 and 720 intra or inter frame, 480 inter frame
Microphone	Mono
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage included	None
Connectivity
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes (HDMI mini)
Microphone port	Yes
Headphone port	Yes
Wireless	Optional
Wireless notes	Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7
Remote control	Yes (Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6)
Physical
Environmentally sealed	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	950
Weight (inc. batteries)	950 g (2.09 lb / 33.51 oz)
Dimensions	152 x 116 x 76 mm (5.98 x 4.57 x 2.99″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes (by cable and PC)
GPS	Optional
GPS notes	With optional GP-E2 unit

Key Technologies

The biggest single upgrade on the 5D Mark III is its autofocus system, and it's the area that most needed it. The original 5D's 9-point AF system seemed a little under-specced when it was launched, so its reappearance in the Mark II was a considerable disappointment, especially when the 7D arrived a year later with a much more sophisticated 19-point setup. The 5D Mark III's AF eclipses both, gaining the 61-point AF sensor from the company's flagship 1D X.

It's not the entire 1D X AF system - because the 5D Mark III doesn't have the 1D X's 100,000 pixel metering sensor to gain tracking information from, nor a dedicated DIGIC 4 processor to make sense of it all. However, even without them, it's still one of the most comprehensive AF systems on the market and, most importantly, brings the camera much closer to the level of contemporary Nikons.

	The 5D Mark III uses the same AF sensor as the more expensive EOS-1D X.
	The 76 bright regions on the sensor are the light-sensitive areas.
	Once focused through the lenses that are placed in front of them, their pattern relates more closely to the AF point pattern you see through the viewfinder.
	And, if you overlay the AF point pattern, you can see how the 76 strips on the sensor give rise to the 61 selectable AF points.

It's worth bearing in mind though that, while Nikon has long used high pixel count metering sensors to improve tracking accuracy, the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV was competitive with the D3S even without this capability. Crucially, in addition to this added sophistication, the 5D Mark III also inherits the 1D X's subject-based configuration presets, to make it easier to get the best out of the system.

22MP image sensor and Digic 5+ processor

The pixel count may be similar to that of the 5D Mark II, but the Mark III's sensor is entirely new. The pixel architecture is changed, with a promised increase in photoelectric conversion rate (light is more efficiently converted to readable charge).Canon has also applied its gapless microlens array, meaning more of the light hitting the sensor gets directed down into the photodiodes. Finally there's a newly-developed on-chip noise reduction system to improve the quality of the information coming off the chip.

Image data captured on the 5D Mark III's 22Mp sensor is processed in the new Digic 5+ processor.

Canon isn't making specific claims for how much of an improvement these changes make to the raw output but, once subjected to the DIGIC 5+'s processing, it will claim a 2-stop improvement in the JPEG images.

The camera uses the latest DIGIC 5+ processor, as used in the 1D X. It's 30% faster than the DIGIC 5 chip starting to appear in recent Canon cameras but, more to the point, it's 17x faster than the DIGIC 4 processor in the 5D Mark II. This not only helps support the camera's 6 frame-per-second shooting but also has time on its hands to conduct moiré-reduction when shooting movies.

In addition, the extra processing power allows the 5D Mark III to apply chromatic aberration correction to its JPEGs. This correction is based on Canon-created lens profiles, up to 29 of which can be downloaded and saved onto the camera. These profiles allow correction not only of lateral CA but also of the harder-to-fix axial CA.

New shutter/mirror mechanism

The 5D Mark III features a totally redesigned shutter and mirror mechanism. The shutter is still rated to 150,000 cycles despite the faster continuous shooting speed. The camera also gains a revised mirror return mechanism designed to ensure the sub-mirror (that redirect light down to the AF sensor), is in place and stable as quickly as possible after each shot, to increase focus accuracy during continuous shooting mode.

The 5D Mark III also acquires the 1D X's silent shutter mode, allowing it to shoot in both single images and continuously (at around 3 frames per second) with greatly reduced shutter and mirror noise. This may not sound like much, but it should be very welcome to photographers shooting at noise-sensitive events.

Upgraded LCD Monitor

The rear screen is the same 3.2" 1,040,000 dot LCD as on the EOS-1D X. It's a 3:2 aspect ratio screen that uses the latest design in which the panel is bonded directly to the toughened glass screen, so that there's no air gap between the two (which could cause internal reflection - worsening glare). The result is one of the best screens currently available - clear, sharp and high-resolution.