Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Features

New features over the EOS 5D Mark II are:

• Resolution increased to 22.3 effective megapixels full-frame CMOS sensor (5D Mark II has 21.0 megapixels)
• DIGIC 5+ image processor (as opposed to the DIGIC 4)
• Maximum ISO speed increased to ISO 25600 (50, 51200, 102400 as optional expanded settings) – Compared to ISO 6400 (50, 12800, and 25600 as optional expanded settings)
• New 61-point autofocus (AF) system with 41 cross-type AF points and five dual cross-type points, and High-density Reticular AF – nine AF points plus six Assist Points on the 5D Mark II. The Mark III's autofocus system was inherited partly from the then recently announced EOS-1D X, and marks the first time since the EOS-3 film SLR that Canon has put its top-of-the-line autofocus system in a non-1-series body.
• Faster continuous shooting at 6 fps (3.9 fps for the 5D Mark II)
• New metering zones with 63 zones – compared to TTL, full aperture, 35 zones
• Silent, low vibration TTL shooting modes (single shot or 3 fps) – compared to live-view-only silent shooting modes.
• New 100% viewfinder coverage that offers 0.71× magnification – compared to 98% viewfinder coverage
• Larger 3.2″ (8.1 cm) LCD with 3:2 aspect ratio (3″/7.5 cm LCD screen with approx. 920,000 dots resolution, in 4:3 ratio on the 5D Mark II). In turn, this means that the native still images of the Mk III completely fill the screen, while the Mk II's native images are displayed with a black border on the bottom of the LCD. Also, while HD video remains letterboxed on the Mk III LCD, as on the Mk II, the 3:2 ratio allows more of the screen to be used for video display.
• Headphone-out to monitor audio (the previous one having none)
• Dual card slots: one CompactFlash (CF) with full UDMA support, and one SD (including SDHC and SDXC cards, but does not exploit the UHS-I bus) – the Mark II has only one CF slot.
• Eyecup Eg – as opposed to the Eyecup Eb
• Improved weather sealing (resistant to water and dust, although it is not waterproof) As with the 5D Mark II, the shutter life is rated at 150,000 cycles.

Reception

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III received positive reviews from photography critics and publications, with particular praise for its autofocus system and high ISO performance.

The camera won multiple industry awards in 2012. The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) named it European Advanced SLR Camera 2012–2013, praising it as an "easy-to-use, professional quality, DSLR movie camera" with "substantial improvements in real-life photography as well as in performance" compared to its predecessor. The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) awarded it Best Video DSLR in 2012.

Professional reviews highlighted the camera's versatility and improvements over the 5D Mark II. Digital Photography Review concluded that "it is indeed a great camera" and that "the 5D Mark III is in almost every aspect a better camera than its predecessor and an extremely enjoyable photographic tool." Photography Blog gave the camera 4.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a well-rounded DSLR that can successfully try its hand at most photographic disciplines" that represents "another stride forward for both stills and video." Imaging Resource praised the autofocus system as revolutionary, with field testers noting exceptional high ISO performance, with one reviewer stating the camera could "shoot indoors without flash at ISO 12,800 with noise and detail levels similar to ISO 3,200 on the 5D Mark II."

Critics consistently praised the 61-point autofocus system, inherited from the professional EOS-1D X, as a significant upgrade that addressed many limitations of its predecessor. However, some reviewers noted that while the camera excelled at RAW image quality, its JPEG output showed visibly destructive noise reduction even at low sensitivities, resulting in less detail than expected from a 22-megapixel sensor. Concerns were also raised about the camera's high launch price of £2999/€3569.99/$3499.95, which was substantially higher than the Mark II and $500 more expensive than the competing Nikon D800.

Known defects

Canon issued a product advisory indicating that the camera's LCD panel, when illuminated in extremely dark environments, may impact the camera's light metering when shooting. Any camera bodies sold with the issue will be fixed by Canon free of charge, and any body shipped after the first week of May 2012 likely had the defect already rectified.

Firmware updates

Notable works shot on the camera

• Life After Beth
• Kung Fury
• Wallpaper for OS X El Capitan
• Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Cubesat

In July 2020 an attempt was made to launch a Cubesat named CE-SAT 1B equipped with a 5D Mark III sensor on an Electron rocket. The rocket failed to reach orbit.

References

References

1. "EOS 5D Mark III - Canon Camera Museum".
2. "It's Finally Here: Canon U.S.A. Announces The Highly Anticipated EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera And New L-Series Lenses".
3. "From the EOS 5D Mark III to EOS 5DS/5DS R -- What's New".
4. (March 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Hands-on Preview: 1. Introduction". [[Digital Photography Review]].
5. Laing, Gordon. (March 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III preview". CameraLabs.com.
6. (20 August 2012). "Four Canon products honored with prestigious European Imaging and Sound Association awards in Europe". Canon Global.
7. "View awards history - 2010-2012". Canon Camera Museum.
8. (May 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review". Digital Photography Review.
9. (11 April 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review". Photography Blog.
10. "Canon 5D Mark III Review". Imaging Resource.
11. (May 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review". Digital Photography Review.
12. (May 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review". Digital Photography Review.
13. (11 April 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review". Photography Blog.
14. (May 2012). "Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review". Digital Photography Review.
15. "Product Advisories".
16. (October 2012). "EOS 5D Mark III firmware update". Canon.
17. (30 October 2013). "EOS 5D Mark III Firmware 1.2.3 Available". CANON RUMORS.
18. "EOS 5D Mark III". Canon UK.
19. "EOS 5D Mark III Firmware".
20. O'Connell, Max. (2014-01-24). "How I Shot That: High Contrast Lighting in the Sundance Zombie Romance-Comedy 'Life After Beth'".
21. (30 May 2015). "Briljante jaren 80 actiefilm 'Kung Fury' gefilmd met de Canon 5D III". FotoVideo.nu.
22. (23 July 2016). "Apple Forgot to Scrub the EXIF Data from This OS X Wallpaper". petapixel.com.
23. (5 February 2018). "Ten Minute Film School E21: RaMell Ross on Hale County. This Morning. This Evening".
24. Clark, Stephen. (28 October 2020). "Rocket Lab successfully launches satellites for Planet and Canon". Spaceflight Now.
25. Cade, DL. (6 July 2020). "Canon 5D Mark III Satellite Camera Destroyed in Failed Rocket Launch". PetaPixel.