Canon EOS 5D Mark III Pro Reviews

The Canon EOS 6D is noticeably cheaper than the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, making the case for the 5D Mark III even more difficult to justify. The Canon EOS 6D may deliver lower resolution images (20mp vs 22mp), however this gives the 6D the benefit of lower noise at higher ISOs. The Canon EOS 6D also benefits from a smaller body, as well as built in GPS and Wi-Fi, although these last two features do have a negative effect on battery life when used. The Canon EOS 6D has noticeably less focus points, just 11 compared to 61 on the 6D, which could be another concern for some. The optical viewfinder in the Canon EOS 6D isn't a full size (97% vs 100%) viewfinder like the 5D Mark III, however it does have the benefit of allowing it to be swapped out for an alternative viewfinder if required. The 6D also features a slightly smaller 3inch screen, instead of the 3.2inch screen on the 5D Mark III, as well as slower continuous shooting. Another potentially off-putting negative of the 6D is the lack of a headphone socket on the 6D which could be of concern for video recording (although this could be resolved by an external audio recorder). In this day and age of austerity, perhaps a full frame camera packed full of features is exactly what is needed, and while the Canon EOS 5D Mark III delivers a higher specification, you can save a lot of money by going for the more compact Canon EOS 6D, and spend some of the money you've saved on a lens instead. For those looking to upgrade to a full-frame Digital SLR, the Canon EOS 6D fits the bill very nicely.

As one of the true superstar digital SLRs retailing for a medium-high starting price, the Canon 5D Mark III deserves close scrutiny, and it's lived up to our expectations. Replete with new features, the Canon 5D Mark III's most important one is its full-frame sensor, whose resolution Canon kept to a conservative 22.3 megapixels. The image quality we see is good enough that we can say Canon's covered the right base first, so one needn't worry too much about image quality, even as ISO rises. There are issues, as with any system, including more limited dynamic range by comparison, and default settings for noise reduction and sharpening are a bit extreme in JPEGs, but most of that can be worked around or avoided by shooting raw. Those who handled the camera consistently remarked about the viewfinder experience, particularly the improved autofocus coverage area. The myriad options for adjusting autofocus concentration and emphasis also got high marks.

Breathtaking image quality and a wide range of autofocus options are among the highlights of this superbly rounded package

A photographic tour-de-force – if you can justify the cost it'll be hard to resist

On paper, the Canon 5D Mark III may not seem like a huge step up from the 5D Mark II especially given all the rumors (and long-time anticipation) surrounding its release. In some ways, the Mark III on the surface doesn't dazzle with additional bells and whistles or even any huge leap forward in technology. And, given the fact that the Mark III currently costs about $1300 more than the 5D Mark II ($3,499 and $2,199, respectively), the 5D Mark III may be a hard sell to newcomers to the 5D family and questionable for some 5D Mark II owners. We don't have final test results for the Nikon D800, so we can't compare the two for those of you who may not have a vested interest (e.g., lenses) in one system or the other. But 5D Mark II users have an even more difficult task deciding whether or not to update to the Mark III. Perhaps the best reasons to upgrade are the highly capable AF system, the improved performance from the Digic 5 + processor and higher ISO capabilities. But if you're happy with the 5D Mark II and you don't think your photography will benefit from those three main improvements, then you might want to see what the next generation may bring.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III builds on the success of its popular predecessor with a series of improvements that add up to a much better all-round camera for stills and video alike. The 61-point auto-focus system in particular is very welcome, along with the excellent performance at higher ISOs, faster continuous shooting and a much more refined movie making interface. Only a sharp increase in price prevents us from recommending this new model quite as enthusiastically as we did the 5D Mark II. Where the Canon EOS 5D Mark II scored highly on originality with its relatively new ability to shoot full HD video, the Mark III is a rather more incremental upgrade that won't perhaps grab the attention in quite the same way, but which nevertheless has resulted in a more well-rounded camera. Inheriting the same auto-focus system as the flagship EOS-1D X DSLR is a massive improvement on the rudimentary 9-point system of the 5D Mark II, while the burst shooting rate is quicker at 6fps with a useful quieter 3fps mode for more candid moments.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is a very satisfying all-round DSLR. It feels tough, handles quickly and delivers great-looking photos and video. Canon has pretty much addressed all the complaints of the Mark II and also included all the nice extras commonly offered by Nikon, like 100% viewfinder coverage, twin card slots, deep bracketing and an AF system packed with points. This is a camera which out-performs the Mark II on everything other than photo resolution, and in use feels a world-apart from its predecessor. It is the camera the Mark II always wanted to be - or arguably should have been. But the price of all these enhancements sadly haven't been absorbed by three and a half years of technology evolution. To be fair exchange rates with Japan are quite different to what they were, but the literal bottom line is the Mark III is not a cheap camera by any means - indeed it typically costs 50% more than a Mark II and also carries a comfortable premium over its big rival the D800, which lest we forget enjoys 36 Megapixels.

As with the Nikon D800, there’s little bad to say about the latest 5D. This does feel like a camera aimed at the film-maker, but at no point does it ever feel that Canon has compromised on the quality of stills it produces. Indeed, our first instinct is to say that, for jpeg images, out of the camera, we prefer the Canon. There is, of course, more to the quality than just a first glance at the jpeg file though. We think that the D800 produces nicer video out of the camera. Again though, professionals like the 5D. It has a quality that is very easy to work with in post production, and grade to the level of the rest of your material. Having said that, the 5D lacks a clean feed out of its HDMI socket. This is a bit of a problem, and Canon should really have addressed it by now. Of course, the firm now sells a video-only rig, the C300, which is more capable of producing video for pro markets. We like the way the 5D handles, it's a well-built camera, and it's great to use. It's fast to shoot lots of frames in sequence, which puts it over the D800 with its more massive images. In terms of layout, and design, the only bit we really want to change is the lack of dedicated control for aperture control, two wheels would really have made our day here.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is not only a very capable photographic tool in almost all areas, it's also fun and exciting to shoot with. The only downside are the slightly soft and overprocessed out-of-camera JPEGs. This is only visible at pixel-level but we would expect most of the camera's target group to shoot raw anyway.

We honestly haven't been this in love with a camera since we reviewed the Sony NEX-7. And while there's little to compare from a price and design perspective, we're seriously questioning that affair, and completely ready to sacrifice the compact design in favor of this incredibly capable do-everything shooter. At $3,499 for the body only, Canon priced this latest 5D higher than its predecessor, which rang in at $2,699 at launch. Still, if you've been considering a 5D Mark III purchase, don't hesitate -- it's worth the investment, we promise. And if you've already placed your order or have one in the mail, get ready to have your world turned upside-down -- this thing is simply amazing, in every way.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is an excellent camera, capable of taking stunning photos in a wide variety of situations and has a wealth of lenses available to go with it. The 5D Mark III may not be as ground-breaking as the 5D Mark II, but this is simply because the Mark II was so good, and where the Mark III has been improved is noticeable. It has a number of very welcome (and some would say needed) updates, importantly to focus points, speed, continuous shooting, HDR, improved processing, ISO performance and an extended range, as well as a high resolution 3.2inch screen. The 5D Mark III would make an excellent choice for anyone with an investment in Canon lenses and equipment, as well as those upgrading from the Mark II, although the new higher recommended retail price may make it more of a stretch financially. The 22.3 megapixel sensor has excellent noise performance, excellent colours and very good detail and does not necessarily demand premium priced lenses for excellent performance (unlike higher resolution competitors), although certainly benefits from it. A number of improvements have been made for videographers with the microphone and headphone sockets being welcome additions, as well as the other advanced options available in the camera.

Unlike the D800, the 5D Mark III isn't a no-brainer upgrade for 5D Mark II shooters, but I think that's more of a testament to the quality of the Mark II than anything lacking in the Mark III. That said, it does have some important advantages over its predecessor, including a much faster autofocus system, improved video quality and controls, and a far more configurable feature set. And if those are important to you, it's definitely worth the price premium over the now-reduced Mark II.

While the MkII was more suited to specific photographic disciplines, the MkIII is a whole different ball game. Its a much more well-rounded, versatile DSLR than its predecessor. This is thanks to the boost in performance - namely the AF, while the quality feel is much more fitting for a camera of this calibre. While the resolution may remain similar to the MkII, Canon hasn't stood still. The ISO improvements now make the MkIII one of the best cameras around for shooting at high sensitivities, while the detail and resolving power make large prints a reality. All the weak areas that the MkII suffered from have been ironed out with the MkIII, and there's now very little to fault it on, and the more you shoot with it, the more you realise what a complete and capable camera the MkIII is. Whether you shoot landscapes, portraits, editorial, action or nature, the MkIII will be right at home. The EOS 5D MkIII is an excellent DSLR.

While the Canon EOS 5D Mark III will be a bargain to many (I regard it as such), it is going to be priced out of reach for some. Those needing only excellent image quality without the superb 5D III AF and other capabilities/features should consider the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Those needing a fast frame rate but not able to afford the 5D III should consider the Canon EOS 7D. Though its image quality will not be a match for the 5D III, the 7D offers a good AF system, advanced features and a very good frame rate - at a more affordable price. For those whose budgets exceed the 5D III, the Canon EOS 1D X is currently the must-consider alternative. I included the differences between the 5D III and the 1D X at the beginning of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III review. Upgrading? I enthusiastically recommend upgrading to the EOS 5D III from any of the APS-C DSLRs. The step from the 5D II to the 5D III makes a lot of sense to me - especially from an AF perspective. Moving to the 5D III from many of the 1-Series bodies can even make sense. Later model 1-Series body owners probably will want to wait to see how the 1D X performs before making this decision. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III just seems right for nearly all uses - from the most serious professional needs down to the most-important family memories captures. The 5D III has become my primary DSLR - at least until the 1D X appears - though I will likely retain a mix of these two DSLR models even then. This camera is a lot of fun to work with.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III looks a lot like its predecessor on the outside, but offers plenty of improvements under the hood. It's a solid option for advanced shooters with an investment in Canon glass, but doesn't match the rapid-fire shooting capabilities of the EOS-1D X or Nikon D4.

While it may not have excited the photographic world in the same way that the Nikon D800 seems to have, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is a very capable camera. It suffers a little from the fact that the majority of the systems have been seen elsewhere in the Canon DSLR lineup, and therefore there is nothing really groundbreaking. Image quality throughout the native sensitivity range is excellent, noise is well controlled and there's plenty of detail. The AF system has been given a serious upgrade on what the Canon EOS 5D Mark II version has, and it puts in an excellent performance. Costing £2,999/$3,499 for the body only, however, the price seems a little on the high side.

Yeah, the Mark II is still a killer deal, but the 5D Mark III is better. That's all there is to it. The refinements just make it a vastly better tool for photographers and videographers. The autofocus system alone is enough to justify choosing the Mark III over the Mark II. But it's all of the refinements—the sum of the Mark III's parts—that make it the best camera you can spend $3,500 on. Since the 5D Mark III was officially revealed, it's been referred to as just a marginal refinement to the 5D Mark II, with a bigger price tag. That's unfair. It's more like an affordable alternative to the $7,000 Canon 1D X. From the AF system, to the processor, to the glorious display, the cameras share a considerable amount of pedigree. While the 5D Mark III might not survive a photo safari in a monsoon, you're getting some of the best parts of Canon's new flagship DSLR for about half the price.