A couple weeks ago a few of my fellow photographers got together at the Bolsa Chica Wildlife Preserve in Huntington Beach California to shoot some birdies (cameras only)
It’s something I don’t do often (shoot wildlife) and it was great fun. Among us we had a wide range of camera gear and especially Canon camera bodies. We had an Canon 1D MKII, 5D MKI, 5D MKII and shooter Shannon brought her brand new Canon 5D MKIII and I had the opportunity to play with it a bit and also later to see some of the resulting images.
I have to tell you, I’m really not much of an equipment guy. I mean I LOVE my cameras and lenses but I don’t have to have the latest and greatest and I don’t spend a lot of time drooling over gear reviews unless it is something I am really interested in buying. BUT…and a BIG BUT…I …Want…..This …Camera.
As much as I thought the Canon 5D MKII was a great camera and better than my current and getting old 5D MKI (I still love you), the new MKIII blows them completely out of the water.
The Auto – Focus
The biggest complain most users had about the original and then the later MKII 5Ds was the Auto-Focus system. Now honestly I really didn’t have a problem with it. But then looking at what I shoot, Landscapes, Concerts, Street, Autos, Architecture. There really wasn’t a need for an amazing AF system and many times I’m on manual focus anyway.
But if you shoot anything moving, Sports, Little kids, Racing events, Wildlife and are now using Servo modes on your AF system. That is an entirely different game and one where the new Canon 5D MK III Kicks butt and back again. It is so fast and smooth and easy to use thanks to it’s new 61 Point AF system that not only is spread out amongst a MUCH Larger area in the viewfinder, The AF Points are more sensitive in more directions (Cross point), have assist sensors adjacent to the main ones and just tons of options to use the system as best fits your needs.
In practice the AF is just outstanding. Shannon and I shot about the same numbers of images, 150. My success rate was; 25 Images were usable. Shannon…125! and this was shooting some very small Sea Terns that move and change direction very quickly and then some larger pelicans that while large and cumbersome can dive for fish very quickly.
The FPS moves up from 3.9 to 6 and that is a bigger difference than it may seem
The viewfinder Borrows from the Canon 7D and is now 100% and bright and beautiful. The back LCD is larger and was bright and clear and useable even in the late afternoon sun while I struggled with my old design.
Image quality was first rate. The 22.3MP Sensor, even though DxO labs review of the sensor said it wasn’t much better than the MKII’s 21 MP sensor except for ISO noise. In viewing with my eyes, Just looks phenomenal. And even though they say the Dynamic Range of sensor is no better, to my eye it seemed much better especially in the midtone response which is something I think Canon in particular gets wrong
. Color and clarity SOOC was perfect
. Color and clarity SOOC was perfect.
And speaking of ISO performance, Shannon also shared some shots she did indoors of a Jiu Jitsu match and yeah, the ISO performance is just plain excellent.
A lot has been said about the $1,000 increase for this model. But this is not a cosmetic update but a very real and in the end useful update to what already was a great camera.
Like I said: I….Want…One
If anyone would like to send me a Nikon D800 for review, I certainly would like to put that camera through the paces too
To Purchase the new Canon 5D MK III Please clcik on the link<
Thanks to Shannon Edmonds Photography for the use of her images
