As an improvement to the highly-rated 5D Mark II, the Canon 5D Mark III was introduced in 2008. The Canon 5D Mark III is a promising update to the 5D series, built on the success of its predecessor and boasting the most sophisticated focusing technology Canon has produced to date from their EOS-1D X range, making it a worthy successor to the 5D.
More: Best Canon 5D Mark III Bundle in 2022
With an improved image sensor with a native ISO range of 100 to 25,600, a fully weather-sealed camera body, 6 frames per second burst shooting speed, and dual card support, the 5D Mark III appears to be aimed at photographers working in a variety of genres, from landscapes and fashion to sports and wildlife 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
As I’ve said in a few of my previous pieces, I’ve been loving my Canon 5D Mark III very much. I had a positive experience with the Canon 5D Mark II, which was its predecessor and which I had previously used a number of times (many of my photography friends use Canon gear and I get to play with Canon gear quite a bit).
I knew right away that I wanted to check out the 5D Mark III, but this time for a long length of time with a couple of the best Canon L lenses. So when the 5D Mark III was unveiled, I knew I had to get one! The camera is loaded with Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L, EF 50mm f/1.2L, and EF 17-40mm f/4L lenses and I’ve been bringing it everywhere – from personal travels where I’ve been photographing landscapes and wildlife to business assignments.
It is possible that you may notice a lot of unfavorable remarks regarding the camera when reading this evaluation. As I previously stated, no camera is without flaws, and the Canon 5D Mark III is no exception in this regard. There are aspects of it that I enjoy, and there are aspects of it that I find fairly irritating as well. Not only does this not imply that the camera is inherently flawed, but it also does not imply that it is inferior to its primary competition, the Nikon D800.
It is entirely a question of personal preference and taste. Finally, it is not only about the image sensor, ISO performance, or camera speed – it is also important to evaluate a system as a “package.” As a long-time Nikon shooter, a lot of what I have to say about the 5D Mark III is obviously coming from that perspective. As a result, you will find many parallels and allusions to Nikon throughout my review.
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 photodetectors | 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 DetectMulti-areaSelective single-pointSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive 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 AEShutter priority AEAperture priority AEManual (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 | MultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial |
| 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 |
Verdict
Overall, the Canon 5D Mark III has left a lasting impression on me. It is an extremely powerful camera that may produce remarkable pictures, especially when used in conjunction with the extensive array of excellent Canon L lenses. Considering its capabilities and pricing range, the Canon 5D Mark III would without a doubt be my first option if I were to invest in a Canon DSLR system right now. The Canon 5D Mark III is not a game-changer in the same way that the Nikon D800 is, but it is a significant improvement over the previous generation 5D Mark II, which has been the most popular full-frame camera on the market since its introduction in 2009.
