Behold! The Mighty Canon 5D MKIII arriveth ($3500)

[finbarqs]

I've never heard of that keeper loss with a pro AF with anything really.

Keeper Loss? Mark 2 doesn't have PRO AF... Nikon Dxxx series does though!

 

[Cattykit]

I'm sorry, but I just read through the blog again, and he mentioned what you've said above in one sentence. I did NOT get the impression anywhere to the point where it sounded "silly" in high praise.

"If anything- this will be a great opportunity to pick up a 5D MKII for a much more affordable price now that its big brother is out. " -- doesn't sound like a huge praise to the mark 3 to me, but a more "practical" approach in the fact that "get the mark 2, it's still in the game". When the Mark 2 came out, yeah. He sounded silly.

Vincent NEVER 100% personally sided with Canon. In fact, he said (when someone asked about Magic Lantern and about the D800 Video):

"Thank you for your thoughts. What’s your take on the Magic Lantern hacks, especially the new one coming out that will give the 5D MKII full uncompressed HD out? If it works well, I’m most likely just sticking with the MKII.

Also, how does the MKIII compare to the D800? I’d love to see your side-by-side review. Thanks again.

D

Reply

Vincent Laforet Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 10:40 pm

Always afraid of using hacks… never have…. would love to do a side by side w D800 but can’t due to contract w/ Canon 🙁"

Once again, didn't claim Canon's Superiority.

Then he mentions WHY he doesn't shoot a sequel to Reverie (This doesn't claim that he's disappointed with it -- but it doesn't have him singing praises of the Mark 3)

"I obviously didn’t choose to thrown my hat into the ring in the quest to shoot a sequel to Reverie for the launch of this camera - and that is due to four main reasons:

1. I find it foolish to mess with a good thing…

2. The specs on this camera don’t necessarily warrant it.

3. No clean HDMI out… why…why…why? (not!?)"

I'm pulling direct QUOTES from his blog. (as I saw you were too).

From your quote, it sounds as if he was talking down the Mark 3 so much that he needed to "recover it" and praise it somehow.

The silliness I mentioned was to Eoshd, not Vincent.
If I were in his (Vincent) shoes, I wouldn't be excited over 5dmk3 neither. He's rocking with C300 which does everything 5dmk3 can do and it does it better. Many professionals feel the same way since the big sensor camcorder market has evolved so much after 5d mk2.
However, if you're low on budget, in need of a gear that offers great stills and video, 5d mk3 is the only choice thus his saying "A bit underwhelming for some? Sure. But this now becomes the camera of choice for HDSLR videography in my book."

Having said all that, let's go back to the main point.
"eosHD says that he changed his mind..."
I've read every blog and Twitter post from eoshd. Based on my observations, he's never changed his mind. Where did you get the impression?

"According to Vincent's blog, he's utterly disappointed with 5D Mark 3"
You've already answered it. He's nowhere "utterly disappointed." Beside saying it is "the camera of choice for HDSLR," he even recommends it to high end users and rental houses saying "bells and whistles on this camera are worth the upgrade." Last time I checked, an "utterly disappointed" person does not make such recommendations while giving "the camera of choice" title.

Now, let's go one step further back.
Is D800 a better video camera? No. It could've been a better camera only if it didn't rely on line-skipping method. While D800's clean HDMI 4:2:2 output is awesome, it's still plagued by nastiness of line-skipping.

 

[Kaido]

However, if you're low on budget, in need of a gear that offers great stills and video, 5d mk3 is the only choice thus his saying "A bit underwhelming for some? Sure. But this now becomes the camera of choice for HDSLR videography in my book."

The thing that I'm a bit peeved about is how the Canon 5D MKIII is at the price point where the 3K RED Scarlet was supposed to be. And it's only 1080p, still shoots in AVC H.264, and the big new video feature is "headphone jack" 😛

 

[RobDickinson]

B&H have the grip for $350...


Looking at 5D3 files I am far from impressed. The low ISO banding problem is still very apparent and it doesnt look like it has any noise advantage at high ISO over the 5D2, perhaps 1/2 a stop.

Whilst the D800 is breaking new ground ....

 

[Cattykit]

The thing that I'm a bit peeved about is how the Canon 5D MKIII is at the price point where the 3K RED Scarlet was supposed to be. And it's only 1080p, still shoots in AVC H.264, and the big new video feature is "headphone jack" 😛

Yeah, I mind the price as well. I was happy to pay $3000 for 5d mk2 but 5d mk3's $3500 seems so high although it's a far far better camera. I guess it's because of how things have changed not to mention D800 being only $3000.

And, no. The big new video feature is not the headphone jack but its not doing line-skipping anymore. A huge major improvement.

Regarding 3K Scarlet, we all know what happened to that pipe dream. Even if it came out, I'd not been interested in it due to tiny 2/3 sensor. I think one would be far better off with Panny GH2.

B&H have the grip for $350...


Looking at 5D3 files I am far from impressed. The low ISO banding problem is still very apparent and it doesnt look like it has any noise advantage at high ISO over the 5D2, perhaps 1/2 a stop.

Whilst the D800 is breaking new ground ....

Are those files RAW samples? Can yo provide me a link?
One thing I learned is that I can't judge Canon's JPEG images before it's on the hand of knowledgeable person. It's because the default setting is just... wrong. Using Std. Picture Style that kills smears detail on top of std. NR which kills detail further down even at ISO 100. And that ALO makes things worse.
But then again, Things might have changed with this camera so I'm not sure.

 

[RobDickinson]

From raw in ACR 6.7 for both cameras:

http://ari1982.smugmug.com/Other/test/21813050_rqhTPd#!i=1739188184&k=xwJHHjd&lb=1&s=O

 

[Cattykit]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

Comparing 5dmk3 to 5dmk2, the former shows improved sharpness with less noise.
However, I wonder if such improvement came from the sensor unit itself or if it stems from changes in processing system.

I'm wondering this since I always criticized Canon's default setting: Standard Picture Style that smears detail and NR Standard setting which also smears detail. Those two combinations greatly reduce detail and sharpness even at ISO 100. That is just nonsense.

This time, Canon might have changed their policies and that's why we're seeing such improvement which don't mean much. The improvement may not be there when you use Neutral Picture style with NR low.

However, the good news is that 5dmk3 does hold more detail and sharpness even at high ISO.

 

[corkyg]

. . . However, the good news is that 5dmk3 does hold more detail and sharpness even at high ISO.

Agree! The question is, is it worth the extra cost?

 

[Cattykit]

Agree! The question is, is it worth the extra cost?

Let's not also forget the major improvement in AF system, mirror box, and burst rate. Had it not been those and that it's one of the only cameras, the other one being Panny GH2, that doesn't do line-skipping, I think it's worth the cost.
For those who doesn't care much about video, I think D800 is a better buy.

Anyways, as posted in other thread, I'm done with DSLRs. I have my eyes on GH3 although 5dmk3 is really tempting.

 

[Maximus96]

I was waiting for the 5D3 for a while but the high cost really sh!ts on my parade...for the cost of the 5D3, I can get a used 5D2 and 1D3 for maybe a couple hundred more...but with the 5D2 it would mean I'm stuck with the same old AF system for another who-knows-how-many years...damnit it canon...