Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 28, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Canonrumors.com is pretty conservative about announcing actual dates until they're sure, so it's pretty much 99% that this Friday is the announcement by Canon. The specs have been leaked out for a couple weeks I just found out, so the basics for photograpers are these:
If those specs are true, the the wedding and event photographers will rejoice, escpecially with that 61-pt AF upgrade and dual slots. I'm ecstatic that the MP is staying at 22, cramming 30+mp on a sensor seems overkill. The other part that the website didn't reveal was what the improved features will be for video and I can guarantee that Canon won't hold back there, the 5D2 is Hollywood's dreamboat for tight action shots ("Act of Valor" would have been tough to shoot if the cameraman had to wade the river with a Sony F35 on his shoulder, lol!), so you can bet that the 5D3 will have extended cinema features added.
SO, what about landscape/nature photogs? Anything in that list seem like it's worth the upgrade? 100% VF seems nice, but if you frame your shot now with the 5D2's 98% VF, you get a little extra image once you open it up, allowing you room to crop off the cruddy edges we Canon shooters get with the WA lenses, so that new 100% VF doesnt seem all that important of an upgrade (it sure does for filmmakers of course). To me the best feature of this new 5D3 for landscape shooters is what's going to happen on March 4th: the 5D2 price drop. Don't be surprised to see 5D2's sold off at below $2000 street price, we got a taste of that at Christmas. Grabbing a full frame 21mp DSLR for $1899 wouldn't be exactly terrible!
Friday will tell the final truth, but it should be close to what the CR site has posted. Oh, there's a new 590 EX flash coming out and I believe it uses radio signals to connect to the new 5D3, eliminating the need for Pocket Wizards. Wedding shooters rejoice. We'll take an $1800 5D2 ThankYouVeryMuch!
Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 28, 2012 at 3:20 PM
Funny, I was thinking the same thing, maybe we can breathe a sigh of relief that we don't need to upgrade.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 28, 2012 at 3:32 PM
My thoughts exactly. I'm actually more excited about the Canon G1x for a traveling camera.
Posted by Carol Nichols on February 28, 2012 at 3:41 PM
I still use a 5D classic. I only buy a new camera every other upgrade. I set limits like this on equipment and software so that I don't go broke! Anyways, I'm looking forward to getting the new 5D if the specs make sense to me. Paul, have you read anything about the fps of the new camera? I photograph birds as well as landscapes, so an increase in fps would be good for my purposes.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 28, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Ah, you'll be happy there Carol, the FPS is supposed to be rated at 6.9fps, almost double of the 5D2. I think it's a great upgrade for you then, because the classic 5D is a 12-bit image and 12MP. Like the 5D2, the 5D3 is a 14-bit image and with 21mp-22mp, your editing power and ability to crop in without as much image destruction will be a joy for you, no doubt.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 28, 2012 at 3:56 PM
I've heard about that G1x John, there sure is a buzz about it, need to check it out for the same reason.
Bottom line is that my 5D2 never disappoints and if I can get a new backup for HALF the price of the 5D3, that makes total sense. Someone like Carol who remained patient and didn't plunk down $2700 in 2008 (that was the 5D2 cost back then) can now reap the benefit of the 5D3's improvements, especially with the fps she needs. Patience paying off, nice.
Posted by Max Waugh on February 28, 2012 at 6:05 PM
If this new body has improved weather sealing, better AF and a higher FPS rate, I'll be happy to sell you guys my 5DII.
I'm not a landscape/portrait photographer, but I do need the 5DII for specific photo shoots and use it as my backup body right now. Would love to have something that combines the best elements of the 7D (sealing, focus, FPS) and the 5DII (sensor)... and I don't think my budget can handle the 1DX any time soon.
Max
Posted by Nate Chappell on February 28, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Has anyone heard if the iso performance has improved much over the 5DII?
I'm tempted by it. I almost got a 5DII a couple years ago and went with the 7D instead because of its dramatically improved focusing system and metering systems (improved over the 40d and the 5dii). I decided to go with 7D because a) I'm a hack and couldn't justify more and b) I liked the improved auto focus system on the 7d and c) thought the video element would be fun. I have, however, been disappointed with the noise in 7d and I think FF is gonna be the only things that satisfies me on that score. Of course, I'm still a hack, so we'll see....
As for others, I think bird and wildlife shooters in particular will want to upgrade to the 5diii because that new focusing system in the 7d is incredible, and 5dii auto focus shooters who experience it will get very excited.
Posted by Glenn Starr on February 29, 2012 at 7:42 PM
This announcement has just about sealed the deal for me to make the switch from Nikon to Canon. Loved my D700 but wanted higher res for my first love, landscape. Along comes the D800 at 36 Mp. Pre-ordered the day after the announcement then cancelled a few days later. Came to realize the 36 is too much of a good thing. I want to use an upgraded camera for more than one thing and came to realize that the D800 was not an everything camera. Looks to means the mk III may will fit what I really want to do and will still be flexible enough to do the other things I want to do.
I've been watching the 5D3 rumors for over a year now and I have to say I'm underwhelmed with the specs as rumored. It looks like it will be great videographers and wedding photogs but it doesn't seem like much of an upgrade over the Mk2 for a landscape shooter. We'll have to see if on the Friday announcement there are any surprises that haven't been mentioned so far.
The CanonRumors site has gotten a hold of more specific specs. Nothing we haven't seen but it does seem to confirm that the weather sealing has been improved, and the shutter count reliability has been increase to 150,000. The back is nearly the same although the on/off switch has been moved up top under the Mode dial like most other Canon bodies. Also, this page shows FPS at 6.0, not 6.9 as originally listed.
5D Mark II landscape shooters really don't need this upgrade I would think. Those shooting a 7D and are tired of the noise and lack of full frame sensor would gain much because the AF and metering are the same now.
Video shooters: yes, you get a headphone jack now. Woohoo. It's still irrelevant, onboard sound is only good for reference, you still need a separate audio recording rig and a clapper board to sync the sound if you want it to be a pro shoot.
Discussion
12 replies- 22mp
- 61pt AF
- 100% VF
- 3.2 LCD
- Dual CF/SD Card Slots
- Price: Around $3500 USD
If those specs are true, the the wedding and event photographers will rejoice, escpecially with that 61-pt AF upgrade and dual slots. I'm ecstatic that the MP is staying at 22, cramming 30+mp on a sensor seems overkill. The other part that the website didn't reveal was what the improved features will be for video and I can guarantee that Canon won't hold back there, the 5D2 is Hollywood's dreamboat for tight action shots ("Act of Valor" would have been tough to shoot if the cameraman had to wade the river with a Sony F35 on his shoulder, lol!), so you can bet that the 5D3 will have extended cinema features added.
SO, what about landscape/nature photogs? Anything in that list seem like it's worth the upgrade? 100% VF seems nice, but if you frame your shot now with the 5D2's 98% VF, you get a little extra image once you open it up, allowing you room to crop off the cruddy edges we Canon shooters get with the WA lenses, so that new 100% VF doesnt seem all that important of an upgrade (it sure does for filmmakers of course). To me the best feature of this new 5D3 for landscape shooters is what's going to happen on March 4th: the 5D2 price drop. Don't be surprised to see 5D2's sold off at below $2000 street price, we got a taste of that at Christmas. Grabbing a full frame 21mp DSLR for $1899 wouldn't be exactly terrible!
Friday will tell the final truth, but it should be close to what the CR site has posted. Oh, there's a new 590 EX flash coming out and I believe it uses radio signals to connect to the new 5D3, eliminating the need for Pocket Wizards. Wedding shooters rejoice. We'll take an $1800 5D2 ThankYouVeryMuch!
Bottom line is that my 5D2 never disappoints and if I can get a new backup for HALF the price of the 5D3, that makes total sense. Someone like Carol who remained patient and didn't plunk down $2700 in 2008 (that was the 5D2 cost back then) can now reap the benefit of the 5D3's improvements, especially with the fps she needs. Patience paying off, nice.
I'm not a landscape/portrait photographer, but I do need the 5DII for specific photo shoots and use it as my backup body right now. Would love to have something that combines the best elements of the 7D (sealing, focus, FPS) and the 5DII (sensor)... and I don't think my budget can handle the 1DX any time soon.
Max
As for others, I think bird and wildlife shooters in particular will want to upgrade to the 5diii because that new focusing system in the 7d is incredible, and 5dii auto focus shooters who experience it will get very excited.
5D Mark II landscape shooters really don't need this upgrade I would think. Those shooting a 7D and are tired of the noise and lack of full frame sensor would gain much because the AF and metering are the same now.
Video shooters: yes, you get a headphone jack now. Woohoo. It's still irrelevant, onboard sound is only good for reference, you still need a separate audio recording rig and a clapper board to sync the sound if you want it to be a pro shoot.