Canon has unveiled the EOS 5D Mark III DSLR – a 22.3 Megapixel full-frame camera with a 61-point AF system, a top shooting speed of six frames per second, and ISO capabilities up to 102,400 – which succeeds the hugely popular EOS 5D Mark II in Canon’s DSLR range.
The EOS 5D Mark III’s 22.3 Megapixel full-frame sensor makes it the highest resolution camera in Canon’s EOS DSLR range and it incorporates the 61-point autofocus system seen in the flagship EOS-1D X model.
The key specifications of the EOS 5D Mark III include:
- A 22.3 Megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor.
- A 61-point AF with up to 41 cross-type AF points.
- Zone, Spot and AF Point Expansion focusing modes.
- A DIGIC 5+ processor for fast image processing.
- Up to 6fps shooting speed.
- ISO 100 to 25,600 as standard, ISO 50 to 102,400 with expansion.
- +/- 5 stops of exposure compensation.
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) shooting in-camera.
- Full HD Movie shooting with ALL-I or IPB compression.
- 29mins 59sec clip length in Full HD Movie.
- Timecode setting for HD Movie shooting.
- Headphone port for audio monitoring.
- 59ms standard shutter lag.
- Transparent LCD viewfinder with 100% coverage.
- 8.11cm (3.2”), 1.04 million-pixel Clear View II LCD Screen.
- EOS Integrated Cleaning System (EICS).
- CF and SD card slots.
- Silent control touch-pad area for silent setting adjustment during movie recording.
- Dual-Axis Electronic Level.
Full-frame CMOS sensor
The EOS 5D Mark III’s full-frame, high-resolution 22.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor makes use of gapless microlenses – first seen in a Canon full-frame sensor on the EOS-1D X – to ensure that all the light reaching the sensor is directed into the pixel wells. This efficient light gathering, combined with the processing power of the DIGIC 5+ processor, has brought a two stop increase in the standard ISO range compared to the EOS 5D Mark II. The expanded ISO range goes up to ISO 102,400 for ultra low light shooting situations.
The CMOS sensor has been designed not only to deliver greater flexibility and higher image quality for still photography, but it also offers improved performance in Full HD 1080p movie shooting with reduced moiré and false colours leading to improved definition and colour.
61-point AF system
The EOS 5D Mark III has the 61-point AF system seen in Canon’s EOS-1D X flagship DSLR to offer consistent focusing performance with all subjects in light levels down to EV -2. With up to 41 cross-type AF points and a dual-zigzag line arrangement for all 61 points, focus accuracy and speed is improved. In combination with the evolved AI Servo III AF algorithm, the new system is also more stable in use.
To ensure setting up the system to suit the subject is as easy as possible the EOS 5D Mark III also includes the AF Configuration Tool first seen in the EOS-1D X – it’s provided within the camera menu to give details of each setting and example usage.
The back of the EOS 5D Mark III features an 8.11cm (3.2”) Clear View LCD II rear screen that’s the same size, resolution and construction as the screen on the flagship EOS-1D X DSLR.
Like the EOS 7D and EOS-1D X, the EOS 5D Mark III also features Spot, Zone and AF Point Expansion focusing modes to give you the maximum choice in selecting how to focus on a subject.
DIGIC 5+ processing
The high-end DIGIC 5+ processor in the EOS 5D Mark III operates 17 times faster than the DIGIC 4 processor in the EOS 5D Mark II. With more processing power, it able to perform more complex image processing for better image quality, as well as adding new features such as in-camera HDR shooting, multiple exposure imaging, lens chromatic aberration correction, intra-frame compression options for HD Movie shooting and UDMA and memory card compatibility.
The EOS 5D Mark III’s top shooting speed of up to six frames per second, compared to 3.9fps with the EOS 5D Mark II, is achieved despite the large quantity of data being produced by the 22.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor and is enabled by the processing power from the DIGIC 5+ processor. A silent shooting mode and continuous silent mode are available for stealthier shooting.
iFCL metering system
The EOS 5D Mark III features an iFCL 63-zone Dual-layer Metering Sensor to capture perfectly exposed images time-after-time. FCL stands for ‘Focus, Colour and Luminance’ and the metering system not only measures colour and luminance data, but also analyses the data provided by each point of the AF system.
Source: Canon Europe & EOS Magazine