Camera Labs

Hi everyone, I just finished my Canon 5D3 review!

Note this currently only contains JPEG comparisons as the RAW converters were experiencing issues, but as soon as they've settled-down I'll be back to add RAW comparisons to the results pages!

So think of this as CLash of the Titans part 1 with part 2 to follow!

Gordon

Very nice review Gordon thanks;)

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Canon 5D II, EF 24-105 f4 L IS, EF 16-35 2.8 L, EF 100 2.8 L IS Macro, EF 70-200 2.8 IS L II, Canon S90, Canon speedLight 580 EX II LowePro Sling Bag 302 AW, Photoshop CS5 Extended, Paint Shop Pro X3.

http://www.pbase.com/spartanwarrior

I don't think comparing the 5D3 to the D800 is fair. Though, every one is doing it. I think mainly because they are in the same price range (e.g. $3000-3700 CAD). The D800 will always resolve more detail in the low to mid ISO range. I think a more apt comparison in performance would be between the 5D3 and D4 (and of course 1D-X vs D4). Maybe Gordon could compare the two for the hell of it. Compare their low to high ISO performance up to 12,800.

AGC888 I compared it against the D800 becuase they're the 'affordable' full frame options from the two biggest companies in cameras. As you pointed out they cost similar amounts, share similar facilities, came out at the same time and will undoubtedly be compared by anyone considering one or the other.

All valid reasons for a comparison I'd say, but I will update with other comparisons in the future.

Agreed Gordon. Keep up the great work!!

So I made the mistake of actually handling a 5D mark III in the store over the weekend and taking a picture with it.

This camera will probably become the one that replaces my XTi/400D as my main body.
Unfortunately this camera is a little more expensive than what I was planning, so I will wait a bit before getting one.

Maybe Canon will come out with a different (cheaper) DSLR that will tempt me away from spending this much on a camera body? (Not likely, but it is nice to dream.)

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Canon Rebel XTi, BG-E3 Grip
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes

Heh welcome to the club... I had wanted to replace my XTi with the 5d2 when it came out, but I couldn't afford it then(University student) so last year after waiting and waiting I bit on a great deal on a T3i, it had better noise performance than my 400D, but rest of the features will an ok upgrade. Now that I finally got my 5d3(hurray job) I'm selling my half a year old T3i, and really after being limited and shooting with the 400D since 06 what a joy it is to upgrade to a camera like this. In any case GL with getting one, rumors are circulating that Canon may release a cheaper FF camera with less FPS, and less AF points, but rumors are rumors.

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Cameras - Canon 400D | Canon 600D | Canon 5D Mark III
Lens - 24-70 2.8 L | 50 f/1.8 | 18-55 II non-IS f/3.5-5.6
Other misc Gear - Vanguard Alta Pro 283CT Tripod | Manfrotto 680B monopod | Speedlight 580EX II

The D800 is actually around £650 cheaper than the 5D3.

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod2567.html

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod2676.html

Most people take pictures in the 100 - 400 ISO range most of the time. It would therefore appear that Nikon has the distinct advantage on both price and performance. Oh dear.

I know some on this forum will be hardened photography fanatics who look at extreme performance on cameras but most people just want to take good pictures within a sensible ISO range and for a sensible price.

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

I think it a bit early to compare prices since both are so new they're going to be running at a premium for a while. If anything, as the D800 came out a little earlier it may drop first. Seems curious three shops for D800 are significantly cheaper than the rest, with only one more so. Is this a real price drop, or have they not reacted to Nikon UK's price increases for some reason? They were initially offered at £2400, now officially £2600 list.

Of course, regardless of why, the D800 is cheaper than the 5D3 right at this moment. Only "how much" may be an argument but I doubt it is of any significant importance to those seriously considering either given their other differences.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Yeah, but only because higher ISOs reduce the quality. With the great performance of the 5D3 I guess I'll work more in the 400-1600 ISO range The 100-400 range isn't the ISO but the focal length I'm using quite a lot of the time

But it will take some months until I can afford the 5D3 and I hope for a price drop until then. At least a little bit.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

I doubt that the 5D3 is better at higher ISO's above 400 than the D800 would be at ISO's less than 400. So unless you are a photographer taking most of your photos in the higher ISO range it would seem to me the D800 is better at this time for price and performance.

I would love for that not to be the case as I would like to stay with Canon, not the least because of the Canon lenses I already have. However a £650 price difference could buy you quite a decent lens.

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

With my lenses the D800 just isn't relevant to me - at the moment my comparison is the 500D because that's the camera I'm going to upgrade from.

I'm expecting MUCH better noise handling in the high ISO range than what I have now:


Canon EOS 500D
Canon EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM @400mm
F5.6
ISO 3200 (and you can definitely see the noise)
1/80 sec


But OK, let's get back to the D800 in comparison.
The 5D3 has the better autofocus (<--a test, summary starts at 5:25), it's faster (fps and "flushing the buffer" <--- "continous shooting" - almost at the end of the page) and for me the only thing I'm missing from the 22MP sensor of the 5D3 is the ability to crop. The images themselves are big enough at 22MP.

So while the D800 offers more detail and and gives more room for cropping I don't think that's enough to get me switching the brands, especially as I already have and like my Canon lenses. The 5D3 is more expensive at the moment but I'm not going to buy it now but some months in the future and the price will have fallen until then. And I guess I'd have to add "a bigger HDD for the D800's files" to the money you have to pay for the D800

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

What I wanted in my next camera was something that was a significant improvement over my current camera in the following categories:
Low light capabilities
Autofocus
Bigger in physical size to fit my hands better
Slightly faster shooting capabilities, though I do not need to go up to 10 fps.

Out of all of these, the low light options were the most important to me as I find myself in situations where a flash is not desirable or allowed, and I'm pushing my camera beyond what it can do well.

Even if money was not a consideration, and I could have my lenses exchanged at full price, I would still pick the 5DIII over the D800 mainly because of lower light shooting capabilities. This is not to say that the D800 is not a great camera, it is just not the camera for me.

With Cropping, even the 5D III will be a huge improvement coming from my old 10.1 MP XTi/400D.

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Canon Rebel XTi, BG-E3 Grip
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes

While it is true that most of us will be taking our photos at the lower ISO range for the best quality...it's nice to be able to have low light shooting ability (ISO 800 and beyond) when the situation arises. Added insurance...even for hobbyists.

Most of my photos are taken at ISO 400 or lower. The only reason why it might sometimes be at ISO 800/1600/3200 is I might be indoors. I prefer to use natural light when possible.

And, I too heard that the 5D3's AF is more responsive...more so than the D4? I guess so since the D800/D4 share the same AF system. Guess I'm now not considering the D4 (for this reason and others)...

That and it dawned on me that because the D4 is using a new memory card type in one of it's 2 slots...a D4 owner might be left with one useless card slot if the many memory card companies don't hurry and jump on board and produce "XQD" cards. And if the other manufacturers don't...do you think Sony will continue to make XQD cards solely for the D4??

How would you feel after spending 6k (CAD) on a pro body and finding out later that it had become a single slot pro body?? Nikon should have stuck with including 2 CF card slots (or offer a 1 CF 1 SD solution like the D800). Has Nikon shot themselves in the foot with the D4? Hmmm...

What I find amusing is that Nikon and Canon seem to have switched philosophies apparently.
Nikon was known as the low light shooter with a faster auto-focus while Canon was known for cropping capabilities due to a higher MP count.

When comparing the D800 and the 5DIII, it seems that each camera would be a better fit in the other brand's traditional philosophy.

It could be as simple as each company got envious of purchases of the other, and decided to target that audience with something to entice them.
Funny how it happened at the same time. Now no one can claim "Hey, brand X had it right with Y, and brand Z finally wised up."

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Canon Rebel XTi, BG-E3 Grip
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes