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Home โ†’ Reviews โ†’ Cameras and Lenses โ†’ Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review

By Nasim Mansurov 65 Comments
Last Updated On January 29, 2024

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Summary

When Canon introduced the highly anticipated 5D Mark III to the market, the photography community and many Canon fans felt underwhelmed by its specifications, especially after the big shock wave left by the Nikon D800. For the first time, it felt like Canon and Nikon reversed their game – instead of focusing on more megapixels like it has been doing for many years now, Canon decided to keep the resolution of the camera about the same at 22.3 MP (versus 21.1 MP on the 5D Mark II) and concentrate on other important features such as low-light performance, camera build, ergonomics, AF system, ease of use and speed.

It seemed like Canon finally listened to its customers and designed a much better overall camera, so how did the 5D Mark III manage to disappoint so many photographers? A big part of the reason was high expectations for sensor performance. The world wanted a much better sensor from Canon, not something similar to a 3-year-old model. Yes, the 5D Mark III did gain 2 more stops of native ISO sensitivity, but detailed ISO performance comparisons revealed a different picture – there is actually a maximum of one full stop of difference between the two sensors. Hence, the new 5D Mark III only got marginally improved in image quality…

Canon 5D Mark III Sample (5)
Canon EOS 5D Mark III + EF17-40mm f/4L USM @ 36mm, ISO 100, 1/40, f/11.0

However, the same cannot be said about other important camera features. As I have already pointed out, the new autofocus system alone is a huge leap forward. With a 61-focus high-density AF and up to 41 cross-type points, coupled with the 63 Zone iFCL Metering System from the Canon 7D, it is surely one of the most advanced autofocus systems we have seen to date. The previous 9 focus points and 1 cross-type point on the 5D Mark II sound like a joke in comparison. After three months of testing the camera, I find the AF system to be reliable with quick and accurate focus, even in low-light situations.

Thanks to this much-improved autofocus system and the new DIGIC 5+ image processor that allows processing images at 6 frames per second, the 5D Mark III has now become a very appealing option for sports and wildlife photographers. My personal favorite feature is the silent shutter on the Canon 5D Mark III. After years of using Nikon cameras, the silent shutter sound of the 5D Mark III is like music to my ears. And other updates such as 100% viewfinder coverage, dual memory card support, bigger and higher quality LCD screen and in-camera lens corrections are like icing on the cake.

Canon 5D Mark III Sample (22)
Canon EOS 5D Mark III + EF50mm f/1.2L USM @ 50mm, ISO 2500, 1/320, f/2.5

Overall, I am very impressed by the Canon 5D Mark III. It is a very capable camera that can deliver outstanding results, especially with the wide selection of superb Canon L glass. If I were to invest in a Canon DSLR system today, given its capabilities and price range, the Canon 5D Mark III would without a doubt be my camera of choice. It is not a game-changer like the Nikon D800, but it sure is a huge step up from the previous generation 5D Mark II, which has been the most popular full-frame camera on the market since it came out in 2009.

Canon 5D Mark III
  • Features
  • Build Quality
  • Focus Speed and Accuracy
  • Handling
  • Value
  • Image Quality
  • High ISO Performance
  • Size and Weight
  • Metering and Exposure
  • Movie Recording Features
  • Dynamic Range
  • Speed and Performance

Photography Life Overall Rating

Photograhy Life Gold Award
4.5

Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Image Sensor and Dynamic Range
  • Autofocus Performance
  • Metering, Speed and Other Features
  • ISO Performance
  • Camera Comparisons
  • Summary
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
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