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Canon EOS 5D Mark III / SHOOTING REPORT

While the upgraded features on the 5D Mark III may sound minor to some people, I felt they are extensive and effective in bringing the base camera 5D Mark II into the next level. I was particularly impressed by the AF with improved accuracy and speed, the beautiful viewfinder with 100% coverage, and the further improved high-sensitivity performance. Certainly, the increase of the number of pixels is minor. However, I believe Canon chose to do it just to improve the reliability of the camera and I'm sure the users of 5D Mark II welcome it. Of course, the image quality has also improved dramatically as shown below.

( Photography : A.Inden / Text : K )

Eye-catching, matured clarity

When a new camera is released, we (including our staff) tend to focus more on tangible upgrades often represented by "numbers." But, when a manufacturer, who knows enough about it, chose to release a camera like this, it can never be bad. I was astonished by the image quality when I viewed the shots on the PC screen for the first time. Rendition is so clear and free from ambiguity. It's like a thin layer that covered the image was wiped away. Even though I used the high-end lenses like the EF200mm F2L IS, I still feel the improvement of the camera's image quality. The drawing line is so minute like medium format films. And, this dramatic improvement of image quality explains why they decided to replace the popular 5D Mark II.

When we decide exposure based on highlight with films, the shadow becomes black as ink. But with digital, it's still brighter than films, containing more tonal information. And, with an ordinary digital camera, the highlighted coffee of this shot would look unclear and the entire image would look sleepy as well. But with the 5D mark III, it's so clear and it makes me realize the big advancement of digital photography. Yet, the overall tonal gradation is wonderful and this is difficult for slide films with high contrast.

Reproduction of light yellow color was thinner with a digital camera of former generations. The 5D Mark III isn't a flagship camera using an expensive low-pass filter. So, the high clarity must be credited to the perfect matching between the sensor and the imaging processor intended to achieve better image quality which is more than just capturing. In other words, the image quality of this camera proves that the focus has shifted from the basic capability of camera (represented by number of pixels: native resolution, dynamic range: tonal reproduction, and high-sensitivity performance) to raising the level of these capability elements. This phase shifting makes me feel excited about the future of digital photography.

Another shot with the EF200mm F2L IS, which is undeniably a superb lens. However, it shows the wonderful image quality cannot be realized without the body.

Amazing texture rendition. I can almost feel the touch of the hair and the outerwear.


Improved image quality at pixel level

Below you can view the 100% crop images of the shot above and the following two shots. For now, forget the meaning of viewing the original size of 20-megapixel images on the monitor.

If these images were shot with other cameras, they would look less clear. But with this camera, they look so clear. Yet, it's not overly sharp and the lines are fine and natural. Canon must have focused on this great balance between sharpness and fineness of lines.

Line is so natural and sharp enough. The sharpness with 20 megapixel is wonderful, as expected. The pincushion distortion is visible, but it cannot be helped because it's a zoom lens. Of course, you can deal with it with software and using other focal length.

This one is simply perfect.


Fascinating tonal reproduction

As shown below, higher clarity means higher ability to discriminate subtle difference of lighting. Rendition of the 5D Mark II was already dense, but the shots with the 5D Mark III has more depth thanks to improved tonal reproduction.

Reproduction of shadow tone is great despite the big luminance difference. It wonderfully captured the curves of fender lines.

In the past, we had to give up the shadow detail in a scene like this. But with the 5D Mark III, we can emphasize the highlight of the plated part without giving up the shadow tone. I truly appreciate this extra room in tonal reproduction.


Perfection achieved by extensive upgrades including improved high-sensitivity performance and HDR function

I cannot introduce all upgrades because they are so many of them, but let me talk about the high-sensitivity performance. The image above was shot with ISO25600. Although it looks more or less flat and noisy, it's within th elevel of practical use in some scenes. This is a dramatic improvement. At ISO1600, it's no problem even in the most rigorous commercial photography (according to a commercial photographer, the safe ISO of the 5D Mark II was ISO400 and the 5D Mark III has two-step advantage). As for the operability, the accuracy and speed of the AF has improved significantly. Plus, the quiet shutter function is convenient when silence is appreciated. The upgrades on the 5D Mark III may not always sound appealing, but they significantly improved the usability and image quality. Whether you get this camera as a replacement of the 5D Mark II or as a first EOS 5D camera, it will never disappoint you.