5D3 is 2012 Camera of the Year

What a joke! It should have been Sony RX1, 1DX or D800 or even Sony A99!

Light leak anyone?

So they are good only when they praise Sony cameras?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3087545

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Ciao!
Roberto
My photos: http://robertodemicheli.com/sitenews.html

Wrong forum?

It's not a joke, as it is a seriously good camera; one of the very best. However, such titles are meaningless to anyone except those who do not own any other equipment.

Clearly, I would not consider it as camera of the year because price and value need to be taken into account, so it would be hugely expensive compared to an A99.

In other words, I have no idea why such things bother anyone!

If you were to buy things in isolation, such as a car, then it may be of some help when it comes to looking for a new one, but cameras are an entirely different thing and such accolades are only of a passing interest.

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2012 : My new year's resolution -
To be decided...

A77 is a great camera. AS you can see all over the internet, there are NO NEGATIVE reviews, all high ratings, 4 out ot 5 stars average and so on.

Right forum because it should have been Sony RX1 or A99!

IMO, not worth camera of the year according to the DP review...

Conclusion - Pros

• Good resolution and detail in raw files
• Good color and tonality across the ISO range
• Reliable metering even in difficult contrast situations
• Very responsive and snappy operation, thanks to new Digic 5+ processor
• 6 frames per second continuous shooting with good buffering
• Excellent build-quality with magnesium shell and weather-sealing
• Intuitive user interface and good ergonomics with large number of external controls
• Very comprehensive user interface customization options
• Excellent viewfinder with 100% coverage
• Good high resolution LCD monitor
• Reliable and quick AF system with comprehensive customization options
• Efficient vignetting, distortion and CA correction
• Full manual control in video mode
• Choice between IPB and ALL-I video compression modes
• Headphone socket
• Rear-dial becomes touch-sensitive when recording video
• In-camera HDR mode with many options
• Multi-exposure mode
• Comprehensive Auto ISO customization options
• Efficient silent-shutter option, single shot or continuous drive mode
• Dual SD and CF card slots
• Side-by-side playback mode and rating allow for initial image selection on the go
• Good battery life
• Good bundled raw converter with comprehensive feature set (Digital Photo Pro)

Conclusion - Cons

• Destructive noise reduction results in mushy JPEGs, even at base ISO
• Visible sharpening artifacts at default settings
• Heavy-handed noise reduction leads to lack of low-contrast detail at higher ISOs
• Distortion correction not available 'on the fly'
• Built-in microphone only monaural
• Soft video output with less dynamic range than stills
• No built-in AF illuminator

"Good" is not enough. It should be EXCELLENT! Anyway, I cannot wait for the A99 review. I don't understand why DP's review is freaking taking so long!

The A77 is a great camera - granted.

The 5D mkIII is a great camera as well. Note that I do not own or have owned either one.

My point was that you use Pop Photo as proof of the A77's greatness, but when they praise another camera they are a joke. So make up your mind. Or admit, as someone else has pointed out, that reviews in magazines have no bearing on the quality of a camera.

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Ciao!
Roberto
My photos: http://robertodemicheli.com/sitenews.html

I started considering full frame cameras early last summer. I carefully removed cameras as I read good reviews or tested the cameras myself. The last 3 cameras I had on my list were the Canon 5D Mark III, the A99, and the RX1.

The 5DIII is very much a worthwhile selection for camera of the year. The AF on it outstanding. But keep in mind that I am only looking at getting FF with a few lenses at most (e.g., a 35 and a 50, perhaps and the 50/1.2 on the Canon is my most desired lens for wide open shooting).

I ended up ruling out the 5DIII because of price (add the 35/1.4 and 50/1.2 and the price increases dramatically). The A99 video and price knocked it out (again, add the lens price and I would have added the Zeiss 24-70/2.8). I am not impressed with the video of the A99 even though I am much more concerned with the stills.

I have an RX1 arriving tomorrow.

But any one of these 3 cameras would have been worthy selections, to me.

If I shot landscape then I'd through in the D800E as a contender as well.

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60 of my favorite shots from 2012

And on this occasion he'd be right on the mark.

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i know what i know, which is a fraction of what i don't

Well wasn't it Sony last year and the year before that?
Guess it can't be Sony every year

But its not for me right now.

If it had an articulating rear screen I'd take a longer look at it. But it does'nt, so I will look elsewhere.

Right now I am aiming for an A99 once the prices come down a little in the New Year, which they surely will... (?).  It's feature set suits me better.

There are some great cameras around these days.  The consumer is the winner.

Wasn't it Ford Tempo declared Car of the Year by some Big Magazine when it came out ?  LOL

I just mean who with half a brain would give any credit to these Awards unless you are in the advertising Business ?

They should change title to "The Best advertising Client of the year"

No matter if its Sony, Canon or whatever...

If anyone here uses this kind of nomination to create antagonism ...well... it seems quite far from  the reason to be a member of a collectivity sharing photography as a passion.  Happy Hollidays to them and I hope next year will bring wisdom and take care of the stigmas ( Not Sigmas ;-)) left by Branding and Markerting. Amen

Jean

....

That's a good point, johnbee! Anyway, I know the 5DIII seems like a very good camera, although the A99 has "raised the bar" for semi-pro FFs ( not only because I have one and am amazed with it...)! IMHO the RX1, even being a "niche" type camera, it's a serious breakthrough which may revolutionize enthusiast and Pro photography.

Perhaps both A99 and RX1 are yet too new and haven't had enough exposure to high level photographers for a "camera of the year" prize ( although I guess neither has the 5DIII... ).

... Lucas

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*/Always having fun with photography .../*
http://www.lucaspix.smugmug.com/

I am sure that probably worked against the RX1,  but I still think that the RX1 is the most notable camera, this year.

I wonder why they chose the 5D3 over the D800?  The D800 offers some serious value for its  price.  The 5D3 IS overpriced at $3500(which is why there are so many sales on the camera).

Nothing wrong with their conclusion.

The 5D3 is very good, and excels in some areas. What criteria the magazine use to establish their conclusion is bound to be slanted with their own personal opinion of what makes a good camera, and that is a topic that has many answers..

I'm sure some other magazines will elevate the A99 as being top of the pile, but you have to see that no one camera has it all, and with the A99/D600/D800/5D3 all being totally superb in their own ways, you have to accept a spread of review conclusions.

Main area of interest:

• Portrait: 5D3.  D800=A99
• Landscape: D800. 5D3=A99
• Action: 5D3. D800. A99
• High ISO: 5D3, A99, D800
• DR range: D800, 5D3, A99

Other area, of limited interest:

• Crop/Print: D800, 5D3=A99
• Feature: A99, D800=5D3
• Video: Same
• Lens Selection: Canon. Nikon, Sony.

5D3 deserves the title, but it doesn't mean it's a camera made for everybody - no one single camera is made for everybody.

Most reviews feel compelled to take price into account.

This is a non issue for many, from pros to Joes.

It is like saying a hammer sold at a discount store is the best one for the Pro, or a guy with cash.  A no brainer, you go big, you go with cost, or you pay less.

In the right hands a recent axx camera from Sony can be an exceptional tool.

This is the Sony forum, user your gear.  It's like the guy who keeps switching bait while fishing, spends more time OUT of the water than in, and in the ends, lands less fish.

My 2cents worth.

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Retired forensic photographer.
London, Ontario, Canada.

Is the title camera of the year or SLR of the year? The 5D3 feels like a normal upgrade, and its overpriced(at MSRP). I also say the same about the A99.

The RX1 is expensive, but its a class of its own.

I agree that the 5D III is priced high. But, that's to me. For others it's not. What's funny to me is, people are crying over the price of the A99. This camera is in the same category as this one at a much lower price.

I do agree that the RX1 is the camera of the year. But the A99, if you look at it, outside of the much better dynamic range, noise, full frame and a few more things compared to the A77, it's not a major change compared to it's brother. I guess the same can be said about the 5D III too. Most the changes went into the auto focus. Getting to the point, people chose their cameras for different reason. I chose the A99 because for me it's the better camera. Better, meaning, the dynamic range is better, evf etc. But what I like in the A99, others won't. That's just the way that it is. The most important thing is, the cameras take good pictures and the customers are happy. A magazine isn't going to define our skills. Neither is camera of the year.