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Canon EOS 5D Mark III low-light ISO series samples

Mar 2, 2012 at 14:07:22 GMT

STUDIO SAMPLES CANON

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We've had a chance to prepare a set of full-resolution studio-based JPEG samples from a pre-production Canon EOS 5D Mark III, at all available ISOs from 50 to 102,800. We've chosen to shoot under low level halogen lighting, which provides a stern test of the camera's sensor and noise reduction systems. Note that these samples are not intended to replace, or even be comparable to our standard studio tests, which we'll publish as usual when we get our hands on a production camera.

At a colour temperature of about 3000K and low light intensity (approx 3 EV), these images are also neutrally white-balanced. This requires extreme amplification of the blue channel (and to a lesser extent the green) relative to the red, accentuating any noise or banding that might be introduced by the camera. This should therefore be considered close to the worst-case scenario - under many situations you'll see less noise at high ISOs, for example when shooting indoors in daylight. Also remember that this is a pre-production camera, so may not be entirely representative of final image quality.

The test scene used for these samples; focus is on the figurine lower left. The lens used was an EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM at F11 - due to the close distance (approx 1.5m) depth of field is limited.

Click here for our pre-production Canon EOS 5D Mark III low-light ISO series samples

Comments

Total comments: 344

Easily beating D4 at 25600 without even breaking a sweat.

3 upvotes

Sorry, where are the D4 shots of the same scene?

4 upvotes

well as said this is a WORST CASE scenario these images were shot under...... and images from the D4 shot under better conditions look bad against these images.

hands down the 5D MK3 makes the best looking images from the three (D4, D800).

Comment edited 29 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

LOL

0 upvotes

I think these images are fantastic. These are probably the least noisy high iso images I've seen to date at extreme ISOs of 12800 and 25600. Resize these to 12MP size and they will easily beat Nikon D3s, the current low light king. If it cost $2500 and not $3500, I might have even considered this camera. At $3500 though.....nope. I am comfortable with my pre-order of D800

5 upvotes

That is pretty impressive.

1 upvote

Is it just me or ISO25600 is better than ISO12800?
It's got grain and more preserved detail as if NR was shut off.

Low ISO shots look way over processed with too much NR.
Anyway, shooting JPEG isn't for me...

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

If the formal testing on the production model continues to show this sort of low-light/high ISO performance and the AF delivers, I would have sufficient justification to buy a 5D3 and use my 5D2 as a second body.

The only hope to protect my bank account is to learn how to get more out of my 5D2 than I already have. I am so motivated to out and shoot today. :-)

1 upvote

keep in mind the 800 has more MP so it is likely that ISO performance may be worse but after downsizing it will look better.

2 upvotes

anything involve further processing such as downsizing is a pain in the ass.. we want image to be done right out of the first take instead of going through thousands of downsizing time taken.

2 upvotes

You are wrong.

You do downsizing anytime you print your photo, and it takes no special processing at all. ;-)

You do downsizing anytime you display your photo on your 2Mpixel LCD monitor. Again, no processing at all. ;-)

I hope you get what I mean.

It is all about how the image is being displayed. It is always either a print, or a computer screen.
The size of that print/screen is what matters.
Even if you have printed all the 22Mpixels of the 5DMkII on a huge poster, you would stiill automatically downsize when you would print the 36Mpixels of D800 on that same poster.

Anyway, I agree that these samples look ubelievably noise free with lot of detail.
It can't wait to see the RAW high ISO samples.

2 upvotes

so why 36mp when you downsample anyway?
to impress you neigbors?
to fill your harddisk faster?

i don´t crop the hell out of my images and i don´t print billboards.
so i bet 36mp are just a marketing gimmick for 90% of all users... nothing more.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

How to downsize photo using Photoshop Photo do not downsize automatically.

http://www.wikihow.com/Downsize-Photos

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

@canon6188: how frequently do you use 22MP w/o resizing?

0 upvotes

Yes. It would be nice to have the same shots from the 5D Mark II.

3 upvotes

Yep. Count me with the 5D2 owners that would love to see these side-by-side with 5D2.

I'd also like that stinking rat to be in focus. ;)

3 upvotes

+1, 5D2 is there, just do it!

1 upvote

Well I think Kudos is due for the low power lighting, I think that definitely gives an indication of real world performance compared to the normal studio lighting which is a bit like using high iso in bright sunlight, both of which make things overly easy on the camera.

2 upvotes

Nice!
Love to se the same pics made with the Mark II :-)
Regards.
/Janne
www.helikopterbild.se

2 upvotes

Nothing beyond 1600 looks more than average to me here, but I guess these are pre-prod out of the camera jpegs?

50 and 100asa have the same exposure info (ASA 50) in the gallery- are they actually different?

Does show just how dark your scene is though- 25 second exposure! Trust you had a steady tripod, mirror lock up etc.?

2 upvotes

Sorry for the mixup there, the correct ISO100 sample is now in place.

These are (naturally) shot on a solid tripod, using live view (as proxy for MLU), cable release and 2 second timer. You can never be too carefull.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

you must be blind or a stupid nikon fanboy.

these images look better then anything i have seen from either the D800 or D4.

0 upvotes

http://5dmkiii.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/5d1.jpg

0 upvotes

Official samples: http://cweb.canon.jp/camera/eosd/5dmk3/samples/index.html

0 upvotes

These look pretty good.

Finally ! Something nice to say about this camera.

Up until now it seemed over priced, under-specced, too conservative and missing a few key features. Very disappointing.

But to give it credit, these files look nice and clean and I do not detect aggressive smoothing of NR.

Reserving judgement until I see the D800. D800 does not need to beat the 5D3 as long as it is good enough to 3200/6400.

0 upvotes

At same final size I think the D800 will beat the 5D3 (RAW) up to ISO1600, a tie at 3200, my guess. But look beyond "noise", at DR and colors and detail.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

thank you DPR, how about the same for the D800?

11 upvotes

2 upvotes

We'd love to, but we'll need a D800 first.

Comment edited 8 seconds after posting

21 upvotes

Thats no excuse. :)

11 upvotes

Exactly, than can not stop you, can it ? ;-)

0 upvotes

Andy...I assume these are native jpg? What NR setting was used? These images look much better than the over_NR images that Canon has on their Europe and Japan websites.

Thanks for doing this. These look great.

0 upvotes

I like every photograph from ISO3200 up to 102400. As I prefer b/w in the robert frank "the americans" style this is the perfect camera for me about 18 month from now. I even dare to shoot my current 30D at ISO3200 (H). Great to see that.All that I was hoping for. Can't wait to see the RAW then ;-) Cheers, Peter

0 upvotes

I have the 7D and many great lenses including the 17-55. As a non pro, the 5d MKIII or IV or X will not turn me into a substantially better photographer given this equipment. But when I'll replace the iPhone 4S in my pocket with the Nokia 808 Pureview when it it is out I'll be taking much more photos of everything ... (cada loco con su tema)

0 upvotes

Total comments: 344


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