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Considering buying a 5D Mark III - New

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I moved from the 7D to the 5D MkIII (with a couple of mirrorless cameras in between) and find the 5DIII to be an absolutely wonderful, most capable camera. I looked briefly at the 6D but preferred the 61pt AF to the 11pt, as I didn't want to have to rely mainly on the center AF point. I know that the 6D is considered to be a better performer at high ISOs, but the 5DIII is quite impressive itself! I don't have any plan to get the 5DIV anytime soon, unless I find that there is a need that my 5DIII can't meet, but so far that need has not become apparent. It's a fantastic camera!

Andy
 
Isabel Cutler said:
Are there any inherent problems with the Mark III that I'll have to deal with?
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1. It does not have exposure compensation in manual mode with auto ISO,
2. There is no option for selecting slowest shutter speed for auto ISO as 1/f, 1/2f, 1/.5f etc.,
3. Does not have a flip screen.
4. Does not have fast live view AF like current Canon DSLRs.
Personally I think it is an excellent camera.
 
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[No message]
 
Are you sure - is it possible you don't mean in manual mode?

Isabel
 
Isabel Cutler said:
Are you sure - is it possible you don't mean in manual mode?

Isabel

--
http://www.pbase.com/isabel95
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isabel95/
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In manual mode many current cameras offer exposure compensation of auto ISO. If you use auto ISO in manual mode, the camera selects the ISO value automatically based on your selected f number, shutter speed, and scene brightness. If you feel that the selected ISO by camera is causing wrong brightness of the photo, there is no way you can bias the ISO positively or negatively with your 5DIII unless you stop the auto ISO and select the ISO manually.
 
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RamiH said:
Isabel Cutler said:
After a several years vacation with micro43 equipment I realize that the only way I'm going to get good control of noise at high isos - 6400? is to get a full frame body. My 7D just doesn't cut it.

I'm not willing to go as high as the price of a Mark IV and I'm going to have to buy a 24-70 to use instead of my efs 17-55 that won't work on a full frame body, so this will be a big investment for me.

Are there any inherent problems with the Mark III that I'll have to deal with?

Isabel
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Isabel Cutler said:
RamiH said:
Isabel Cutler said:
After a several years vacation with micro43 equipment I realize that the only way I'm going to get good control of noise at high isos - 6400? is to get a full frame body. My 7D just doesn't cut it.

I'm not willing to go as high as the price of a Mark IV and I'm going to have to buy a 24-70 to use instead of my efs 17-55 that won't work on a full frame body, so this will be a big investment for me.

Are there any inherent problems with the Mark III that I'll have to deal with?

Isabel
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KLO82 said:
To me, it feels that once someone uses the AF joystick, it looks very hard to go back to use cursors. I used 5D3 for 3 or 4 days and after that I hate the focus selection of my 6D. But may be that is just me.
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I was afraid of that - I'm hoping to read some comments from people who had no problems with the lack, especially since I immediatley got excited about the 6D Mark II lack of weight! The older I get the harder it has become to deal with heavy equipment.

Isabel
 
Hi - I just program the three custom modes C1-3 as Aperture Priority modes with different minimum shutter speeds set like 1/60, 1/125 and 1/250 for different types of subject. This lets me have exposure compensation, auto ISO and some degree of manual control on both shutter and aperture if needed.

The joystick on the 5dmkiii is great. The only handling thing I prefer on my old 60d and other older bodies (I'm guessing including the 7d) is the way playback and zoom works with pushing buttons to zoom in and out rather than a lot of tedious top dial twiddling. Even reprogramming the 5dmkiii playback or zoom function to the Set buttton is not enough to spare my finger tips and occasional frustration.

Alan
 
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Alan GT said:
Hi - I just program the three custom modes C1-3 as Aperture Priority modes with different minimum shutter speeds set like 1/60, 1/125 and 1/250 for different types of subject. This lets me have exposure compensation, auto ISO and some degree of manual control on both shutter and aperture if needed.

The joystick on the 5dmkiii is great. The only handling thing I prefer on my old 60d and other older bodies (I'm guessing including the 7d) is the way playback and zoom works with pushing buttons to zoom in and out rather than a lot of tedious top dial twiddling. Even reprogramming the 5dmkiii playback or zoom function to the Set buttton is not enough to spare my finger tips and occasional frustration.

Alan
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Yes, for most people who do not need a slowest shutter speed higher than 1/250 sec, aperture priority is a good enough solution - I myself is happy with it. But it can be limiting for people who needs very fast shutter speed, for example sports photographers.
 
Isabel Cutler said:
Isabel Cutler said:
but fewer ounces won't make up for the lack of joystick.
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Isabel
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The 6D doesn't have a separate joystick such as the 5D Mark III, IV, etc., but it does have a four position controller like I believe the OM-D-E-M10 II has. Once I got used to the controller on the 6D, I found I didn't miss the dedicated joystick at all. Don't make this a deal breaker; go to a camera store and try out a 6D before you dismiss it
 
CameraCarl said:
Isabel Cutler said:
CameraCarl said:
but fewer ounces won't make up for the lack of joystick.
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Isabel
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The 6D doesn't have a separate joystick such as the 5D Mark III, IV, etc., but it does have a four position controller like I believe the OM-D-E-M10 II has. Once I got used to the controller on the 6D, I found I didn't miss the dedicated joystick at all. Don't make this a deal breaker; go to a camera store and try out a 6D before you dismiss it
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Thanks, Carl. If the four position controller on the 6D Mark II works as well as the similar controls on the EM10 II that'll be fine for me. I LOVE my EM10 II. It's a great feature-filled bargain camera...of due to its small sensor can't yield the better high ISO performance I know I'll get from the 6D Mark II...which has to be a heck of a lot better than what I get from my 7D!

Isabel
 
Isabel Cutler said:
CameraCarl said:
Isabel Cutler said:
Isabel Cutler said:
but fewer ounces won't make up for the lack of joystick.
Click to expand...
Isabel
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The 6D doesn't have a separate joystick such as the 5D Mark III, IV, etc., but it does have a four position controller like I believe the OM-D-E-M10 II has. Once I got used to the controller on the 6D, I found I didn't miss the dedicated joystick at all. Don't make this a deal breaker; go to a camera store and try out a 6D before you dismiss it
Click to expand...
Thanks, Carl. If the four position controller on the 6D Mark II works as well as the similar controls on the EM10 II that'll be fine for me. I LOVE my EM10 II. It's a great feature-filled bargain camera...of due to its small sensor can't yield the better high ISO performance I know I'll get from the 6D Mark II...which has to be a heck of a lot better than what I get from my 7D!
Click to expand...
Hopefully you know, but just in case - it is not a four position controller (lef, right), but 8 positions one - so you are also able to move in between, not just left or right.

Petr
Isabel Cutler said:
Isabel

--
http://www.pbase.com/isabel95
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isabel95/
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pekr said:
Isabel Cutler said:
CameraCarl said:
Isabel Cutler said:
pekr said:
but fewer ounces won't make up for the lack of joystick.
Click to expand...
Isabel
Click to expand...
The 6D doesn't have a separate joystick such as the 5D Mark III, IV, etc., but it does have a four position controller like I believe the OM-D-E-M10 II has. Once I got used to the controller on the 6D, I found I didn't miss the dedicated joystick at all. Don't make this a deal breaker; go to a camera store and try out a 6D before you dismiss it
Click to expand...
Thanks, Carl. If the four position controller on the 6D Mark II works as well as the similar controls on the EM10 II that'll be fine for me. I LOVE my EM10 II. It's a great feature-filled bargain camera...of due to its small sensor can't yield the better high ISO performance I know I'll get from the 6D Mark II...which has to be a heck of a lot better than what I get from my 7D!
Click to expand...
Hopefully you know, but just in case - it is not a four position controller (lef, right), but 8 positions one - so you are also able to move in between, not just left or right.

Petr
pekr said:
Isabel
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Isabel Cutler said:
Kaso said:
Isabel Cutler said:
Are there any inherent problems with the Mark III that I'll have to deal with?
Click to expand...
Weight.

Since you are starting fresh on full-frame, and have no EF lens investment, you might want to consider options other than Canon.

I happen to also use Nikon D750 and Sony a7 II -- both highly recommended, especially the latter.

Good luck.
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I agree about the weight, but will put up with it - the 5D Mark III I think is about 5 ounces more than the 7D and the 24-70 f/2.8 weighs 5.65 ounces more than the 17-55 - a total difference of almost 11 ounces - that's a lot!
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If you are concerned about the weight you may also consider Canon 24-70mm f/4 IS (and get a fast prime or some other lens for the price difference). This lens is lighter and smaller than even the 17-55mm you have now, and unlike 24-70mm f/2.8 it has IS.

http://camerasize.com/compact/#312.367,154.303,312.286,ha,t

This kit will be a considerable improvement over your current combo both in terms of resolution and low light performance. 24-70mm f/4 has a tstop of 4, while 17-55mm has a tstop of 3.4, so less than half of a difference as you'd expect looking at fstop numbers. And with 5d III pulling a stop and a third over 7d you'll still have considerable low light advantage.
 
KLO82 said:
pekr said:
Isabel Cutler said:
CameraCarl said:
Isabel Cutler said:
KLO82 said:
but fewer ounces won't make up for the lack of joystick.
Click to expand...
Isabel
Click to expand...
The 6D doesn't have a separate joystick such as the 5D Mark III, IV, etc., but it does have a four position controller like I believe the OM-D-E-M10 II has. Once I got used to the controller on the 6D, I found I didn't miss the dedicated joystick at all. Don't make this a deal breaker; go to a camera store and try out a 6D before you dismiss it
Click to expand...
Thanks, Carl. If the four position controller on the 6D Mark II works as well as the similar controls on the EM10 II that'll be fine for me. I LOVE my EM10 II. It's a great feature-filled bargain camera...of due to its small sensor can't yield the better high ISO performance I know I'll get from the 6D Mark II...which has to be a heck of a lot better than what I get from my 7D!
Click to expand...
Hopefully you know, but just in case - it is not a four position controller (lef, right), but 8 positions one - so you are also able to move in between, not just left or right.

Petr
KLO82 said:
Isabel

--
http://www.pbase.com/isabel95
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isabel95/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
In my experience, I have never been able to use it as an 8 way controller. In between, that is the corner position buttons are impossible for me to find by not looking at the controller, so in the end I have to use it as a 4 way controller. By clicking the corner position buttons for several times, I may hit it once in a while, but most of the time I will end up moving the point up/ down or right/ left instead of diagonally.
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Interesting - never thought about it. Will have to to test at home with my 70D. Maybe too, I am first going into top/down, left/right, between I am able to hit in-between.

In that regard, I wonder, if joystick is really so much better? I have played with 5DIII last week for few minutes in a store, but was not sure. Maybe once you get used to it, it becomes a real helper? And also - I expected joystick working without the need to press the focus point selection button first, but thanks to the forum I now know, there is some related setting hidden in the menu to solve this ....
 
Marko2 said:
Marko2 said:
Is
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If you are concerned about the weight you may also consider Canon 24-70mm f/4 IS (and get a fast prime or some other lens for the price difference). This lens is lighter and smaller than even the 17-55mm you have now, and unlike 24-70mm f/2.8 it has IS.

http://camerasize.com/compact/#312.367,154.303,312.286,ha,t

This kit will be a considerable improvement over your current combo both in terms of resolution and low light performance. 24-70mm f/4 has a tstop of 4, while 17-55mm has a tstop of 3.4, so less than half of a difference as you'd expect looking at fstop numbers. And with 5d III pulling a stop and a third over 7d you'll still have considerable low light advantage.
Click to expand...
The lighter weight, as well as stabilization are certainly appreciate.

What is a tstop? The maximum aperture of the 17-55 is f/2.8 (and it does have stabilization).

isabel
 
Isabel Cutler said:
Marko2 said:
Isabel Cutler said:
Is
Click to expand...
If you are concerned about the weight you may also consider Canon 24-70mm f/4 IS (and get a fast prime or some other lens for the price difference). This lens is lighter and smaller than even the 17-55mm you have now, and unlike 24-70mm f/2.8 it has IS.

http://camerasize.com/compact/#312.367,154.303,312.286,ha,t

This kit will be a considerable improvement over your current combo both in terms of resolution and low light performance. 24-70mm f/4 has a tstop of 4, while 17-55mm has a tstop of 3.4, so less than half of a difference as you'd expect looking at fstop numbers. And with 5d III pulling a stop and a third over 7d you'll still have considerable low light advantage.
Click to expand...
The lighter weight, as well as stabilization are certainly appreciate.

What is a tstop? The maximum aperture of the 17-55 is f/2.8 (and it does have stabilization).

isabel
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T-stop, or transmission stop, is the actual amount of light that makes it through the lens. So you can have two lenses that are both f/2.8, but one may let in more light than the other because it is using better glass or has a better design.

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Comp...-2.8-IS-USM-on-Canon-EOS-7D__1074_795_169_619
 
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You don't need to press the af point button before using the joystick The functions are active for a brief time before sleeping If they have gone to sleep just tapping the shutter release will wake the functions and you can go straight to the joystick
 
I've been using the 5D MKIII for 4 years and I still love it!!! Best camera I've owned
 
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