EOS 5D Mark 3

Information about Canon's replacement for the EOS 5D Mark 2

1st September 2010

Current guestimate for the 5D3 - Autumn 2011...

5D Mk3 rumours

Latest News

September

• 1st Talk from the Canon expo [PB] says that the 5D3 is not going to appear for some time. Certainly not this year.

July

• 29th A suggestion (thanks) that the 5D3 is being moved forward from the expected Q3 2011 date.
  • Not much, I'd have thought. Not unless the 1Ds4 appears pretty soon and ships much faster than its previous versions - our most solid response is still the 'next year' comment from last month.

June

• 14th We've had lots of comments (thanks) pointing to shortages of the 5D Mk2 and asking if it signifies a replacement on the way?
• What this says about Canon distribution and dealer relations is one thing, but our enquiries led to a resounding "no update for the 5D Mk2 this year".
  • Not surprising given the ongoing lack of a 1Ds Mk4, although 3D rumours have picked up again of late - this often happens when it's been a while since a new FF camera has appeared ;-)
• 4th At CR there is a mention of a new 'hybrid' camera for September and hefty rebates for the 5D2 in Canada.
• There are a lot of 'refurb' 5Dmk2s in the Canon outlet shop at eBay UK.
• No real signs of a 5D Mk3 yet though.

May

• 3rd It seems that Vince Laforet is suggesting the 5D3 for next year - no prize for fortune telling there, given we don't have a 1Ds4 yet.
• At CR it is also suggested that the 5D2's HDMI connector is in some way to be 'improved'

April

• 14th The 5D2 is being solidly pushed by Canon as the DSLR video solution. The 5D2 is old enough that we get regular questions as to whether an 'N' version will appear. Our most emphatic comments (thanks) say that nothing will change until a year -after- the 1Ds4.

March

• 17th A suggestion [CR] that the 5D3 is dependent on the Nikon D700 replacement and may be here this year.
  • If a 1Ds4 is available before Photokina, then I might expect to see a 5D3 announcement earlier -next- year, but with the recent 5D2 firmware upgrade I see the chances of a 5D3 this year as pretty slim.

February

1. 15th Some talk of an FF camera being tested in Europe, that shoots raw video [P5D]
2. 7th A 5D3 rumour [CR] suggests that it won't be three years between 5D2 and Mk3. The thought is that a new camera is needed for more advanced video features and that the release schedule has been bumped by six months.

2010 January

• 18th Whilst most would look to the forthcoming 1Ds4 for an indication of how many MP will fit into the 5D Mk3. The 5D2 will point the way for video features.
• Canon were genuinely surprised at the enthusiasm in the video market for the 5D2 and, for video, we hear that the 5D2 is Canon's preferred choice as an HD Video solution.
• The forthcoming firmware update will address more video usability issues than just framerates.
• We're told to expect video functionality as a key marketing feature of the Mk3.
No details on release dates, but at least a year after the 5D2 firmware update. How about Summer 2011 when Digic 5 will allow a lot more in-camera processing.

2009 October

• 15th There's been an upturn in 5D3 comments, along with a few looking for a '2n' type update. The 'n' update is always popular once a model has been out for a year or so, despite the fact that Canon only did this once for the 1Dmk2.
• A collection of wishes [POTN] which do raise the question of timing. If we get a 1Dmk4 next week, then it increases the likelihood of a 1Ds4 earlier next year (moving to a 30 month gap rather than the previous 3yr gap)
• With 5D following the 1Ds by a year, that would make a Feb 2011 announcement. Of course, that's not considering the fabled 3D, which could appear for next year's Photokina show ;-)
• One 'wish' I did notice was for a possible dedicated 'video grip' (XLR connector etc) - given the unexpected interest Canon received for the 5D2 video functionality, I suspect there are a few examples of this in Canon R&D

September

• 1st The feature packed 7D announcement has left some wondering [DPR] if the 5D3 will come any sooner.
• Not until some time after the 1Ds4, and our latest comments we've had put that well into next year (probably for Photokina 2010)

May

• 25th From the wishlist factory... hopes for a 5D Mk2 N [DPR]

March

• 28th Good to see people expecting the camera in 2011 POTN

2009 February

• 2nd A DPR thread to follow... It's all there - splitting the line (3D and 7D of course) - well OK not much, as you'd expect really.

2008 October

• 17th Good to see a POTN 5D3 rumour thread, and already someone has slipped Eye-Control AF into the specs.
• (this has been in wish list specs for just about every Canon DSLR I've seen discussed for several years ;-)

September

1. 20th Plenty of mentions already in some rumour forums...
2. PMA 2010 (spring) or Photokina 2010 (autumn) and it will see the appearance of Digic V. The new versions of the 1D3 and 1Ds3 should be here next year. Look for the 5D3 using the same 35+MP size sensor as the 1Ds4 but a year after it.
3. See also our recent technical Canon info on the 60D and 1Ds4 pages.
4. 18th OK - the 5D2 has only just been announced, so what about it's replacement - will we get an EOS 5D mark 3?
5. Somehow I don't think it will be a three year wait like the original 5D replacement

All our technical Canon info (sensor predictions etc) is currently ('08) on the 60D page.

What does the 5D Mk2 replacement have to beat?

21MP CMOS sensor (similar but newer design to EOS-1Ds Mark III)
Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
ISO 100 - 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 - 25600 expansion (1Ds Mark III and 5D max ISO 3200)
Auto ISO (100 - 3200)
3.9 FPS continuous shooting
DIGIC 4 processor, new menus / interface as per the EOS 50D
Image processing features:
Highlight tone priority
Auto lighting optimizer (4 levels)
High ISO noise reduction (4 levels)
Lens peripheral illumination correction (vignetting correction)
RAW and SRAW1 (10 MP) / SRAW2 (5 MP)
RAW / JPEG selection made separately
Permanent display of ISO on both top plate and viewfinder displays
AF microadjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
Three custom modes on command dial, Creative Auto mode
Image copyright metadata support
98% coverage viewfinder (0.71x magnification)
3.0" 920,000 dot LCD monitor with 'Clear View' cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
Automatic LCD brightness adjustment (ambient light sensor)
Live view with three mode auto-focus (including face detection)
No mirror-flip for exposures in Live View if contrast detect AF selected
Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)
Two mode silent shooting (in live view)
New jump options in play mode
HDMI and standard composite (AV) video out
Full audio support: built-in mic and speaker, mic-in socket, audio-out over AV (although not HDMI)
IrPort (supports IR remote shutter release using optional RC1 / RC5 controllers)
UDMA CompactFlash support
New 1800 mAh battery with improved battery information / logging
New optional WFT-E4 WiFi / LAN / USB vertical grip
Water resistance: 10 mm rain in 3 minutes

The EOS 5D's full-frame CMOS sensor records 4,368 x 2,912 pixels-that's 12.8 Megapixels, larger than many other companies' top-of-the-line sensors. The same size as a 35mm image on a traditional camera, the sensor operates without a conversion factor. This is perfect for taking advantage of the spectacular optics in Canon's L-series, and will be a joy for wide-angle enthusiasts who can make the most of their wide-angle lenses. This new CMOS sensor, designed in-house by Canon, provides smooth, high-resolution images similar to the EOS-1Ds Mark II but in a more compact body. Two automatic noise reduction features maximize the effectiveness of the EOS 5D's on-chip noise reduction. Noise reduction can be activated when noise is detected or it will simply come into play on any exposure of 1 second or longer. DIGIC II Image Processor 3.0 fps for up to 60 consecutive JPEG or 17 RAW frames in a burst. The EOS 5D's new 12.8 Megapixel sensor is driven by the revolutionary DIGIC II Image Processor for unprecedented performance and image quality. Thanks to the DIGIC II Image Processor, the EOS 5D is capable of shooting up to 3 frames-per-second for up to 60 JPEG or 17 RAW images. The information captured by the sensor is processed and assembled into images of exceptional clarity and resolution. Photographers can expect precise, natural colours, spot-on white balance and speed in any number of lighting situations. By handling larger volumes of image data, the DIGIC II Image Processor also contributes to lower power consumption: photographers will discover that they can shoot all day with the EOS 5D without having to change the battery! Advanced 9-point AF with 6 additional Supplemental points In addition to 9 different AF points for locking focus on subjects, even if they are not in the center of the composition, the EOS 5D features 6 Supplemental points around the center AF point which help to ensure an even greater degree of focus accuracy when tracking a moving subject. This feature is significant for sports photographers, as well as anyone who needs to keep focus locked on an unpredictable subject. The Supplemental AF points are not displayed in the viewfinder, and they cannot be manually selected. However, they are used in AI Servo AF mode when the EOS 5D is set for automatic focusing point selection, and also when the center focusing point is selected together with Custom Function 17-1. New high-speed durable shutter The EOS 5D boasts a newly developed, high-speed and durable shutter unit that was designed to meet the demanding requirements of a full frame sensor in a relatively compact body. With a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. and with a remarkable 100,000-cycle shutter life, it truly is a camera built to professional standards.

Other (real :-) info and stuff on this site

Using your film scanner as a microscope
A Canon 1Ds pinhole camera
Reviews of useful hardware and software
Articles and tutorials
Colour management
Keith's Landscape photos
Collection of photography and digital imaging info
Apple Mac info
Webcams in Leicester and view from space