{"id":23121,"date":"2012-03-07T05:21:50","date_gmt":"2012-03-07T05:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/philipbloom.net\/?p=23121"},"modified":"2012-03-11T00:57:06","modified_gmt":"2012-03-11T00:57:06","slug":"mk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/philipbloom.net\/blog\/mk\/","title":{"rendered":"The long awaited Canon 5D mkIII…is it what we were hoping for?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We have been waiting for this for some time. Rumours of release dates came and went for well over a year. I don’t publish rumours. If I did, this site would be littered with MKIII posts! There are many sites that do that and that is fine. I would rather deal in facts and actual announced products. Well, today it was officially unveiled. There are many questions I have about it, and I have yet to see any footage PROPERLY (i.e. not compressed)…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The MKIII has been desperately needed by many, including me. Why? The full frame aesthetic is so unique and still has a very clear place for me as a filmmaker. \u00a0I own and adore my C300 but really want a full frame Canon DSLR for all my lenses that has next to no image issues and has a wickedly sharp image! Of course it is also much smaller and is perfect for my timelapses.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

From what I have read\/ heard, video-wise we have apparently a massive improvement in image quality, not quite moire and aliasing free, but close thanks to a new processor. Minimised jello from the rolling shutter. We have the ability to monitor audio with the much fabled “headphone jack” finally coming to the Canon line. Hurrah! We also have meters on screen and we can change the levels during recording…No news on the quality of the pre-amp. The one in the current Canons is rather…lacklustre. Of course it’s still a 3.5mm input.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We now have clip spanning, so we can record longer than 12 minutes…29 minutes 59 seconds. It won’t go over that due to the ever present EU tax issue. For all but event filmmakers and those long documentary interviews, it’s all we need.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There is timecode now on the camera, although I am not sure what the implementation of it is. Weather sealing is massively improved but will of course be dependent on your lens being weather sealed too so it won’t let the water in there!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It has been reported that we have a camera capable of two more stops of light sensitivity and low light performance only superseded in a Canon camera by the 1DX<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Still H.264 recording, with an i-frame codec version but no word on the bit rate. \u00a050p\/ 60p is only at 720p (come on now?), there is also no swivel screen and no ability to make you a better filmmaker by owning one \ud83d\ude09\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What is key for me, and I hope to clear this up soon, is the ability to get a clean 8 bit 422 uncompressed HDMI signal for using external recorders. EDIT:<\/span> Am told it’s only 720p out…BOO HISS! Hugely disappointing, considering Nikon have this on their D800 and D4 which I hope to try soon!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as I get more info, I will update this blog post! So many unanswered questions that I hope to have answers to soon. BUT I doubt I can really clear them up until I get my hands on one. I am hoping Canon Australia or Canon New Zealand can help here (that is where I am for the next few weeks!). Making any judgement on a camera based on specs alone is a HUGE mistake by anyone. I did that and so did many others with the C300, and that has turned out to be a camera beast which is now my favourite camera!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Price wise, we are looking at around $3,500 for body only…should be available by the end of March…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Naturally I want one, but I would rather test it out first to see how much improved the image is. Image fidelity is everything to me. I just need to ask Canon to let me get my grubby mits on one to see just how well she performs! Most important thing for me is a sharp detailed image with no issues, as I have already mentioned.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I would love to check this out side by side with the new Nikon D800 and D4 which both have clean HDMI out…might be tricky to get them all in the same room at the same time!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are some sample videos here…<\/a>and one embedded below. Disappointing launch videos to be honest. No holy shit “Reverie” here…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh apparently it takes rather nice stills too! You can \u00a0pre-order it from b&h <\/a>and from CVP in Europe. <\/a>I just put my pre-order in…hope it’s good!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of you are disappointed. I am not sure what you were expecting. It is after all a stills camera with a video mode. That is what it has to be. The moment the video users outweigh the stills guys, then that could change. But for now, with their amazing C300 prices at 4 times the price of this, there is a clear division in products, and I don’t see how the 1DX fills the middle ground. It doesn’t.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

All I can say is thank god for Nikon on announcing their camera which has created competition in the stagnating DSLR market. Nobody wants a monopoly. Competition makes all companies better.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It’s also a smashing time to get yourself a MkII, check Ebay, there will be many and it’s still a fookin’ great camera! \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n