Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

One of the best full-frame DSLRs out there

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Sample images

Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

The iFCL metering performed well here, the highlights in the petal have not burned out.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

Although the LCD screen has a wide viewing angle and reflections aren't a major issue, when you are shooting from very low angles it is impossible to see the subject without lying flat on the ground.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

The 5D Mark III has a wide dynamic range, but it can't capture detail in both the dark shadow and the sky here - one for HDR mode.

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HDR Mode sequence images

Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

Normal exposure - the left side of the sky has burned out

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

The over-exposed shot taken as part of the HDR sequence.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

The under-exposed shot taken as part of the HDR sequence.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

The in-camera HDR result, there are no true blacks or whites in this image, but the end result is natural looking.

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High ISO, 6fps sequence

Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

Aesthetically, this and the other images in the sequence would benefit from cropping, but we have included the full scene so you can examine the whole image. The camera managed to keep the cyclist in focus from the approach, to take off and throughout the jump and landing.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

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Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

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Canon 5D Mark III

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This image has been shot at ISO 12,800 and really shows the low light capabilities of the 5D Mark III. Best seen at high res, an impressive amount of detail has been rendered.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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Colours directly from the 5D Mark III are represented well, as shown in this image shot in Auto White Balance.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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This is another image that shows the impressive color rendition of the 5D Mark III, shot at Auto ISO, the camera has coped well in a dark (indoor) situation.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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This image shows the incredibly shallow depth of field effects that can be achieved when using a full-frame camera (shot at f/2.8)

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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Shot at ISO 8000, if you look closely at the high res image you can see how much detail has been resolved in the fabric. An impressive amount that would be more than usable for most photographers.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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The 5D Mark III has 61 autofocus points, and we've found that it is able to lock onto the subject quickly and easily, even in low light and difficult scenarios.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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Even at incredibly high ISOs such as ISO 20,000 as seen in this picture, the images remain usable - again it's best to have a look at the high res image to truly get a feel for how well the noise has been controlled.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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For comparison, this image has been shot at the camera's highest possible ISO setting (Hi2), which is ISO 102,400.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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This image was shot using the Canon 100mm Macro 'L' lens. Selecting one of the 61 autofocus points allows you to hone in on fine detail.

Canon 5D Mark III sample image

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Autofocus settings can be changed to use zone AF, which clusters together autofocus points into zones selectable via the joystick on the back of the camera.