The Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR will appeal to all photographers and videographers and is the long awaited, next generation evolution of the legendary EOS 5D Mark II. Whether you want a high-resolution camera for studio or location work, need a higher frame rate for moving subjects, or want a fast autofocus system to tracks sports, the EOS 5D Mark III will deliver. It will also answer your needs if you are more interested in HD Movies than stills. A full-frame 22.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor, six frames per second (fps) top shooting speed, and a 61-point AF system make it the most advanced mid-range camera ever seen in the EOS System.

Who is it for?

With a full-frame sensor that has the highest resolution available within the EOS DSLR range this camera is ideal for commercial photographers working in a studio. Thanks to the 6fps top shooting speed, 61-point AF system, and an ISO range that goes up to 25,600 as standard, the EOS 5D Mark III is equally at home out in the wilds for photojournalism and for capturing sports, social documentaries and wildlife. The in-camera HDR settings will appeal to landscape and architectural photographers and the advanced HD movie shooting functions – including uncompressed HDMI output and silent, on-the-fly audio level adjustment with the ability to monitor audio through headphones – will make it the first choice for movie makers and those interested in telling stories across a range of new media. In short, it is a camera that’s designed to appeal to as wide a range of photographers and filmmakers as possible.

Key features

• 22.3 Megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor
• 61-point AF with up to 41 cross-type AF points
• Zone, Spot and AF Point Expansion focusing modes
• DIGIC 5+ processor
• Up to 6fps shooting speed
• ISO 100 to 25,600 as standard, ISO 50 to 102,400 with expansion
• +/- 5 stops of exposure compensation
• HDR shooting in-camera
• Full HD Movie shooting with ALL-I or IPB compression
• Uncompressed HDMI output
• 29mins 59sec clip length in Full HD Movie
• Timecode setting for HD Movie shooting
• Headphone port for audio monitoring
• 59ms standard shutter lag
• Transparent LCD viewfinder with 100% coverage
• 8.11cm (3.2”), 1.04 million-pixel Clear View II LCD Screen
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System (EICS)
• CF and SD card slots
• Silent control touch-pad area
• Dual-Axis Electronic Level

Superb quality performance, even in low light

The EOS 5D Mark III features a full-frame, high resolution 22.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor. This sensor is designed and built by Canon and makes use of gap-less microlenses, first seen on a Canon full-frame sensor in the EOS-1D X, to ensure all the light reaching the sensor is directed into the pixel wells. This efficient light gathering combined with the processing power of the DIGIC 5+ processor has lead to a two-stop increase in the standard ISO range compared to the EOS 5D Mark II. The expanded ISO range goes to 102,400 for when you really must get an image and have almost no light to work in.

Fast and ACCURATE 61-POINT AF system

Following on from the EOS-1D X, the EOS 5D Mark III features a similar 61-point AF system with up to 41 cross-type points. When shooting with f/2.8 lenses or faster, a vertical line of five AF points in the middle of the frame function as Dual cross-type points with their sensors arranged in an ‘X’ as well as a conventional horizontally and vertically arranged AF points, like an ‘+’, provide increased focusing precision. All 61 AF points are ‘dual-line zigzag’ points for improved focus speed and accuracy, and the focusing range has been extended to -2EV to 18EV; the same range as the flagship EOS-1D X.

Like the EOS 7D and EOS-1D X, the EOS 5D Mark III also features Spot, Zone and AF Point Expansion focusing modes to give you the maximum choice in selecting how to focus on a subject. The AF algorithm has also been developed further. By taking feedback from professional photographers the new AI Servo AF III algorithm was developed to offer faster, more stable focus tracking. To make AF setup easier, the EOS 5D Mark III also includes the AF Configuration Tool first seen on the EOS-1D X.

High-speed continuous shooting

With the ability to shoot at up to six frames per second, the EOS 5D Mark III is almost twice as fast as its EOS 5D Mark II predecessor. This speed is achieved despite the large quantity of data being produced by the 22.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor and is enabled by the processing power from the DIGIC 5+ processor. The 6fps top shooting speed of the EOS 5D Mark III can be powered simply by using the standard LP-E6 battery for the camera.

Extensive HD movie features

Like all other current EOS DSLR models in the range, the EOS 5D Mark III features Full HD Movie recording. It provides the ability to shoot 1920x1080p movies at 24fps, 25fps or 30fps and 1280x720p movies at 50fps or 60fps. With either auto or full manual control over both exposure and audio levels it provides both newcomers to video and professionals with a powerful tool for shooting movies. First seen on the EOS-1D X, the EOS 5D Mark III also features live audio level meters on the screen while filming, and a capacitive touch pad on the Quick Control Dial to allow silent audio level adjustment during filming. In a first for the EOS range, the EOS 5D Mark III goes one stage further and also provides a headphone jack to allow audible audio monitoring while recording as well as the visual level bars.

Uncompressed HDMI video output

To benefit DSLR cinematographers the EOS 5D Mark III records clean, uncompressed digital video with embedded time code over HDMI output while simultaneously displaying the video on the rear LCD display and recording to internal CF or SD cards. Combined with an improved colour sampling of YCbCr 4:2:2 8-bit video, this offers efficiency to video editing, with improved colour grading options, and enhanced on-set monitoring.

Extensive in-camera image editing functions

In-camera editing allows photographers to have an easy-to-use digital workflow when out in-the-field. Images can be rated on a scale of one to five and two images can be compared simultaneously on screen. In-camera RAW processing allows you to explore creative possibilities, such as black & white conversion and retrospective white balance.

Durable, rugged build for use anywhere

The EOS 5D Mark III has a magnesium chassis that provides strength and durability without adding weight. Weather sealing offers protection against dust and moisture so it’s a camera that can be used almost anywhere.

AF system

With a completely re-designed AF system, the 61-point sensor in the EOS 5D Mark III offers consistent focusing performance with all subjects in light levels down to EV -2. With up to 41 cross-type AF points and a dual-zigzag line arrangement for all 61 points, focus accuracy and speed is improved. In combination with the evolved AI Servo III AF algorithm, the new system is also more stable in use. To ensure setting up the system to suit the subject is as easy as possible, a new AF Configuration Tool is provided within the camera menu to give details of each setting and example usage.

CMOS sensor

Canon develops and manufactures its own CMOS sensors in-house. Canon pioneered the use of CMOS sensors in DSLR cameras due to the performance advantages they offer in terms of speed and low power consumption. The CMOS sensor in the EOS 5D Mark III is the second in a new generation of full-frame sensors with gap-less microlenses for greater light gathering ability. It has been designed not just for still photography, but also with improved performance in HD movie shooting as well, with reduced moiré and false colours leading to improved definition and colour.

DIGIC processing

The high-end DIGIC 5+ processor found in the EOS 5D Mark III is 17 times faster than the DIGIC 4 processor that powered the EOS 5D Mark II. The benefits of the DIGIC 5+ processor are great. With more processing power it’s able to perform more complex image processing, for better image quality, as well as adding new features such as in-camera HDR shooting, multiple exposure imaging, lens chromatic aberration correction, intra-frame compression options for HD Movie shooting and UDMA and memory card compatibility.