5D Mk 3?
 

Ok, so I'm two days away from dropping around $5000 for the 5D mk2 and all the accesories but I'm worried that a month after I purchase it Canon will come out with the new Mark 3 that is sure to be released some day (most likely with better audio options and possibly 60P capabilities)

So does anyone here have any insite or inside info on a potential release date for the Mk3 so that I don't shoot myself in the foot?

Yeah, Im a little paranoid. Just don't wanna be left behind yet again right when I think I'm in with the big boys. Haha

Thanks.

re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I am a 5D II owner. I love the camera. I am a T2i owner. I love the camera.

I am going to be controversial here, but I think the best camera currently available for film production is the T2i. I say this primarily because of the current available innovations provided for the T2i through Magic Lantern. Because of Magic Lantern, it can do virtually everything the 5D II can, plus shoot 60p, plus the Magic Lantern version currently available for the T2i has exposure and focus aids that are not available on the 5D. Now the upcoming T3i may be easily adaptable to Magic Lantern, and it may not. But if I was getting ready to get into the DSLR market today, I would go T2i route. ( Note: the 5D will do much better in low light.) Now if you are talking needing extremely shallow depth of field, easier access to extra wider lenses, and/or that better low light capability, I can see you rightfully opting for the 5D, but otherwise, give some thought to the T2i. It won't blow your wad now, and it will get you shooting DSLR while things continue cooking in this entire big chip game.

re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Hey Chris thanks,

Yeah low light and extreme DOF are two of my biggest factors. I am dead set on the 5D, I'm just worried about the release of the Mark 3 shortly after I purchase. Doh!

re: 5D Mk 3?
 

That's pretty sound advice from where I'm sitting - I'm not buying anymore gear until I see exactly what Canon does. We're all hoping for something out of the box great/new.

What are the odds of that happening? Frankly, I don't see them as great - the Mark II as video camera for movies was essentially an accident on Canon's part. And Canon, in general terms, isn't considered by most to be a cutting edge leading in new tech.

But the Mark II was something different - it gave Canon a whole new street cred and opened a whole new group of people to the form factor of DLSRs (including myself). They have a real opportunity to set the pace for the next 3 years if they do it "right."

For me, it's worth the wait. I would certainly get a T2 regardless - wonderful little camera, one I'm you'll use as B-cam if for nothing else.

re: 5D Mk 3?
 

My gut feel says 5DMkII replacement (often termed the 5DMkIII) will come in fall of '11. My gut forecasts about a 5% chance that a 5DMkIII will appear earlier, at NAB in April. My gut would not be surprised at all if the calendar pages blow into 2012 and we have not seen nor heard of a replacement for the MkII yet.

My gut would like to give you this advice:

If substantial rumors surface tomorrow that Canon will announce the MkIII in 30 days, it'll be a month away. If there are no delays, they will announce at the end of March that they will ship in April or May. If there are no delays, you might order one and it might show up in May or June. You will then be one of the first people on the planet to have no experience with DSLRs and video to start shooting video with a camera for which there is basically no support and you are breaking new ground - while trying to serve a client - and you will finally get pretty good at it around June or July. So, even if new rumors surfaced TOMORROW, you would be better off with the MkII for now, because you can have one o'nighted to you and have it Thursday, rather than fumble around until sumer. And if rumors don't surface tomorrow... you could still be waiting into 2012 for a camera that may never ship.

Buy for the now.

re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Now that's the sound advice that I really needed to hear Mike and I thank you. Guess I'll stop with all the worrying and order the thing then start creating!

Cheers!

re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Im on the same boat as im looking for a 2nd DSLR to my 7D. My DP friend has a 5D so i borrowed it and tested it side x side.

Now as for video on the canon dslrs, the 7D is my workworse as it allows me to monitor via HDMI and it wont downrez during record. This is crucial for focus though if you use a finder it wont matter.

The tech side,

the sensor on the 5D is still better than the apsc ones, (7D,550D,60D)
On my chart tests i compared the 7D(same sensor performance and size as 550,60) with the 5D,
using same 50mm f1.2 lens on both;

the 5D displays much less color aliasing than the 7D, moire is about the same.

low light hi iso at 3200 the 5D performs better, not by much tho.

and of course the obviouse advantage of full frame gives you great wides,

I can use the tokina 11-16mm on the 5d even if the lens is for crop sensor.

at 14.5 mm on the 5D, the image is much wider even if i use it at 11mm on the 7D.

so my resolve is this, I wont go for 4/3rds or another apsc sensor for now and wait a lil bit for canon to upgrade, theyve already ugraded the low end models, they should be logicaly upgrading the mid and higher ones soon.

otherwise, I'd rent, borrow, or ..what the heck, get a 5D mkii.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

If they announce a new 5D about three minutes after you buy yours, I will be editing my post to say "whatever you do, don't buy now" and I'd appreciate it if you'd edit your post where you quoted me to reflect the same.

Regards,

Mike

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Haha. Well... Unfortunately you're the fall guy now buddy;)

Cheers!

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I bought a 60D to use as a second body with my 5DMkII, smaller sensor but it is a pleaasure to use, especially with the twist out LCD.
If you "need" something immediately you might consider the 60D - and wait for whatever the next great thing is. I love using the 5D mkII but it is going to be superseded soon.
You've waited this long - - - - borrow, rent or at least buy used if you need something this minute

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Also, remember the prices are inflated for the first 4-6 months.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

If you can wait, I'd at least wait and see what is going to be released at NAB... April 9-14

There could be some very nice camera's coming out in that show.

If you can't wait... go for it.. :-)

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

My guess is that we won't see a 5D3 until November or later. The 5D2 has been a big hit. Regarding video, Canon is still king of the hill. They have a lot of cams now with Gen 1 video features in various flavors. The day they release a camera with Gen 2 video features, Canon risks making their many other video-capable models a bit less compelling. If I were Canon, I'd stay pat for now.

That said, NAB may very well bring some new, unexpected toys. April isn't far away.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the 5D3 stays hidden until 2012. Looking at product cycles, a new 1Ds should have been here long ago but keeps being pushed back. Maybe the new 1Ds will be the first camera with the next generation video features...

Still, I understand that it's nicer to buy a camera at the start of its lifecycle than near its end.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I'm in agreement with Jon F. take a look at Canon product cycle. Odds are they will replace the 1Ds series prior to releasing a new 5D. They wouldn't want to undercut there 8,000 full frame camera with a 2,500-3,000 full frame option. So we should see a refresh in the 1Ds series long before the 5D.

Just my thoughts- but who knows, maybe they are distinguish the features enough to release them sooner.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Right, but... whoda thunk that they'd release 4 different Rebels in an 18 month cycle? Strange things from big companies sometime.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Every company has a golden rule, don't compete with yourself, Canon will update the 5D when one of two things happen, Sales delcine or one of the other camera makers trumps the 5D with thier product. They may update firmware or make minor changes to correct a problem, but that;s it. Bad for us, good for them...

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Maybe the trick is to watch Nikon. After Nikon releases a camera with superior video, Canon will likely respond in kind.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Oh, this is easy. Really it is. It's just two steps.

1) Research the market and know what your best fit is. Then, when you have to have it, buy the biggest bang-for-your-buck that you can.

2) After you're committed, DON'T LOOK BACK! Don't watch the market; stop researching. Stop it -- cold turkey if you have to, but stop it. Instead, put your energy toward climbing the learning for what you did buy so you can get the most you can out of it.

It's really that simple. And it's the only way to keep your sanity in a rapidly changing market like the current DSLR / EVIL market.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

The rule of thumb I try to apply when buying electronics is; if I can wait, I'll wait.
(Besides, I think it's more likely that Nikon will show up with a "5Dmk3" before Canon, but who knows...)

-- peer

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

So what do you think the chances are that Canon will do a firmware update that would allow 60p shooting and turn the A/V jack into a headphone jack like Magic Lantern does???

Anyone, Anyone;)

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I don't think there is the apparatus on board to do decent headphone monitoring. I think a properly set up amp isn't there for it. I may be wrong. Magic Lantern version has its issues. Assuming I am right, I don't think Canon would want to tarnish its image by adding a less than clean monitoring system.

As to 60p, again, this may be a hardware issue, and just not available on board the 5D II set up. Certainly not 1080 at least.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

On the 5D, basically 0%.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I agree. Aside from fixing blatant bugs, don't expect any more feature enhancements from Canon on the 5D2. It was really out of character for them to add major features after the camera was shipping - and I'm grateful that they did it!

The main things I'd like to see from the next gen are less jello, less aliasing, and 1080 monitoring.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I think it demonstrates how long a product cycle they were expecting from the 5D2. It they had been planning on replacing the 5D2 early they would not have done it, they would have waited for the next model.

I too am glad Canon did what they did because I bought two 5D2 bodies 'because' they gave me 25p. Without it I would not have bought them, just like I'm not buying a GH2 (missing the 25p).

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I totally agree. Although will add that to me "less aliasing" implies much better downscaling or "binning" which will (hopefully) give this camera something much closer to true HD resolution. I really hope Canon realise the importance of making these simple things the focus of their development efforts when it comes to the video function of DSLRs and that they are not distracted by spec-sheet-chest-thumping.

Prolost - Blog - Ha ha very funny Canon now get back towork

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Keep in mind that with DSLR's you are buying into a system. You can update to a new body as required and maybe only lose a few hundred dollars - used prices for the 5dmkII in Aus are not much lower than brand new, despite the fact many people think it's product cycle is almost finished.

The 5dmkII is a great camera and, even if something newer is announced, people (mainly photographers, not videographers) will still buy it second hand for not much less than you pay for it.

If you have quality glass and an investment in a system, you will be prepared for any future camera bodies that come out, and can upgrade with minimal extra investment.

Also, someone made a good point about the new camera having inflated prices for 6 months or so after release. The money you lose on selling the 5dmkII may even be less than the difference between the initial price of the new camera and the eventual street price after a few months. So for the same total outlay you can start shooting now, and have the better camera later.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Both the Nikon D5100, Nikon D400 and Nikon D800 (if they continue their product lines) are overdue, as well as the Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 1Ds. Nikon is also rumored to launch a EVIL (mirrorless) system in april, as they have bought huge advertising blocks.

I know Nikon uses Sony sensors in most of their camera designs, and Sony is making radical changes to their product technology (meaning they will likely slip into 2012). So that might also cause problems for Nikon. I agree with Jon, it's all about competition. I won't buy a 5D mark II anymore at this moment, I would rather buy a 550D for cheap, buy some nice lenses (full-frame) and wait for the 5D Mark III to arrive. I think the next iterations of Canon's and Nikon's are going to be beasts. But don't forget that Canon is also in the video business and they won't have the 5D Mark III compete with like the Canon XL-H2 ($9,000).

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

I would've thought that the Canon XF 305 is the "XL-H2". That's a different market to one that demands the large sensor, if they decide to put a large sensor into a XF 305 to create a specialised video camera is another matter.

I suspect the DSLRs that have HD will be a bit of a compromise for the latter in order to meet a number conflicting requirements. Stills photographers will want full resolution, while video needs a OLPF to avoid moire, however, the larger market is stills and that creates the production volumes that keep the prices low.

To make a leap they have to come up with a low cost method that doesn't involve binning.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Still cameras need (and have) an OLPF to avoid moire too, it's just at too high a frequency. If a future model has a fast enough sensor and processor to capture all the photo sites and do proper digital filtering, we could get true 1080 resolution and little or no aliasing.

That's pretty much what you do with a RED cam - capture at 3K, 4K, or 5K. Only the filtering and downsampling to 1080 is done in post.

Someday, I expect still cams to be able to output a properly filtered 1080 resolution. Hopefully, it's well under a decade away. I'm hopeful that the next generation of Canon DSLRs will reduce the amount of aliasing, though I expect that they won't have enough horsepower to fully solve it. The 5D3 will probably also make a compromise between resolution, aliasing, sensor speed, and processing - and I hope that it will be an improvement over the 5D2.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

RED does also push the Epic as being suitable for stills, although it's design is more centred towards capturing motion rather than stills, it does both.

Re: 5D Mk 3?
 

Canon and Nikon have recently decided to completely stop production in their company plants in northen Japan, for the time being. This of course was mainly due to the recent earthquake and tsunami.