Canon 5D Mark III Official, Packs Features From the 5D Mark II and 1D X

Canon has officially taken the wraps off its new 5D Mark III DSLR, a followup to the 5D Mark II that offers a feature set that sits somewhere between its predecessor and the soon-to-arrive 1D X. The camera packs a 22.3MP full-frame sensor, the 61-point AF system found in the 1D X, 63-zone metering, an ISO range of 100-25600 (expandable to 50-102400), 6fps continuous shooting, a 3.2-inch LCD (1.04M dots), and 100% viewfinder coverage (up from 98%).

In the video recording department, the 5D Mark III is able to capture H.264 footage at 1080p24/25/30 or 720p50/60. In addition to a stereo mic input, the camera also features a headphone jack that allows you to monitor audio levels while recording. Another huge plus for filmmakers is the fact that the rear dial becomes touch sensitive during video recording, allowing you to change settings without shaking the camera or introducing clicking noises into your footage.

Canon has packed 22.3 megapixels into the 5D Mark III, up from the 21.1 found in the 5D Mark II. Although more pixels are crammed into the same dimensions, the new sensor uses the gapless micro lens design found in the 1D X, and should offer vastly improved low-light picture quality.

The camera features a number of new buttons, including a rating button for starring photos, a creative photo button, and a dedicated Live View button, and a multi-function button next to the shutter release. The power switch has been moved to the top left next to the locking mode dial, and there’s a new rear dial-locking slider on the back.

And now we come to one of the most important details about any new camera: the price. The Canon 5D Mark III will be priced at $3,500 for the body only, or $4,300 when bundled with the 24-105mm. It’ll hit store shelves near the end of March, but you can already preorder yours over on Amazon.

Canon 5D Mark III [Canon USA]

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