5D Mk III vs D800/E, is the 5D3 better at anything?

[Radiating]

It recently occured to me after Nikon announced that with a grip the D800 shoots 6 FPS that I can't find a single advantage to the 5D3 over the D800. Here's what I know so far:

5D3 vs D800/E by catagory:

Dynamic Range: Inferior
Color Fidelity: Inferior
Noise: Equal
FPS: Equal (with a grip)
Video: Inferior
Autofocus: Equal (both are pro level)/Inferior (no f/8.0)/Superior (better with fast lenses due to special f/2.8 sensors)
White Balance: Inferior
Auto Exposure: Inferior
In Camera Lens Correction: Inferior
Pop up Flash: Inferior
Price: Inferior
Resolution: Inferior
AA filter: Inferior


I realize that the 5D3 has a better menu system, so that's one thing it can possibly do better.

Also please don't smite me. I'm not trying to bash the 5D3, as I'm actually a Canon fan and will be getting the 5D3, but can anyone think of one major feature that the 5D3 does better than the D800? If so feel free to post, I'm just trying to get informed here.

Thanks.

 

[poker_jake85]

That's why I switched my preorder to the d800 and saved $500

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

It recently occured to me after Nikon announced that with a grip the D800 shoots 6 FPS that I can't find a single advantage to the 5D3 over the D800. Here's what I know so far:

5D3 vs D800/E by catagory:

Dynamic Range: Inferior

looks like it, by a lot

Color Fidelity: Inferior

this is not known yet, it's possible the 5D3 might be better, we will see

Noise: Equal

probably very close and thus effectively equal, but it's not 100% for sure yet

FPS: Equal (with a grip)

mixed

if you want fps for wildlife that is not really, really close in, then the D800 wins

if you can get close enough to frame as desired, then the 5D3 wins since it can do it at 22MP vs 16MP DX, so more detail and less noise

at much higher ISOs reach advantage of D800 goes away so the D800 has no advantages and then you have either similar noise and detail or less noise and more detail from 5D3 scenarios, plus without grip, so 5D3 wins

Video: Inferior

mixed, but probably much more of a 5D3 win

D800 has 1080p crop mode so it wins for distant wildlife

D800 has full signal out over HDMI so it wins for that (although many people will not be able to handle that, so it's a win only for the really serious)

but the 5D3 appears to have less aliasing and color moire and should have slightly better SNR and maybe less rolling shutter, pretty huge things, providing there is not lesser sharpness from the 5D3, the 5D3 wins and since this covers a lot of shooting, I think it more likely that it will turn out that the 5D3 gets the win for video and perhaps not by a little

Autofocus: Equal (both are pro level)/Inferior (no f/8.0)/Superior (better with fast lenses due to special f/2.8 sensors)

unknown at this point

White Balance: Inferior

possibly

Auto Exposure: Inferior

very probably so

In Camera Lens Correction: Inferior

no idea, maybe

Pop up Flash: Inferior

yes

Price: Inferior

unless you need 6fps

Resolution: Inferior

yes, noticeably

AA filter: Inferior

not fair to say, each has the filter it needs

I realize that the 5D3 has a better menu system, so that's one thing it can possibly do better.

yes, personally, I do not like the nikon UI


you can also add that the Nikons I think do flash metering better
and the D800 has intervalometer built-in

 

[Martin]

Sad but true. Unfortunately u may also update your list with:
-Flash system
-x-sync (real)
-price
-producers software (does matter so much imho)
-customization options
-shutter durabilty.

I just regret that I own any gear right now. It would be easier to choose having empty backpack...
I am just asking myself a question-There will be many canon users who will keep their gear and add 5d3 to their sets, as they already have some gear, but some of them will switch. A lot of people who make purchase decision right now will choose Nikon because of "the list" and some due to of higher mpix sensor as it's great marketing argument for those who have no detailed information about IQ, studio shooters will probably stay with their already owned 5d2, as there is nothing worth upgrading (no better DR, no need for higher ISOs, no need for better AF, almost same resolution ok- less banding) .So the question is how Canon is going to attract new customers? Price is not a argument for sure. Doesn't it mean they will lost a huge share of the market. Maybe it is not a photo related topic but it's interesting.

 

[Edwin Herdman]

The D800 does NOT offer frame rates comparable to the Mark III, with or without a battery grip, without taking a significant ding to framing and resolution (and, by extension, the DX crop mode will make your wide lenses frame less wide, and your long lenses appear longer, by a funky 1.2X crop). And yes, on top of that, you need a battery grip even to do it. Say what you will about Canon, but I haven't read about them requiring a different power source for faster continuous shooting on any digital camera models - only Nikon wants us to believe in a digital film winder.

The autofocus module looks set to be a significant win for Canon, for the first time in my knowledge.

Dynamic range is an interesting one, but it ought to be remembered that high ISOs sacrifice dynamic range as a matter of course so some more in-depth third-party samples will be very helpful in judging how well Canon actually does or doesn't do in providing useful high ISO settings.

Many of the other points are debatable, but we won't get anywhere without more samples and hopefully a review.

On the whole, I'm pleased Nikon is offering what looks like stiff competition, and I find it interesting that I'm feeling like my Canon partisanship is being summoned at some hackery against "our" camera - when the Nikon camera is looking like it puts into play the "higher MP images offer more pixels for cutting noise interference with detail" argument I've used before. However, since I did a lot of that writing, I found the 7D...I am finding that for practical purposes the higher autofocus rate is more useful than gobs of unused detail in every frame.

What has me on edge is the apparent fact that the Nikon does not seem to offer (I hope I'm wrong) mRAW or sRAW-alike options, just crop modes which will reduce the number of total pixels being used at the beginning, which is the method you'd use if your CPU was old and outdated. Canon's CPUs and sensor readouts are fast and parallel enough that they can effectively blend multiple pixels.

 

[tt]

OP - you forgot one thing:

5D Mark III: superior at using Canon EF lenses

For those with Canon kit, that kinda swings it. Unless people swap out all their lenses an accessories, the 5DM3 is one of the 2 new offerings. That's it until Canon offers more - it's a captive market.

 

[vuilang]

Do You have any proof showing one is better than the other?..
It's kinda stupid by reading the specs.

and... 36mpx with SRAW is great.. without it, It's a major pain in the A$$ for event shooter.

 

[awinphoto]

If i'm not mistaken, the 5d3 has more AF points, more cross sensors, maybe even more double cross sensors... Does the D800 offer expansion zones such as the 5d3/1dx/7d AF system? The only thing it does better in AF is the 100,000 pixel sensor/meter thing... Other than pure numbers, everything appears to be too close to call until production samples come out in the wild. We can debate minor things here and there but it's pointless until both finally release the freaking cameras.

 

[awinphoto]

Oh yeah, and if you want to play the pre-spec number games.... High ISO canon kicks nikons butt... 6400 all the way through 104k... price you pay with the 36MP sensor.

 

[Edwin Herdman]

I believe the Mark III offers diagonal cross sensors; the Nikons don't.

 

[capertillar]

i am pretty much in agreement... im really only pushing for the 5d3 since i DONT want to deal with 36mp raws... that file size will just be plain stupid for me, as im not a pro photographer... in fact, ill probably shoot sraws with the 5d3 in most situations...

and all the other aspects, well... since we wont be comparing images side by side with shots taken by the d800, i doubt any of it really matters... however, thats no excuse for $500 over the d800! >< (will continue to be disgruntled about the price until it drops to 3k or lower)

hopefully the real world results will balance things out... and canon will realize their error... once again hoping... that buyers taper off after the pre-order period with the early adopters

 

[V8Beast]

So the question is how Canon is going to attract new customers?

By offering a dizzying number of Rebel/60D/7D type bodies packed full of megapixels. Canon has been using this strategy to great effect. Most will never upgrade their gear beyond a kit lens, but the ones that do will probably stick with Canon indefinitely. Very few people are going to buy a $3,000-plus body as their first DSLR, so attracting new customers is all about winning people over at the entry-level price point.

 

[wickidwombat]

So the question is how Canon is going to attract new customers?

By offering a dizzying number of Rebel/60D/7D type bodies packed full of megapixels. Canon has been using this strategy to great effect. Most will never upgrade their gear beyond a kit lens, but the ones that do will probably stick with Canon indefinitely. Very few people are going to buy a $3,000-plus body as their first DSLR, so attracting new customers is all about winning people over at the entry-level price point.

They will out megapixel sony to win this battle much to the dismay of some and the joy of others
at that base level its all about the megapixels i am afraid. I still think the new APS-C sensor will be 27MP
but thats a total guess

 

[V8Beast]

at that base level its all about the megapixels i am afraid.

Wait a second, I thought it was all about megapixels at the 5DIII/D800 level

 

[wickidwombat]

at that base level its all about the megapixels i am afraid.

Wait a second, I thought it was all about megapixels at the 5DIII/D800 level

Doh missed that one, you meant there is a thread about that?

 

[Stephen Melvin]

It recently occured to me after Nikon announced that with a grip the D800 shoots 6 FPS that I can't find a single advantage to the 5D3 over the D800. Here's what I know so far:

5D3 vs D800/E by catagory:

Dynamic Range: Inferior
Color Fidelity: Inferior

Color Fidelity? All modern dSLR's have excellent color fidelity; way better than film ever was. It's really irrelevant unless you're in the art reproduction market.

Noise: Equal
FPS: Equal (with a grip)

The "with a grip" nonsense is idiotic, IMO. Nikon's stuck in the 1970's with this notion.

Video: Inferior

We don't know that. Early tests seem to indicate Nikon's video is pretty mediocre. Early tests also show the 5D Mk III outputting 1080i video from the HDMI port, so that D800 advantage may be nothing.

Autofocus: Equal (both are pro level)/Inferior (no f/8.0)/Superior (better with fast lenses due to special f/2.8 sensors)
White Balance: Inferior
Auto Exposure: Inferior

We don't know that, yet.

In Camera Lens Correction: Inferior

You shoot a lot of jpegs? I didn't think so.

Pop up Flash: Inferior
Price: Inferior
Resolution: Inferior
AA filter: Inferior

Oh, you got that one backward. The AA filter is necessary, unless you like your images to be full of stair stepping, false color and moiré. Removing the AA filter is a very quick way to ruin photographs to the point of uselessness.

I realize that the 5D3 has a better menu system, so that's one thing it can possibly do better.

Don't forget its wider ISO range, access to the largest system of professional lenses in the world, and a service department that's second to none. Did you read about Nikon putting the smackdown on independent camera repair shops? This is not a very consumer-friendly company we're talking about here.

Don't forget the total cost of ownership. I recently did the math to replace my "L's" with equivalent Nikkors. It would have cost me about $1,200 more than it cost to buy my Canons; and I used Nikon's "refurbished lenses" site to get their prices.

Also please don't smite me. I'm not trying to bash the 5D3, as I'm actually a Canon fan and will be getting the 5D3, but can anyone think of one major feature that the 5D3 does better than the D800? If so feel free to post, I'm just trying to get informed here.

Thanks.

My sole complaint about the 5D Mk III is Canon's inability to get a handle on low ISO read noise and improve the dynamic range. I'm pleased with the new high ISO capability, and I love most of the other upgrades. It's what the Mk II should have been.

 

[poias]

We did not have to think long and hard before deciding to pre-order D800 instead of 5Diii. Almost everything about D800 is better, including amazing DR and detail that can't be beat. Combined that with pro AF and ISO performance, Nikon just seems to get it these days.

 

[simonxu11]

Some Facts:

Shutter lag time
D800:42ms
5D3: 59ms

SD UHS format:
D800: Yes
5D3: No

Mirror box material:
D800: Alloy
5D3: Plastic
(1DX: Alloy)

AF point-linked spot metering:
D800: Yes
5D3: No

Metering Range:
D800: 0-20EV
5D3: 1-20EV

AF Working Range:
D800: -2 to +19 EV
5D3: -2 to + 18 EV

Eyepoint:
D800: 17mm
5D3: 21mm

LCD Resolution:
D800: 921K
5D3: 1040K

5D3 achieved higher ISO and faster continuous shooting than D800 because it has less MP

 

[arioch82]

Some Facts:

AF point-linked spot metering:
D800: Yes
5D3: No

i didn't know that, it's crazy! is it something fixable with a firmware update?
I'm looking forward to buy a 5d3 later in the summer... canon for life for me, i just can't like the nikon "usability"

 

[simonxu11]

Some Facts:

AF point-linked spot metering:
D800: Yes
5D3: No

i didn't know that, it's crazy! is it something fixable with a firmware update?
I'm looking forward to buy a 5d3 later in the summer... canon for life for me, i just can't like the nikon "usability"

I don't think it can be fixed by firmware, Canon only offer this in 1D, Nikon offer this through their entire range