Report: Canon 5D Mark III/X "Confirmed" at 22MP and $3500, Announcement February 28th (1 Viewer)

The 24-105L is a great all-around lens. I love it. And as far as the mkII, it may be out classed and 3.5 years old, but it can be used for a very long time to take wonderful pictures worthy of publication or giant fine art prints.

You may want to rent the 24-105mm and see if you are happy with its performance on the short end (24mm-ish) because people grumble about the short end of the 24-105mm.
You can crop the living hell out of the "large" files that come from a 5D2 unless you are printing photos in large sizes, so the extra reach isn't that big a deal to me (when I use a 24-70 or a even a 17-40). The weight of the 24-70 MKI used to bother me, but getting a strap so that the camera sits on your hip, and not having the Canon strap around your neck, has alleviated most of the "weight" issues on walkabout.

DavidJ said:

The 24-105L is a great all-around lens. I love it. And as far as the mkII, it may be out classed and 3.5 years old, but it can be used for a very long time to take wonderful pictures worthy of publication or giant fine art prints.

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No doubt. But you have to admit these tools have a limited shelf life as far as their features go and I consider AF secondary only to IQ. Spending multiple thousands of dollars on a camera with such anemic and outdated AF is only going to trigger the reptilian brain with the itch to upgrade that much sooner.
Which is better? To spend $2k today and be chomping to upgrade in less than a year or to save up $3.5k and have a camera that will truly please you for 4+ years? I know where my money would go but YMMV.

Well, that depends on how long it takes you to save $3.5k (as I'd rather be shooting with a "sub-par" dSLR than stay on the sidelines).

One of my faves takes a look at the high ISO: http://neilvn.com/tangents/2012/03/29/review-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-high-iso-noise-performance/

He already has a DSLR. You can get a fantastic DSLR these days for under $800 with a perfectly serviceable walkaround lens. No sitting on the sidelines while you save up for the real deal. That's exactly what I'm saying, get something that works and save until you can get what you really want. Don't go for the middle choices unless you are truly sure they will meet your needs.
Until this year i didn't NEED a full frame or 10fps camera. That has changed as my shooting has. Could I have made a $5k camera sing before hand? I'm sure that's an affirmative but it wouldn't have made financial sense to go into debt for it.
anyway, if you are on the fence, I can think of no stronger confirmation than what ryan brenizer has just posted:
http://www.ryanbrenizer.com/2012/03/a-nikon-users-review-of-the-canon-5d-mark-iii/

Sam, thanks for posting that review. It is well thought out.
I'm beginning to think the camera manufacturers should be paying you though. You are so good at upselling.

I'd be lying if I said the 5D III isn't compelling, especially as the most notable improvements hit me where I live. I'm invariably shooting in low light conditions with local concerts and dimly lit conference facilities, so the ISO sensitivity and autofocus improvements are very attractive. Unfortunately, getting a 5D wouldn't stop at just the body since, like Scott, I'd also have to look at a walk around lens to replace the 17-55, and that would most likely be the f/2.8. I just don't have the funds for that kind of expense right now, so perhaps I should just start saving for the Mark IV?

If you start saving now you will be ready for the Mark 5. =)
Also keep in mind that these features will eventually trickle down. But new ones will spawn to replace them. It's not really upselling but knowing what matters to you in how you work. If you don't shoot in low light or fast moving environments then your needs will be different than mine. Size, Weight and other considerations may be a trump for you and NEX/ 4/3rds may be compelling.
I'm just saying consider your needs and don't get caught up in lowering prices on old tech which might spike and sate the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) for a few minutes but will be quickly back in play because you didn't make a big enough jump.

When I said "sub-par" dSLR, I was referring to the 5D2, not other crop body models. Heck, I have a cheapo XSi that I could shoot until I saved up $3.5k for the uber-sweet 5D3, but I wanted full-frame, and IQ, and the 5D2 is no slouch in IQ, and AF isn't much of a big deal for me (mostly portraits, people), as I don't shoot sports all that much, or birds. For my circumstances, I'd rather be shooting with a FF now, rather than saving up for the 5D3. But if you have different needs, that's fine and dandy, keep shooting with the 7D and save up for the 5D3.
I understand that the 5D3 has fixed most of the issues people had suffered with the 5D2 (and suffer they did because of the high IQ offered by the camera in the end product, the RAW file, in spite of the unsophisticated AF, slower FPS, and the "lower" usable ISO than the 5D3), but for the price differential over a used 5D2, I can live with those "limitations" for years to come. Plus, don't we all know that dSLR bodies are for 2-4 years, while good lenses are for much longer? That's the point I was making on staying on the sidelines vs. getting into the game and making some damn, fine, photos now.
As far as the love for the 17-55mm F/2.8, sell it!!!! I did, I sold mine, and I have not looked back on EF-S lenses. Just dooooo it!
Do people really think they will never upgrade from their Nikon D4 or D800? In 3-4 years, something else will be offered, and people will jump ship, even though the D4 or D800 is still making beautiful images. Same goes for the inevitable 5D4 model over the 5D3 model in a handful of years.
One other point: since I don't make $$$$ with my photography, I have a hard time plunking down $3.5k for a camera, even if it was a 1D4 or a Nikon D4 (and those cost more than $3.5k). So my personal budget is much more in line with the cost/benefit ratio offered by the 5d2 over the 5D3 (including all the upgrades in shooting experience with the 5D3). But if $$$ is no object, the discussion is moot.
I'd suggest renting both bodies (5D2 and 5D3) and see if the 5D3 is worth 2x the price given the final product in IQ and also shooting experience.

Patrick Sun said:

As far as the love for the 17-55mm F/2.8, sell it!!!! I did, I sold mine, and I have not looked back on EF-S lenses. Just dooooo it!
Do people really think they will never upgrade from their Nikon D4 or D800? In 3-4 years, something else will be offered, and people will jump ship, even though the D4 or D800 is still making beautiful images. Same goes for the inevitable 5D4 model over the 5D3 model in a handful of years.
One other point: since I don't make $$$$ with my photography, I have a hard time plunking down $3.5k for a camera, even if it was a 1D4 or a Nikon D4 (and those cost more than $3.5k). So my personal budget is much more in line with the cost/benefit ratio offered by the 5d2 over the 5D3 (including all the upgrades in shooting experience with the 5D3). But if $$$ is no object, the discussion is moot.
I'd suggest renting both bodies (5D2 and 5D3) and see if the 5D3 is worth 2x the price given the final product in IQ and also shooting experience.

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As long as a crop body is my primary camera, I'll keep my 17-55mm f/2.8. It's the best walk around general purpose zoom available for a Canon crop, IMO. Once I add a full frame body, though, it will be gone with no regrets.
I know camera body technology has continually advanced at a tremendous pace since dSLRs first hit the market, but I wonder if that will continue without some revolutionary advance in sensor technology. When I look at the 5D3 specs (22MP, usable 128,000 ISO, advanced auto focus, and 6 fps), I think I could be satisfied with that body for many years. What else can they add to a 5D4 other than bells and whistles that directly impacts your ability to take quality photos? I guess improved dynamic range would be the next useful frontier. I feel the same way about my current 7D for a crop sensor -- I doubt a 7D2 would tempt me.

They still have a looooooong way to go in bringing video up to par with the rich features for stills. If that isn't of interest to you then yes, the 5D3 will probably last you 4+ years! Imagine if they had put this AF system in the 5D2, you'd see a LOT less people wanting to upgrade, it may have been a smart long-term play on their part back then. But the 3 seems like it's the camera that will last most owners a lot longer than their previous generation.
I said the same thing about the D300, the inclusion of the 51 point AF made that camera something I could enjoy long term. Honestly I have no desire to replace it as a crop camera, except to augment it with my go anywhere NEX cams.

Sam Posten said:

They still have a looooooong way to go in bringing video up to par with the rich features for stills. If that isn't of interest to you then yes, the 5D3 will probably last you 4+ years! Imagine if they had put this AF system in the 5D2, you'd see a LOT less people wanting to upgrade, it may have been a smart long-term play on their part back then. But the 3 seems like it's the camera that will last most owners a lot longer than their previous generation.
I said the same thing about the D300, the inclusion of the 51 point AF made that camera something I could enjoy long term. Honestly I have no desire to replace it as a crop camera, except to augment it with my go anywhere NEX cams.

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I didn't really consider video, since I'm not a video guy, and never use the feature on my 7D. It does appear that Canon (and probably Nikon) are focusing a lot on video, though, just based on some of Canon's new lens announcements -- the 24mm f/2.8 IS and 28mm f/2.8 IS, for example. If that will be the biggest advances in the next few generations of dSLR bodies, then you are right Sam -- a 5D3 would satisfy me for many years.

Pretty funny:
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/hammerforum-com

Yep, that was one of the best this year!

Possibly of interest to those on the fence:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1684055
and:
http://fstoppers.com/video-canon-5d-mk-iii-vs-nikon-d800

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun /t/318781/report-canon-5d-mark-iii-x-confirmed-at-22mp-and-3500-announcement-february-28th/30#post_3913293
Pretty funny:
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/hammerforum-com

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Hilarious!

I'm certain several of those texts were almost verbatim on dpreview.



Cees

Mk3 + eyefi madness:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/everyplace/7032710259/in/photostream/

Well, I made a decision and placed an order for a 5D3 with the 24-105L kit lens today as an early birthday present. Canon is also offering rebates on lenses -- double rebates if ordered with certain camera bodies -- which pushed me over the edge. I ordered a EF 135mm f/2 L as well to take advantage of the rebate, as I do use my 85mm f/1.8 quite a bit, which would be too short on the 5D.
Now I just need to wait for Adorama to get a shipment in. I still need to upgrade my 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, too, as I use my 28mm f/1.8 a lot on my 7D, so need a similar field of view prime for the 5D3. That can wait until late this year, though. I haven't decided which 50mm prime I want -- the Canon f/1.4 or Sigma f/1.4. I will use my Amazon credits for that lens.

Congrats! What are your plans for the 7D body?