Canon 5d mkiii real world test shots – HDR and AI servo

(**update**) read this blog post for a more extended review after a few thousand photos http://www.dnkphotography.com/blog/2012/05/05/canon-5d-mkiii-review-and-impressions/

Picked up my new Canon 5d mkiii today, and wanted to try out some of the features that I hadn’t seen written too much about yet.

The biggest thing I was looking for in an upgrade to the Mkii was improvement in auto-focus. I immediately wanted to test my 50mm 1.2 because this a very good lens that with better focus would be amazing. On my 5dmkii I’m constantly changing micro adjustments, and could only achieve focus with the center auto-focus point.   On the 5dmkiii the 50mm 1.2 achieved spot on focus, every shot with no micro adjustments. I’m already in love!

I wanted to test out the auto HDR since I hadn’t seen much about that.  After my first impressions I was a little disappointed with this feature. I shoot almost exclusively to raw, but to use the HDR feature I think I would have to play around more with the picture styles to get color and contrast that I was happy with.

Here are a few test shots, all shot handheld and auto aligned in the camera.

This first set has the 3 raw images followed by the HDR – under “standard art”

 

 

 

Here is a sampling of the different HDR modes ranging from Standard to emboss. This wasn’t necessarily the best scene to test HDR mode. I was personally hoping that the camera would darken in the clouds more significantly. Even though these were shot on +- 3 stops, I could achieve the same results easily with one properly exposed raw image.

 

 

 

After making my poor pooch wait, I tested out some AI servo shots.  I shot these with my 50mm 1.2 wide open using center plus surrounding 4 autofocus points. I chose to shoot at 1.2  since it would easily show whether the image was in focus, additionally, in comparison to some of canon’s other lenses this one is not a very quick at focusing. On my 5dmkii I couldn’t get in focus shots on servo with this lens even at 2.8.

These are 100% crops, and since they were shot at 1.2 the images look out of focus even if the focus point if off by a few inches. I personally was very impressed with the results. With each pass, I tried a different tracking mode. Each mode got similar results. Starting slightly off, but picking up some perfectly in focus shots in the middle of the run.  Some of the shots that were completely out of focus the camera actually focused on some of the rain drops falling in front of my dog. Keep in mind these are 100% crops, viewing these images on a large monitor or on a 12x24in album spread all but two will look tack sharp.

 

 

Here is one last shot testing the standard autofocus on my 24mm 1.4 which on my 5dmkii was never quite in focus wide open.  This was shot wide open at 1.4, and  I would say this is perfect!

Overall, I am extremely impressed with the auto- focus improvements of this camera. That alone should be enough for most event/ wedding  photographers to upgrade. I’m not a sports photographer, but I think that this new auto focus system will fit the bill for many people who primarily shoot moving subjects.  Other initial impressions on this camera: better build quality and tons of new little features and buttons that improve easy of use and the ability to quickly adjust settings. The new silent shooting feature (not in live view), is very quiet, (very similar sound to shooting silent mode during live view on the mkii) and I will definitely be using it during wedding ceremonies.  If you’re on the fence about this camera, and have already read peoples first impressions, you should download the manual to check out the dozens (if not hundreds) of new features included in this camera vs the mk ii.