EOS Camera years in Pacific reunited with owner.

After spending more than a year being washed around the Pacific Ocean, a Canon EOS 1000D camera and the photographs contained on its SD card have been reunited with its owner.

As you would expect the Canon EOS camera, pictured below, is no longer working. But the SanDisk Extreme III SD card inside of it was able to be washed, and more than 50 images were recovered. With a date stamp suggesting the camera had been in the salty depths for over a year.

The camera was found during a scuba trip by Markus Thompson, who was diving in Deep Bay just outside Vancouver. After publishing some of the images on Google+, Markus was able to track down the Canon EOS 1000D camera’s original owner. A firefighter and his family from British Columbia and reunite them with their photographs and Canon EOS 1000D paperweight.

Read More

Sony Alpha NEX-C3's main features

Alpha NEX-C3 inherit the advantages of the existing NEX series is a product developed by Sony compact mirrorless camera as 'APS-C' type of image such as the DSLR's heart and became a much more compact body and sensors were mounted intact. Changed NEX-C3 of the main features from now on, let's look at them one.

Biggest advantage of the mirror-less easy to carry, but the image quality is that you can extract. Alpha NEX-C3 was able to confirm that the existing NEX series was 6% lighter than reduced volume over a significant portion. Alpha NEX-C3's weight is 225g or so typical compact cameras, smartphones and similar weight.

NEX-C3 in the existing series and the high-resolution APS-C type (Sony Exmore APS HD CMOS) sensor is mounted. Effective Pixels Approx 1620 proud of the million-pixel high-definition with Sony BIONZ engine to the quality of the photos one step further exalt.

Engine, BIONZ image processor Sony's personally have considerable satisfaction. BIONZ engine of development a200 a300 started touching from the early alpha users as really a surprise until the very funny. Slicing blow past the stigma of noise wise Sony products also have sensors.

One downside to the BIONZ processor is constantly changing and evolving, even seeks red with the same name and the existing says she is. Canon's Digic Digic 4 BIONZ engine, like a change in the performance, depending on the serial number, etc., that should be good.

Terminology associated with the operation screen and menu, there were a lot of changes. Difficult terminology that was used in the conventional DSLR intuitive word has been changed to make it easier to understand. Name of the exposure or aperture, white balance, etc. that can be easily understood by anyone, including the background blur, brightness adjustment, color has been replaced with the word.

What Dodger features deulyira already know the style of the existing mirror-less for the first time, users who encounter problems eopgetjiman very strange expression is. That's good news for beginners.

Would put the existing NEX series with new features added. Expressed that shooting a person's eye and lip detail 'Soft Skin' settings and a variety of photo effects (Picture Effect) equipped. 'Extract color (Partial Colour)', 'Retro Photo (Retro Photo)', 'Pop Color Pop Colour' features.

The features of the existing NEX3 / 5 users may also be available via a firmware update. That's great!

LCD (Xtra fine) Xtra Fine LCD display, the same as the existing use. In addition, the liquid crystal and down tilt functionality. Support to swivel like Sony's DSLT a55 I hope that was a downer.

Than the existing NEX series, the battery efficiency of 20% has been improved. She says it's possible to shoot approximately 400 chapter a buffer state in the Defeated and the same number of shots vary, depending on the situation, the battery has yielded a 20% increase in efficiency that can give you a very high score.

Noticeable peripherals introduced with the NEX-C3. Above all, welcome bounce flash has been released. Is the formal name 'HVL-F20S' as a guide number of up to 20 Supported Flash. Just what I want That's specification.

Why the disposal of the last review through the NEX description I was right that there was a flash of light intensity as high as possible, bounce Boil so Nani being released from passing me empty my wallet open to see 64.9. What can I do for this?

New 30mm f3.5 macro lens have also been released. Yo guy's a coveted thing. 2.4cm seconds from 1:1 Macro and Closeup Macro lens. Projection, Video.'s Quality seems ... Existing light lens (ED lens and 3 aspherical lenses) macro lens ever. Aperture a little dark here, I think. Am yeoksina bundle design.

Scared, I'm not sure that the kit lens and the 30mm macro lens combination. 'NEX-C3 Macro + bundle' Double renjeukit release, please ㅎ ㅎ

Dinner's main dish 225g of steak, just the NEX-C3's the weight of the day.

Try to leave a number of events to sketch pictures.

This photo after a long time not to raise commemorative Sanya ㅎ ㅎ

The society of the day, Ahn Youngmee, was the comedian.

How I look like that really cute? 'Gollum' up how true ...

Alpha NEX-C3 expect that reason! (Sony Alpha NEX-C3's main features?)

Guy has created a lighter but lighter. 'Sony' down, perhaps we can attempt This two rounds president of the mirror system in the meantime, Sony's # 1 march change would not have predicted.

June last year Sony's first mirrorless camera NEX-5, NEX-3 has been released since the market landscape dramatically changed. And spits out only one year less than the market share of 41% (GfK survey) Appendicitis was Jackpot was beyond shocking results. Bloggers around me I prepare NEX-5 haeteotgo NEX Single purchase began.

Jean Body and longer usage time, this is much smaller than the existing NEX NEX-C3 raise more than 50% market share goals through a variety of performance improvements.

NEX-C3 news from the Internet would simply fold NEX-C3 ceremony gain experience, I was just thinking, 'NEX series next grade, huh? "Is deemed to have sufficient possibility. Expect more than a nice guy. :)

NEX-C3 Pink Color Fascinating gaenjeok depends on me euron Sony's new Flash HVL-F20S (released ten thousand, come on, hurry up is me!! .... boil body beats ? ?)

Read More

Sony Alpha NEX-7 Snap Review

Sony NEX-7 with E-mount 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS Lens

The lens is the same as the existing NEX Series Bundles. If you think color has a different reason for the NEX-7 Premium degree d. Well, nothing more than the same non-'s lens bundle. NEX-7 and is coated with black color is matched neatly.

NEX-7 with the newly released 24mm Carl Zeiss lens

E-mount 24mm F1.8 ZA lens. Bright wide-angle lens 1.8 aperture Joe. Closeup performance combines scenery to match the focal length lenses, but also very short 16cm to Coveted formidable guy, but prices do not. Zeiss lenses only 1,398,000. The price of a decent DSLR junggeupgi're sangoe. Think of Sony's stubborn reason, plus a premium of one price and Zeiss. No doubt still a very popular lens.

NEX-7's biggest advantages is one of the 2,430-megapixel APS-C type CMOS sensors.

2,430 megapixel DSLR spread period, junggeupgi gogeupgi Throughout the entire product belonging to the top-most among high-performance products. 24.3 million pixels pixels greater with the performance of the pixel to accept the processing power of the processor is very excellent.

Over the past four years, the Sony Alpha users as a850, a200 a330, a550 a700 series from across recently that a55, a77 Sony's technological advances continue to allow interest has seen. Almost certainly have been particularly innovative baljyeon just Sony's BIONZ image processing engine. Through this event, can not be longer problem that were pointed out as the biggest problem in the past, noise processing neungyeok can see that there is a remarkable development in the transition regions were.

Py] [used Sony NEX-7 expected reason!

Yeouido invited to Sony headquarters last Thursday. Invitation HAPPENED Annex 7. This invitation personally wait for too long haeteotgo wondering because I had a strong mind, let all the pros and cons of 'NEX-7 Elect'.

Personally of that model was the performance characteristics of the lens group and AF start, performance, and three dials (Sony TRINAVI called 're. operability) tilt LCD dial and aperture ring movement of stiff joints, such as a detailed saw

As a result, expectations regarding product led to complacency as the purchase was convinced be able to secure after a long time my way was to welcome the jireumsin

ps. Day shooting product photos only approximately 180 chapters is about. NEX-7 and some of the contributions to the preparation and design, including external characteristics from internal performance through a variety of reviews to let me introduce as well as released so far because the newly released flagship mirrorless NEX-7 than on Tuned in with interest.

Sony Alpha on the NEX-7 body

Read More

Sony Mirror-less DSLR and NEX-6 Comparison

Personally for many years using optical devices such as cameras, camcorders come true, a lot of the evolution gyeokeot. Jireumsinreul may receive equipment often say, and have toured several brands to find the product that's right for me.

Father. Production in the 1980s, the mechanical film camera Pentax ME super favorite meddle.

Father gave it the first camera I used is a Pentax ME super. production in the 1980s as a model was more popular among the mechanical film camera flagship. I'm received very innovative at that time the lighter evaluation as a 445g weight.

Heard in my hand right now and the last film prints hanji 10 It's been more than a year will continue to cherish. Filled with precious memories of our family, beyond the value of the product because

Time S's the nation's first digital camera, digital camera memory cards are used instead of the flowing film was released have to purchase the product without hesitation. The 30-megapixel low-quality 'digital camera' to say the product was shameful memories have been used quite handy.

Was used as a flagship product for Sony and Canon brand through various new models to be released whenever the product of the two brands were handled in earnest. Here's the body of Some of the memorable two manufacturers' products on my blog, it's a lot of reasons. cabin each company's full-frame body with Sony's Alpha 900, 850, and junggeupgi a700 a77 applied the latest technology and swivel LCD remains in memory.

Now, of course, all the stories of the past. Described above, the value of the product has dropped, but was changed because the pattern of the camera, I'm dealing with . Mean with the release of the mirrorless camera high portability.

Tiny body is mounted on Micro Four Thirds or APS-C type sensor featured in the mirror for each manufacturer, Sony's NEX series, Samsung NX10, Olympus PEN lease was released and sparked a fire.

The biggest advantage of mirror-less DSLR with similar specifications to the products of small and light-weight sensors were mounted. It's very attractive. direct purchase of the product of a few species that were satisfactory quality DSLR secondary sub was able to take advantage of the body. Like me in this time it's just 2-3 years ago. Maine serve as a mirror DSLR, the user to select a lease very often.

Sony NEX-7 DSLR to replace the only mirror in the lease he was thinking.

Used to separate main and sub camera flow around the time of year or so after new concerns have been left out. Maybe you'll have to worry a lot like me ....

'Mirror lease ever DSLR to replace?' Was a worry.

Disposal have been distressed immediately after you were using a full-frame body. Sony a850 with Carl Zeiss 24-70mm standard zoom lens, 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens, single lens of the few unwilling disposal meddle level DSLR to replace the mirror of the lease has been released.

NEX-7 and so much resembled, flagship mirrorless camera NEX-6 release

NEX-6 is the successor to the NEX-7 that was released a year ago, the features and performance of the flagship mirror-less cameras. Right now I have two models at the same time use indeyo Can evaluate both products is great work so hard to hide the superiority As three kinds of differences between DSLR and mirrorless NEX-6's from now on, let's sum up the compression.

NEX-6 from Chapter autocamping cheondeungsan is shooting a movie

1) spread DSLR vs Sony NEX-5 mirrorless camera

Of the same size and the DSLR sensor is mounted . APS-C type sensor as a crop body, typically called the sensor mounted on Sony NEX-6 junggeupgi is the size of the sensor, the same sensor mounted on the fuel's DSLR. Adoption of larger than existing compact camera sensor can express beautiful depth and vivid picture quality is because one of the important reasons to use a DSLR. Body is very small, but equipped with the same sensor, the quality and depth can be expressed as.

2) mirror-less operation of the NEX-6 level junggeupgi

Degree of specification junggeupgi DSLR as far as personal experience with a variety of Sony products until now award NEX-6 applied to the button . Placed in the body to a variety of external buttons enables quick and fast operation and burned. Two separately manipulated dial (top + rear) because in addition to the mode dial is newly applied can conveniently change the aperture or exposure various buttons such as the AEL button and video recording buttons, and strobe settings, brightness, ISO, speakers set to the outside are placed.

Here in addition to that, the NEX-7 and NEX-6 flagship mirror-less " equally equipped with built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) strobe mounted justification makes Advanced universal hotshoe mount than the NEX-7 with Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi) support makes the difference between lease the existing mirror and When you see these characteristics, even compared to the fuel's DSLR in general do not stand up.

3) Counter Punch it!

Volume and weight. Items I have explained before, all equipped with APS-C type sensor to high-level operability or merge if the same difference sure how to make it smaller and more compact, the screening superiority keywords . DSLR with the same level of operability, as well as sensors and body to the small size of the Sony NEX-6 mirror lease Camera DSLR several Modo is overwhelming. DSLR instead of the mirror lease, is it not a problem. I do so because

Camping in the sample shots taken with a NEX-6 a few places.

Spider Stove | Sony NEX-6 | 50mm | 1/80s | F/1.8 | ISO 100

deciduous Sony NEX-6 | 50mm | F/1.8 | 1/80s | ISO 100

train travel | Sony NEX-6 | 30mm | 1 / 16000s | F/2.8 | ISO 100

sokup play Sony NEX-6 | 50mm | 1/250s | F/2.2 | ISO 600 | +0.3

Sony NEX-7, current heavy DSLR instead used as the main body and. Today introduced a NEX-6, also Sony's newly released flagship mirror-less camera as the NEX-7 or similar and some better performance have been developed. Contrast AF and Phase Difference AF combined with dual AF system and a camera APP, not existing NEX-7 in the Wi-Fi feature new features do.

I saw the difference, DSLR and NEX-6. Only one year between DSLR junggeupgi level of boosting can be really incredible. Any product in the future come to watch, but for the time being be my flagship NEX DSLR rather than the body, it certainly is. Already a year ago, so he was a :)

This article is written by Auxo and being posted by guest blogger.

Read More

Sony A77 Two Pellicle Mirrors for Hybrid Viewfinder

SonyAlphaRumors received a pretty interesting tip yesterday regarding the design of the upcoming Sony Alpha A77 (which is still a rumor at this point). The anonymous tipster wrote that the camera — successor to the A700 — will have an innovative design that boasts a hybrid viewfinder by blending optical and electronic images:

The final image in the viewfinder will have 30% of original image and 70% of electronic reinforced image through the new EVF.

Yesterday Sony explained the new system that will be used for the incoming a77 (the a750 will use a regular SLR design). Practically the are using two semi-transparent mirrors and a high-resolution EVF to reinforced the live image. They are using a reflexive technology design called 70/30, between each semi-transparent mirrors.

The first Single-lens Translucent (SLT) cameras to hit the DSLR market were the A33 and A55, announced by Sony back in August. A big disadvantage of the SLT system over traditional DSLRs and even prior pellicle mirror cameras is that it doesn’t support optical viewfinders.

Here’s what the diagram for the Sony SLT system looks like:

For the A33 and A55, 70% of the light passes through the translucent mirror (AKA beam splitter) to the sensor used for live view and capturing photographs, while 30% of the light is directed upwards to the autofocus sensors.

In the rumor sent to SonyAlphaRumors, the tipster claims that a second translucent mirror will be added above the existing one, directing the light from the first mirror into the viewfinder. The electronic viewfinder light is split with this mirror, with 30% of the EVF light sent to the autofocus sensors, and 70% used to enhance the dimmed optical view. Thus, what the photographer sees is 30% optical and 70% electronic.

If there’s truth in this rumor, then the Sony Alpha A77 is going to be a pretty darn interesting camera.

(via SonyAlphaRumors)

Read More

Sony A77 Snap Review – So close yet so far

Last week I had a very brief hands on with Sony’s new A77 SLT camera and the new 16-50mm f2.8 lens. I was at the Dali international photo festival in southern china and one of the other photographer’s there had a PAL model A77 on loan from Sony. This much anticipated camera has some significant new features that warrant discussion.

This is not a full review – simply some brief observations about how the camera performs in video mode.

The A77 with 16-50 f2.8 SSM lens

The A77 is Sony’s latest prosumer stills camera with enhanced video features and the Alpha (formerly Konica-Minolta) lens mount. It has a 24 megapixel APS-C size sensor and can shoot HD video at 1080P in AVCHD 2.0. It also has a MPEG movie mode. Frame rates go up to 50fps, but I only tested 25fps in the time I had. (The US NTSC model does 24 and 60 frames per second instead).

The main feature that has excited some shooters is the inclusion of a fast autofocus (AF) system in video mode. This is made possible with the use of Sony’s SLT technology – a fixed semi transparent mirror which passes most of the light to the CMOS imaging sensor while diverting a little to fast AF sensors while still recording video. On a more conventional SLR system the reflex mirror with AF system behind which flips out of the way when shooting – forcing the use of manual focus or a slower contrast detect AF.

The problem I immediately found was that in order to use the AF system you had to set the camera’s video mode to Program exposure Manual exposure is simply not possible in combination with AF it seems. For me that is a deal breaker, I need to control my shutter speed and aperture in video.

So after a minute or two I switched to manual focus and turned on the A77′s focus peaking function. This is a really nice feature that tries to show what is in focus by turning edges red in camera’s display. You can fine tune the amount of edge enhancement in the menu. I found it quite effective but did not get 100％ sharp shots the whole time – maybe I would improve with time using this feature.

The A77 rear LCD screen in action

The flip out screen is a welcome innovation too. Instead of flipping out to the side of the camera it can be flipped so it sits on the top so you can look down on it and easily cradle it like a prosumer camcorder. Combined with the peaking feature this is a very nice handheld solution if you like shooting from belly height.

Over the top - a new way to use your LCD screen

Another lovely feature is the OLED EVF which replaces the conventional pentaprism and works not just for stills but video too. It is much higher resolution than the rear LCD display and makes shooting in bright conditions a breeze if you are holding the camera to your eye. I hope this quality of EVF becomes the standard in all digital cameras very soon.

Where the A77 is seriously lacking as a video camera is the audio side. Like many other stills cameras Sony have decided that the A77 should have no manual audio control. There is a 3.5mm mic jack for external mics but recording level is completely automatic. Why Sony don’t implement manual audio levels in the way the Canon does on the 5DmkII I have no idea.

The Sony 16-50 f2.8 SSM seems well constructed

The 16-50mm f2.8 was the only lens I tested and it seems to have excellent image stabilization when used with the A77. The smoothness of the shots of myself where I spin the camera around just in my hand are impressive to me. (newspaper video folk may recognize a certain Mr Chuck Fadely from the Miami Herald in the video with me) The lens felt quite solid and the manual focus is one of the smoothest I’ve tried on an autofocus stills lens. I can see it making a great run and gun lens when used with the LA-E2 adapter for the FS100.

The camera’s menu and the controls were a little alien to me and I found them to be confusing. That said maybe that’s simply because I am so used to a canon.

Another negative is I believe that the video image is also permanently cropped not just top and bottom by the 16×9 window, but also side to side due to the sensor based image stabilising system. I was unable to establish the crop amount in the time I had but it seemed that wide angle lenses were really not as wide as they should be. Again this could be a real issue for news shooting where there is little time to change between lenses.

I also found that at the end of each video clip I recorded on the camera I had to wait a second or two while the camera finalised the recording. This was very annoying and I could see it being a real problem in a fast moving new situation.

I was able to quickly shoot the footage above and discovered quickly that the image quality at the 24Mb/s highest bitrate settings was not what I had hoped for. On the positive side I saw no sign of the dreaded jello or rolling shutter effect (check out the part where I spin around with the camera), but there is sadly significant jagged edges on lines of high contrast and fine detail. Moire patterning seemed to be less of an issue but will require more scientific tests before reaching a final conclusion. Overall the results were also little less detailed than I would have expected, certainly not up to the standard of cameras like Sony’s own FS100.

The video samples are shot handheld in standard settings at 25P/24Mbps with manual focus and exposure (locked at 1/50th) and an ISO of between 320 and 400. Sadly I had no time to test higher ISOs. The files were bought directly into Final Cut Pro X and then exported to H264 (apologies – I spent an age trying to get a higher res file but couldn’t upload it to Vimeo). Apart from that nothing has been done to alter the files in any way. I had literally 20 mins with the camera the shots are not perfect. White balance may be off on a few shots and you can attribute that to user error on my part. (Please don’t try an read too much into the Vimeo version of these clips, I will try to find a way to post some original files later).

The A77 can easily be used to put yourself in the frame

So would I switch to the A77? As a Canon 5DmkII shooter I can see little to tempt me over to using the A77 right now. The only reason I might consider this camera is if I was a Sony FS100 shooter using alpha lenses (with an adapter) and looking for a cheap second body. The A77 with it’s AF and flip screen does do a fine job of making handycam style video for consumers easier – but for serious use it is not going to need to get better. This article is written by Dan Chung and posted by blogger guest.

Read More

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Review

Nearly five years ago, the Canon 5D Mark II changed cameras forever by turning video into a DSLR feature. It became the darling of indie filmmakers, war photographers and anyone in between who had a need for incredibly convenient, visually distinctive moving pictures. It still is. But it's about to get one-upped. Holler at the Canon 5D Mark III.

While the Mark II broke new ground, it's outdated. The Mark III promises refinement and sharper tools: better photos and video that's easier than ever. This is not a coup-de-camera so much as a revolution more fully realized—a more perfect $3500 DSLR. What you get is a revamped full-frame image sensor, and Canon's new Digic 5+ image processor. The Mark III promises to be faster, more powerful, and more versatile than the beloved 5D Mark II. Canon says it will deliver better photos in the dark, more video options, and precision control over your shots. Will this be the new photographer's workhorse?

The New Sensor

Let's start where the image-making magic happens: the sensor. The 5D Mark III's 22.3-megapixel, full-frame sensor is brand new. Discerning readers will notice that the slight bump up from the Mark II's 21.1 megapixels means more pixels in the same size sensor. Which means that the pixels are now slightly smaller. You might think that this could hurt image quality in poor lighting conditions, but Canon claims that just the opposite is true, that the pixels actually get more light now because of the way the new sensor is designed. Its gapless micro lens design supposedly lets more light in—we haven't tested this yet, but its the same tech as used in the 1 DX, and that thing is a low-light monster. The electronics of the sensor are also more efficient than before, which helps reduce noise.

The result is that the Mark III can now shoot full-resolution shots at a whopping ISO 26,500—two stops past the Mark II's ISO 6400 limit. What does that mean for you, the photographer? That the 5D Mark III will shoot comfortably when the the 5D Mark II has been pushed to its low-light limit. Then, if you hit the ceiling with the Mark III, the images won't be as noisy or distorted as before.

Taking Pictures With the Camera

Beyond the sensor, it's useful to think of the 5D Mark III as the little brother to the new, super-badass Canon 1 DX. With ISO topping 204,000 and a price tag approaching $7000, the 1 DX is an unstoppable, unaffordable mammoth of a DSLR. Fortunately, though, some of its nicest features have been handed down to the Mark III, starting with the Digic 5+ processor. The 1 DX has two of them, and while the 5D Mark III only has one, that one processor is 17 times faster than the Digic 4 powering the 5D Mark II. What's that mean in practice? The 5D Mark III's autofocus will find its mark faster, will fire more quickly when you press the shutter release, and will be able to process the data in a flash so you can get back to shooting. In fact, Canon has sliced shutter lag down to just 59 milliseconds, which makes the 5D Mark III one of the fastest responders out there. What's more, this generation will peel off stills at up to 6 fps instead of just 4 fps. In some cases, that's the difference between getting your shot and missing it by a hair.

The 5D Mark III doesn't borrow just from the 1 DX's brawny DNA; it's inherited the smarts of other members of the Canon clan as well. In particular, you'll see welcome glimpses of the Canon 7D in how the camera measures light and picks a focal point. The new 61-point autofocus on both cameras is a meticulous photographer's dream, and a definite improvement over the Mark II's humble squadron of nine little viewfinder dots. In the Mark III, that squadron is now a phalanx of 61, which can be configured into a number of battle formations to make sure your photo is sharp.

The 5D Mark III's metering system has also been reinforced; It now reads 63 zones to calculate how much light is hitting your sensor instead of the previous 35. Not every general needs that many soldiers, but not many would refuse the extra manpower.

The Video Boost

It's important to remember that the Canon 5D Mark II owes much of its popularity to its 1080 video chops. And it's equally important to note that, as Canon's first HD DSLR, it still had plenty of room for improvement.

First of all, unlike the 7D and other more recent Canon DSLRs, the 5D Mark II can't shoot at 60 fps. Why does that matter? Shooting at 60 fps gives you the flexibility to create slow motion footage, by reducing the video to more commonly used frame rates (25, 30). It's a useful effect, and one you can now take advantage of with the 5D Mark III. It shoots 60 fps, albeit at a reduced—but still HD—720p resolution.

Secondly, while the 5D Mark II had a handy input jack so that you could use an external mic to record higher quality audio, it didn't have a headphone jack so you could actually monitor your audio levels. Not listening to what you record is the easiest way to ensure that it doesn't turn out how you intended, no matter how fancy your mic is. The 5D Mark III fixes this problem with a stereo headphone jack.

Design, Accessories, Bonus Shooting Modes, and More

Aside from these hardware and performance improvements, the 5D Mark III is packed with tiny tweaks that will appeal to photographers of different persuasions. For a couple hundred bucks apiece, you can pick up a GPS or wireless transmitter for easy image transfer. Thanks to the burlier processor, the camera now also has new multiple exposure and HDR modes, each of which combines many photos into one, to different ends. The former will cobble together a usable picture from poor shooting conditions, while the latter is used to create artsy effects in your photos. You know, just in case you want them to look embossed or something.

The design of the camera is similar to the 5D Mark II, but the pre-production version looked slightly larger than the 5D Mark II and it's got a few new buttons, the most important of which are carried over from the 7D. There's a multi-function button next to the shutter, which can be programmed to control four key shooting settings. There's also a new start/stop recording button for video, and a "Rate" button so you can tag good images on the fly. Canon has packed the thing with CF and SDHC card slots for lots of storage. The list goes on, but you get the point: this looks like a rad camera.

The New Professional Powerhouse?

From what we've seen, the Canon 5D Mark III is going to be incredible. Of course we won't know until we actually try it; there's no guarantee that all these tweaks and improvements will work as advertised. There's a lot of brand new technology that's never been used in the wild, squeezed into a tiny body. Will the new processor be as robust as it sounds? Will that new sensor turn out to be glitchy? Will the new autofocus disappoint? It's not likely, but it's not impossible either. Part of what makes the 5D Mark II so great is its simplicity: It takes great pictures and it shoots beautiful video. The only sure thing is that the 5D Mark III loads on the complications.

That said, on paper the Canon 5D Mark III improves on its predecessor in almost any category you can think of. That alone makes it one of the most important cameras released in the past half-decade. But will it live up to the hype? We'll let you know when the camera comes out in late March. - source

Read More