{"id":8861,"date":"2012-03-07T06:11:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-07T10:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=8861"},"modified":"2012-03-07T06:34:48","modified_gmt":"2012-03-07T10:34:48","slug":"done-deal-my-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2012\/03\/07\/done-deal-my-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Done Deal: My Canon EOS-5D Mark III"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

This image of a portion of the Black-browed Albatross colony on Steeple Jason Island in the Falklands was made on my Cheesemans’ Ecology Safari Southern Oceans trip this past January. It is an example of the superb image quality offered by the Canon EOS 5D Mark II<\/a>. Click on the image to see a larger, even more spectacular version. <\/p>\n

To learn more about the Cheesemans’ next Antarctica trip, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The Canon EOS-5D Mark III<\/h3>\n

With the superb image quality of the EOS-5D MII folks can only be drooling over Canon’s recent announcement of the release of the much-anticipated EOS-5D Mark III on March 2, 2012. You can find complete details here<\/a>. The new camera is expected to deliver superb image quality thanks to a new 22.3-megapixel full-frame Canon CMOS sensor and the high-performance DIGIC 5+ Imaging Processor. It incorporates a new 61-point High Density Reticular Autofocus (AF) System from Canon’s next professional digital camera body, the EOS-1DX that is scheduled to be released later in 2012. And with the 5D III’s six frames-per-second continuous shooting speed it will be great for photographing birds in flight and in action. And it goes without saying that the 5DIII will be a landscape photographer’s dream. Please see the press release for info on the new camera’s video capabilities. <\/p>\n

I am most excited by the 5DIII’s light weight and by the new AF system. While I loved, loved, loved the image quality of my 5D II photos from the Antarctica trip–the 5DII pretty much saved that trip for me after my two Mark IV bodies went down for the most part due to operator induced rain damage, my biggest gripe was with the limited number of AF points available. This made hand held nature photography with intermediate telephoto zoom lenses difficult; can you say Snow Monkeys? It was often difficult to come up with a sensor on the subject’s eye. The 5D MIII will improve on that in spades with 61 AF points covering the largest area of any Canon camera ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

This Whooper Swan coming in for a landing was photographed at the Akan Crane Center (where they are treated like pests and scared away by snowmobile and shotgun blasts). I used the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f\/5.6L IS lens<\/a> and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II<\/a>. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2\/3 stops off the snow: 1\/1000 sec. at f\/5.6 in Manual mode. <\/p>\n

Central Sensor\/Rear Focus\/AI Servo AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. For a greater appreciation of the image, left-click on the photo. <\/p>\n

According to the internet experts the AF system of the 5D MII is not good enough or fast enough for flight photography. I disagree…. Every time that I have used it I have some up with some stellar stuff. If the AF system of the 5D MII is good enough to produce images like this one, imagine what the 5D MIII will be capable of. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

I consider the Battery Grip BG-E11 (available end of April 2012) as a mandatory accessory for nature photographers; I just learned, however, that it is hugely overpriced…. It accepts either one or two LP-E6 lithium-ion battery packs (or a set of six AA-size batteries–the latter not recommended for environmental reasons). The new grip has a multicontroller and a multifunction (M.Fn) button together a with a full set of grip controls for easy operation when working in vertical format. You can pre-order yours here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

This running Red-Crowned Crane was chasing another at the Akan Crane Center, Hokkaido, Japan with the tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f\/5.6L IS lens<\/a> and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II<\/a>. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2\/3 stops off the snow: 1\/1000 sec. at f\/5.6 in Manual mode. <\/p>\n

Central Sensor\/Rear Focus\/AI Servo AF active at the moment of exposure. Click here<\/a> if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. For a greater appreciation of the image, left-click on the photo. <\/p>\n

According to the internet experts the AF system of the 5D MII is not good enough or fast enough for avian action photography, especially in low light. Again, I disagree…. If the AF system of the 5D MII is good enough to produce images like this one, imagine what the 5D MIII will be capable of. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

B&H <\/h2>\n

Amazingly B&H is now accepting pre-orders for the EOS-5D Mark III and states that the camera should begin shipping within ten days. You can thank us for all of the free information and lessons in the blog and Bulletins and earn free BAA contest entries by using this link to order yours: Canon EOS-5D Mark III<\/a>. Or you can package your new 5D MIII with my favorite B-roll lens, the 24-105mm IS L zoom lens by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speedlite 600EX-RT<\/h2>\n

In addition to the EOS 5D Mark III, Canon also announced its new flagship model flash, the Speedlite 600EX-RT. You can order yours with this B&H link now: Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT<\/a> <\/p>\n

Done Deal: My Canon EOS-5D Mark III<\/h3>\n

I have ordered my Canon EOS-5D Mark III body and can’t wait to get home and give it a test drive. I will be working hard on a 5D Mark III User’s Guide this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

I received my B&H receipt via e-mail while still in Japan. I get home on the 13th. I am looking forward to getting back in the pool and to working with my new camera. <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Support both the Bulletins and the Blog by making all your B & H purchases here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Remember: you can earn free contest entries with your B & H purchases. Eleven great categories, 34 winning and honored images, and prize pools valued in excess of $20,000. Click here<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n

Shopper’s Guide<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Below is a list of the gear used to create the images in this blog post. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins. Before you purchase anything be sure to check out the advice in our Shopper’s Guide<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Canon EF 16-35mm f\/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens<\/a>. This is Canon’s top of the line wide angle zoom lens.
\nCanon 800mm f\/5.L IS lens.<\/a> Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
\nCanon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera<\/a>. Canon’s lightweight full frame body is perfect for serious landscape photography and worked out great for wildlife on my Southern Oceans voyage. <\/p>\n

And from the BAA On-line Store:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

LensCoats<\/a>. I have a LensCoat on each of my big lenses to protect them from nicks and thus increase their re-sales value. All my big lens LensCoat stuff is in Hardwood Snow pattern.
\nLegCoat Tripod Leg Covers.<\/a> I have four tripods active and each has a Hardwood Snow LegCoat on it to help prevent further damage to my tender shoulders \ud83d\ude42 And you will love them in mega-cold weather….
\nGitzo GT3530LS Tripod.<\/a> This one will last you a lifetime.
\nMongoose M3.6 Tripod Head.<\/a> Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head<\/a>.
\n Double Bubble Level.<\/a> You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
\nThe Lens Align Mark II.<\/a> I use the Lens Align Mark II pretty much religiously to micro-adjust all of my gear an average of once a month and always before a major trip. Enjoy our free comprehensive tutorial here.<\/a>
\nCanon EOS-1D Mark IV User’s Guide<\/a>. Learn to use your Mark IV the way that I use mine. Also available for the 7D and the Mark III here<\/a>.
\nBreezeBrowser<\/a>. I do not see how any digital photographer can exist without this program. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ngg_shortcode_4_placeholder <\/p>\n

This image of a portion of the Black-browed Albatross colony on Steeple Jason Island in the Falklands was made on my Cheesemans’ Ecology Safari Southern Oceans trip this past January. It is an example of the superb image quality offered by the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Click on the image to see […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[147],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-147","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8861\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}