I'm am definitely coming around to the 5D3 myself (put my name on the list for one at the local shop). I too feel like 18-24mp is the sweet spot for a full frame 35mm sensor. I keep thinking about the special image quality created by the 9 micro "fat pixels" on my CFV-16. My original 5D and 1D Mk II both are in the 8 micron range and these are two cameras which produce images I like MUCH better than my Canon 7D. I believe both the 7D and D800 have pixels that are less than 5 microns in size. I'd love to have a Canon with the resolution of a 7D/5DII and the perceptual image character/quality of the original 5D and 1D2 etc.
I just hope those 61 points of autofocus really work as advertised. The 7D has quite a few autofocus points and supposedly some more sophisticated ways of employing them, but it still struggles in many situations and can't hold a candle to my Nikon D2x when it comes to autofocus accuracy.
Gary
Gary, I wouldn't worry to much about the 5D-MK3 AF ... I've been following the 10 page review by Jeff Ascough on the DWF (which is unfortunately a closed, members only forum), and he has high praise for the new AF system in this camera.
He also has gone into more depth about other features not covered elsewhere so far ... like the silent mode shooting, which is touted as quieter than a Leica M9. Apparently there is also a fine mode for the AF which he has permanently set on his 5D-MK3 because he is an available light shooter using the 50/1.2 and 85/1.2 ... in fact he quipped that "the 50/1.2 will be welded to this camera". Others who have the camera have also mentioned that the 50/1.2 is now much more sure and accurate on this camera.
One other aspect covered there because of the importance of high ISO and skin tones and skin rendering for wedding shooters is the approx 2 stop advantage in ISO over the 5D-II while retaining excellent skin rendering. The AA filter is thinner than it was on the 5D/5D-II.
The lure of this new camera to my way of thinking always comes down to what lenses can be bolted to it. Canon has a couple unique lenses that are still appealing to me over a Nikon ... 50/1.2 and 85/1.2. I think those that like the Zeiss MF lenses in Canon mount will be disappointed because the focusing screen is NOT interchangeable, and never will be user changeable because it is now an integrated part of the whole focus system, and apparently was designed this way to eliminate any variable. While it CAN be MFed, this is an AF camera for all practical purposes.
What will be VERY interesting in the coming year is whether Sony will actually follow through on the A99 AF rumor indications from reliable sources ... apparently Sony is not only out to offer the alternative of SLT and EVF, but is out to beat both Canon and Nikon in terms of AF speed and accuracy. The indications are that a FF 24 meg "all new sensor" A99 with have over 100 cross sensor type AF points with some pretty advanced CPU devoted to it. If true to any degree, that should warm up the competitive field to some hot degree :thumbs:
I do know that my A900s are already more consistently accurate than either of my shooting partners at weddings using their 5D/5D-IIs.
-Marc