Canon has unveiled a brand new top end EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR camera with the product set to go on sale in Australia shortly via the grey import channel.The new model that sits between the EOS 5D Mark II and Canon’s top-of-the-line professional EOS-1D X model is set to be made available in Australia via the direct import channel according to overseas importer Union Camera Company of Hong Kong.
The Union Camera Company of Hong Kong claim that several professional photographers in Australia are now buying professional digital camera’s direct or contacting the Company to identify Australian sellers of their products. Two other Asian suppliers have contacted SmartHouse recently in an effort to get publicity for their services.
When SmartHouse contacted the Union Camera Company to ask when the new camera would be available a company executive said “soon, we don’t have that model yet”.
When asked the pricing for Australia they said “around $3,500 for a body which is the same price as what it will go on sale in the USA for”.
An Australian online retailer said “When we can source from Hong Kong we will sell it. We will not carry stock, but we should be able to deliver within a week of it being available in Asia”.
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Canon, whose retail products are 40% more expensive than a ‘grey’ imported camera–the likes of which JB HiFi now sell–has not returned SmartHouse’s calls following a decision by Nikon Australia to match overseas grey pricing and supply a two year warranty to consumers who buy their products via a Nikon approved retailer. Among the first to offer the locally supplied Nikon Australia cameras is JB Hi Fi.
The new Canon EOS 5D Mark III comes with 22.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, a high-performance DIGIC 5+ Imaging processor, a 61-point High Density Reticular autofocus (AF) system and 6 fps continuous shooting speed.
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The Canon EOS 5D Mark III d-SLR camera will ship at the end of March.
The 5D Mark III builds upon the popular EOS 5D Mark II by adding enhanced video features for professionals, including improved noise reduction, longer recording times and a built-in headphone jack for audio monitoring.
Video is captured in 1080p FullHD at 24p, 25p and 30p fps; 720p HD recording at 60 and 50 fps; and SD recording at 30 and 25 fps. The H.264 video compression format is included along with intraframe (ALL-I) compression for an editing-friendly format and interframe (IPB) compression for superior data-storage efficiency. Like the EOS-1D X, the 5D Mark III also includes two methods of SMPTE-compliant time code embedding, Rec Run and Free Run, allowing video footage from multiple cameras and separate audio recordings to be synced together in post-production.
Video can be recorded continuously up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds across multiple 4GB files. Manual audio level control with 64 levels is added for greater creative control. There is also an automatic audio level setting, or sound recording can be turned off entirely.
A wind filter is also included. Sound can be recorded either through the internal monaural microphone or via an optional external microphone through the stereo microphone input.
The camera’s launch coincides with Canon’s 25th anniversary celebration of the EOS camera system, which first debuted in March 1987, with the EOS 650 SLR camera and three EF lenses.
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The new camera also shares a number of common features with the flagship EOS-1D X, including the DIGIC 5+ imaging processor and the high-performance 61-point High Density Reticular AF array with up to 41 cross-type points and five dual cross-type points available, depending on the lens in use.
The system allows continuous shooting speeds of up to 6 fps, exceeding the speed of the EOS 5D Mark II model by more than 50 percent, and has improved weather resistance.
The camera’s dual UDMA-supported CF card slots will accommodate automatic file splitting.
The ISO settings range from 100 to 25,600 within its standard range, and 50, 51,200 and 102,400 outside standard settings.
The camera also features a built-in automatic sensor cleaning system.
