gene_can_sing

I don't think the 4K EOS is going to undercut the C-300. I'm sure the C-300 will still probably have the better overall sensor and I have a feeling it might still have the better codec, and just be completely geared towards video production. I doubt the 4K EOS will be RAW. Too early for that. Plus, it's suppose to be Full Frame, and in TV production, the 1.5x crop (which is the C-300) still rules. So different markets there. I think the 4K EOS is geared towards people who want a good video camera that shoots stills like myself because I do a lot of timelapse as well. It probably will be a compromise type camera, no built in ND filters, probably a few less video features; it will take stills, but probably a lower megapixel, a more basic AF system and less bells and whistles on the stills side as well. For me, that's a PERFECTLY fine camera since the video things I mostly use are Peaking and the Flip Screen. Clean HDMI would be really nice. But I hate shooting with an external monitor unless it's a more production oriented project where multiple people want to see the image. Out in the field on the Canon's, I find that Peaking mixed with the Z-Finder makes it really easy to get good focus without a huge monitor. If you can't get focus with a Z-Finder mixed with Peaking, you are freaking blind and should take up a different profession. And for stills, I would even be happy with only 12 megapixels which is 4000x3000 pixels = 4K video and = 13" x 10" prints at 300 DPI, which is still a pretty damn large still. As for the resolution, 4K isn't a huge deal in Film and TV production. The most revered camera of the moment is the Alexa, and that's 2K only, and doesn't it cost close to 50K? So with the 4K EOS, you are going to get a more diluted all around camera (a better 5D3 for indie filmmakers), where as the C-300 is super specifically geared toward TV production and Cinema. Different markets And Canon, please DON'T go back to a video camera body. After the freedom of DSLRs, I just can't go back to shooting with a lunch box that you cannot hand hold without a rig. I like that the camera is small, but I can make it as big as I want to make it. If the 4K EOS is good, I will be the first person to order it. Just make sure it has true 1080p. That is my main concern. I know that sounds like a given, but with Canon, things are never a given unfortunately.

I agree with you on Canon needing to get the momentum back. The 5D3 actually hurt their momentum IMO since many people are so disappointed. I think Canon is aware of this as most of the video forums are mostly people just bitching and upset over the 5D3. So hopefully they will announce the 4K C camera. But then again, it's Canon and they work in a really weird, backwards kind of way

Aside from money, which is a big factor, I think it really comes down to what you mainly shoot. For me, I mainly concentrait on people and tend to do a lot of closeup type shots even when I am shooting objects other than people. For those type of shots, I think even the old APS-C Canon's have the edge because of color and DOF. Plus, a soft look for closeups is actually a bit nicer. The Canon's can even make my ugly face look sexy, while the GH2 just shows what people really look like. Obvious for wider landscapes and architecture, resolution and detail is really important, so if you shoot more of that type of stuff, the GH2 is better. So I guess you just have to figure out what type of shooting  you do and buy the appropriate camera. But the 5D3 could have done both IF it just had 1080p. Suck the big one.

I hope to GOD that it comes out at NAB, or else more are certain to jump to Sony FS-100 including myself. Can't wait any longer All I want added to the current 5D3 is TRUE 2K, crop mode, a flip screen, continuous autofocus, clean HDMI and focus peaking. That's all I ask for. Not much IMO considering how many other cameras have that stuff. I don't really care about built in ND filters as these days I prefer the quickness of variable ND, plus I think that would add size to the camera. Keep it in a 5D body (not the tall 1D). No Camcorder body. That is so hard to work with after using DSLRs. 4K would be nice for the large greenscreen at work, but I would probably just shoot 2K for most things as there's less post to deal with and things will run faster in post. Basically a better 5D3 for video. But the stills are still important to me because I do timelapse, but I don't need a 61 point autofocus. Just the old 7D autofocus would be fine with me. Would be nice it it was mirrorless, but not sure if Canon would do that. But it's strange to have a mirror in a video based DSLR. But at this point, I don't care as I have all Canon L and Zeiss lenses, mostly I just want a camera with good resolution.

I would have to agree with a portion of what Gizmodo says. IMO, Canon does have a better aesthetic at least for my purposes. The Canon color palette is much nicer, especially on the skin tones which is huge for me. Plus the GH2 2x crop is a pretty big draw back, at least for me, since I've been shooting 8mm fish eye stuff lately for music videos. Even on an APS-C, the 8mm FOV is a huge difference than the Micro 4 3rd. With that said, for $3500, there should be NO article that is titled: "How to shoot around the 5D Mark III's limitations." It should just be ready to go, not with some soft image. I'm sure the 4K C-DLSR will be pretty good, but it will cost at least 2x as much as the 5D3. I am going to PASS on the 5D3 and hopefully some news will come at NAB. The 4K camer needs to come soon, or else the exodus will continue to Sony FS 100. Think of how many people Canon has lost to Sony just because they lag so hard. Such a shame.

Hey Andrew, Since you are more technically in know, do you think that a firmware update can increase the resolution? I have no idea about the tech behind the camera, but we all certainly know that the 5D3 is capable of true 2K. It seems to me that a Beta 5D3 had to have an iteration that did have true 2K, but the powers-that-be decided against it in the final version. I would think that 2K might already be built into the camera, but needs to be unlocked or address through a firmware type update. But like I said, I don't know any of the tech stuff, just speculating, but there it does seem logical that the 5D3 should already have the 2K built in, but it's CRIPPLED. Or is resolution too low level for a firmware update? Sigh......

I think Canon could pretty easily up-grade the 5D3 to true 2K since they have complete control of the inner workings of the camera and it's obvious that Digic V is capable of good 2K and even 4K. Whether they will do it, I kind of doubt it. For a hacker like Alex to unlock something like that would probably be really difficult. At this point, I would pay a couple hundred bucks if Canon just offered a "Video Plus" firmware upgrade with resolution increase, some peaking, crop mode and maybe a few other video bells and whistles. In this day and age where tons of stills and video people use the same camera, they should just offer upgrades curtailed towards the respective parties.

Well, at least this is somewhat promising. The 5D3 looks pretty good after the sharpening, comparable to the GH2. I will definitely say the colors have much more range (on the bear photo) on the 5D3. The GH2 colors are much closer in values than the 5D3 when you compared the rings around the eyes with the head. The highlights around the head are much brighter on the 5D3. With that said, for $3000 more, I would expect nothing less. Saw Philip Bloom post something similar to your findings on the sharpening. I still wish it was in camera, but at least there is a semi-solution.

I think with all the negative press the 5D3 has been receiving, the one POSITIVE that might come out of it, is that Canon will be pushed to announce something at NAB to placate all the PISSED OFF video people.

About 4 years ago, Canon was handed the keys to a lucrative new species of camera. How they managed to Fu#K it up so bad is beyond comprehension. There was NO competition and they could have just owned this industry if they just weren't so greedy. But now, Sony is coming on strong and for me, the Sony FS-100 is really the only worthy alternative.

Huge, huge disappointment. I have a good chunk of money for a camera and I was hoping to pick up a 5D3, but going to have to pass. I'm actually pretty angry about this as we've all waiting for so long. I'm in your boat. I just wanted no moire or aliasing and true HD. A flip screen and 1080 60p would have been nice, but not a deal breaker. But the resolution is. I think the codec isn't a huge worry since Alex can probably fix that like Vitality did with the GH2, but the resolution is something I'm not sure can be upped. It's obvious that the 5D3 is capable of 4K because the upcoming 4K C-DSLR is going to be using essentially the same Digic 5 processor, so it can easily do good 2k and probably 4K. Whether Alex can achieve that remains to be seen, but the guy is amazing to say the least. If Alex can do that, I'd be the first to donate a good chunk of money. I just want good 2k. Not too concerned about 4k. So it's a hold until NAB, and then maybe I will be forced to buy the Sony FS-100. I just hate going back to the camcorder format :(

I think the moral of this thread is: "Way to go Canon! You've disappointed your loyal video customers once again after making them wait 4 longs years because of your greed. Your only chance now is to make the 4K C-DSLR right. So please do something right, for once." I know it's going to cost an arm and a leg, but still, just make the 4K camera meet the needs of your customers. What a novice concept.

Adding a bit to Jeff's questions earlier regarding a firmware update to increase resolution, I'm wondering if that is possible in a firmware update? Is it possible to increase a cameras resolution from 700 lines to 1000 lines with a firmware update or a hack? That seems like it might be too much of a low level thing to achieve in a firmware update. I guess if anyone can do it, it would be Alex at Magic Lantern. I thought I heard somewhere that ML said it might be possible to hack true HDMI out from the 5D3. This seems along the lines of a resolution increase and seems related to an overall hack increase in the cameras internal resolution. What do you think Andrew? Is a resolution hack even possible? How about hacking a crop mode in the 5d3? I can't believe they left that out. With that said, not buying a camera from Canon until they release something with 1000 lines of resolution. FS-100 + Metabones is calling, but I just hate the camcorder format.

The Canon's are at 700 lines of resolution while the GH2 and the C-300, FS-100 are at 1000 lines of resolution. Big difference.

I have to agree with you on the Canon aesthetic, it's something the GH2 just cannot match. Even the APS-C Canons have that nice, magical Canon color and shallower DOF. I just can't get myself to go with a 2x crop and the Panny color scheme. Just can't do it. I guess it just comes down to personal preference as the companies have a very different look. I think the FS-100 has a really nice look interms of color. With that said, for $3500, it should have true HD. Canon Sucks. The FS-100 is calling and I just don't know how much longer I can wait for Canon to get their act together, especially with the Metabones adaptor. Yes I am PISSED that I have to wait even longer for the 4K C-DSLR. The thing is, I have no problem dropping 6K on a camera, just want the right one. FULL FRAME with true 1080p. Also, put a F-Ing flip screen on it. Fixed screens suck for video.

Hmmm... This is really disappointing about the resolution. I think I'm going to take a pass on this camera until the 4K CDSLR comes out. I want true HD for that price. I thought in your previous 5D3 article with the footage grading you said that the resolution was hugely improved over the Pre-Production models? What happened? Why the discrepancy?

This makes me EXTREMELY happy. Except now my major dilema is whether to buy the 5D3 or wait for the 4K C-DSLR? Not sure I can wait that long and who knows when it's coming out. Maybe I'll just hold off until NAB which is pretty soon for more info. Maybe buy the 5D3 and use it as a B-Cam when the 4K C-DSLR comes out. But damn.... that's a lot of cash. If the 5D3 only had a flip screen. I have a monitor, but part of the freedom is just to use it as is and a flip screen is so nice for steadycam and odd angle type shots. I guess I'll have to wait for the 4K camera for that.

I find this really disturbing. I will probably wait for the Video DSLR hybrid, and hopefully, Canon will finally do it right. I have no qualms about paying 5k to 6K for a good full frame video camera. I just want Canon to do it RIGHT for once. Canon has really been a let down lately. While people say the C-300 is a good Camera, it's still drastically overpriced for what you get. I've waiting a long time so the C-VDSLR better be good or else it's the Sony FS-100 with the EOS Adaptor. I just cannot get myself to go Panasonic. I like more DOF and the option of shooting wide and the 2x crop is just a burden. I think I might just pick up a T4i (which I think will come out fairly soon) and use it until the Canon DSLR hybrid comes out. Plus, no Flip-Screen is a big No No for me. Really limits creative shots and angles