Review of the Canon 5D Mark III

[sc name="affiliate disclosure"]Several years ago I wanted to take my photography to another level. I had experience with entry level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. After hearing about Full Frame cameras, I wanted to test the image quality from these cameras. After doing some research I decided on the Canon 5D Mark III. Below is my review of the Canon 5D Mark III.

Sample Photos

[gallery size="large" ids="1428,1439,1440"]

Price

At the time of this writing, the Canon 5D Mark III retails for $2,299.00 on Amazon. The camera dimensions are 152x116x76mm and weighs 950g.

What You Get

Autofocus is one of the 5D Mark III's strengths. It is a favorite choice among sports & wedding photographers. Here are some of the additional features you should expect from the 5D Mark III:

• Battery Life: Up To 950 Shots
• Dual Card Slots: SD Card, Cfast Card
• 61 Focus Points
• 45 Cross Points
• Weather Sealed Body

What You Won’t Get

Because the 5D Mark III was released in 2012, it is missing some modern technology compared to today's cameras. I have noted some of the features missing on the 5D:

• Articulating Screen
• Built-in Flash
• GPS
• Timelapse Recording
• WiFi

Weight is another issue of the 5D Mark III. The body alone of the 5D Mark III weighs 950g. Combined with a lens the weight can be strenuous if you're using this camera at an event or traveling.

Magic Lantern

Among an interesting feature available to older Canon cameras is the ability to use Magic Lantern. Magic Lantern is a third party software enhancement that offers increased functionality to the older Canon DSLR cameras. With the addition of Magic Lantern on the 5D Mark III you gain the following features:

• Intervalometer for Timelapse
• Silent Pictures
• Zebra Overlays for Manual Focus

I found that using Magic Lantern on the 5D Mark III made up for some of the cameras shortcomings.

Summary of My Review of the Canon 5D Mark III

In conclusion, if you're looking for an Full Frame camera the 5D Mark III is a great option. I used the 5D Mark III when I traveled to Australia and loved the images that came out. The 5D Mark III still remains a popular camera even though the 5D Mark IV has been out a year. In today's technological world, where we're searching for the latest and greatest, it's an amazing feet for a camera to be a steady performer for the last eight years.[tg_divider style="normal"]

Review of the Nikon D500

[sc name="affiliate disclosure"]I normally shoot with a mix of Canon and Sony Cameras. While I enjoy shooting with these brands, I am always looking to expand my horizons. Because haven't taken photos using Nikon Cameras, I decided to test out one of their newest cameras. As a result, here is my review of the Nikon D500. Released in January of 2016, the Nikon D500 is the company's update to the previous D300.

Price

At the time of this writing the Nikon D500 costs $1,896.95. It's dimensions are 147 x 115 x 81mm and weighs 860g.

Sample Photos

Here are a few photos I took with the Nikon D500:[gallery ids="1275,1276"]

What You Get

With the Nikon D500 you get a high performance camera. Here are some of the features you get with the Nikon D500:

• 4K Video
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Illuminated Buttons
• Long Battery Life: 1240 shots
• Number of Focus Points: 153
• Number of Cross Type Focus Points: 99
• NFC Connection
• Max ISO: 51.200
• Max Shutter Speed: 1/8000
• Two Card Slots
• WiFi

In addition to these features, the D500 is one of the newest Nikon cameras that work with their Snapbridge app. As an app, SnapBridge has many mixed reviews. When I tested SnapBridge I found that it worked well. One feature I enjoyed was being able to automatically download images to my phone as I take photos. I think this would be extremely useful for photojournalist or event photographers.

What You Won’t Get

There are a few features missing from the Nikon D500 that you get in similar cameras of the price range:

• A Built-in Flash
• A Full Frame Sensor
• GPS

The Nikon D500 is also heavier than it's competitors at the price range weighing at 860g.Most of all, the Nikon D500 is heavier than Nikon's Full Frame Camera the D750.One item I did not enjoy on the Nikon D500 was the mode dial:[gallery columns="1" size="medium" ids="1266"]This mode dial makes it very complicated to switch to Aperture, Priority, and Shutter modes. Using this dial, I needed to select the "MODE" button, than turn a dial to select Aperture, Priority, and Shutter modes.In addition, Nikon's "Quiet Shutter" mode is still notoriously noisy. If you are taking landscape photos this may not be an issue but with event photography be aware that this the shutter sound is noticeable.

Summary: My Review of the Nikon D500

In conclusion, I liked the Nikon D500. The main issue I had with the camera were the Mode dial and ergonomics. Although I got amazing photos out of the Nikon D500, I thought the ergonomics were a distraction. I did love how fast the shutter was on camera. If I needed a camera for action sports I would definitely pickup the Nikon D500. To conclude my review of the Nikon D500, if you're looking for a fast camera for action sports you will enjoy the D500. However, you may be satisfied with a cheaper alternative like the Nikon D7500 if your work doesn't require sports or action photography.[tg_divider style="normal"]

Top 10 Photography Blogs

I am always searching for new ideas and inspiration for projects & photography. Because design and photography work utilize a creative aspect, having inspiration is very helpful. Some of my inspiration & ideas come from blogs from photographers and creative. Therefore, I decided to share a list of my Top 10 Photography Blogs that I follow:

Top 10 Photography Blogs

Itchban

Itchban is run by Australian photographer & content creator Benjamin Lee. In addition to photography, also included are product reviews and photography tutorials.

Pat Kay

Pat Kay is another photographer & content creator based in Australia. He writes about product reviews, travel, and photography tips.

Bontravler

Bontravler is a blog run by Jessica Wright and focuses on travel. In addition to travel guides, Jessica's blog features breathtaking photos.

CP Collectives

Run by group of photographers, CP Collectives features interviews, tutorials, and tips about photography. They also manage a popular instagram page called Canon Photos.

Joe Allam

Joe Allam is a photographer/content creator based in the United Kingdom. His blog touches on subjects such as photography, design, filmmaking, and more.

Shotkit

If you're looking for inspiration on what gear to use in photography, Shotkit is the ultimate blog. Featuring gear from automotive, wedding, and street photographers, Shotkit displays camera kits from world known photographers.

The Camera Store

TheCameraStoreTV is a photography and video store based out of Calgary, Canada. I became aware of TheCameraStoreTV from their popular channel on Youtube. Their blog features news, product reviews, and advice about photography and filmmaking.

Alex Garcia

Alex Garcia is a photographer who specializes in photojournalism and commercial photography. His blog covers a variety of topics on photography but his blog manly covers photojournalism.

Kiyah Crittendon

Kiyah Crittendon is a wedding photographer based out of New York. Her blog features her latest work from wedding shoots to engagement photos. Most noticeably are her posts on working as a freelancer. Furthermore, how she schedules her day and prepares for her photography shoots.

Ruben Hughes

Ruben Hughes journal is heavy on beautiful imagery. Focusing on interior architecture, travel photography, and fashion I am always inspired by from his journal.

3 Gifts Under $50 for the Photographer in your Life

Since the Holidays are around the corner, many people are out shopping for Christmas gifts for their friends and family. Because cameras as a gift are expensive, it might be a challenge to find what to get them. But there are some great inexpensive gift ideas for them. These items may not be exciting on the surface but they are extremely useful for photographers. Below are 3 gifts under $50 for the Photographer in your life in three categories.

3 Gifts Under $50 for the Photographer in your Life:

• Additional Batteries
• Memory Cards
• Travel Tripods

Additional Batteries

Because battery life varies from camera to camera you can never have enough spare batteries available. An alternative idea is to care a spare battery pack to charge all your electronic devices. However, using a spare battery pack does take time to recharge your camera battery. Having a fully charged spare battery available means less downtime for your camera.

Memory Cards

As a photography enthusiast, I found that you can never have enough memory cards. You can keep an extra memory card in your wallet or backpack if you leave your memory card at home. The SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB is an affordable memory card that is very reliable.

Travel Tripods

A travel tripod makes a great gift. Travel tripods are usually small and lightweight compared to most tripods. In my opinion the Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Tripod makes an excellent choice. It's small, lightweight, and flexible. The Velcro strap allows the Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Tripod to be attached to a variety of surfaces.In conclusion, there are many affordable gift options to choose from for photographers. Hopefully, the above items give you a general idea of options to choose from. And if you're a photographer yourself you can treat yourself to some of the gifts above.