Canon EOS 5D Mark III User manual

E
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
E
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
●This manual is for the EOS 5D Mark III installed with firmware
version 1.2.0 or later.
●The “Software Start Guide” is included at the end of this manual.

2
The EOS 5D Mark III is a digital single-lens reflex camera featuring a
fine-detail, full-frame (approx. 36 x 24 mm) CMOS sensor with approx.
22.3 effective megapixels, DIGIC 5+, approx. 100% viewfinder
coverage, high-precision and high-speed 61-point AF, approx. 6 fps
continuous shooting, Live View shooting, and Full High-Definition (Full
HD) movie shooting.
Before Starting to Shoot, Be Sure to Read the Following
To avoid botched pictures and accidents, first read the “Safety
Precautions” (p.389-391) and “Handling Precautions” (p.14-15).
Refer to This Manual while Using the Camera to Further
Familiarize Yourself with the Camera
While reading this manual, take a few test shots and see how they
come out. You can then better understand the camera.
Testing the Camera Before Use and Liability
After shooting, play images back and check whether they have been
properly recorded. If the camera or memory card is faulty and the
images cannot be recorded or downloaded to a computer, Canon
cannot be held liable for any loss or inconvenience caused.
Copyrights
Copyright laws in your country may prohibit the use of your recorded
images of people and certain subjects for anything but private
enjoyment. Also be aware that certain public performances, exhibitions,
etc., may prohibit photography even for private enjoyment.
Memory Cards
In this manual, “CF card” refers to CompactFlash cards and “SD card”
refers to SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. “Card” refers to all memory cards
used to record images or movies. The camera does not come with a
card for recording images/movies. Please purchase it separately.
Introduction

3
Before starting, check that all the following items have been included
with your camera. If anything is missing, contact your dealer.
* Battery Charger LC-E6 or LC-E6E is provided. (The LC-E6E comes with a power cord.)
Attach Eyecup Eg to the viewfinder eyepiece.
If you purchased a Lens Kit, check that the lens is included.
Depending on the Lens Kit type, a lens instruction manual may also be
included.
Be careful not to lose any of the above items.
Item Check List
Battery Pack
LP-E6
(with protective cover)
Battery Charger
LC-E6/LC-E6E*
Interface Cable
IFC-200U Stereo AV Cable
AVC-DC400ST
EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk
(Software/Software Instruction Manuals)
(1)Camera Instruction Manual
(this booklet)
(2)Pocket Guide
Camera
(with body cap)
(1) (2)
Wide Strap
Eyecup Eg
Software Instruction Manuals
The Software Instruction Manuals are included on the EOS DIGITAL
Solution Disk as PDF files. See page 396 for instructions to look up
information in the Software Instruction Manuals.

4
Icons in this Manual
<6> : Indicates the Main Dial.
<5> : Indicates the Quick Control Dial.
<9> : Indicates the Multi-controller.
<0> : Indicates the Setting button.
0, 9, 7, 8: Indicates that the corresponding function remains
active for 4 sec., 6 sec., 10 sec., or 16 sec.
respectively after you let go of the button.
* In this manual, the icons and markings indicating the camera’s buttons, dials,
and settings correspond to the icons and markings on the camera and on the
LCD monitor.
3: Indicates a function that can be changed by pressing the
<M> button and changing the setting.
M: When shown at the upper right of a page, it indicates that the
function is available only when the Mode Dial is set to d, s,
f, a, or F.
* The respective function cannot be used in the <A> (Scene
Intelligent Auto) mode.
(p.**) : Reference page numbers for more information.
: Warning to prevent shooting problems.
: Supplemental information.
: Tips or advice for better shooting.
: Problem-solving advice.
Basic Assumptions
All operations explained in this manual assume that the power switch
has been set to <1> and the <R> switch has been set to the
left (Multi function lock released) (p.34, 47).
It is assumed that all the menu settings and Custom Functions are
set to their defaults.
The illustrations in this manual show the camera attached with the
EF50mm f/1.4 USM or EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens as an example.
Conventions Used in this Manual

5
For first-time DSLR users, Chapters 1 and 2 explain the camera’s
basic operations and shooting procedures.
Chapters
Introduction 2
Getting Started 27
Basic Shooting 63
Setting the AF and Drive Modes 69
Image Settings 117
Advanced Operations 161
Flash Photography 189
Shooting with the LCD Monitor (Live View Shooting)
199
Shooting Movies 219
Image Playback 249
Post-Processing Images 287
Sensor Cleaning 295
Printing Images and Transferring Images to a Computer
301
Customizing the Camera 319
Reference 341
Software Start Guide 393
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
0
11
1
2
13
14
15

6
1
Introduction 2
Item Check List................................................................................. 3
Conventions Used in this Manual..................................................... 4
Chapters........................................................................................... 5
Index to Features ........................................................................... 12
Handling Precautions..................................................................... 14
Quick Start Guide........................................................................... 16
Nomenclature................................................................................. 18
Getting Started 27
Charging the Battery ...................................................................... 28
Installing and Removing the Battery............................................... 30
Installing and Removing the Card.................................................. 31
Turning on the Power..................................................................... 34
Setting the Date, Time, and Zone .................................................. 36
Selecting the Interface Language................................................... 38
Attaching and Detaching a Lens .................................................... 39
About the Lens Image Stabilizer .................................................... 42
Basic Operation.............................................................................. 43
QQuick Control for Shooting Functions....................................... 49
3Menu Operations.................................................................. 51
Before You Start............................................................................. 53
Formatting the Card..................................................................... 53
Setting the Power-off Time/Auto Power Off................................. 55
Setting the Image Review Time................................................... 55
Reverting the Camera to the Default Settings............................. 56
Displaying the Grid and Electronic Level........................................ 59
Feature Guide............................................................................ 61
Contents

7
Contents
2
3
4
Basic Shooting 63
AFully Automatic Shooting (Scene Intelligent Auto)...................64
AFull Auto Techniques (Scene Intelligent Auto).........................67
Setting the AF and Drive Modes 69
f: Selecting the AF Mode ............................................................70
SSelecting the AF Area...............................................................72
AF Area Selection Modes...............................................................75
About the AF Sensor.......................................................................78
Lenses and Usable AF Points.........................................................79
Selecting AI Servo AF Characteristics (For a Subject)...................87
Customizing AF Functions..............................................................96
Fine Adjustment of AF’s Point of Focus (AF Microadjustment) ....106
When Autofocus Fails...................................................................112
MF: Manual Focusing.................................................................113
iSelecting the Drive Mode........................................................114
jUsing the Self-timer .................................................................115
Image Settings 117
Selecting the Card for Recording and Playback ...........................118
Setting the Image-Recording Quality............................................121
i: Setting the ISO Speed...........................................................126
ASelecting a Picture Style.......................................................131
ACustomizing a Picture Style..................................................134
ARegistering a Picture Style ...................................................137
B: Setting the White Balance....................................................139
OCustom White Balance........................................................140
PSetting the Color Temperature ............................................141
uWhite Balance Correction........................................................142
Correcting the Brightness and Contrast Automatically (Auto Lighting Optimizer) ..144

8
Contents
5
6
Noise Reduction Settings............................................................. 145
Highlight Tone Priority.................................................................. 148
Lens Peripheral Illumination / Chromatic Aberration Correction ........ 149
Creating and Selecting a Folder................................................... 152
Changing the File Name............................................................... 154
File Numbering Methods.............................................................. 156
Setting Copyright Information....................................................... 158
Setting the Color Space ............................................................... 160
Advanced Operations 161
d: Program AE........................................................................... 162
s: Shutter-Priority AE................................................................ 164
f: Aperture-Priority AE............................................................. 166
Depth of Field Preview............................................................... 167
a: Manual Exposure................................................................... 168
qSelecting the Metering Mode.................................................. 169
Setting Exposure Compensation.................................................. 171
hAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)........................................... 172
AAE Lock................................................................................... 173
F: Bulb Exposures....................................................................... 174
w: HDR (High Dynamic Range) Shooting.............................. 175
PMultiple Exposures................................................................. 179
2Mirror Lockup ........................................................................ 186
Using the Eyepiece Cover............................................................ 187
FUsing a Remote Switch............................................................ 187
RRemote Control Shooting.......................................................... 188
Flash Photography 189
DFlash Photography ................................................................... 190
Setting the Flash .......................................................................... 193

9
Contents
7
8
9
Shooting with the LCD Monitor (Live View Shooting) 199
AShooting with the LCD Monitor...............................................200
Shooting Function Settings...........................................................204
Menu Function Settings................................................................205
Using AF to Focus ........................................................................209
Focusing Manually........................................................................216
Shooting Movies 219
kShooting Movies.....................................................................220
Autoexposure Shooting..............................................................220
Shutter-priority AE......................................................................221
Aperture-priority AE....................................................................222
Manual Exposure Shooting........................................................225
Shooting Still Photos ..................................................................230
Shooting Function Settings...........................................................232
Setting the Movie-Recording Size.................................................233
Setting the Sound Recording........................................................236
Silent Control ................................................................................238
Setting the Time Code..................................................................239
Menu Function Settings................................................................243
Image Playback 249
xImage Playback......................................................................250
B: Shooting Information Display.............................................252
HISearching for Images Quickly...........................................255
uMagnified View........................................................................257
XComparing Images (Two-image Display)................................259
bRotating the Image ..................................................................260
Setting Ratings..............................................................................261
QQuick Control During Playback ...............................................263

10
Contents
12
11
10
kEnjoying Movies..................................................................... 265
kPlaying Movies....................................................................... 267
XEditing the Movie’s First and Last Scenes .............................. 269
Slide Show (Auto Playback)......................................................... 271
Viewing the Images on TV ........................................................... 274
KProtecting Images................................................................... 278
aCopying Images...................................................................... 280
LErasing Images........................................................................ 283
Changing Image Playback Settings ............................................. 285
Adjusting the LCD Monitor Brightness....................................... 285
Auto Rotation of Vertical Images ............................................... 286
Post-Processing Images 287
RProcessing RAW Images with the Camera .......................... 288
SResize..................................................................................... 293
Sensor Cleaning 295
fAutomatic Sensor Cleaning.................................................. 296
Appending Dust Delete Data........................................................ 297
Manual Sensor Cleaning.............................................................. 299
Printing Images and Transferring Images to a Computer 301
Preparing to Print ......................................................................... 302
wPrinting.................................................................................... 304
Trimming the Image................................................................... 309
WDigital Print Order Format (DPOF)......................................... 311
WDirect Printing with DPOF....................................................... 314
dTransferring Images to a Personal Computer........................ 315

11
Contents
13
14
15
Customizing the Camera 319
Custom Functions.........................................................................320
Custom Function Settings.............................................................321
C.Fn1: Exposure ........................................................................321
C.Fn2: Disp./Operation ..............................................................324
C.Fn3: Others.............................................................................326
82: Custom Controls ..................................................................327
Registering My Menu....................................................................337
wRegister Custom Shooting Modes ..........................................338
Reference 341
BButton Functions.................................................................342
Checking the Battery Information..................................................344
Using a Household Power Outlet..................................................348
Replacing the Date/Time Battery..................................................349
Using Eye-Fi Cards.......................................................................350
Function Availability Table According to Shooting Mode..............352
Menu Settings...............................................................................354
System Map..................................................................................362
Troubleshooting Guide..................................................................364
Error Codes...................................................................................377
Specifications................................................................................378
Safety Precautions........................................................................389
Software Start Guide 393
Software Start Guide.....................................................................394
Index.............................................................................................397

12
Power
Charging the battery Îp.28
Battery check Îp.35
Battery information check Îp.344
Power outlet Îp.348
Auto power off Îp.55
Card
Format Îp.53
Select card Îp.118
Release shutter without card Îp.32
Lens
Attaching/Detaching Îp.39
Zoom Îp.40
Image Stabilizer Îp.42
Basic Settings
Language Îp.38
Date/Time/Zone Îp.36
Beeper Îp.354
Copyright information Îp.158
Clear all camera settings Îp.56
Viewfinder
Dioptric adjustment Îp.43
Eyepiece cover Îp.187
Grid display Îp.59
Electronic level Îp.59
LCD Monitor
Brightness adjustment Îp.285
Electronic level Îp.60
Feature guide Îp.61
AF
AF mode Îp.70
AF area selection mode Îp.72
AF point selection Îp.74
AI Servo AF characteristics Îp.87
AF Custom Functions Îp.96
AF Microadjustment Îp.106
Manual focusing Îp.113
Metering
Metering mode Îp.169
Drive
Drive mode Îp.114
Self-timer Îp.115
Maximum burst Îp.125
Recording Images
Record func. Îp.118
Create/select a folder Îp.152
File name Îp.154
File No. Îp.156
Image Quality
Image-recording quality Îp.121
ISO speed Îp.126
Picture Style Îp.131
White balance Îp.139
Auto Lighting Optimizer Îp.144
Noise reduction for high
ISO speeds Îp.145
Noise reduction for long
exposures Îp.146
Highlight tone priority Îp.148
Peripheral illumination
correction Îp.149
Index to Features

13
Index to Features
Chromatic aberration
correction Îp.150
Color space Îp.160
Shooting
Shooting mode Îp.24
HDR Îp.175
Multiple exposures Îp.179
Mirror lockup Îp.186
Depth-of-field preview Îp.167
Remote control Îp.188
Quick Control Îp.49
Exposure Adjustment
Exposure compensation Îp.171
AEB Îp.172
AE lock Îp.173
Safety shift Îp.323
Flash
External flash Îp.189
External flash function
settings Îp.193
External Speedlite
Custom Functions Îp.198
Live View Shooting
Live View shooting Îp.199
Focusing Îp.209
Aspect ratio Îp.206
Movie Shooting
Movie shooting Îp.219
Movie recording size Îp.233
Sound recording Îp.236
Time code Îp.239
HDMI output Îp.245
Still photo shooting Îp.230
Playback
Image review time Îp.55
Single image display Îp.250
Shooting information display Îp.252
Index display Îp.255
Image browsing (Jump display) Îp.256
Magnified view Îp.257
Two-image display Îp.259
Image rotate Îp.260
Rating Îp.261
Movie playback Îp.267
Slide show Îp.271
Viewing images on TV Îp.274
Protect Îp.278
Copying Îp.280
Erase Îp.283
Image Editing
RAW image processing Îp.288
Resize Îp.293
Printing and Transferring Images
PictBridge Îp.302
Print Order (DPOF) Îp.311
Image transfer Îp.315
Customization
Custom Functions (C.Fn)Îp.320
Custom Controls Îp.327
My Menu Îp.337
Custom shooting mode Îp.338
Sensor Cleaning and Dust Reduction
Sensor cleaning Îp.296
Append Dust Delete DataÎp.297

14
Camera Care
This camera is a precision instrument. Do not drop it or subject it to physical
shock.
The camera is not waterproof and cannot be used underwater. If you
accidentally drop the camera into water, promptly consult your nearest
Canon Service Center. Wipe off any water droplets with a dry cloth. If the
camera has been exposed to salty air, wipe it with a well-wrung wet cloth.
Never leave the camera near anything having a strong magnetic field such
as a magnet or electric motor. Also avoid using or leaving the camera near
anything emitting strong radio waves such as a large antenna. Strong
magnetic fields can cause camera misoperation or destroy image data.
Do not leave the camera in excessive heat such as in a car in direct sunlight.
High temperatures can cause the camera to malfunction.
The camera contains precision electronic circuitry. Never attempt to
disassemble the camera yourself.
Do not block the mirror operation with your finger, etc. Doing so may cause a
malfunction.
Use a blower to blow away dust on the lens, viewfinder, reflex mirror, and
focusing screen. Do not use cleaners that contain organic solvents to clean
the camera body or lens. For stubborn dirt, take the camera to the nearest
Canon Service Center.
Do not touch the camera’s electrical contacts with your fingers. This is to
prevent the contacts from corroding. Corroded contacts can cause camera
misoperation.
If the camera is suddenly brought in from the cold into a warm room,
condensation may form on the camera and internal parts. To prevent
condensation, first put the camera in a sealed plastic bag and let it adjust to
the warmer temperature before taking it out of the bag.
If condensation forms on the camera, do not use the camera. This is to avoid
damaging the camera. If there is condensation, remove the lens, card and
battery from the camera, and wait until the condensation has evaporated
before using the camera.
If the camera will not be used for an extended period, remove the battery
and store the camera in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Even while the
camera is in storage, press the shutter button a few times once in a while to
check that the camera is still working.
Avoid storing the camera where there are corrosive chemicals such as a
darkroom or chemical lab.
If the camera has not been used for an extended period, test all its functions
before using it. If you have not used the camera for some time or if there is
an important shoot coming up, have the camera checked by your Canon
dealer or check the camera yourself and make sure it is working properly.
Handling Precautions

15
Handling Precautions
LCD Panel and LCD Monitor
Although the LCD monitor is manufactured with very high precision
technology with over 99.99%effective pixels, there may be a few dead pixels
among the remaining 0.01% or less pixels. Dead pixels displaying only black
or red, etc., are not a malfunction. They do not affect the images recorded.
If the LCD monitoris left on for aprolonged period,screen burn-in may occur
where you see remnants of what was displayed. However, this is only
temporary and will disappear when the camera is left unused for a few days.
In low or high temperatures, the LCD monitor display may seem slow or it
may look black. It will return to normal at room temperature.
Cards
To protect the card and its recorded data, note the following:
Do not drop, bend, or wet the card. Do not subject it to excessive force,
physical shock, or vibration.
Do not touch the card’s electronic contacts with your fingers or anything
metallic.
Do not store or use the card near anything having a strong magnetic field
such as a TV set, speakers, or magnet. Also avoid places prone to having
static electricity.
Do not leave the card in direct sunlight or near a heat source.
Store the card in a case.
Do not store the card in hot, dusty, or humid locations.
Lens
After detaching the lens from the camera, attach the lens
caps and put down the lens with the rear end up to avoid
scratching the lens surface and electrical contacts.
Cautions During Prolonged Use
If you use continuous shooting, Live View shooting, or movie shooting for a
prolonged period, the camera may become hot. Although this is not a
malfunction, holding the hot camera for a long period can cause slight skin
burns.
Contacts

16
Quick Start Guide
1Insert the battery (p.30).
To charge the battery, see page 28.
2Insert a card (p.31).
The camera-front side slot is
for a CF card, and the
camera-back side slot is for
an SD card.
3Attach the lens (p.39).
Align it with the red dot.
4Set the lens focus mode switch
to <f> (p.39).
5Set the power switch to <1>
(p.34).

17
Quick Start Guide
6While holding down the center
of the Mode Dial, set it to <A>
(Scene Intelligent Auto) (p.64).
All the necessary camera settings
will be set automatically.
7Focus the subject (p.44).
Look through the viewfinder and
aim the viewfinder center over the
subject.
Press the shutter button halfway,
and the camera will focus the
subject.
8Take the picture (p.44).
Press the shutter button completely
to take the picture.
9Review the picture (p.55).
The captured image will be
displayed for 2 sec. on the LCD
monitor.
To display the image again, press
the <x> button (p.250).
To shoot while looking at the LCD monitor, see “Live View
Shooting” (p.199).
To view the images captured so far, see “Image Playback” (p.250).
To delete an image, see “Erasing Images” (p.283).

18
Nomenclature
Lens mount index (p.39)
Grip
(Battery
compartment)
DC coupler cord hole
(p.348)
Remote control
sensor (p.188)
Shutter button
(p.44) Mode Dial (p.24)
Mode Dial lock release
button (p.45)
Hot shoe (p.190)
Flash-sync contacts
Microphone
(p.236)
Lens lock pin
Lens mount
Contacts (p.15)
Self-timer lamp
(p.115)
Strap mount
(p.27)
Lens release
button (p.40)
Mirror (p.186, 299)
<U> LCD panel
illumination button (p.48)
<B> AF area selection mode/
Multi-function button (p.73/190)
<n> Metering mode selection/
White balance selection button (p.169/139)
<o>
AF mode selection/
Drive mode selection button
(p.70/114)
<m> ISO speed
setting/Flash exposure
compensation button
(p.126/190)
<6> Main Dial
(p.45)
Body cap (p.39)
Depth-of-field preview button
(p.167)

19
Nomenclature
<Y> External microphone IN terminal (p.237)
<D> HDMI mini OUT terminal (p.274)
<F> Remote control terminal (N3 type) (p.187)
<D> PC terminal (p.191)
<n> Headphone terminal (p.237)
<q/C>
Audio/video OUT/Digital terminal (p.277/302, 315)
Date/time
battery (p.349)
Terminal cover
Power switch (p.34)
<M> Menu button
(p.51)
<B> Info button
(p.60, 61, 202, 227,
250, 342)
Touch pad (p.46)
<5> Quick
Control Dial (p.46)
<0> Setting
button (p.51)
<S>
AF point
selection
button (p.72)
<A> AE lock
button (p.173)
LCD panel (p.21, 22)
Viewfinder eyepiece
Eyecup (p.187)
<p>
AF start button
(p.44, 70, 201, 228)
<Q> Quick
Control button
(p.49)

20
Nomenclature
Tripod socket
Battery compartment
cover (p.30)
Battery
compartment
cover release
lever (p.30)
<9> Multi-controller
(p.47)
Dioptric adjustment knob (p.43)
Strap mount
(p.27)
Card slot
cover (p.31)
SD card slot (p.31)
CF card slot (p.31)
CF card ejection button (p.33)
LCD monitor (p.285)
<b/m>
Creative Photo/
Comparative playback
(Two-image display)/
Direct print button
(p.131, 175, 179/259/
307)
<L> Erase button
(p.283)
<x> Playback
button (p.250)
<c>
Rating button
(p.261, 279)
<u> Index/
Magnify/Reduce
button (p.255/257)
<V> Focal plane mark
Access lamp (p.33)
Multi function lock switch (p.47)
Speaker
Light sensor (p.285)
<A/k>
Live View shooting/
Movie shooting switch
(p.199/219)
<0> Start/Stop button
(p.200, 220)