5D mk3 HDMI output

[Thomas Wong]

Does anyone try the HDMI out? I know there is on screen overlay. I think coming ML can kill it.
What I concern is, does HDMI output fill the whole 1080 screen?
Like mark2 in HDMI output, the picture doesn't fill the whole screen, the aspect ratio is more like a 4:3

[Sareesh Sudhakaran]

Originally Posted by Thomas Wong

What I concern is, does HDMI output fill the whole 1080 screen?
Like mark2 in HDMI output, the picture doesn't fill the whole screen, the aspect ratio is more like a 4:3

I am interested in knowing the same, too. Are you saying the 5DIII outputs 4:3 via HDMI?

[Josh Dahlberg]

Bad news for you guys I'm afraid.

As you know there is a white box in the frame [magnification area overlay) that cannot be removed. In addition, as far as I can determine, the image only fills the central (approx) 80% of the frame (if you hit the info button which expands the image and removes other overlays). So while the HDMI output is 16:9, it's letterboxed both vertically and horizontally.

It is a step up from the 5DII however. At least the image is detailed and it doesn't go blank for a second when you hit record.

[Thomas Wong]

the white box should be able to remove from Magic Lantern later...
can you also try clear as much as you can from the INFO button? because the image area will enlarge after you clear all info (except to focus box)
I wonder if it will give you a 16:9 ratio and fill the whole screen or not

[Josh Dahlberg]

Thomas that's exactly what my post describes: if you hit the info button, remove most overlays, and enlarge the screen, you get to 80-90% screen fill. It is still letterboxed in both directions.

If you don't do this, you get about 60% screen fill. Lovely Canon aye.

One other note. When you hit record the white box overlay disappears, only for a red record symbol to appear in the top right corner.

So, again, no, it does not appear that you can fill the whole 1080 frame. Love to be corrected on this if someone can find a setting I have missed.

[Sareesh Sudhakaran]

That's just sad. I wonder what the point of having HDMI on the 5DIII is - maybe focus pulling perhaps. Does it output in HD while recording or does it scale down to SD?

[Josh Dahlberg]

Well, it's very useful indeed. I can't determine what the exact output specs are but for monitoring (via a small HD monitor) it's sharp and the signal isn't lost when hitting record, so it's much better than the 5DII in both respects. Just no good for external recording devices.

[Nigel Barker]

The point of having HDMI output on the 5D3 is the same as on the 5D2 it's so you can connect the camera to a TV & view the stills or videos you just shot.

[Chris Hurd]

I'm afraid Nigel is right... they're continuing to position the Mk. III as primarily a still photo camera, as they have done with all of their D-SLR models.

[Buba Kastorski]

does MKIII black out on HDMI when you hit record as MKII?

[Steve Maller]

IMHO Canon have made it quite clear that they have listened to everybody's input and built the ultimate video camera. It's not the 5D Mark III, though. It's the EOS C300. It's quite clear to me that Canon still consider the 5D Mark III and the 1DX to be primarily still cameras.