imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, folks - the Canon 24-70 II is sharper than anyone else's zoom - and also sharper than primes ! ( I am ready for the flak) - not to mention the Canon 24 tilt/shift. It is my idea of a perfect lens also ! However, I do like the Sony's in camera HDR and sweep panoramas - and the EVF in low light !

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, the Nikon 800 with Nikon lens has the ultimate resolution as seen here - http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/01/a-24-70mm-system-comparison - but there are "other" considerations. ....Here - http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/09/canon-24-70-f2-8-ii-resolution-tests - is why the Canon 24-70 II is the "best" ....

Gobuster Loc: South Florida

Don't lose sight of what the OP does - as stated above! A friend of mine has similar needs, he was quite happy with his Canon 5D Mk III until he tried a D800E. We made 24 x 36" prints from both after cropping and the 800E just was better in every respect, resolution, high ISO noise and dynamic range. He wound up selling all his Canon stuff and now shoots the D800E. I'm sure Canon is working on their answer to the D800E and when it comes it will be spectacular, then, he will switch again! For the moment, if you print large and like to crop, the D800E is top of the heap in full frame DSLR's! Canon fanboys hate this, but I'm sure they won't have to wait too long before Canon trumps Nikon and the cycle continues! Stand by!

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^I'm betting Canon doesn't even try to come up with something to compete in that market segment.

They'll continue to specialize in sports photography.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

CHOLLY, everyone's different. The A99 is probably the better choice for the OP. It's a great camera, especially for the OP's needs. The D800 would be better...
Your recommendation to go to a store and check them out side by side is solid.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Let's not ignore that NYJoe has come back and defined his style of cropping.
It turns out, he is not a true Banshee, but crops as necessary to prepare a shot as any consciences photog would do. He is NOT actually doing huge crops with pictures within picture, which is the only place the 800 might, actually have an advantage.
In light of that, if he wants an all around shooter, the 5lll is a much better choice. It's flat out a more versatile camera.
And to say that the 800, in good light, has a flawless focus system, is to say that it's focus system is as good as the 4d, and it simply is not even close to that, unless you're only snap shooting with it.
And yes, the 5lll DOES have the exact same focus system as the 1dx, complete with the 41 cross-focus points. If you think the focus systems from the 800 and the 5lll are equal, then just get the 800, as you have no idea what the 5lll is truely good for, and will probably never need it's strengths.
But in the end, in the real world, all the printed images from both will be the same, as the printers will make more difference than the cameras.
For many, photography is purely a numbers game. In the real world, for a pro, the numbers are just marketing. I'd rather lock focus 5% more of the time, since my money shots will come from those difficult to get 5%, not the same 95% of the shots that everybody else got!! :lol:
SS

amehta Loc: Boston

:thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Eloquently stated ! - the Canon lens selection may be the deciding factor over the Nikon or Sony - especially for sports and wildlife - Curious as to whether the OP has considered a FILM camera like the Mamiya 7 ? - more expensive I know.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

My point was that the actual output of a product can be perceived differently than its measured-in-a-laboratory numbers (empirical data) might suggest. I'm also stating that the data from any of these top-level cameras simply state that even though they are all contenders, other factors probably will come into consideration that will be deciding factors; i.e. EVF, actual image product, lens selection for the OP's specific applications, croppability of the image, cost, and ergonomics. ;) :-)

amehta Loc: Boston

The Nikon lens selection "for sports and wildlife" stack up quite nicely against the Canon choices.

amehta Loc: Boston

The 5DMarkIII has the same AF processor as the 1DX, so it gets credit for that. But even though the D800 has the same AF unit as the D4, "it simply is not even close to that"? The intellectual contortions required to make your fangirl mode work are amazing. :-(

Gobuster Loc: South Florida

SS states: "But in the end, in the real world, all the printed images from both will be the same, as the printers will make more difference than the cameras. "

I disagree in general with that statement. Yes, printers will make a difference, but, we need to compare prints made with the same printer. In my case this is an Epson 7900 and prints 24 x 36" were made from the 5d MK III and D800E at 300 dpi. The shadow detail was much better in the D800E prints, and, overall the tonal range seemed "smoother" not to mention appearing sharper. BTW, also felt the Sony A7R prints had superior IQ to the 5D Mk III very close to the D800E. I'd be first to agree that with smaller prints the difference will be less noticeable.

I don't own either camera and can't speak to the focus systems. My feeling is that the Nikon flash system is better as the popup unit is both handy and acts as a controller for remote units. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. You can always slip a flash into the hot shoe if desired.

As to lenses, some Canon are better than Nikon and some Nikon are better than Canon, and some Zeiss may be better than both, but in the end I find it harder to see a difference in the lens than in the IQ from the sensor.

So based on personal experience, I'll stick with my opinion that, if big prints and fine detail are your thing, the best performer currently available is the D800/800E followed by the Sony A7R. But, let's face it, the 5D Mk III could hardly be labeled bad either! I'd be happy to own any of the three!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

[quote=amehta]I'm curious why the Sony A7r/Nikon D800 aren't in the conversation? For most people, 36mp instead of 24mp isn't a big difference, but you seem to be the exception.[/quote
Forget I'm here, I did not read that comment right, so I deleted what I said before.

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

Image Meister.....I sold a wonderful Mamiya 6 to buy my first 5d nine years ago. Then I missed it, so I bought a good used ga645zi. I had it for a year and shot two rolls that I think are still rolling around in my desk drawers. Then I sold a few of my b&w 5d prints and never looked back. When I was a boy I had an old mutt of a a dog named Tim...loved him dearly. Now I have Spanky....a goldendoodle ...and I love him dearly also and would not trade him back for old Tim.

(Download)

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

PS: the ga645zi was a Fujifilm