A fully-functional trial version of DxO Optics Pro v7.2.3 is available on the DxO Labs website. From the press release:

May 2, 2012 – DxO Labs announces the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v7.2.3 for Mac and Windows, its image processing software of reference for all serious photographers. This update allows DxO Optics Pro to offer support for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and for the Pentax K-01, the latest in the Pentax hybrid camera lineup.

AN EXCLUSIVE CALIBRATION PROCESS

DxO Optics Pro v7.2.3 has already integrated 70 DxO Optics Modules for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and 26 Modules for the Pentax K-01.

DxO Optics Modules are developed through a calibration process exclusive to DxO Labs, based on careful analysis of each camera and lens combination under different shooting conditions. This means that DxO Optics Pro automatically applies optical corrections for such problems as distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, and lack of sharpness in a way that is perfectly adapted to each user’s equipment.

Camera and lens performance analyses are available on DxOMark, the reference site for image quality measurements. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III has achieved the best score among all Canon digital cameras (more information about this camera here.)

I will not enter the discussion about the recently published DxO-Marks of the EOS 5D Mark III. It’s a technical measure made from a purely engineering point of view, and while being a valid benchmark it doesn’t tell the whole story. Period. It’s not that I am no happy that Canon obtained the best DxO Mark of its history, I am more surprised about the difference with other cameras (ok: with the Nikon D800 :-)). However, for all of us who are interested to know how DxO Labs performs their measure, which lab-setting they are using etc, there is a “behind the scenes” article by cnet that’s worth to be read. It’s long and detailed, and gives valuable insights. I liked the following excerpt:

Most people aren’t surprised to hear that high-end digital cameras offer higher resolution, lower noise, and better low-light performance than film. But there’s a common belief that film still surpasses digital when it comes to another important attribute, dynamic range, which measures the spread from where a scene is too bright for a camera to capture detail to where it’s so dark that details are lost in the image noise.

Indeed, most people are surprised when they are told that digital cameras have higher resolution, lower noise and better low-light performance!

EOS 5D Mark III price-check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via imaging-resource]

Canon issued a new product advisory regarding the EOS 5D Mark III and the infamous light-leaking issue. It looks as if Canon has identified the 5D Mark III batches that are affected by the issue: Products whose sixth digit in the serial number is 1 or 2 (e.g. xxxxx1xxxxxx or  xxxxx2xxxxxx, where x represents any optional number). Canon will provide a free inspection of you camera if you are worried about the light-leaking issue. Moreover, a firmware update for the 5D Mark III has been released (rel. 1.1.2, click on “software and drivers”, then select your operating system, then click on “firmware” to download). The firmware update fixes the following issues: 1. Supports a new accessory, GPS receiver GP-E2. 2. Fixes a phenomenon where a pink cast may develop over the image when the shutter is completely pressed with the camera’s power turned off (by the auto power off setting). 3. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera operation stops after one shot when shooting in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode. 4. Fixes a phenomenon where the Shooting Date/Time in the EXIF data of the image shows a later time than the actual shooting time. 5. Fixes the time zone for the Samoa Islands. 6. Corrects errors in the Finnish menu screen. (Products for the Japanese market do not display the Finnish menu.)

The full text of the light-leak product advisory: