Canon EOS
1D X
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
"the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality - especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's image-quality
"The original 5D was the first 'affordable' and lightweight full frame camera, and set a standard for low noise at high ISO settings that remains competitive three years later."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Thickness
 Thin
3"
Canon EOS 1D X

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 1D X

Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.76x
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
51,200 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
14 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon 1D X
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 51,200 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 1D X's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 14 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 41 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Focus points Many more focus points 61 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 36 ms vs 206 ms
Help
 5.7x less delay when taking photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The 1D X's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.76x vs 0.71x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 80% more shots per battery charge
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 1D X Learn more about
the Canon 1D X

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Size Much smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 158x164x83 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Weight Much lighter 850 g vs 1,530 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,153.81 vs $6,799.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,645 cheaper (3.2x less)
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II
vs

recommendations

Snapsort can't make a recommendation (yet) because it doesn't have enough data yet about the 1D X.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the 1D X or the 5D Mark II,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."
0
votes
by ZeroXR 6 days ago
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I am considering a future upgrade later on down the line between the 5D Mark II and the 60D. To ...
0
votes
by Ahmed-Khalil last month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I'm a beginner with such kind of cameras. I want to have my own camera to shoot my short films a...
0
votes
by Poti-Jouseevis-Potgieter last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures

3 people recommend the Canon 600D:

" If you are a "beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures" I would recommend ..."

" If you are completely new to DSLR photography then having a 5D2 will give you a very steep learn..."

" The 5D Mark II is a far superior camera to the 600D. But if you're going to be doing wildlife p..."
0
votes
by Kostas-Nomikos last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

Which is better for video shooting?

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
1D X:0.76x
5D Mark II:0.71x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
1D X:1,530 g
5D Mark II:850 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,900 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 1D X
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 1D X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Much more shutter lag
Compare the D4 vs the EOS 1D X
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the D3X vs the EOS 1D X
Canon EOS-1D C

Canon EOS-1D C

Pro DSLR

$16,068 body only
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the EOS-1D C vs the EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

appearance

Canon EOS 1D X Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1D X Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1D X Canon EOS 5D Mark II

discussion

Showing 0 comments