Canon EOS
5D Mark III
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

87

  
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

82

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
120 ms shutter lag
Focus points
 Many focus points
61
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark III
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 41 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,293 ISO vs 1,815 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 120 ms vs 206 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 More than 50% faster continuous shooting
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 79.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
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
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 22.1 MP vs 21 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 950 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark III

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 850 g vs 950 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $2,069.95 vs $3,249.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,180 cheaper (around 40% less)
Size Slightly smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 152x116x76 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark III
87 vs 82
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
5D Mark III:2,293 ISO
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
0.71x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Thickness Thin Help
3"
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
5D Mark III:950 g
5D Mark II:850 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark III:6 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
5D Mark III:11.7 EV
5D Mark II:11.9 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 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 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Much larger
True resolution Lower true resolution
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the EOS 5D Mark III

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 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark II

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Avatar for Jennifer Grapentine Jennifer Grapentine (8:28 PM, May 16, 2013)
These are hardly "minor". Get your hands on one and take it for a spin... On paper they look small but they translate to a thing of beauty!
 
Avatar for Jennifer Grapentine Jennifer Grapentine (8:25 PM, May 16, 2013)
I just upgraded from the MK II to the MK III it was 100% worth it! I can't tell you the huge difference in words. The DIII handles low light/noise like a dream and all the extra focus points alone make it worth it! It also has a much more sturdy feel to it. Out of all my upgrades I'm happiest with this one! From the original rebel, 40D, 5D MKII to the 5D Mk III.
 
Avatar for Chris Chris (1:10 AM, January 06, 2013)
Minor improvements... I have read other sites, and the 5D MK III has almost 2 stops improvement. Plus, it will have Clean HDMI output, F/8 AF, a much nicer frame rate too. The 1Ds MK III was $7,000 when it first came out along with the 5D MK II, and the 5D MK III is better than the 1DS Mk III. The original 5D was $3200. Maybe it is not a camera to upgrade for some, but for someone who will be buying his first full frame, it does what I want it to.
 
Indy (2:51 AM, November 20, 2012)
$1500 for minor improvements and an extra card slot? Really, this camera was more like a minor update instead of a brand new camera that made major improvements. It kind of felt like Canon rolled out a new one just because the new camera gen is being rolled out with its competitors. The 5D MK ll will certainly last until "real" improvements need to be made.
 
Chris (9:22 AM, September 16, 2012)
I see the extra $1500 to be worth it. 61 freaking AF points... That's crazy! And the better low light capabilities, and the headphone jack! Considering the 1DS MK III cost $1,000 more than the 5D mk III, it's a good deaL. And you can find MK III's for as low as 2700' which is how much rhe mk II was.
 
Danileduard (0:23 AM, May 24, 2012)
200% agree on that :)
 
treepop (3:33 PM, April 20, 2012)
Meh...unless you need fps and you don't like using the center focus point there is no point spending $1500 more.  Buy better glass!