Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

73

"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
"The 'denser' build and slightly chunkier grip on the EOS 5D Mark II does make it feel that bit more substantial than the EOS 50D, you know there's something special about it from the moment you lift it. That said it's also lighter than an EOS-1D series (obviously) and therefore is more portable for it."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,815 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
79.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.7 bits
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.71x
True resolution
High true resolution
21 MP
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Canon Rebel T3

36

Runner-up

Canon Rebel T3

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3

Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
Light-weight
459 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3

Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 30% more lenses available
Size Smaller 130x100x78 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 459 g vs 850 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Cheaper $329.96 vs $2,198.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,868 cheaper (6.7x less)
Canon Rebel T3 Learn more about
the Canon T3

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 62.0
Help
Around 30% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 755 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the T3
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 80% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
30% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3 Canon Rebel T3
36 vs 73
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

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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 Hannah-Brett last week
Canon T3 vs Canon Rebel XSi

Im a beginner photography who Is looking to upgrade from a high-end point and shoot. I defiantly...

0
votes
by Olivia-Robinson this month
Canon T3 vs Canon Rebel XSi

-I am a beginner. -I like to take all kinds, I am in a class right now and we practice all th...

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 sport and ..."

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

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

Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T3:3 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO

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

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $575 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon Rebel T3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Color depth Better color depth
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Thickness Much thinner
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Color depth Better color depth
Live view No live view
Movie format Does not take movies

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Focus points Many more focus points
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Lowest price More expensive
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range More dynamic range
Focus points Significantly more focus points
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,199 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Focus points Many more focus points
Movie format Does not take movies
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Thickness Thicker
Size Larger

appearance

Canon Rebel T3 Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon Rebel T3 Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon Rebel T3 Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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