Canon
EOS-1Ds Mark II
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

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

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

83
"the EOS 5D Mark II has an awful lot to recommend it to the serious photographer."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's overall-performance
"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

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
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

59

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
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-1Ds Mark II Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.0"
Help
 More than 50% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Overall image quality Better image quality 79.0 vs 74.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 1,480 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 16.6 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 156x158x80 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Weight Much lighter 850 g vs 1,565 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.70x
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
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-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
59 vs 83
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

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
EOS-1Ds Mark II:0.70x
5D Mark II:0.71x
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
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
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,565 g
5D Mark II:850 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:4 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:1,600 ISO
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:3,200 ISO
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
EOS-1Ds Mark II:2.0"
5D Mark II:3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Focus points Has much more focus points
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D700 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-1Ds Mark II
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-1Ds Mark II
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
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
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
True resolution Lower true resolution
Size Larger
Compare the D3 vs the EOS-1Ds Mark II

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
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
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
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

appearance

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II

discussion

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