Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

73

"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

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 EOS 500D

52

Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Weight
Light-weight
520 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D

Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 30% more lenses available
Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 159 ms vs 206 ms
Help
More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3"
Help
Around 20% thinner
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
Weight Significantly lighter 520 g vs 850 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Lowest price Cheaper $539.00 vs $2,130.11
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,591 cheaper (4x less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2 more bits of color
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the 500D
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 63.0
Help
Around 30% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.54x
Help
More than 70% larger viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
Capture around 40% more detail in your 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
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 400 shots
Help
More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.9 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
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 EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
52 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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0
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by Amauri-Di-Maia this month
Canon 40D vs Canon 500D

In 40D I love the body construction Metal and I like heavy cameras! Other thing I appreciate is ...

0
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by Sooraj-Nair this month
Canon 500D vs Nikon D3100

Which one should I buy canon 550d or nikon 3100?

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" The Nikon D3100 has better low light image quality, it takes excellent quality photos up to 919 ..."

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 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
Thickness Thin Help
500D:2.4"
5D Mark II:3"
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
500D:3.4 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
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
500D:3,200 ISO
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$704 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$582 body only

Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
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 D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 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 EOS 500D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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