Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 50D 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

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 50D

60
Runner-up

Canon EOS 50D
"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"It feels solid, reliable and 'well sorted' from an ergonomics point of view"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 30% more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 206 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
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
Size Smaller 146x108x74 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $1,281.99 vs $2,130.11
Help
 The best price we've seen is $848 cheaper (around 40% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 822 g vs 850 g
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has excellent image quality 1.4 f-stops higher ISO than the 50D
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
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 11.4 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 850 shots vs 640 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
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 pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
60 vs 83
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

advice

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I am considering either the 50D or the 5D Mark II,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 50D

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 Scott-Harmon last week
Canon T3i vs Canon 50D

i am taking my wife on an Alaskan cruise.  I keep thinking just take my 50D and not my video, bu...

2 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" I get a chuckle when Adorama in NYC lists Canon 50D as "vintage" but in a way that seems fitting..."

" Canon is the leader in the DSLR video market, and the Canon T3i is one of the best entry level D..."
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?
4
votes
by Ila-Das last month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 7D

I am a beginner and image quality is my priority

3 people recommend the Canon 5D Mark II:

" Most amateurs are recommended to start with a cropped sensor camera (7D is cropped).  But if you..."

"The 5D Mark II and 7D are both great choices for starting out as a professional. However, the 5D h..."
One person recommends the Canon 7D:

"It actually depends on what type of professional you want to be. For sports/action shots, the 7d i..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Thickness Thin Help
50D:2.9"
5D Mark II:3"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
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
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
50D:3,200 ISO
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
50D:146x108x74 mm
5D Mark II:152x114x75 mm
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
50D:$1,281.99
5D Mark II:$2,130.11
Weight Light weight Help
50D:822 g
5D Mark II:850 g
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
50D:12,800 ISO
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
50D:9
5D Mark II:1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
50D:95%
5D Mark II:98%
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
50D:640 shots
5D Mark II:850 shots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
50D:6.3 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Screen size Very small screens Help
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
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 7D 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
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D 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
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III 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
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D7000 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
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
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
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
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 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 50D.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the D700 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 50D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 5D Mark II

discussion

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