Canon EOS
5D
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D 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
True resolution
 High true resolution
21 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS 5D

61
Runner-up

Canon EOS 5D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D
Snapsort is not aware of any important advantages of the Canon 5D vs the Canon 5D Mark II.
Canon EOS 5D Learn more about
the Canon 5D

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% 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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Overall image quality Better image quality 79.0 vs 71.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 1,368 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 70% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
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 coverage Better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 30% faster continuous shooting
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
Lowest price Cheaper $2,130.11 vs $3,991.31
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,861 cheaper (around 50% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 850 g vs 895 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
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 Canon EOS 5D
61 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
0.71x
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
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weight Heavy Help
5D:895 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
5D:3 fps
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D:1,600 ISO
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
5D:152x113x75 mm
5D Mark II:152x114x75 mm
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
5D:3,200 ISO
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
5D:96%
5D Mark II:98%
Screen size Very small screens Help
5D:2.5"
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 5D
Compare the EOS 7D 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
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D
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
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D
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
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D
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
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D
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 5D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 5D.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 5D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Canon EOS 5D Mark II

discussion

Showing 5 comments

Avatar for Сергей Зубов Сергей Зубов (10:30 AM, January 31, 2012)
5d used is twice cheaper. For photo i'll better consider 5d (I) cause both camera has same  AF on practice
 
Avatar for Сергей Зубов Сергей Зубов (3:41 PM, January 28, 2012)
5d first is better for true photo because has a smaller megapixel. I love 5d first and never change this perfect camera for second. Only 3rd mark I'll consider as real improvement of upgrade
 
Engr Omerfarooq (5:08 PM, November 11, 2011)
demand and supply rule. no more 5d production from canon also no demand from consumers other then antique collectors
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (6:49 PM, February 10, 2011)
Older cameras like the 5D aren't generally available for sale. For some reason, there are a few retailers who try to sell them at high prices :)
 
Lalaland87 (6:32 PM, February 10, 2011)
I'm just curious: why is the 5D so much more expensive than the 5D Mark II??