Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

74

"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

True resolution
High true resolution
21 MP
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,815 ISO
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.71x
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

43

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Size
Really small
Prosumer size 117x80x78 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
Light-weight
550 g
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Help
Around 35x larger sensor
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 207k dots
Help
Around 4.5x higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 21 MP vs 8 MP
Help
Capture more than 2.5x more detail in your photos
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
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
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.9 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/3200s
Help
2.5x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Canon S5 IS

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Size Significantly smaller 117x80x78 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
More than 40% smaller
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 550 g vs 850 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Learn more about
the Canon S5 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
74 vs 43
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS
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 pro DSLR with a super zoom.

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 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?

0
votes
by ZeroXR last week
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I am considering a future upgrade later on down the line between the 5D Mark II and the 60D. To ...

0
votes
by Ahmed-Khalil last month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I'm a beginner with such kind of cameras. I want to have my own camera to shoot my short films a...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
5D Mark II:Pentaprism
S5 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
5D Mark II:1/8000s
S5 IS:1/3200s
Weight Heavy Help
5D Mark II:850 g
S5 IS:550 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
5D Mark II:3"
S5 IS:3.1"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
5D Mark II:152x114x75 mm
S5 IS:117x80x78 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is significantly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 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

Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Overall image quality Worse image quality
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

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Weight Heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Autofocus Video autofocus
Focus points Significantly more focus points
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,199 body only

Focus points Significantly more focus points
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Movie format Does not take movies
True resolution Much lower true resolution
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 flip-out screen
Battery life Longer battery life
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Sensor size Much smaller sensor

Canon PowerShot S5 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Thicker
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

$743

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Size Larger
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Travel zoom

$134 - $245

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Much larger screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$146 - $179

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Size Larger

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon PowerShot S5 IS

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