Canon EOS
5D Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D5200

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

68

  
Nikon D5100

58

  

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
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 90% larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 206 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 79.0
Help
 Almost the same
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 Lighter 560 g vs 850 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $2,069.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,573 cheaper (4.2x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
68 vs 58
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
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 entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
D5100:4 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Focus points Few focus points Help
5D Mark II:9
D5100:11
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
5D Mark II:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$599 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D5100

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Viewfinder coverage Less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Color depth Better color depth
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 15 comments

impartial one (7:15 PM, February 19, 2012)
Guys really, the full-frame sensor beat the cropped!
 
impartial one (7:12 PM, February 19, 2012)
Actually it says the Canon won!
 
Chetjarvon (2:55 AM, January 18, 2012)
5D Mark II: full frame sensor. D5100: cropped sensor. 5D Mark II: 21.1 mp. D5100: 16.1 mp. 5D Mark II: used by some of the worlds greatest photographers and most pros that use Canon. D5100: Used by college students and entry level photographers. Need I say more? There's a reason why the pros choose this camera. I hate this site, lol.
 
Steve (2:43 AM, December 24, 2011)
Canon is popular because its cheaper.  At my school, more people use Canon cause they don't have the money for Nikon.
 
Avatar for Hammad Hammad (5:47 AM, November 27, 2011)
That fact that Nikon wins, is a clear indication that snapshot needs to re-adjust its point system. One area I looked at it popularity. 20,000 vs 98,000 in favour of Nikon against 5D. I think this should be more an amount you spend on camera not the units. Example you spend 3 times more on 5D so 1 Cannon = 3 Nikon. Obviously the rating system needs some serious work! I own D5100 and I know it probably isn't as good as 5D.
 
Matt (10:59 AM, November 14, 2011)
if you look on ebay the price is much less
 
Guest (2:46 AM, October 12, 2011)
Bah ha ha ha ha ha!  :D  How is this possible?  Guess all you Canon fans better be selling/ trading up to Nikon gear.
 
Viewer (9:12 AM, October 07, 2011)
Hard to believe that the intermediate level D5100 can compete with a Pro DSLR, otherwise why bother with the more expensive option
 
Viewer (9:07 AM, October 07, 2011)
I absolutely agree, if you go by Snapsort's reviews, then Nikon generally is much better than Canon. This might be true, but how do you explain that Canon is so popular.... Great website anyway.
 
Sathyabeleyur (5:29 PM, October 02, 2011)
I am the nikon user. Still I think snapsort website is supports nikon camera only. Comparing  Nikon D5100 v/s Canon 5D mark ||, it says nikon D5100 is best. How it is possible?
Canon 5D mark || has Full frame sensor & world wide winner. It is so silly & partial. Please give true reviews.
Thanks
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:37 PM, June 29, 2011)
We've fixed that up, thanks for pointing out the issue!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:38 PM, June 29, 2011)
Thanks for pointing that out Ed, we'll double check and fix that up!
 
Ed (8:19 AM, June 29, 2011)
Also, Canon 5D Mark II color depth is 23.7 bits, dynamic range 11.9 eV, "image quality" 80, etc... all your stats are from the 5D version 1, a camera introduced in 2005...
 
Ed (8:12 AM, June 29, 2011)
Your statistics for the Canon 5D Mark II are wrong.  Some of the stats most notably ISO performance are the numbers from the classic Canon 5D (should be 1815, not1368).  Please update the stats for a more accurate comparison.
 
Papa (4:41 PM, May 29, 2011)
2 sweet camrea's...   Nikon looks amazing and has it all, but the price is little out of reach for me.