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

vs
Nikon D5100

67

Nikon D5100
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,815 ISO
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
400 ms startup delay
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

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 | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

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Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 90% larger viewfinder
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
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
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 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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
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
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

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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 205 lenses vs 156 lenses
Help
 More than 30% 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
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 850 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
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
Lowest price Cheaper $399.99 vs $2,759.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,360 cheaper (6.9x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II 82
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    Style
      Color
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        vs
        67 Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
        Retailer
          Style
            Color
              You save

              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
              Built-in focus motor No focus motor Help
              Won't autofocus with all lenses
              Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
              1
              Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
              5D Mark II:3.9 fps
              D5100:4 fps
              Focus points Few focus points Help
              5D Mark II:9
              D5100:11
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              6,400 ISO
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
              Risk of blur

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D3200

              Nikon D3200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $319 - $656 body only

              $399 - $477 with 18-55mm lens
              True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
              Canon Rebel T3i

              Canon Rebel T3i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $480 - $774 body only

              $200 - $617 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

              $597 - $647 body only

              $544 - $747 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 EOS 7D

              Canon EOS 7D

              Pro DSLR

              $915 - $1,299 body only

              $1,268 - $1,299 with 18-135mm lens
              Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
              Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
              Weight Is significantly heavier
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the EOS 7D vs the D5100
              Nikon D7000

              Nikon D7000

              Entry-level DSLR

              $701 - $840 body only

              $913 - $1,150 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
              Canon EOS 60D

              Canon EOS 60D

              Pro DSLR

              $699 - $871 body only

              $450 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
              Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
              Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
              Thickness Is thicker
              Weight Is slightly heavier
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
              Nikon D7100

              Nikon D7100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $1,097 - $1,147 body only

              $1,394 - $1,397 with 18-140mm lens
              Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
              Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
              Weight Is slightly heavier
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the D7100 vs the D5100

              Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Canon EOS 6D

              Canon EOS 6D

              Pro DSLR

              $1,899 body only

              $2,200 - $2,499 with 24-105mm lens
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
              Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
              Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
              Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Pro DSLR

              $3,399 body only

              $3,990 - $3,999 with 24-105mm lens
              Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
              Screen size Significantly larger screen
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
              Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Nikon D700

              Nikon D700

              Pro DSLR

              $3,395 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 D5100 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D3300

              Nikon D3300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $597 with 18-55mm lens
              Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
              True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
              Startup delay Much more startup delay
              HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
              Compare the D3300 vs the D5100
              Nikon D3100

              Nikon D3100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $380 - $427 with 18-55mm lens
              Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
              Thickness Thinner
              Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
              Nikon D5300

              Nikon D5300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $720 - $747 body only

              $847 with 18-55mm lens
              Screen size Significantly larger screen
              True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
              Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
              Lowest price Slightly more expensive
              Compare the D5300 vs the D5100
              Nikon D90

              Nikon D90

              Entry-level DSLR

              $575 - $629 body only

              $830 - $966 with 18-105mm lens
              Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
              Shutter lag Less shutter lag
              External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
              HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
              Compare the D90 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

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

              Report a correction
              Nikon D5100
              D5100
              Nikon

              Report a correction

              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.