Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100
Winner
Nikon D7100

85

vs
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

82

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7100

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,229k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

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Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 1,256 ISO
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 The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.61x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 206 ms vs 251 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D7100

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Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 11.9 EV
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 1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 1,229k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 30% higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Overall image quality Better image quality 83.0 vs 79.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 205 lenses vs 156 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 More than 50% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 24.2 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 24 MP vs 21 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Built-in focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
 Almost the same
Size Smaller 136x107x76 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
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 950 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Cheaper $1,096.95 vs $2,299.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,203 cheaper (2.1x less)
Weight Lighter 765 g vs 850 g
Help
 10% lighter
Nikon D7100 Learn more about
the Nikon D7100
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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        vs
        85 Nikon D7100 Nikon D7100
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              similarities

              Compared to recent DSLRs

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
              Shoot in extreme weather
              Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
              5D Mark II:400 ms
              D7100:300 ms
              Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
              Pentaprism
              Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
              1/8000 of a second
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              6,400 ISO
              Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
              Less flexible
              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
              Canon EOS 70D

              Canon EOS 70D

              Pro DSLR

              $1,049 - $1,150 body only

              $200 - $1,249 with 18-55mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
              Thickness Is thicker
              Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
              Compare the EOS 70D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the EOS 70D vs the D7100
              Nikon D7000

              Nikon D7000

              Entry-level DSLR

              $701 - $840 body only

              $913 - $989 with 18-105mm lens
              True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
              Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the D7000 vs the D7100
              Canon EOS 6D

              Canon EOS 6D

              Pro DSLR

              $1,899 body only

              $2,209 - $2,499 with 24-105mm lens
              Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
              Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the EOS 6D vs the D7100
              Nikon D610

              Nikon D610

              Pro DSLR

              $1,897 body only

              $2,397 - $2,400 with 24-85mm lens
              Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D610 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the D610 vs the D7100
              Canon EOS 7D

              Canon EOS 7D

              Pro DSLR

              $999 - $1,399 body only

              $1,299 - $1,699 with 18-135mm lens
              Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
              Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
              True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
              Color depth Has significantly less color depth
              Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the EOS 7D vs the D7100
              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Pro DSLR

              $3,399 body only

              $3,990 - $3,999 with 24-105mm lens
              Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
              Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
              Weight Is slightly heavier
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D7100
              Nikon D5200

              Nikon D5200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $597 - $647 body only

              $544 - $747 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 D5200 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
              Compare the D5200 vs the D7100

              Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

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

              Nikon D7100 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D5300

              Nikon D5300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $720 - $747 body only

              $847 with 18-55mm lens
              Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
              GPS Has a GPS
              Weather sealed No weather sealing
              Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
              Compare the D5300 vs the D7100

              appearance

              Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D7100
              Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D7100
              Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D7100

              discussion

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

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              Nikon D7100
              D7100
              Nikon

              Report a correction

              Showing 11 comments

              Abey (9:28 AM, June 26, 2014)
              Im not really a fan of Canon nor Nikon,but in this instance ive stumbled apon this site cause i wanted to know is its really true that the Nikond7100 is far better than the Canon 5Dii , me an a good friend also pro photographer took some really good pics whole day , abit of everything action , wedding , food ect and the Nikon came out tops in terms of colour and resolution and its just plain true im not even a nikon fan ...the cANON WAS AN IS STILL MINE BY THE WAY ...IM NOT CHANGING IT ...all im saying is ,its better
               
              Soctav (8:16 AM, April 24, 2014)
              I don't think this website favors one or an other. They have an algorithm that compares certain key features and give points for each. D7100 is not a better camera than 5dMark2. It is a better deal. Because the website takes the price into account as well. So you get more camera for the buck with d100 than with 5d mark2 and I am sure this si true. 5d is only slightly better and the price is way way larger. And in my opinion Canon always made better cameras but a lot more expensive than Nikon. So if you are an uncompromising professional, you wil go for Canon's top cameras. But if you can't afford Canon's best, you will probably be better buying Nikon.
               
              rajeev sharma (11:15 PM, April 06, 2014)
              i think each one shoot whom they feel by his her fellings.our thought not equal.only a simple way bright contrast and colour make us confused.otherwise both r best.price is matter if we spend same as mark3 maybe its littlebit better.only one shot u paid 50% more.a passioner need a cam or time.low light doesnot metter
               
              Avatar for Saad Nadeem Hashmi Saad Nadeem Hashmi (7:56 AM, April 03, 2014)
              Canon is Best
               
              Avatar for Peter Paul Poop Peter Paul Poop (7:10 AM, February 10, 2014)
              nice compare...nikon is the best!
               
              Avatar for VotingHasChanged VotingHasChanged (3:10 AM, November 28, 2013)
              LMAO at all the butt hurt losers who wasted their money on the 5D!
               
              Protographer (2:40 PM, September 19, 2013)
              This website is Nikon supporter or may be like Dpreview alike support Sony. For normal sense, full frame camera is always better then the crop sensor. Likewise full moon is brighter then the half moon.
               
              Avatar for Iulian Iulian (11:44 AM, August 23, 2013)
              I'm starting to think that this site is making Nikon look way good than Canon...
               
              KENJI CHOI (11:23 PM, June 11, 2013)
              you can not compare $2475 vs $1179 = $1296 THAT'S BIG DOLLARS???????????????
               
              vitalishe (9:32 PM, June 08, 2013)
              How is that a camera that costs 40% less is only slightly cheaper?
              Also D7100 totally dominates D7000 and D7000 tied with 5DM2.
              How in the world is this true?
               
              Avatar for David Jackson David Jackson (2:38 AM, March 29, 2013)
              A TIE!? It's like the d7000 vs the mark 2 review was copied and pasted.