Canon EOS
5D Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D2Xs

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D2Xs

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

83
"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

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
Nikon D2Xs

47
Runner-up

Nikon D2Xs

Reasons to buy the Nikon D2Xs

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Overall image quality Much better image quality 79.0 vs 59.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 489 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has excellent image quality 1.9 f-stops higher ISO than the D2Xs
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 235k dots
Help
 Around 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 10.9 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.57x
Help
 Around 60% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.7x15.7mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 158x150x86 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.4"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,198.00 vs $7,210.58
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,013 cheaper (3.3x less)
Weight Significantly lighter 850 g vs 1,200 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
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
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D2Xs
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D2Xs Learn more about
the Nikon D2Xs
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
83 vs 47
Explain scores
Nikon D2Xs Nikon D2Xs
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

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 DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
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 Mark II:850 g
D2Xs:1,200 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
D2Xs:800 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
D2Xs:5 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
D2Xs:3,200 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
5D Mark II:3.0"
D2Xs:2.5"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared 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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D2Xs
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D2Xs
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,199 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D700 vs the D2Xs
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D800 vs the D2Xs
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D2Xs
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D5100 vs the D2Xs
Canon EOS 5D

Canon EOS 5D

Pro DSLR

$3,991 - $4,273 with 24-105mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 5D vs the D2Xs

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Focus points Many more focus points
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III 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 flip-out screen
Lens availability More lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D2Xs Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Placeholder

Nikon D2X

Pro DSLR
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the D2X vs the D2Xs
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,300 body only
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D200 vs the D2Xs
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$2,000 body only
Screen size Much larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the D300 vs the D2Xs
Nikon D2H

Nikon D2H

Pro DSLR
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Much worse image quality
Compare the D2H vs the D2Xs

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D2Xs
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D2Xs
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D2Xs

discussion

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