Canon EOS
5D Mark II
vs
Nikon
D3

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Nikon D4

100

Tie	Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

	Low noise at high ISO
	2,290 ISO

	Great image quality
	81.0

	Great color depth
	23.5 bits

	Large viewfinder
	0.70x

	Weather sealed
	Shoot in extreme weather

	Rapid fire
	9 fps

Tie	Canon EOS 5D Mark II

"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

"In addition the adoption of high precision split-level alignment of the magnesium-alloy external covers, high precision dial construction and external rubber grip covers, has improved the camera's dust and water resistance."

dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

	Low noise at high ISO
	1,815 ISO

	Great image quality
	79.0

	Great color depth
	23.7 bits

	Large viewfinder
	0.71x

	High true resolution
	21 MP

	Weather sealed
	Shoot in extreme weather

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Shoots movies

1080p @ 30fps

None

Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures

Significantly higher true resolution

21 MP

12.1 MP

Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos

Much smaller

152x114x75 mm

160x157x88 mm

More than 40% smaller

Significantly lighter

850 g

1,300 g

More than 30% lighter

Significantly cheaper

$2,330.54

$6,682.39

The best price we've seen is $4,352 cheaper (2.9x less)

Significantly thinner

3.5"

More than 10% thinner

Better color depth

23.7 bits

23.5 bits

Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color

Slightly larger viewfinder

0.71x

0.70x

Almost the same

Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Lower noise at high ISO

2,290 ISO

1,815 ISO

The D3 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

Much longer battery life

4300 shots

850 shots

More than 5x more shots per battery charge

Many more focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Shoots significantly faster

9 fps

3.9 fps

Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting

Significantly more cross-type focus points

Grab focus in difficult situations

Significantly less shutter lag

88 ms

206 ms

2.3x less delay when taking photos

More dynamic range

12.2 EV

11.9 EV

0.3 f-stops more dynamic range

Slightly better image quality

81.0

79.0

Almost the same

Has more storage slots

More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards

Better viewfinder coverage

100%

98%

Almost the same

Less startup delay

300 ms

400 ms

Around 30% less delay when turning on

Learn more about
the Nikon D3

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

98	vs	100
Explain scores

Nikon D3

Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

	CanonEOS 5D Mark II		vs		NikonD3


Uses	Travel On holiday or vacation	13		7
Uses	Travel On holiday or vacation	Vote		Vote

	Sports Fast action, sometimes indoors	5		11
	Sports Fast action, sometimes indoors	Vote		Vote

Features	Color accuracy White balance in varied lighting	10		8
Features	Color accuracy White balance in varied lighting	Vote		Vote

	Still image focusing Speed and accuracy	5		10
	Still image focusing Speed and accuracy	Vote		Vote

	Manual settings How quickly and easily you can change settings	7		10
		Vote		Vote

	Build quality Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal	5		13
	Build quality Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal	Vote		Vote

Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Very low noise at high ISO

5D Mark II:	1,815 ISO
D3:	2,290 ISO

Good image quality

5D Mark II:	79.0
D3:	81.0

	Very large sensors
	Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

Good color depth

5D Mark II:	23.7 bits
D3:	23.5 bits

Above average viewfinder size

5D Mark II:	0.71x
D3:	0.70x

	Weather sealed
	Shoot in extreme weather

High resolution screens

5D Mark II:	920k dots
D3:	922k dots

	Both have pentaprism viewfinders
	Pentaprism

Minimal startup delay

5D Mark II:	400 ms
D3:	300 ms

	Fast max shutter speeds
	1/8000 of a second

	No built-in flash
	Professional

Heavy

5D Mark II:	850 g
D3:	1,300 g

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

	No flip-out screens
	Less flexible

	No video autofocus
	Manual focus only

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Neither camera can take 3D photos
	No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

	Poor boost ISO
	25,600 ISO

	Poor maximum light sensitivity
	6,400 ISO

dxomark

Image quality data for the Canon 5D Mark II provided by DxOMark
Image quality data for the Nikon D3 provided by DxOMark

competitors

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens

Slightly more lenses available

Has a self cleaning sensor

Has a much smaller sensor

Has slightly more shutter lag

Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only

Has a self cleaning sensor

Has a built-in flash

Is slightly heavier

Significantly less viewfinder coverage

Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the D700 vs the D3

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Can focus continuously while recording movies

Has a much smaller sensor

Has significantly more shutter lag

Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the D7000 vs the D3

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

Has a significantly larger screen

Takes much higher resolution photos

Is thicker

Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the D800 vs the D3

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Has a screen which flips out

Slightly more lenses available

Is thicker

Slightly less viewfinder coverage

Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only

Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity

Has much more cross-type focus points

Is slightly more expensive

Is thicker

Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D3

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Slightly more lenses available

Is significantly smaller

Has a slower max shutter speed

Significantly less viewfinder coverage

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3

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

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

appearance

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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Canon EOS
5D Mark II
vs
Nikon
D3

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3