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

Nikon D3

87

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

83

"the EOS 5D Mark II has an awful lot to recommend it to the serious photographer."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's overall-performance
"the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality - especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Much smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
More than 40% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 850 g vs 1,300 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.70x
Help
Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 850 shots
Help
More than 5x more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 1,815 ISO
Help
The D3 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 206 ms
Help
2.3x less delay when taking photos
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 79.0
Help
Almost the same
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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
83 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

advice

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0
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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
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by Kostas-Nomikos last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

Which is better for video shooting?

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 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
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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
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
D3:2,290 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
5D Mark II:79.0
D3:81.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
5D Mark II:23.7 bits
D3:23.5 bits
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
D3:0.70x
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
Weight Heavy Help
5D Mark II:850 g
D3:1,300 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
6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
25,600 ISO
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
5D Mark II:1
D3:15
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
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

Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Has significantly more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3

discussion

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