recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
86 vs 69
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon 5D Mark II

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II at 1815 ISO exhibits about the same amount of noise as the D300S at 787 ISO
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
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Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Overall image quality Better image quality 79.0 vs 70.0
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More than 10% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36x24mm vs APS-C 23x15mm
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Around 2.5x larger sensor
Color depth Significantly better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
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Distinguishes around 2.5x more colors
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.62x
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More than 30% larger viewfinder
True resolution Much higher resolution 21 MP vs 12.3 MP
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More than 70% higher resolution
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
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The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
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The 5D Mark II's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Weight Lighter 850 g vs 938 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Reasons to consider the Nikon D300S

Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.9 EV
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Almost the same
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
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Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
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More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Lens availability More lenses available 131 lenses vs 111 lenses
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Around 20% more lenses available
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
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Get that real film feel
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
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A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Cheaper $1,489.00 vs $2,399.00
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The best price we've seen is $910 cheaper (more than 60% less)
Size Slightly smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
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Almost the same
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
Screen size Large screens Help
3.0"
Movie format Good movie support Help
5D Mark II:1080p @ 30fps
D300S:720p @ 24fps
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
D300S:0.62x
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
5D Mark II:11.9 EV
D300S:12.2 EV
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
5D Mark II:111 lenses
D300S:131 lenses
Live view Live view Help
Preview your photos
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
5D Mark II:98%
D300S:100%
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Very fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
5D Mark II:850 g
D300S:938 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
5D Mark II:152x114x75 mm
D300S:147x114x74 mm
Thickness Thin Help
5D Mark II:3"
D300S:2.9"

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

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,550 - $1,900 body only

$1,769 - $1,900 with 28-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Overall image quality Has slightly lower image quality
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$799 - $1,944 body only

$1,048 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$799 - $853 body only

$849 - $975 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is significantly smaller
Weight Is significantly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,379 - $2,700 body only

$3,167 - $3,370 with 24-120mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Weight Is slightly heavier
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$4,999 body only

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Light sensitivity (boost) Much higher boost light sensitivity
Weight Is significantly heavier
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,200 - $5,399 body only

$8,000 with 24-70mm lens

Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is significantly heavier
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,900 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Doesn't record movies

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Leica M9

Leica M9

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$7,750 body only

Size Much smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Viewfinder Doesn't have a through-the-lens viewfinder

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$630 - $680 body only

$750 - $766 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D300S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D300S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D300S

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion

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