Canon EOS
5D Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (April, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D3200

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

73
"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

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 D3100

45
Runner-up

Nikon D3100
"The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's image-quality
"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3100's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Weight
 Light-weight
505 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 90% larger viewfinder
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.9 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 21 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 206 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 30% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Size Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 152x114x75 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
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
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 850 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $2,130.11
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,630 cheaper (4.3x less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
73 vs 45
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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1
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by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
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1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 5 days ago
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I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

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0
votes
by Larisa-Dragan this month
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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Thickness Thin Help
5D Mark II:3"
D3100:2.9"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
D3100:3 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Focus points Few focus points Help
5D Mark II:9
D3100:11
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
D3100:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D3100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
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 screen which flips out
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the D3100

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 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
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
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
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Focus points Many more focus points
Movie format Does not take movies
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Thickness Thicker
Size Larger
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Screen size Much smaller screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Significantly thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Live view No live view
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3100

discussion

Showing 2 comments

KGTH (4:36 AM, October 10, 2011)
Jjajajjajaja
 
Jorge (4:35 AM, October 10, 2011)
pachos