Canon EOS
5D Mark II
 vs
Nikon
D3X

Nikon D3X

100
Tie

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,992 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

99
"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 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
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Size Much smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lowest price Much cheaper $2,330.54 vs $7,999.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,669 cheaper (3.4x less)
Weight Significantly lighter 850 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.70x
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Nikon D3X
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 88.0 vs 79.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 More than 5x more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 1,815 ISO
Help
 The D3X has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 21 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 161 ms vs 206 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
99 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow 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
 Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Nikon D3X
NikonD3X
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
20
18
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
9
23
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
13
25
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
7
26
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
16
18
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
12
20
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
9
24
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
D3X:1,992 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
5D Mark II:79.0
D3X:88.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
5D Mark II:23.7 bits
D3X:24.7 bits
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
5D Mark II:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D3X:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
D3X:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
5D Mark II:21 MP
D3X:24.4 MP
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
5D Mark II:400 ms
D3X:300 ms
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
D3X:1,260 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
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

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
D3X:None
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
D3X:5 fps
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
D3X:1,600 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3X
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D700 vs the D3X
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D800 vs the D3X
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3X
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D3X
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is significantly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3X

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3X.

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3X
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3X
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D3X

Find similar cameras

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

discussion Which do you think is better?

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