Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

87

Winner

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

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

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.71x
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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
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
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,130.11 vs $7,996.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $5,867 cheaper (3.8x less)
Weight Significantly lighter 850 g vs 1,260 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
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
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 D3X

Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 850 shots
Help
More than 5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 79.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
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
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Low light performance Slightly 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
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 Slightly 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
83 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X.

advice

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0
votes
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
votes
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
votes
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
D3X:1,992 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
5D Mark II:79.0
D3X:88.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
5D Mark II:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D3X:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
5D Mark II:23.7 bits
D3X:24.7 bits
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
D3X:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
5D Mark II:21 MP
D3X:24.4 MP
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
D3X:1,260 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
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
D3X:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
D3X:5 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
D3X:None
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
5D Mark II:1
D3X: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

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
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

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
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
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 slightly 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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
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 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

discussion

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