Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII
50 Imaging
47 Features
38 Overall
43


55 Imaging
67 Features
74 Overall
69
Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 8MP - APS-H Sensor
- 2" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Canon EF Mount
- 1565g - 156 x 158 x 80mm
- Launched June 2004
- Previous Model is Canon 1D
- Newer Model is Canon 1D MII N
(Full Review)
- 22MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Canon EF Mount
- 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
- Launched May 2012
- Superseded the Canon 5D MII
- New Model is Canon 5D MIV

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Overview
Here is a in-depth overview of the Canon 1D MII versus Canon 5D MIII, one being a Pro DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both sold by Canon. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the 1D MII (8MP) and 5D MIII (22MP) and the 1D MII (APS-H) and 5D MIII (Full frame) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

The 1D MII was manufactured 9 years prior to the 5D MIII and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon 1D MII being a Large SLR camera and the Canon 5D MIII being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the 1D MII grades against the 5D MIII in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon EOS-1D Mark II and Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The entire galleries are provided at Canon 1D MII Gallery and Canon 5D MIII Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 1D MII over the Canon 5D MIII
1D MII | 5D MIII |
---|
Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Canon 1D MII
5D MIII | 1D MII | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | May 2012 | ![]() | June 2004 | Fresher by 96 months |
Display size | 3.2" | ![]() | 2" | Larger display (+1.2") |
Display resolution | 1040k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+810k dot) |
Common features in the Canon 1D MII and Canon 5D MIII
1D MII | 5D MIII | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Missing Touch friendly display |
Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon 1D MII provides physical measurements of 156mm x 158mm x 80mm (6.1" x 6.2" x 3.1") and a weight of 1565 grams (3.45 lbs) and the Canon 5D MIII has specifications of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs).
Check out the Canon 1D MII versus Canon 5D MIII in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the 1D MII vs the 5D MIII.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the 1D MII and 5D MIII is 50 and 55 respectively.

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it's tough to see the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the 1D MII and 5D MIII.
All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 1D MII because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Canon 5D MIII will give you more detail due to its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older 1D MII is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Specifications
Canon EOS-1D Mark II | Canon EOS 5D Mark III | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Canon |
Model | Canon EOS-1D Mark II | Canon EOS 5D Mark III |
Class | Pro DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Launched | 2004-06-14 | 2012-05-22 |
Physical type | Large SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Digic 5+ |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-H | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 28.7 x 19.1mm | 36 x 24mm |
Sensor area | 548.2mm² | 864.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 8 megapixel | 22 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 |
Peak resolution | 3504 x 2336 | 5760 x 3840 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 25600 |
Highest enhanced ISO | - | 102400 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Minimum enhanced ISO | - | 50 |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 45 | 61 |
Cross focus points | - | 41 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Canon EF | Canon EF |
Total lenses | 250 | 250 |
Crop factor | 1.3 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2 inch | 3.2 inch |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 1,040 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen tech | - | Clear View II TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.72x | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 9.0 frames per second | 6.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | External | no built-in flash |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | 1/250 seconds | 1/200 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | H.264 |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Optional |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 1565 gr (3.45 lbs) | 950 gr (2.09 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 156 x 158 x 80mm (6.1" x 6.2" x 3.1") | 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 66 | 81 |
DXO Color Depth score | 22.3 | 24.0 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 11.1 | 11.7 |
DXO Low light score | 1003 | 2293 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 950 images |
Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | LP-E6 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II), SD card | Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 2 |
Cost at release | $6,500 | $2,780 |