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Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII

Portability
50
Imaging
47
Features
38
Overall
43
Canon EOS-1D Mark II front
 
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
Portability
55
Imaging
67
Features
74
Overall
69

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Key Specs

Canon 1D MII
(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
Canon 5D MIII
(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  • Superseded the Canon 5D MII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
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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.

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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.

Photography Glossary

        

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 
LaunchedMay 2012June 2004Fresher by 96 months
Display size3.2"2"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)

Common features in the Canon 1D MII and Canon 5D MIII

 1D MII 5D MIII 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

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

Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 1D MII Portrait photography advice
Canon 5D MIII Portrait photography advice
52
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (8MP)
80
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (22 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 1D MII
Street photography with Canon 5D MIII
45
decent sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
heavier than others in class (1,565g)
58
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (950g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 1D MII Sports photography advice
Canon 5D MIII Sports photography advice
48
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
megapixel count decent (22 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 1D MII Travel photography details
Canon 5D MIII Travel photography details
29
heavier than others in class (1,565g)
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
51
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (22 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (950g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 1D MII Landscape photography factors
Canon 5D MIII Landscape photography factors
48
has manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
megapixel count decent (22 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 1D MII Vlogging info
Canon 5D MIII Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
27
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (950g)
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Canon 1D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 1D MII and Canon 5D MIII
 Canon EOS-1D Mark IICanon 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