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Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII

Portability
59
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 20D front
 
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Key Specs

Canon 20D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 770g - 144 x 106 x 72mm
  • Released November 2004
  • Older Model is Canon 10D
  • Successor is Canon 30D
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
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Replaced the Canon 5D MII
  • New Model is Canon 5D MIV
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Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both are offered by Canon. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the 20D (8MP) and 5D MIII (22MP) and the 20D (APS-C) and 5D MIII (Full frame) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The 20D was brought out 8 years before the 5D MIII and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the 20D scores vs the 5D MIII with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 20D over the Canon 5D MIII

 20D 5D MIII 

Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Canon 20D

 5D MIII 20D 
IntroducedMay 2012November 2004Fresher by 91 months
Display dimensions3.2"1.8"Larger display (+1.4")
Display resolution1040k118kCrisper display (+922k dot)

Common features in the Canon 20D and Canon 5D MIII

 20D 5D MIII 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon 20D features physical measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") and a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) whilst the Canon 5D MIII has dimensions of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs).

Look at the Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the 20D compared to the 5D MIII.

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the 20D and 5D MIII is 59 and 55 respectively.

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII top view buttons comparison

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The graphic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the 20D and 5D MIII.

To sum up, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 20D featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Canon 5D MIII will provide greater detail having its extra 14MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older 20D will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII sensor size comparison

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 20D Portrait photography information
Canon 5D MIII Portrait photography information
47
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
80
manual focus
resolution is good (22 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 20D Street photography info
Canon 5D MIII Street photography info
53
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
58
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (950g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 20D as a Sports photography camera
Canon 5D MIII as a Sports photography camera
44
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
resolution is good (22 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 20D Travel photography advice
Canon 5D MIII Travel photography advice
46
has built in flash
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
51
environment proof
resolution is good (22MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (950 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 20D Landscape photography features
Canon 5D MIII Landscape photography features
46
manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (1.8")
no liveview feature
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
resolution is good (22 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 20D Vlogging information
Canon 5D MIII Vlogging information
9
can't record video
27
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic support
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (950 grams)
Photography Glossary

Canon 20D vs Canon 5D MIII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 20D and Canon 5D MIII
 Canon EOS 20DCanon EOS 5D Mark III
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 20D Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2004-11-03 2012-05-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Digic 5+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 337.5mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 22 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 3504 x 2336 5760 x 3840
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Max enhanced ISO 3200 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 61
Cross type focus points - 41
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Canon EF
Available lenses 326 250
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8" 3.2"
Display resolution 118k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Clear View II TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 770 grams (1.70 pounds) 950 grams (2.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 144 x 106 x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 62 81
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 11.7
DXO Low light rating 721 2293
Other
Battery life - 950 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LP-E6
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail cost $1,300 $2,780