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Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Released April 2006
  • Succeeded the Canon 20D
  • Updated by Canon 40D
Canon 5D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 22MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Older Model is Canon 5D MII
  • Successor is Canon 5D MIV
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Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both are designed by Canon. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and 5D MIII (22MP) and the 30D (APS-C) and 5D MIII (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The 30D was revealed 7 years prior to the 5D MIII and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the 30D scores versus the 5D MIII when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Canon 5D MIII

 30D 5D MIII 

Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Canon 30D

 5D MIII 30D 
IntroducedMay 2012April 2006Fresher by 74 months
Screen size3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Canon 30D and Canon 5D MIII

 30D 5D MIII 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon 30D provides outside measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") with a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) and the Canon 5D MIII has proportions of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the 30D and the 5D MIII.

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 30D and 5D MIII is 58 and 55 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The visual below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the 30D and 5D MIII.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 30D having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Canon 5D MIII will produce greater detail because of its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older 30D will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 30D Portrait photography factors
Canon 5D MIII Portrait photography factors
51
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
80
you can focus manually
MP count decent (22MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D as a Street photography camera
Canon 5D MIII as a Street photography camera
52
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
58
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (950 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 30D
Sports photography with Canon 5D MIII
44
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count decent (22MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 30D Travel photography details
Canon 5D MIII Travel photography details
42
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (8MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
51
weather proof
MP count decent (22MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (950 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 30D Landscape photography info
Canon 5D MIII Landscape photography info
46
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
MP count decent (22MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D Vlogging details
Canon 5D MIII Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
27
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (950 grams)
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Canon 30D vs Canon 5D MIII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Canon 5D MIII
 Canon EOS 30DCanon EOS 5D Mark III
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2006-04-04 2012-05-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Digic 5+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 22 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 61
Cross focus points - 41
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Canon EF
Total lenses 326 250
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Clear View II TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 784 gr (1.73 pounds) 950 gr (2.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 59 81
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 11.7
DXO Low light score 736 2293
Other
Battery life - 950 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - LP-E6
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Price at release $773 $2,780