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Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII

Portability
57
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Canon EOS 50D front
 
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Key Specs

Canon 50D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 822g - 146 x 108 x 74mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Previous Model is Canon 40D
  • Updated by Canon 60D
Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Superseded the Canon 5D
  • Refreshed by Canon 5D MIII
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Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII, both Advanced DSLR cameras and they are both sold by Canon. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the 50D (15MP) and 5D MII (21MP) and the 50D (APS-C) and 5D MII (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 50D was manufactured 3 months before the 5D MII which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the 50D scores versus the 5D MII in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 50D over the Canon 5D MII

 50D 5D MII 

Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Canon 50D

 5D MII 50D 

Common features in the Canon 50D and Canon 5D MII

 50D 5D MII 
LaunchedOctober 2008February 2009Same generation
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution920k920kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon 50D features outer dimensions of 146mm x 108mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 822 grams (1.81 lbs) while the Canon 5D MII has sizing of 152mm x 114mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") with a weight of 850 grams (1.87 lbs).

Analyze the Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the 50D against the 5D MII.

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 50D and 5D MII is 57 and 56 respectively.

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII top view buttons comparison

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 50D and 5D MII.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 50D because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Canon 5D MII will show greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII sensor size comparison

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 50D Portrait photography highlights
Canon 5D MII Portrait photography highlights
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
79
manual focus
resolution is good (21MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon 50D Street photography details
Canon 5D MII Street photography details
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
59
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 50D Sports photography features
Canon 5D MII Sports photography features
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (800 shots)
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 50D Travel photography features
Canon 5D MII Travel photography features
57
environment proofing
decent megapixels (15MP)
built-in flash
low battery pack (800 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
weather proofing
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 50D as a Landscape photography camera
Canon 5D MII as a Landscape photography camera
66
manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (800 shots)
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (21MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 50D as a Vlogging camera
Canon 5D MII as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
29
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 50D vs Canon 5D MII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 50D and Canon 5D MII
 Canon EOS 50DCanon EOS 5D Mark II
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-10-30 2009-02-13
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 21 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4752 x 3168 5616 x 3744
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Canon EF
Available lenses 326 250
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT liquid-crystal color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.3fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 822 gr (1.81 pounds) 850 gr (1.87 pounds)
Dimensions 146 x 108 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 11.9
DXO Low light score 696 1815
Other
Battery life 800 pictures 850 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-511A LP-E6
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $996 $1,190