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Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70

Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Succeeded the Canon 5D
  • Successor is Canon 5D MIII
Canon 5D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 22MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Succeeded the Canon 5D MII
  • Successor is Canon 5D MIV
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Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon 5D MII and Canon 5D MIII, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both of them are sold by Canon. The image resolution of the 5D MII (21MP) and the 5D MIII (22MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The 5D MII was unveiled 4 years earlier than the 5D MIII which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 5D MII grades versus the 5D MIII with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 5D MII 5D MIII 

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

 5D MIII 5D MII 
IntroducedMay 2012February 2009Newer by 39 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k920kSharper screen (+120k dot)

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

 5D MII 5D MIII 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and size. The Canon 5D MII has got exterior measurements of 152mm x 114mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 850 grams (1.87 lbs) and the Canon 5D MIII has specifications of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 5D MII and Canon 5D MIII 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 vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the 5D MII vs the 5D MIII.

Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 5D MII and 5D MIII is 56 and 55 respectively.

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

Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the 5D MII and 5D MIII.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Canon 5D MIII to produce extra detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged 5D MII will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII sensor size comparison

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MII Portrait photography details
Canon 5D MIII Portrait photography details
79
manual focus
megapixel count good (21MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
80
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (22 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 5D MII
Street photography with Canon 5D MIII
59
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
58
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (950 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MII Sports photography factors
Canon 5D MIII Sports photography factors
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (22MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 5D MII
Travel photography with Canon 5D MIII
55
weather sealing
megapixel count good (21MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
51
environment proofing
decent megapixels (22MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (950 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 5D MII
Landscape photography with Canon 5D MIII
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
good sized screen (3")
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
decent megapixels (22 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Vlogging camera
Canon 5D MIII as a Vlogging camera
29
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
27
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (950 grams)
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Canon 5D MII vs Canon 5D MIII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Canon 5D MIII
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IICanon EOS 5D Mark III
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-02-13 2012-05-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Digic 5+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 22MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 5616 x 3744 5760 x 3840
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 102400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 50 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 61
Cross type focus points - 41
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Canon EF
Available lenses 250 250
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD Clear View II TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 850 grams (1.87 lb) 950 grams (2.09 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 81
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 11.7
DXO Low light rating 1815 2293
Other
Battery life 850 shots 950 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 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), UDMA, Microdrive Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Launch price $1,190 $2,780