Canon 5D Mark II vs Fujifilm F800EXR: A Practical Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing your next camera can feel a bit like standing at a crossroads - where do you want to go, and how equipped do you want to be? Today, we'll explore two very different cameras that could appeal to very different types of users: the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a classic full-frame DSLR powerhouse from 2009 aimed at serious enthusiasts and professionals, and the Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR, a compact superzoom from 2012 designed for travelers and casual shooters seeking reach and portability.

Both have their merits, quirks, and ideal use cases. But what exactly do you get when you pick one over the other? By the end of this detailed comparison, grounded in hands-on experience and technical insight, you'll know which camera suits your photography style and goals best.

Let's dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Before pixel peeping or technobabble, the tactile experience often sets the tone. The Canon 5D Mark II is a mid-size DSLR built for a serious grip, heavy-duty shooting, and longevity. Its robust body measures approximately 152x114x75 mm and weighs around 850 grams without a lens attached. On the flip side, the Fujifilm F800EXR is a compact superzoom, petite at 105x63x36 mm and just 232 grams, making it pocket-friendly and ultra-portable.

You can clearly see how radically different these two are in size. The Canon's heft delivers confidence and stability, especially when paired with large lenses; it feels like an extension of your hand. The Fujifilm, by contrast, slips easily into a jacket pocket or purse, asking very little of your carry load.

The Canon’s build quality is professional-grade with environmental sealing, affording mild resistance to dust and moisture. This makes it well-suited for outdoor and rugged use - something I value on location shoots. The Fujifilm lacks weather sealing but offers a nice built-in image stabilization system (more on that later), compensating somewhat for hand-holding at telephoto reach.

Ergonomics follow these size trends. The Canon’s grip is deep and sculpted, controls large and sensibly placed, with a dedicated top LCD panel showing shooting info at a glance. The Fujifilm, being a compact, has smaller controls and no top panel; navigation is via a simple menu system and rear buttons.

If you shoot extensively, especially handheld or in tricky environments, the Canon feels intuitive and reassuring. The Fujifilm is more about casual grab-and-go - you won’t find dedicated dials for shutter speed or ISO, although aperture and shutter priority modes are present.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Battle

This is where the proverbial rubber hits the road, right? Larger sensors generally win for image quality, low light performance, dynamic range, and creative control. And the Canon 5D Mark II boasts a full-frame CMOS sensor of 36x24 mm, packing 21 megapixels. The Fujifilm F800EXR makes much smaller sacrifices with a 1/2-inch EXRCMOS sensor of just 6.4x4.8 mm and 16 megapixels.

The sensor area difference is stark - the Canon sensor is nearly 28 times larger, enabling significantly better light gathering and detail capture.

When testing both under controlled studio conditions and real-world scenarios, the 5D MII impresses with rich color depth, wide dynamic range (around 11.9 stops per DxOMark), and excellent noise performance - reliable up to ISO 3200, usable to 6400 with mild degradation, and ISO 50-25600 available for special needs. The Fujifilm’s smaller sensor shows more noise at ISO 800 and above, with a max native ISO of 3200 (boosted to 12800 digitally).

Canon's anti-aliasing filter softly smooths fine detail to avoid moiré, which some photographers prefer, though it can reduce ultimate sharpness slightly. Fujifilm also includes this filter but the sensor’s physical size limits resolution gains significantly.

Color depth scores favor Canon at 23.7 bits vs. Fujifilm’s 19.5 bits, translating to smoother tonal transitions and richer catalogs in editing.

Portrait Photography: Who Captures Skintones and Bokeh Best?

Portraiture is often the realm of large sensors and quality glass. The 5D Mark II delivers signature Canon skin tones - natural, warm, and forgiving - combined with commendable eye detection autofocus (despite being an older system, it offers face detection during live view). Its selectable 9 autofocus points offer center priority and tracking modes that work well in controlled portraits.

Meanwhile, Fujifilm F800EXR, with only contrast-detection autofocus and fewer AF points, can feel less precise or slower in focus acquisition. It does have face detection, but no eye detection, and no phase-detection AF. The shallow depth of field is limited by the tiny sensor and slower maximum apertures (f/3.5 to f/5.3), so background blur bokeh is far less pronounced.

If you shoot portraits creatively or professionally, Canon wins hands-down for tonal nuance and subject separation.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Weatherproofing

Landscape photography benefits from high resolution and wide dynamic range to capture nuanced lighting, shadows, and textures from sunrise to sunset.

Canon’s 21MP sensor and 98% optical viewfinder coverage allow for tight composition and significant post-production cropping. The camera’s sensor shines with about 12 stops of dynamic range, making it flexible in recovering highlight and shadow details under tricky conditions.

The Fujifilm punches above its tiny sensor weight with a respectable dynamic range of about 10.9 stops but resolution restrictions limit large print enlargement beyond 8x12 inches comfortably. Also, no environmental sealing means you’ll want to avoid damp or dusty conditions.

Canon's ruggedness here is a big plus for landscape photographers who shoot in the wild - rain, mist, sand, no problem. The Fujifilm’s compact size and zoom reach are tempting for travel landscapes when portability beats bulletproof gear.

Wildlife Photography: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

Wildlife photography demands speed, tracking accuracy, telephoto reach, and buffer capacity for bursts. Canon’s 5D Mark II continuous shooting is capped at a modest 4 fps - not blazing but sufficient for deliberate action shots. Autofocus uses 9 phase-detection points with decent tracking, but by today’s standards, it can feel a bit sluggish on fast-moving birds or mammals.

The Fujifilm F800EXR, surprisingly, offers an 11 fps burst rate - almost triple the Canon’s speed - but autofocus precision at telephoto lengths (25-500mm equivalent) can lag in low contrast or fast action. Its sensor-shift stabilization helps reduce motion blur at full zoom, which is a welcome feature for hand-held wildlife snaps.

If you want image quality and ruggedness, Canon’s bigger sensor with professional telephoto lenses is better, but the Fujifilm’s reach and speed offer a fun alternative for casual wildlife shooters on the go.

Sports Photography: Tracking and Low Light

For sports, autofocus speed and tracking ability can make or break a shot. The Canon’s autofocus struggles a bit with fast subject motion and continuous tracking for erratic action. The 4 fps shooting speed is limiting for rapid bursts. Still, in bright light, the 5D Mark II captures clear, detailed images that crop well.

The Fujifilm offers faster frame rates but with compromise: limited autofocus sophistication and a small sensor means lower image quality, especially in low light venues where noise is more visible.

If sports are primary, especially in dynamic or low light environments, the Canon is preferable if you already own or plan to own top-notch lenses with fast apertures. However, newer cameras would outperform both here - just an honest note from experience.

Street Photography: Discreetness, Low Light Adaptability, and Portability

Street shooters often value discretion and the ability to work fast in mixed lighting. The Fujifilm excels here due to its small size, quiet operation, and built-in stabilization to handle shaky hands. The zoom range covers a lot of focal lengths for candid frames without attracting attention.

Canon’s size makes it less discreet but offers superior image quality and ISO performance, important for street scenes shot indoors or at night. The lack of silent shutter or articulating screen may hinder quick shooting somewhat.

If you desire a “grab-and-go” street camera with decent zoom and respectable image quality for casual to moderate use, the Fujifilm fits well. Yet street pros and enthusiasts wanting large prints or frequent night shots will appreciate the 5D II's larger sensor benefits.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Precision Focusing, and Stabilization

True macro demands specialized lenses, tight focusing precision, and ideally image stabilization. The Canon’s EF mount offers a mature ecosystem of dedicated macro lenses with up to 1:1 magnification or better, and focusing accuracy is aided by phase detection AF.

The Fujifilm’s fixed lens maxes out with a macro distance of around 5 cm - respectable for casual close-ups but not true macro work. Its sensor-shift stabilization assists with handheld macro shots, but lack of interchangeable lenses limits flexibility.

I’ve tested macro lenses on the 5D Mark II capturing dew drops and insect details with excellent sharpness and pleasing background separation - something the fixed lens “superzoom” camera can’t emulate.

Night and Astro Photography: Pushing ISO and Exposure Controls

Astro and night photographers push camera limits with high ISO, long exposures, and minimal noise. The Canon’s 5D Mark II, despite its age, impresses with clean high ISO files up to 3200 ISO, extending to 6400 usable for some applications. Its low read noise and 14-bit RAW allow deep edits for star fields and cityscapes.

The Fujifilm’s small sensor shows significant noise beyond ISO 400-800, limiting astrophotography usability. It also lacks bulb mode (minimum shutter speed 8 seconds), constraining exposure flexibility. Still, the EXR processor tries to compensate somewhat with noise reduction.

Canon's ability to shoot 30-second exposures with minimal noise, paired with sturdy build and tripod compatibility, makes it a go-to for serious night shooters.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Framerates, and Stabilization

Video is increasingly central to modern workflows. Canon’s 5D Mark II famously brought full-frame HD video to the masses with 1920x1080 at 30 fps, encoded in H.264. Audio input via microphone jack is available, crucial for quality sound capture, though no headphone monitoring is a drawback.

The Fujifilm F800EXR also shoots 1080p at 30 fps and supports MPEG-4 and H.264 formats but lacks microphone input, limiting audio quality control. Its sensor-shift stabilization helps smooth handheld footage, an advantage over Canon’s lack of in-body IS (you rely on stabilized lenses or tripods).

If video is a major factor, Canon’s ability to use external microphones offers superior audio options, though its focusing during video is less smooth compared to modern mirrorless or camcorders.

Battery Life and Storage: Longevity Meets Convenience

The Canon 5D Mark II achieves about 850 shots per charge using the LP-E6 battery - a strong performer for DSLRs that keeps you going through long sessions without swapping batteries.

The Fujifilm F800EXR, with a smaller NP-50A, lasts approximately 300 shots per charge, adequate for casual use but recharge or spare batteries will be necessary on longer trips.

Storage-wise, the Canon uses CompactFlash cards (Type I or II), historically fast but now less common and more expensive. The Fujifilm employs ubiquitous SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, easier to find and often more affordable.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

The Canon 5D Mark II ships with USB 2.0 and HDMI (standard), but no wireless connectivity out of the box. For professionals who tether or transfer large files, you’ll rely on cable or third-party adaptors.

The Fujifilm includes built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) for easy transfer to mobile devices, a boon for casual shooters who want immediate sharing on social media.

For workflow pros, the Canon’s support for uncompressed RAW files and tethered shooting trump the Fujifilm’s limited options, which lean toward convenience over deep post-processing flexibility.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Access to lenses defines system longevity. The Canon 5D Mark II's EF mount boasts more than 250 compatible lenses, including professional-grade primes, macro lenses, and super telephotos - a massive advantage for versatility and creative growth.

The Fujifilm F800EXR’s fixed 25-500 mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens is versatile but cannot be changed, meaning you sacrifice optical performance and specialized lens options.

As an enthusiast or pro, investing in the Canon system opens all kinds of photographic doors.

Scores and Overall Performance Summary

Let’s put it all into context with performance scores based on my rigorous hands-on benchmarking combined with DxOMark data.

Canon’s 79 DxOMark overall score reflects its excellent sensor performance, dynamic range, and image quality, while Fujifilm’s 41 score indicates the limitations imposed by its tiny sensor.

• Portraits and Landscapes: Canon rules with superior bokeh and detail.
• Wildlife and Sports: A rough edge - Canon better image quality but slower speeds, Fujifilm faster shoot rates but lesser precision.
• Street and Travel: Fujifilm excels for portability; Canon for image quality.
• Macro and Astro: Clear dominance by Canon.
• Video: Slight edge to Canon for audio and full-frame HD video.

Real-World Sample Gallery: Seeing Is Believing

To underscore these points, here’s a gallery of images taken under a variety of conditions with both cameras.

Canon 5D MII screen back Fujifilm F800EXR front Fujifilm F800EXR screen back

Note the Canon’s subtle tonal gradients, sharpness, and noise control - especially in shadowed or high-contrast areas. The Fujifilm images, while decent for a compact, fall short of the rich detail and dynamic range you'd expect from full-frame.

Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Let’s get practical.

Final Thoughts: Bridging the Gap Between Tools and Vision

Choosing between the Canon 5D Mark II and Fujifilm F800EXR boils down to what you prioritize: image quality and system growth versus portability and all-in-one convenience.

I’ve spent years reviewing and using cameras across genres, and my take is that the Canon remains a worthy camera even years after its release, especially if you can live without the latest autofocus tech and want fully manual control with spectacular image quality. Its strengths show up most clearly in portraits, landscapes, macro, and low light.

The Fujifilm offers an attractive package for casual enthusiasts, travelers, or folks wanting zoom reach without bulky lenses. It’s a flexible pocket camera with respectable image quality for its class, but it inevitably shares the compromises typical of small sensor superzooms.

If price is a major factor, the Fujifilm’s sub-$350 MSRP makes it an easy budget buy, whereas the Canon, priced around $1,200 new (or cheaper used), requires commitment but pays dividends in quality and expansion.

Additional Resources

For in-depth sample images, autofocus tests, and a video review walkthrough showcasing autofocus behavior, travel practicality, and image comparisons, feel free to check my detailed video review linked above.

Dear Canon, if you’re listening, how about a modern remake with this classic’s charm but updated AF and video? Until then, this classic DSLR holds its ground firmly.

Thanks for reading! If you have questions or want tips fitting your photography goals, drop me a line below or follow for more gear insights. Happy shooting!