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Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Nikon D800E front
Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Succeeded the Canon 5D
  • Later Model is Canon 5D MIII
Nikon D800E
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Replaced the Nikon D700
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Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the 5D MII (21MP) and D800E (36MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (Full frame).

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The 5D MII was announced 4 years prior to the D800E and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the 5D MII scores against the D800E in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Nikon D800E

 5D MII D800E 

Reasons to pick Nikon D800E over the Canon 5D MII

 D800E 5D MII 
RevealedJune 2012February 2009Fresher by 40 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Canon 5D MII and Nikon D800E

 5D MII D800E 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon 5D MII features outside 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 Nikon D800E has proportions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Analyze the Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the 5D MII versus the D800E.

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 5D MII and D800E is 56 and 54 respectively.

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The photograph below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 5D MII and D800E.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Nikon D800E to provide you with greater detail with its extra 15MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older 5D MII will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D800E as a Portrait photography camera
79
focusing manually
good resolution (21 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
83
you can focus manually
fantastic megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Street photography camera
Nikon D800E as a Street photography camera
59
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
60
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 5D MII
Sports photography with Nikon D800E
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good resolution (21MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
74
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D800E as a Travel photography camera
55
weather sealing
good resolution (21 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
66
weather proof
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MII Landscape photography features
Nikon D800E Landscape photography features
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (21MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inches)
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Vlogging camera
Nikon D800E as a Vlogging camera
29
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
30
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Canon 5D MII vs Nikon D800E Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Nikon D800E
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IINikon D800E
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark II Nikon D800E
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-02-13 2012-06-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 5:4 and 3:2
Full resolution 5616 x 3744 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 51
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Nikon F
Amount of lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 850 grams (1.87 lb) 900 grams (1.98 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 96
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 14.3
DXO Low light rating 1815 2979
Other
Battery life 850 pictures 900 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch price $1,190 $2,389