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Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1

Portability
56
Imaging
64
Features
70
Overall
66
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Earlier Model is Canon 5D
  • Replacement is Canon 5D MIII
Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2007
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Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Canon 5D MII versus Panasonic L1, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the 5D MII (21MP) and L1 (7MP) and the 5D MII (Full frame) and L1 (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The 5D MII was unveiled 23 months after the L1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the 5D MII matches up against the L1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Panasonic L1

 5D MII L1 
RevealedFebruary 2009April 2007More modern by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k207kClearer display (+713k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Canon 5D MII

 L1 5D MII 

Common features in the Canon 5D MII and Panasonic L1

 5D MII L1 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon 5D MII offers outside dimensions of 152mm x 114mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") along with a weight of 850 grams (1.87 lbs) while the Panasonic L1 has specifications of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon 5D MII versus Panasonic L1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the 5D MII and the L1.

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the 5D MII and L1 is 56 and 65 respectively.

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D MII and L1.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 5D MII using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Canon 5D MII will result in extra detail having an extra 14MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The newer 5D MII provides an edge in sensor technology.

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MII Portrait photography factors
Panasonic L1 Portrait photography factors
78
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (7MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MII Street photography details
Panasonic L1 Street photography details
59
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
58
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (606g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Sports photography camera
69
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (7MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 5D MII
Travel photography with Panasonic L1
55
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
50
lighter than competition (606g)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (7 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Landscape photography camera
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
47
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (7MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 5D MII
Vlogging with Panasonic L1
29
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
9
lack of video recording
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Canon 5D MII vs Panasonic L1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Panasonic L1
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-L1
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-02-13 2007-04-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 7MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5616 x 3744 3136 x 2352
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 250 45
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 207k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 850 grams (1.87 lb) 606 grams (1.34 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1815 not tested
Other
Battery life 850 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LP-E6 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $1,190 $1,500