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Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
62
Overall
65

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Old Model is Canon 5D
  • Replacement is Canon 5D MIII
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released October 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A99
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Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Canon 5D MII and Sony A900, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the 5D MII (21MP) and the A900 (25MP) is pretty similar and they use the same exact sensor sizes (Full frame).

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The 5D MII was brought out 4 months later than the A900 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the 5D MII matches up versus the A900 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Sony A900

 5D MII A900 

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Canon 5D MII

 A900 5D MII 
Screen resolution922k920kClearer screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Canon 5D MII and Sony A900

 5D MII A900 
ReleasedFebruary 2009October 2008Similar generation
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon 5D MII has outside measurements of 152mm x 114mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") with a weight of 850 grams (1.87 lbs) and the Sony A900 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Look at the Canon 5D MII and Sony A900 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the 5D MII against the A900.

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 5D MII and A900 is 56 and 54 respectively.

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The photograph here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 5D MII and A900.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony A900 to offer more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 5D MII
Portrait photography with Sony A900
79
you can focus manually
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is high (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MII Street photography features
Sony A900 Street photography features
59
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
no image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MII Sports photography info
Sony A900 Sports photography info
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count decent (21MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is high (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 5D MII
Travel photography with Sony A900
55
environment proof
MP count decent (21MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
environment sealing
sensor resolution is high (25 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MII Landscape photography information
Sony A900 Landscape photography information
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (21MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is high (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MII Vlogging factors
Sony A900 Vlogging factors
29
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
9
no video recording
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Canon 5D MII vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Sony A900
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IISony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-02-13 2008-10-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5616 x 3744 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 250 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 850 gr (1.87 lbs) 895 gr (1.97 lbs)
Dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 12.3
DXO Low light score 1815 1431
Other
Battery life 850 images 880 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots One 2
Cost at launch $1,190 $2,736