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Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Replaced the Canon 5D
  • New Model is Canon 5D MIII
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Launched December 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A900
  • Renewed by Sony A99 II
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Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Canon 5D MII and Sony A99, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The resolution of the 5D MII (21MP) and the A99 (24MP) is very close and they use the exact same sensor size (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The 5D MII was released 4 years before the A99 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the 5D MII grades versus the A99 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Sony A99

 5D MII A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Canon 5D MII

 A99 5D MII 
LaunchedDecember 2012February 2009More recent by 46 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k920kSharper display (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon 5D MII and Sony A99

 5D MII A99 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon 5D MII has external 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 A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Canon 5D MII and Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the 5D MII vs the A99.

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 5D MII and A99 is 56 and 57 respectively.

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The graphic below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the 5D MII and A99.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony A99 to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively. The older 5D MII will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
79
manual focus
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
82
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 5D MII
Street photography with Sony A99
59
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 5D MII
Sports photography with Sony A99
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Travel photography camera
Sony A99 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proof
resolution is good (21MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
60
weather proof
good resolution (24MP)
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MII Landscape photography features
Sony A99 Landscape photography features
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proof
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
75
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
29
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
76
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
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Canon 5D MII vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Sony A99
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IISony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sony SLT-A99
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-02-13 2012-12-12
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5616 x 3744 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 250 143
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 850 grams (1.87 lb) 812 grams (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 89
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 14.0
DXO Low light score 1815 1555
Other
Battery life 850 images 500 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One 2
Price at release $1,190 $1,998