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Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D

Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
 
Canon EOS 70D front
Portability
59
Imaging
62
Features
84
Overall
70

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Key Specs

Canon 5D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 22MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Launched May 2012
  • Succeeded the Canon 5D MII
  • Newer Model is Canon 5D MIV
Canon 70D
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 755g - 139 x 104 x 79mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon 60D
  • Later Model is Canon 80D
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Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both of them are offered by Canon. The image resolution of the 5D MIII (22MP) and the 70D (20MP) is fairly well matched but the 5D MIII (Full frame) and 70D (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The 5D MIII was launched 17 months before the 70D making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the 5D MIII scores against the 70D when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Canon 70D

 5D MIII 70D 
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Canon 70D over the Canon 5D MIII

 70D 5D MIII 
AnnouncedOctober 2013May 2012More recent by 17 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 5D MIII and Canon 70D

 5D MIII 70D 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display resolution1040k1040kThe same display resolution

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon 5D MIII provides outer measurements of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs) while the Canon 70D has measurements of 139mm x 104mm x 79mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 3.1") along with a weight of 755 grams (1.66 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the 5D MIII compared to the 70D.

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 5D MIII and 70D is 55 and 59 respectively.

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The visual below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 5D MIII and 70D.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 5D MIII due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Canon 5D MIII will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older 5D MIII is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 5D MIII
Portrait photography with Canon 70D
80
manual focus
resolution is good (22MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
77
has manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Street photography highlights
Canon 70D Street photography highlights
58
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (950 grams)
68
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
features touch focus
environment sealing
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MIII as a Sports photography camera
Canon 70D as a Sports photography camera
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
resolution is good (22 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
73
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Travel photography factors
Canon 70D Travel photography factors
51
environment proof
resolution is good (22 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (950 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
69
environment sealing
features touch focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Landscape photography factors
Canon 70D Landscape photography factors
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
resolution is good (22 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
69
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
decent sized screen (3")
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Vlogging info
Canon 70D Vlogging info
27
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (950g)
69
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone support
no image stabilization
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Canon 5D MIII vs Canon 70D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MIII and Canon 70D
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IIICanon EOS 70D
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 70D
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-05-22 2013-10-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5+ Digic 5+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 22.5 x 15mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 337.5mm²
Sensor resolution 22MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5760 x 3840 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 102400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 61 19
Cross type focus points 41 19
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Canon EF/EF-S
Available lenses 250 326
Focal length multiplier 1 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Clear View II TFT LCD Clear View II TFT color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.6x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 950 grams (2.09 lb) 755 grams (1.66 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") 139 x 104 x 79mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 81 68
DXO Color Depth rating 24.0 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 11.6
DXO Low light rating 2293 926
Other
Battery life 950 pictures 920 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 LP-E6
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, remote)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Two Single
Launch price $2,780 $758