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Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850

Portability
55
Imaging
68
Features
74
Overall
70
Canon EOS 5D Mark III front
 
Nikon D850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
77
Features
87
Overall
81

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Key Specs

Canon 5D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 22MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Launched May 2012
  • Old Model is Canon 5D MII
  • New Model is Canon 5D MIV
Nikon D850
(Full Review)
  • 46MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 64 - 25600 (Boost to 102400)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1015g - 146 x 124 x 79mm
  • Launched August 2017
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D810
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Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Canon 5D MIII and Nikon D850, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the 5D MIII (22MP) and D850 (46MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (Full frame).

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The 5D MIII was revealed 6 years prior to the D850 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the 5D MIII grades vs the D850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MIII over the Nikon D850

 5D MIII D850 

Reasons to pick Nikon D850 over the Canon 5D MIII

 D850 5D MIII 
LaunchedAugust 2017May 2012More recent by 64 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution2359k1040kCrisper display (+1319k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 5D MIII and Nikon D850

 5D MIII D850 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3.2"3.2"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon 5D MIII has got outside dimensions 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 Nikon D850 has dimensions of 146mm x 124mm x 79mm (5.7" x 4.9" x 3.1") having a weight of 1015 grams (2.24 lbs).

Check out the Canon 5D MIII and Nikon D850 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the 5D MIII compared to the D850.

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 5D MIII and D850 is 55 and 54 respectively.

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D MIII and D850.

As you can tell, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon D850 to produce more detail because of its extra 24 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older 5D MIII will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MIII as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D850 as a Portrait photography camera
80
has manual focus
megapixel count good (22 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
86
focusing manually
amazing megapixels (46MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon 5D MIII
Street photography with Nikon D850
58
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (950g)
66
tilting screen
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files
supports focus by touch
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,015g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Sports photography info
Nikon D850 Sports photography info
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
megapixel count good (22MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
amazing megapixels (46MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery power (1,840 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MIII as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D850 as a Travel photography camera
51
weather proofing
megapixel count good (22MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (950 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
good battery power (1,840 CIPA)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
supports focus by touch
amazing megapixels (46 megapixels)
more heavy than competition in class (1,015 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Landscape photography info
Nikon D850 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
megapixel count good (22MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
82
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
amazing megapixels (46MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
good battery power (1,840 CIPA)
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MIII Vlogging advice
Nikon D850 Vlogging advice
27
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (950g)
29
touch screen
features face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,015 grams)
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Canon 5D MIII vs Nikon D850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MIII and Nikon D850
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IIINikon D850
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark III Nikon D850
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-05-22 2017-08-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5+ Expeed 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 22MP 46MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5760 x 3840 8256 x 5504
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO 102400 102400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 50 32
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 61 153
Cross focus points 41 99
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF Nikon F
Total lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.75x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
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 Front-curtain sync (normal), Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 950 gr (2.09 lb) 1015 gr (2.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") 146 x 124 x 79mm (5.7" x 4.9" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 81 100
DXO Color Depth score 24.0 26.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 14.8
DXO Low light score 2293 2660
Other
Battery life 950 shots 1840 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 EN-EL15a
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) + XQD
Storage slots Dual Dual
Cost at launch $2,780 $2,997