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Canon 5D vs Sony A900

Portability
55
Imaging
55
Features
41
Overall
49
Canon EOS 5D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
62
Overall
65

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Key Specs

Canon 5D
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 895g - 152 x 113 x 75mm
  • Announced November 2005
  • Replacement is Canon 5D MII
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
  • Launched October 2008
  • New Model is Sony A99
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Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Canon 5D and Sony A900, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the 5D (13MP) and A900 (25MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (Full frame).

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The 5D was announced 3 years earlier than the A900 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the 5D grades against the A900 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 5D over the Sony A900

 5D A900 

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Canon 5D

 A900 5D 
LaunchedOctober 2008November 2005Fresher by 35 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon 5D and Sony A900

 5D A900 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and size. The Canon 5D offers outer measurements of 152mm x 113mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony A900 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

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

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the 5D compared to the A900.

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 5D and A900 is 55 and 54 respectively.

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 5D and A900.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Sony A900 to resolve greater detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older 5D is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D Portrait photography features
Sony A900 Portrait photography features
65
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (13 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
72
focusing manually
great sensor resolution (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D Street photography details
Sony A900 Street photography details
56
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D Sports photography features
Sony A900 Sports photography features
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (13MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery life (800 CIPA)
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor resolution (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D Travel photography factors
Sony A900 Travel photography factors
49
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (13MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (800 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
environment proofing
great sensor resolution (25MP)
lack of Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D Landscape photography factors
Sony A900 Landscape photography factors
54
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
sensor resolution is decent (13MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low battery life (800 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor resolution (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
no liveview feature
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D Vlogging details
Sony A900 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
9
no video recording
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Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D and Sony A900
 Canon EOS 5DSony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS 5D Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2005-11-12 2008-10-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4368 x 2912 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 250 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes External Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 895 grams (1.97 pounds) 895 grams (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 152 x 113 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 79
DXO Color Depth score 22.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 12.3
DXO Low light score 1368 1431
Other
Battery life 800 pictures 880 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-511A NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots One Two
Launch cost $2,780 $2,736