- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How they compare
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Compare with...
- Nikon D4
- Sony SLT-A99
- Nikon D800
- Nikon D600
- Nikon D7000
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The main LCD screen offers a fantastic VGA resolution with 1,040K dots, so you may find yourself using it more often than you thought.
Rated 20% by by R.-Younger (Dec, 2010)PLEASE BE AWARE THAT CANON ABSOLUTELY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY and I now have a repair bill of one third the value of the camera (or a very expensive paper weight).
Conclusion Which is better for you?
Features Key features of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III compared to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II
MP22.1
Full frame
Rated 82% by by c|net (Jan, 2009)And the larger, higher-resolution LCD is much better for gauging sharpness, though you still really need a third-party viewfinder for shooting video; I'd love to see a peaking feature, which would help a bit.
21 MP
Full frame
megapixels
| 0 MP | 22.1 MP   | 30 MP |
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)Although the specification on the box says 1080p, with regards resolution the 5D Mark III is a huge let down and the $600 Panasonic GH2 offers a far more detailed 'true 1080p' image (whilst maintaining a relatively large sensor for video and interchangeable lens mount).
EOS 5D Mark II by TYZ (Jul, 2012)The laptop is not something blazing fast, but I had no problem with 10 Megapixel RAW files.
sensor size
EOS 5D Mark III by DOBrien--We-review-stuff. (Mar, 2012)If you have the cash and are looking for a full frame with video capabilities, this is an excellent choice with the improvements made.
EOS 5D Mark II by Anderlecht (Aug, 2011)The main things I love about this camera is the amazing build quality, full frame, large and bright viewfinder and the pictures the L lens takes.
viewfinder size
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)One figure hidden away in every SLR's spec is the size of the viewfinder (often in a format that makes comparison between competing models impossible).
EOS 5D Mark II by c|net (Jan, 2009)Canon also reduced the spot meter size to 1.5 percent of the viewfinder.
body size
152 x 116 x 76 mm
152 x 114 x 75 mm
EOS 5D Mark III by C.-Concepcion (Apr, 2012)The camera is not heavy I would say but with the lens and the first all day shooting I felt the weight.
EOS 5D Mark II by N.-Watson (Mar, 2011)The feel is very solid and heavy and durable compared to my prior Rebel.
focus points
| 0 | 61 | 70 |
EOS 5D Mark II by James-M.-Brown (Jun, 2009)I would have preferred more focus points than the 9 visible and 6 invisible points this camera provides, though in normal lighting conditions there has been no problem getting fast, accurate focus.
Performance Real world tests of Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II
DxOMark image quality
EOS 5D Mark III by DL (Jan, 2013)Canon 5diii (with 28~105mm L, and 70~300mm L lens) to my eyes has most natural color, very sharp, like high end audio tube analog components vs digital sound (Nikon), unbelievable low light performance, great auto mode, great focus speed, you do not need much skill to take great photos.
EOS 5D Mark II by Kenji-Yamamoto (Jul, 2012)This camera is absolutely amazing, impressive how it's works with low light and the quality of images are tremendous!
DxOMark low light performance
EOS 5D Mark III by C.-Bushman (Oct, 2012)This camera has the night vision of a barn owl and will grab the shot you least expect to grab in EXTREMELY low light.
EOS 5D Mark II by Chris (Feb, 2012)The color composition and low light performance is where the 5D has a strong edge.
shutter lag
| 0 ms | 120 ms | 200 ms |
EOS 5D Mark III by J.-Howell (Apr, 2012)Shutter lag and mirror blackout is now faster than before and leads to a more instant, responsive feel while shooting.
EOS 5D Mark II by Tom-N-Carello--XeoniteDog (Jun, 2010)Cons: Shutter Lag when using 'Live View' (not a con for me, just wanted to make people aware), 30MB CR2 files fill up your space fast, Large sensor has more area for dust to stick to, so get a good Cleaning Kit and squeeze blower.
continuous shooting
EOS 5D Mark III by DPReview (Mar, 2012)In terms of continuous shooting the EOS 5D Mark III is not quite on the same level as dedicated sports and action cameras such as Canon's EOS-1D Mark IV, but nevertheless its 6 frames per second in Continuous Hi mode still make it a capable tool for shooting fast moving subjects.
EOS 5D Mark II by c|net (Jan, 2009)For burst shooting, however, it's the slowest of all the new models, partly because of Nikon's significantly lower resolution and Sony's doubling up on the processors to maintain burst rates.
battery life
950 photos
850 photos
EOS 5D Mark III by c|net (Jan, 2009)The Mark II uses a new battery pack, the LP-E6, which seems to last a reasonably long time: it's CIPA rated at between 750 and 850 shots, depending upon temperature.
EOS 5D Mark II by Michael-D.-Newcomer--Photography-Junkie (Apr, 2010)Battery life with this combination is amazing.
Differences What are the advantages of each
Advantages compared to the 5D Mark II
| Marginally more recently announced | Mar, 2012 | vs | Sep, 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Announced date over 3 years later | |||
| Much larger screen | 3.2" | vs | 3" |
| Around 10% larger screen | |||
| Significantly higher resolution screen | 1,040 k dots | vs | 920 k dots |
| More than 10% higher resolution screen | |||
| Many more cross-type focus points | 41 | vs | 1 |
| 40 more cross type focus points; Easier and faster focusing in low light | |||
| Many more phase-detection focus points | 61 | vs | 9 |
| 52 more phase detection focus points; Faster autofocus in reasonably lit settings | |||
| Significantly larger viewfinder coverage | 100% | vs | 98% |
| Almost the same | |||
| Higher light sensitivity | 102,400 ISO | vs | 25,600 ISO |
| 4x higher light sensitivity; Avoid blur in low light situations | |||
| Significantly less delay taking photos | 120 ms | vs | 206 ms |
| More than 40% less shutter lag; Avoid missing spontaneous moments | |||
| Supports HDR | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Combines multiple photos together to capture both bright and dark areas | |||
| Better overall image quality | 81.0 | vs | 79.0 |
| Almost the same | |||
| Faster rapid fire | 6 fps | vs | 3.9 fps |
| More than 50% faster continuous shooting; Take photos in rapid succession to capture motion | |||
| Less noise at high ISO | 2,293 ISO | vs | 1,815 ISO |
| Around 30% higher low light performance | |||
| More color depth | 24.0 bits | vs | 23.7 bits |
| Almost the same | |||
Advantages compared to the 5D Mark III
| Lighter | 850 g | vs | 950 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than 10% lighter | |||
Reviews Word on the street
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Canon EOS 5D Mark II | ||
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 | Rated by 177 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by rbtk (Oct, 2012) Rated 100% by by rbtk (Oct, 2012) Rated 100% by by Greg-K (Aug, 2012) | Rated by 314 users at amazon.com Rated 60% by by E (Apr, 2011) Rated 100% by by J.-Moravec (May, 2010) Rated 100% by by Mr.-A.-Pomeroy (Aug, 2011) | |
focus
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 100% by by rbtk (Oct, 2012)Overall - the 5D3 provide iterative improvement to the 5D2 w/evolutionary improvement to image quality and massive improvement in build and AF performance.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 100% by by A.-ChaturvediThe ergonomics, build quality, and auto-focus capabilities have been improved from the 5D Mark II.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)We tested the EOS 5D Mark III's AF system with a 70-200mm F4L lens at an amateur soccer match, and even with our limited sports shooting skills got a very large proportion of usable shots.
video
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)The 5D Mark III offers a choice of video compression mode - the space saving IPB mode and a high quality ALL-I format.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)Also if you are a video / photo journalist or doing a project which is predominantly stills based with an 'added extra' of video involved, the 5D Mark III is a great choice.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)This video was shot at 1080p and ALL-I compression to demonstrate the Canon EOS 5D Mark III's video quality in good light.
sensor
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 100% by by rbtk (Oct, 2012)Between it's excellent sensor, wide latitude in ISO options, super fast AF, faster FPS, rock solid build and grip - the 5D3 just feels like a much faster, tighter and fun to use camera.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)With the 5D Mark III's large images files it is advisable to use a fast CF memory card, especially if you are planning to shoot bursts in Raw+JPEG mode.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 100% by by powerlifting315 (Sep, 2012)The 5D3's sensor cleaner is quite effective - I have a sensor loupe, and even upon inspecting the sensor that closely I still haven't seen a single particle of dust adhere to the sensor.
autofocus
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 100% by by jvdg27 (Feb, 2013)I considered the Mark II version, but wanted easier video controls and updated auto focus.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 100% by by D.-K.-Miles--dkmiles1 (Apr, 2012)For me personally, I would have been happy with the 5D2 plus a great AF, and I got that with the 5D3.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)Inheriting the same auto-focus system as the flagship EOS-1D X DSLR is a massive improvement on the rudimentary 9-point system of the 5D Mark II, while the burst shooting rate is quicker at 6fps with a useful quieter 3fps mode for more candid moments.
iso
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)While the 22 megapixel sensor doesn't sound like a big improvement on the 5D Mark II's 21 megapixels, in conjunction with the Digic 5+ processor it results in seriously impressive low-light performance, with an almost noise-free range of ISO 50-6400 and perfectly usable 12800 and 25600 settings.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)Unlike the 5D Mark II, Auto ISO can be used in Manual shooting mode, allowing you to specify the shutter speed and aperture you want, and leaving the camera to worry about ISO.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Rated 82% by by DPReview (Mar, 2012)As we've mentioned in the noise section of this review, at default settings at higher ISO sensitivities the 5D Mark III's application of noise reduction is a little heavy-handed, resulting in comparatively clean output but a loss of fine low-contrast detail.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Nikon D4 Fastest rapid fire mode |
 | 2 | Sony SLT-A99 Most detailed video recording mode |
 | 3 | Nikon D800 Best image quality as rated by DXOMark |
 | 4 | Nikon D600 Least noise at high ISO |
 | 5 | Nikon D7000 6-way tie: Has a built-in flash |
 | 6 | Canon EOS 6D OK benchmarked shot to shot times |
Popular Questions
January 7, 2013
I am a semi pro
I OWN 2 5D AND HAVE BEEN OFFERED A MARK 2 IN GOOD SHAPE FOR A GRAND. I AM ALWAYs playing catch up. I see what hdr is about and & I want to do some of it, but I really need the video ability of 2...
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Answers September 2, 2012
Is Sony a77 a full frame sensor camera? can I use Canon lens on it?
I want to shoot low budget films on my DSLR. What should I buy? 7D, 5D Mark11, 5D Mark 111, or the Sony a99.
Beginner I
2
Answers May 17, 2012
Image Quality for Landscape Photography
I have the 50D which I use to it's limits. I am not a pro, so to justify the Price of the Mark III is difficult. The Mark II is quite in reach, however I struggle to invest in somehow "old" Any...
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2
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October 23, 2012
Nature film
* naturefilming * Outdoors * low light video * close ups on moving animals
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Answers October 2, 2012
Better Image Focus, Detailed Pictures, Wedding Photography, Low Light
I'm a novice wedding photographer, right now I shoot with the 7D. Have a lot of weddings coming up this fall and need to buy either the 5D Mark II or III to work with as my main camera and would...
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0
Answers September 21, 2012
Concert photography.
I make a lot of shows photography and I need to know if buying a 5d mark iii is better option than buying a 5d mark ii Thak you
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Answers Community What does Sortable's community think
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vs
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Canon EOS 5D Mark III
71% of users recommend the Canon EOS 5D Mark II over the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Nick-Ryan 
Beginner I
Hdr built in and good video good luck View Nick-Ryan's recommendation
- 0 comments
- January 8, 2013
- Reply to: I am a semi pro
Philip-Davis 
Expert III
If money is not a concern then go with the Mark III because it has improved low light performance (and can also go higher in ISO) Also, going from the 7D to the 5D2 means you're going to lose a... View Philip-Davis's recommendation
- 0 comments
- June 7, 2012
- Reply to: Just to take top quality pictures
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Philip-Davis
Expert III
$1,000 for the 5D Mark II is a great price depending on the shutter count. If it's over 100,000 frames then you might want to go with the 6D instead. 5DII is great for video... just add Magic do... View Philip-Davis's recommendation
- 0 comments
- January 8, 2013
- Reply to: I am a semi pro
Darren-G-Leary 
Beginner II
Go with Full frame. The a77 is not full frame however the a99 will be. Buy that! The Sony user interface is perfect. If u need something this week buy the 5dm2.wait for the a99. It will be a top... View Darren-G-Leary's recommendation
- 0 comments
- September 5, 2012
- Reply to: Is Sony a77 a full frame sensor camera? can I use Canon lens on it?
Philip-Davis
Expert III
It depends what lenses you already have. If you only have EF-S lenses and a limited budget then you should get an EF lens first... because if you get an EF body then none of your lenses will work... View Philip-Davis's recommendation
- 0 comments
- August 9, 2012
- Reply to: Full frame camera or an L-series lens ?
