Product Comparison: Canon EOS 1D Mark III vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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Canon EOS 1D Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

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Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

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General Specifications

Brand

Canon

Model

EOS 1D Mark III

EOS 5D Mark II

Origin

Japan

About the Product

Canon's flagship EOS-1D Mark III is the most advanced EOS Digital SLR ever produced. It has a new 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-H size) with Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor with Canon's Live View technology.

The full frame EOS 5D Mark II combines outstanding resolution with up to 3.9 fps shooting and superlative high ISO performance. The addition of Full HD movie recording expands the boundaries of photography.

Key Specs

Sensor Resolution

10.1 MP

21.1 MP

Sensor Type

CMOS

Lens

50mm Lens EF

Body

Viewfinder

Eye-level SLR with fixed pentaprism

Eye-level pentaprism

Sensor Resolution

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Size & Weight

Height

6.2 in.

4.47 in.

Width

6.1 in.

5.98 in.

Depth

3.1 in.

2.95 in.

Weight

40.7 oz.

28.57 oz.

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

The first good surprise is that this camera is NOT as heavy as you would expect from this bulky size.
This camera has presence both in terms of weight and size, but everything feels and sounds of quality.
It is not as heavy as the older Marks, and personally I think it is about the same weight as the 5D was with the battery grip, but has a better fell in my hand.
Wonderful size and weight, the hand does not get tired and can be used for a long time.
This camera is built like a brick. Canon tells us they dropped some weight from the previous model, but it is still quite hefty.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

The camera body is solidly made and the size is just right.
The size is the size, it's a professional DSLR. This camera is very well rounded, crisp images through low levels of light to high. All in all, very happy with my new purchase.
The 5d markii is significantly bigger all around. The weight is more substantial and the materials used seem more sturdy and solid.
The weight of the camera makes shooting at slower shutter speed easier.
Its size and weight combined with heavy L lenses are the big drawback when I travel with my kids.

Imaging

ISO Settings

100-3200

Autо: 100-6400, Auto: 100-3200, Extended Mode: 100-25600

Burst Mode

Yes

Low Light/High Sensitivity

Yes

Face Detection

Yes

Image File Format(s)

JPEG, RAW

JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG

Low Light/High Sensitivity
Face Detection

What customers say about "Imaging"

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

ISO mode allows you to set the camera in shutter or aperture priority, and if the camera cannot compensate for the exposure, it automatically increases the ISO.
ISO is a great feature that allows the photographer more creative control of the picture while getting that perfect shot every time.
I took a few pictures at ISO 3200 in the room of objects of different colors and shades, with conventional light and was amazed how noiseless they are.
The camera only has 10 megapixels, but the mp's are large and pick up great image quality while holding down the noise.
I was hoping that this camera would create decent JPEG's where relevant, but the colour loss and sharpness loss are too much for me.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

Its good to have a camera that can handle iso's to more than 100 without getting grain, i would totally recommend it.
The ISO range of the camera is such that if you leave ISO speed in auto you will not get a bad photo.
The rate of 3.9 is pretty good in my opinion. I use a 600x card and shoot RAW only; the camera shows 13 shots continuously at that rate before clogging, which is pretty good.
It works great in low light conditions and shallows the depth of field, giving everything a great look when the aperture is opened up.
The only issues I've had are with the slower continuous shooting FPS, and the flimsy shutter sound that does not inspire confidence in comparison to my 50D's fast and bold thuds.

Display

Display Type

TFT-LCD

Touch Screen

Screen Size

3 in.

Screen Resolution

230000 dots

920000 dots

Vari-angle Display

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

What customers say about "Display"

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

View finder - not only the 3 inch LCD is larger but it is also more clear and real to see the pictures. I am really satisified with the display.
The heads-up display in the camera together with the accessibility of knobs and triggers are such that I am able to do FAST on-the-fly adjustments.
Despite the fact that this camera is already old - the screen quality impresses me, it works like on the first day.
I have been using this camera for a long time and I'm satisfied, I would like to have a touch screen, it would be perfect.
Progress is moving forward and there is no longer enough a touch screen.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

I am happy with the 5D LCD - it's easy to take the size/quality/clarity for granted.
The size of the LCD screen is so nice and it is bright and crisp for quick culling of shots that you don't want.
The LCD display is so much better to check exposure and detail. The menu system is so easy to use and adjust.
The screen is of a higher resolution than the original although it was not the revelation I was expecting. It has a clever automatic brightness control that works well.
A pivoting back display is something that I miss from my old Nikon point and shoot cameras. It's really useful when shooting macros or for events where your shooting over people's heads.

Features

Water Resistant

Shock Resistant

Panorama Mode

Shooting Modes

Remote Live View shooting, Live View shooting

Auto, Creative Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Custom (x3)

White Balance Modes

Daylight, Auto, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Five Custom WB settings (1-5), User-set Color Temperature (2,500~10,000K), Five Personal White Balance PC-1 to PC-5 (Total 10 WB types)

Shade, Cloudy, Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Colour Temperature

Shutter Speeds

30 - 1/8000

Water Resistant
Panorama Mode

What customers say about "Features"

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

The controls are laid out perfectly and the camera feels like it's just the right size in my hands.
The build quality, colour "truth", speed between frames, and ability to set custom features is remarkable.
The burst mode is great. When I shoot in full burst, it looks like a movie is playing. The shutter speed is that fast.
The autofocus locks on moving objects quickly and maintains as the object changes course while you are firing off 10 frames per second.
This camera is a pro body and autofocus must be fine tuned - in other words it doesn't give you one size fits all focusing.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

It has nice nice dust and weather resistance throughout - right down to the memory card slot, battery door, LCD and buttons.
The 10x magnification in live view permits absolute precise manual focussing and immediate feedback to any ISO/shutter speed/aperture changes, as well as white balance adjustments.
The shutter button is very spongy and feels wore out. That being said, it does work well. I've taken over a thousand photos so far and all functions works as they should.
There's no electronic spirit level, no built-in remote flash trigger, and no in-camera HDR or panorama stitching.
The white balance is greatly wrong when you capture it you can't easily correct this after the fact.

Connectivity

PictBridge Enabled

Yes

NFC Enabled

Integrated GPS

Output(s)

USB 2.0

Mini HDMI, USB 2.0 (Mini-B), Video output (PAL/ NTSC), 3.5 mm jack

Number Of Memory Card Slots

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

What customers say about "Connectivity"

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

The camera has two slots for an SD card, which is not even in many new models.
I easily connect to a computer and have no problems with disconnects.
I have been using the camera for many years and have never had a problem with the ports.
Unfortunately, the usb port is no longer working, it is the only failure for many years.
The USB port does not always work, disconnects periodically happen, probably because the camera has been around for many years.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

The video recording, rear LCD focus and HDMI hookups are all pluses. Overall the camera is great to work with.
USB quickly transfers my photos to a computer, and there is also an amazing feature like PictBridge that allows you to print photos from a camera.
The description said that the camera was 100% functional, but I did discovery late at my country, that the USB can't connect at all.
I love the pictures this produces but the transfer hangs when connecting the cmaera to the computer.
My cameras usb functions and external mic (the side of the camera) are not fuctional and I have to get that repaired.

Power

Battery Model

Lithium-ion battery LP-E4

Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E6

Battery life

1700 frames

750 frames