Canon's DSLRs range all the way from the original EOS Digital Rebel, an entry-level model with a 6.3 effective megapixel imager, up to the 16.7-megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark II. We've prepared an in-depth table comparing all six of these cameras, which will allow readers to see how the line progresses, as well as where each camera differs from its siblings. The table also makes interesting reading if considered from the point of view of what an impressive job Canon has done, not only in finding areas to differentiate the models from each other, but also in sharing technologies - both in hardware and firmware - across the line, presumably allowing it to recoup its research, development and tooling costs across a much larger number of cameras than would otherwise be the case.
SLR Camera Comparison |
Manufacturer | Canon
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Model | EOS 300D Digital Rebel | EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT | EOS 20D | EOS 5D | EOS-1D Mark II N | EOS-1Ds Mark II |
Imaging System | Sensor Manufacturer | Canon |
Sensor Type | CMOS |
Color Filter Array | RGB |
Total Megapixels | 6.5 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 13.3 | 8.5 | 17.2 |
Effective Megapixels | 6.3 | 8.0 | 8.25 | 12.8 | 8.2 | 16.7 |
Effective Sensor Size (mm) | 22.7 x 15.1 | 22.2 x 14.8 | 22.5 x 15.0 | 35.8 x 23.9 | 28.7 x 19.1 | 36.0 x 24.0 |
Focal Length Multiplier (approx.) | 1.6x | 1.0x (none) | 1.3x | 1.0x (none) |
Image Processor | SLR-DIGIC | DIGIC II |
Viewfinder | Type | Eye-level pentamirror | Eye-level pentaprism |
Coverage | 95% | 96% | 100% |
Magnification (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity) | 0.8x | 0.9x | 0.71x | 0.72x | 0.7x |
Eyepoint (mm) | 21 | 20 |
Dioptric Adjustment Range (diopters) | -3.0 to +1.0 |
Focusing Screen | Fixed, all-matte screen | Fixed, precision matte screen | Interchangeable (3 types). Standard Focusing Screen Precision Matte Ee-A | Interchangeable (11 types). Standard Focusing Screen Ec-CIII | Interchangeable (9 types). Standard Focusing Screen Ec-CIII |
Viewfinder Info Display | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure level), flash information (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock), shots remaining, CF card information | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure level, AEB in progress, exposure warning), flash information (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation), maximum burst, CF card information | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure compensation amount, AEB level, partial metering area), flash information (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation amount), warnings (exposure warning, improper FE lock warning, CF card full warning, CF card error warning, no CF card warning, busy), maximum burst for continuous shooting, shots remaining | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure (shutter speed, aperture value, AE lock, exposure level, partial metering circle, exposure warning), flash information (flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation amount), white balance correction, maximum burst, CF card information | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture, manual exposure, spot metering circle, ISO speed, exposure level, exposure warning), flash information (flash ready, FP flash, FE lock, flash exposure level), white balance correction, JPEG recording, number of remaining shots, memory card information |
Depth of Field Preview | Enabled with depth-of-field preview button |
Recording System | Recording Media / Quantity / Slot Type | Type I or II CF card / Microdrive | Type I or II CF card / Microdrive, Secure Digital Card |
Compatible File System | FAT 16 / FAT 32 |
Recording Formats | RAW (CRW), JPEG | RAW (CR2), JPEG |
Maximum Resolution | 3072 x 2048 | 3456 x 2304 | 3504 x 2336 | 4368 x 2912 | 3504 x 2336 | 4992 x 3328 |
Reduced Resolutions (JPEG only) | 2048 x 1360; 1356 x 1024 | 2496 x 1664; 1728 x 1152 | 2544 x 1696; 1752 x 1168 | 3168 x 2112; 2496 x 1664 | 3104 x 2072; 2544 x 1696; 1728 x 1152 | 3600 x 2400; 3072 x 2048; 2946 x 1664 |
RAW + JPEG Recording | Yes, Middle Fine JPEG only, embedded in RAW | Yes, any resolution | Yes, selectable JPEG resolution / compression | Yes |
Color Space & White Balance | User-Selectable Color Space | Yes sRGB + Adobe RGB |
Processing Parameters (Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color Tone) / # of Increments | 5 | 6 Preset 'Picture Styles' with 3 User defined settings | 6 Preset Color Matrices with 2 User defined settings |
Preset WB settings | 6 (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash) |
Manual Color Temperature Setting Range | None | 2800 ~ 10000K in 100K increments |
WB Adjustment Range | ±3 steps in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step | ±9 steps in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step | ±3 steps in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step | ±9 steps in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step |
Autofocus System | Type | TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor (TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) | TTL-AREA-SIR with a CMOS sensor (TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) |
# of Focusing Points (Focusing Point Type) | 7 points (1 cross-type, 2 horizontal-type, 4 vertical-type) | 9 points, 1 cross type and 8 single-axis | 9-point AF (plus 6 invisible Assist AF points) | 45-point AF (7 cross-type, 38 horizontal-type) |
Superimposed Focus Point Display | Yes |
AF Working Range | EV 0.5 ~ 18 (ISO 100) | EV -0.5 ~ 18 (ISO 100) | EV 0 ~ 18 (ISO 100) |
AF-assist Beam | Yes, stroboscopic flash (Range: Approx. 4.0m / 13.1ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5ft. off-center) | Yes, stroboscopic flash emitted by an optional dedicated Speedlite |
One-shot AF | Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. | Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. | Yes | Available in all modes |
AI Servo (Tracking) AF | Enabled in Sports mode only. | Enabled in Sports mode. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. | Enabled in Sports mode. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. | Yes | Available in all modes |
AI Focus AF | Enabled in Full Auto, Flash Off, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. | Enabled in Full Auto and Flash Off modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. | Yes | No |
Exposure Control | Shooting Modes | 12 - Program AE (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, depth-of-field AE, manual exposure, ETTL autoflash | 6 (Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Custom) | 5 (Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual) |
Metering Zones | 35 | 21 |
Metering Modes | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted average (set automatically in manual mode), 9% partial | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted average, 9% partial | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted, 8% partial, 3.5% spot | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center-weighted, 13.5% partial, 3.8% center spot, 3.8% af-linked spot, Multi-spot (limited to eight metering entries) | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center-weighted, 8.5% partial, 2.4% center spot, 2.4% af-linked spot, Multi-spot (limited to eight metering entries) |
Metering System Working Range | EV 1 ~ 20 (ISO 100, 50mm f/1.4 lens) | EV 0 ~ 20 (ISO 100, 50mm f/1.4 lens) | EV 1 ~ 20 (ISO 100, 50mm f/1.4 lens) |
ISO Range / Extended | 100 ~ 1600 / -- | 100 ~ 1600 / 3200 | 100 ~ 1600 / 50, 3200 |
Exposure Compensation | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | +/- 3EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments |
Automatic Exposure Bracketing | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | +/- 3EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments |
Shutter Speeds, Frame Rate, Shutter Lag | Shutter Type | Mechanical, all speeds electronically controlled |
Shutter Speed Range | 1/4000 ~ 30 sec. (1/3EV increments) and bulb | 1/4000 ~ 30 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb | 1/8000 ~ 30 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb |
Maximum Frames Per Second / Buffer depth | 2.5 fps / 4 frames | 3 fps / 14 frames | 5 fps / 23 frames | 3 fps / 60 JPEG or 17 RAW frames | 8.5 fps / 48 JPEG or 22 RAW frames | 4 fps / 32 JPEG or 11 RAW frames |
Flash | Built-in Flash / Guide Number at ISO 100. | Yes (13 meters / 43 feet) | N/A |
Max flash x-sync speed. (sec.) | 1/200 | 1/250 | 1/200 | 1/250 |
Flash Exposure Compensation | No | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments | +/- 3EV in 1/3EV increments |
Slow-sync flash | 1st curtain only | 1st or 2nd curtain |
PC Sync Terminal | Hot shoe only | Yes |
Playback System | LCD Size / Pixel Count | 1.8 in. LCD / 118,000 pixels | 1.8 in. LCD / 115,000 pixels | 1.8 in. LCD / 118,000 pixels | 2.5 in. LCD / 230,000 pixels | 2.0 in. LCD / 230,000 pixels |
Enlarged Playback / Scroll | 1.5~10x in 15 steps / Yes |
LCD Monitor Brightness Adjustment Range | 5 steps |
Automatic Rotation for Vertical Shots | Yes |
Other Features | Computer Connection | Yes, USB v 1.1 (PTP-compliant) | Yes, USB 2.0 High-Speed (PTP-compliant) | Yes, USB 1.1 (PTP compliant) and IEEE 1394 |
Direct Printing (PictBridge-compliant printers) | Yes |
Menu Languages | 12 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.) | 15 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Korean,and Japanese.) | 12 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.) | 15 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Russian)15 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Russian) | 11 (English, German, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese) |
Camera Default Reset | Yes |
Custom Functions (Quantity / Settings) | No | Yes (9 / 24) | Yes (17 / 61) | Yes (21 / 57) | Yes (21 / 67) | Yes (20 / 65) |
Remote Control | Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-5 / RC-1 | N3-type remote control |
Info LCD Panel / Illumination | Yes / Yes (dedicated button) |
Ultrasonic CCD dust-removal function | No |
Body Structure | Body Cover / Chassis | Largely plastic, aluminum frame | Magnesium Alloy / Stainless Steel | Magnesium Alloy / Plastic | Magnesium Alloy |
Power System | Battery Compatibility | Main: BP-511 / BP-512 Backup: CR2016 | Main: NB-2LH Backup: CR2016 | Main: BP-511 / BP-512 Backup: CR2025 | Main: BP-511 / BP-511A / BP-512 / BP-514 Backup: CR2016 | Main: NP-E3 Backup: CR2025 |
Rated Shooting Capacity at 20C/68F | 100% AE: 600 50% Flash: 400 | 100% AE: 650 50% Flash: 500 | CIPA standard: 800 at 20°C | Canon standard: 1200 |
Dimensions & Weight | Dimensions (WxHxD, mm) | 142 x 99 x 72.4 | 126.5 x 94 x 64 | 144 x 105.5 x 71.5 | 152 x 113 x 75 | 156 x 157.6 x 79.9 |
Weight (body only) | 560 g | 485 g | 685 g | 810 g | 1225 g | 1215 g |
Operational Environment | Operating Temperature Range | 0 ~ 40°C | 0 ~ 45°C |
Operating Humidity Range | 85% max. |
Kit Lens | Focal length/aperture | - |
Lens Compatibility | Lens Mount / Compatibility | EF / All EOS lenses, plus EF-S lenses | EF / All EOS lenses, except EF-S lenses |