• 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 21.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark II advantages over Sony A7 III

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    105 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Sony A7 III advantages over Canon 5D Mark II

  • Less expensive
    $1498 vs $2999
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,730 vs 1,815 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.7 vs 11.9 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Newer
    7 years vs 16 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    945g vs 1588g
    Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.71x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    163 vs 75 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.7 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    33 vs 11 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • New 24MP sensor offers excellent image quality; Outstanding high ISO performance and dynamic range; Improved JPEG colors; Improved build quality; Fast autofocus; Excellent 4K video; Very good battery life.

  • Buffer clearing can be slow even with fast UHS-II cards; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No losslessly compressed RAW option; Dedicated battery charger not included; Menus are still confusing; No built-in flash.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3X

Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D3X
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $2500
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • More dynamic range
Sony A7 III
Nikon D3X
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2500
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D600

Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D600
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
Sony A7 III
Nikon D600
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 6D
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Less shutter lag
  • More AF points
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Sony A7 III
Canon 6D
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony A7 II

Canon 5D Mark II
Sony A7 II
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $1179
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
Sony A7 III
Sony A7 II
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $1179
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon Z6

Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon Z6
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
Sony A7 III
Nikon Z6
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • NFC
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Top deck display
  • More dots on screen
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