• 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 21.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 12.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 102,400

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5D Mark II advantages over Sony A7S

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 850 vs 380 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More pixels
    21.1 vs 12.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos

Sony A7S advantages over Canon 5D Mark II

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Less expensive
    $1998* vs $2999
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 8.40 vs 6.41 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,702 vs 1,815 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.2 vs 11.9 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 75 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    10 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
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    39 vs 11 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    409600 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 Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Outstanding high ISO performance; excellent dynamic range; 4K video recording (via uncompressed HDMI); XAVC S option for HD video; Slightly improved battery life over A7/A7R; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC connectivity.

  • 4K video requires expensive external recorder; Sluggish startup time; Loud shutter; Silent Shooting mode hurts image quality; Lacks a built-in, pop-up flash; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

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 A7S
Nikon D3X
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Bigger pixels
  • $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 A7S
Nikon D600
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 6D
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Less shutter lag
  • More AF points
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Sony A7S
Canon 6D
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony A7S II

Canon 5D Mark II
Sony A7S II
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
Sony A7S
Sony A7S II
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video

Compared to Leica M (Typ 262)

Canon 5D Mark II
Leica M (Typ 262)
  • $1200
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $4995
  • 35mm
  • Thinner
  • Newer
Sony A7S
Leica M (Typ 262)
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $4995
  • 35mm
  • More pixels
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
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