• 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 22.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Samsung NX20

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 6.25 vs 4.33 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 3.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,293 vs 785 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 950 vs 360 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More dots on screen
    1044k vs 614k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.35 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • 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
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    63 vs 11 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    102400 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Samsung NX20 advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Thinner
    39 mm vs 76 mm
    Thinner
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.5 fps vs 6.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • 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

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5D Mark III

Review Excerpt

  • Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.

  • Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.

  • High quality images with lots of detail; Excellent graphical user interface is fun to use; Smart implementation of WiFi makes it relatively easy to share photos wirelessly.

  • Designed so much like a DSLR you may wonder why you shouldn't get a DSLR instead; Some performance issues, particularly slow buffer clearing and shot-to-shot speed; Initial WiFi set-up can be confusing.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 6D
  • $2082
  • 35mm
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Samsung NX20
Canon 6D
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 5D Mark IV
  • $2082
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $2249
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Samsung NX20
Canon 5D Mark IV
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash
  • $2249
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III
Sony A850
  • $2082
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Samsung NX20
Sony A850
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Pentax K-01

Canon 5D Mark III
Pentax K-01
  • $2082
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Samsung NX20
Pentax K-01
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III
Nikon D800E
  • $2082
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
Samsung NX20
Nikon D800E
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
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