Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Nikon D5

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Main
Model
Price
Advantages

launch
Announced
Body type
Camera subcategory
Sensor
Effective pixels
Max resolution
Sensor size
Sensor type
Processor
Image ratio w:h
Other resolutions
Sensor photo detectors
Image
ISO
Boosted ISO (minimum)
Boosted ISO (maximum)
White balance presets
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Uncompressed format
JPEG quality levels
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
Maximum shutter speed
Aperture priority
Shutter priority
Manual exposure mode
Subject / scene modes
Built-in flash
External flash
Continuous drive
Self-timer
Metering modes
Exposure compensation
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Screen size
Screen dots
Touch screen
Screen type
Live view
Viewfinder type
Viewfinder coverage
Viewfinder magnification
Videography features
Resolutions
File Format
Videography notes
Microphone
Speaker
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Digital zoom
Manual focus
Number of focus points
Lens mount
Focal length multiplier
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
Dimensions
Environmentally sealed
Battery
Battery details
Battery Life (CIPA)
Storage
Storage types
Storage included
Connectivity
USB
HDMI
Wireless
Wireless notes
Remote control
Microphone port
Headphone port
Other features
Orientation sensor
Timelapse recording
GPS
GPS notes
Samples
Videos

8.33/10

Main
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Price
Advantages
SENSOR Effective pixels: 22 megapixels
SENSOR Max resolution: 5760 x 3840
SENSOR Sensor size: Full frame (36 x 24 mm)
SENSOR Sensor photo detectors: 23 megapixels
PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 950 g (2.09 lb / 33.51 oz)
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Main
Model
Nikon D5
Price
Advantages
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 14.0 fps
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 2,359,000
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Touch screen: Yes
VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Resolutions: 3840 x 2160 (30p/25p/24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/50p)
VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Microphone: Stereo
OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 153
PHYSICAL Battery Life (CIPA): 3780
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launch
Announced
Mar 2, 2012
Body type
Camera subcategory
Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Effective pixels
22 megapixels
Max resolution
5760 x 3840
Sensor size
Full frame (36 x 24 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Digic 5+
Image ratio w:h
3:2
Other resolutions
3840 x 2560, 2880 x 1920, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480
Sensor photo detectors
23 megapixels
Image
ISO
Auto, 100 - 25600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 51200, 102400 as option
Boosted ISO (minimum)
50
Boosted ISO (maximum)
102400
White balance presets
6
Custom white balance
Yes (1)
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
Fine, Normal
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
30 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 sec
Aperture priority
Yes
Shutter priority
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Subject / scene modes
No
Built-in flash
No
External flash
Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus Sync connector)
Continuous drive
6.0 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Spot
- Partial
Exposure compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
±3 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Fixed
Screen size
3.2″
Screen dots
1,040,000
Touch screen
No
Screen type
Clear View II TFT LCD
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.71×
Videography features
Resolutions
1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
File Format
H.264
Videography notes
1080 and 720 intra or inter frame, 480 inter frame
Microphone
Mono
Speaker
Mono
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Selective single-point
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
No
Manual focus
Yes
Number of focus points
61
Lens mount
Canon EF
Focal length multiplier
1×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
950 g (2.09 lb / 33.51 oz)
Dimensions
152 x 116 x 76 mm (5.98 x 4.57 x 2.99″)
Environmentally sealed
Yes
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
950
Storage
Storage types
Compact Flash Type I (UDMA compatible), SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage included
None
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (HDMI mini)
Wireless
Optional
Wireless notes
Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7
Remote control
Yes (Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6)
Microphone port
—
Headphone port
—
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes (by cable and PC)
GPS
Optional
GPS notes
With optional GP-E2 unit
Watch sample photos
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launch
Announced
Feb 2016
Body type
Camera subcategory
Large SLR
Sensor
Effective pixels
21 megapixels
Max resolution
5588 x 3712
Sensor size
Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
EXPEED 5
Image ratio w:h
1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2
Other resolutions
—
Sensor photo detectors
21 megapixels
Image
ISO
Auto, 100-102400 (expandable to 50-3280000)
Boosted ISO (minimum)
50
Boosted ISO (maximum)
3280000
White balance presets
12
Custom white balance
Yes (6 slots)
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
Fine, normal, basic
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
30 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 sec
Aperture priority
Yes
Shutter priority
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Subject / scene modes
No
Built-in flash
No
External flash
Yes (via hot shoe and flash sync port)
Continuous drive
14.0 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Highlight-weighted
- Spot
Exposure compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
±5 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Fixed
Screen size
3.2″
Screen dots
2,359,000
Touch screen
Yes
Screen type
TFT LCD
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.72×
Videography features
Resolutions
3840 x 2160 (30p/25p/24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/50p)
File Format
MPEG-4, H.264
Videography notes
1.5X crop mode with DX lenses
Microphone
Stereo
Speaker
Mono
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Center
- Selective single-point
- Tracking
- Single
- Continuous
- Touch
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
—
Manual focus
—
Number of focus points
153
Lens mount
Nikon F
Focal length multiplier
1×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
1415 g (3.12 lb / 49.91 oz)
Dimensions
160 x 159 x 92 mm (6.3 x 6.26 x 3.62″)
Environmentally sealed
Yes
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
EN-EL18a lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
3780
Storage
Storage types
Dual CompactFlash or dual XQD
Storage included
—
Connectivity
USB
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (mini-HDMI)
Wireless
Optional
Wireless notes
Requires WT-5A or WT-6A
Remote control
Yes (wired, wireless, smartphone)
Microphone port
Yes
Headphone port
Yes
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes
GPS
Optional
GPS notes
GP-1A
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

Summary

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III highest resolution of 5760 x 3840 pixels (22 megapixels) is better than the D5 maximum resolution of 5588 x 3712 pixels (21 megapixels). The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is produced with bigger sensor compared to the D5: Full frame (36 x 24 mm) versus Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm). It is very important advantage of this camera as large sensor allows you to produce photos of the higher quality. The D5 provides more focus points in compare with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III: 153 vs 61. More focus points means less risk of losing focus lock while following a moving object.

The D5 display is better as it offers more screen dots 2,359,000 in compare to 1,040,000 dots of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III display. The higher dot count display is better for reviewing images on your camera. The Nikon D5 is produced with a touch screen.

The D5 battery life is better in compare to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III battery life. According to CIPA standards the photographer will be able to make 3780 shots with the D5 and only 950 with the EOS 5D Mark III. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III weighs 950g that is 465g less than the weight of the Nikon D5.

Taking into account the above-mentioned differences the Nikon D5 becomes the best choice. Check the list of the best offers on Amazon.