Reasons to choose EOS 5D
Released in 2005, EOS 5D has about 852 mm² of sensor area, 12.7 MP effective resolution, and a 895 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon EOS 5D
vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II
VS
Sensor area
852 mm²
EOS 5D864 mm²
EOS 5D Mark II- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 12 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1.4%
The EOS 5D Mark II has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 3 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
EOS 5DMetricEOS 5D Mark II
12.7 MPEffective pixels21 MP
35.8 × 23.8Sensor36 × 24
8.19 µmPixel pitch6.41 µm
67.09 µm²Pixel area41.14 µm²
1.49 MP/cm²Pixel density2.43 MP/cm²
1.01Crop factor1
—Maximum video—
895 gWeight850 g
CompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type II, MicrodriveStorageCompact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive
Lithium-Ion BP-511A rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The EOS 5D Mark II has the larger sensor area. The EOS 5D Mark II has the lighter body. The EOS 5D Mark II has the higher effective resolution. The EOS 5D Mark II is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose EOS 5D Mark II
Released in 2008, EOS 5D Mark II has about 864 mm² of sensor area, 21 MP effective resolution, and a 850 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.