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EOS 5D Mark III vs D3500
Quick take: The D3500 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the D3500 is the most affordable; only the EOS 5D Mark III is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS 5D Mark IIICanon · 2012 | D3500Nikon · 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £219 | £214Best |
| Sensor | 22.3MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 22.3MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | Full HD 1080p/60 |
| Autofocus | 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 6fpsBest | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~950 shots (CIPA) | ~1550 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 950g (with battery) | 415g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 152 × 116.4 × 76.4mm | 124 × 97 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.85x |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF | Nikon F-mount (DX) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks, N3 remote | USB 2.0 (micro-USB), mini HDMI, Bluetooth (SnapBridge) |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS 5D Mark III
D3500
Portrait
6.1/10
5.8/10
Street
4.6/10
6.1/10
Travel
4.7/10
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
6.7/10
5.0/10
Documentary
5.4/10
4.2/10
Sports & Action
6.0/10
5.1/10
Landscape
5.5/10
4.9/10
Wildlife
6.0/10
5.5/10
Casual
2.8/10
4.6/10
Food
4.2/10
4.6/10
Macro
3.8/10
4.0/10
Architecture
5.1/10
4.9/10
Astrophotography
5.9/10
4.9/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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