Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D Mark II→Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS 5D Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS-1D Mark III
-
Burst rate10fps vs 3.9fps
-
Battery life~2200 shots (CIPA) vs ~850 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution10MP (down from 21MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS 5D Mark II | EOS-1D Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.6 | ||
| Street | -0.7 | ||
| Travel | -1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.3 | ||
| Documentary | -2.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.8 | ||
| Landscape | -2.0 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | -0.7 | ||
| Food | -0.9 | ||
| Macro | -0.7 | ||
| Architecture | -1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D Mark II | EOS-1D Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £66 used | £102 used | |
| Released | 2008 | 2007 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 21.1MP full-frame CMOS | 10.1MP APS-H CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 10MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | No video | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 45-point phase-detect (19 cross-type + 26 assist) via viewfinder | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 3.9fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ~2200 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 890g (with battery) | 1155g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 230k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D Mark III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS-1D Mark III against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS 5D Mark II
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Camera family history