Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D Mark II→Canon EOS-1D
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
-
Burst rate8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames) vs 3.9fps
-
Battery life~1200 shots per charge vs ~850 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution4MP (down from 21MP — optimised for low light)
-
StabilisationIBIS not 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.1 | ||
| Street | -1.1 | ||
| Travel | -1.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.4 | ||
| Documentary | -1.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.5 | ||
| Landscape | -1.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.3 | ||
| Casual | -1.0 | ||
| Food | -1.1 | ||
| Macro | -0.9 | ||
| Architecture | -1.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.3 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D Mark II | EOS-1D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £128 | £150 | |
| Released | 2008 | 2001 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 21.1MP full-frame CMOS | 4.1MP APS-H CMOS (1.3× crop) | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 4MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | — | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | — | |
| Burst Rate | 3.9fps | 8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ~1200 shots per charge | ↑ |
| Weight | 890g (with battery) | 1225g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.71x | OVF, 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 2.0" fixed LCD | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | CompactFlash Type I/II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D 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 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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