Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D→Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The EOS 5D Mark III improves across 5 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS 5D owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS 5D Mark III
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Resolution22MP vs 13MP (+10MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate6fps vs 3fps
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Battery life~950 shots (CIPA) vs ~800 shots (CIPA)
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Generation7 years newer (2012 vs 2005)
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 | EOS 5D Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.8 | ||
| Street | -0.2 | ||
| Travel | +0.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.2 | ||
| Documentary | +2.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.9 | ||
| Landscape | +1.3 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.3 | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.3 | ||
| Architecture | +0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D | EOS 5D Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £60 used | £146 used | |
| Released | 2005 | 2012 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.8MP full-frame CMOS | 22.3MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 13MP | 22MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder | 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 3fps | 6fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~800 shots (CIPA) | ~950 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 810g (body only) | 950g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | |
| Screen | 2.5" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M 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 and EOS 5D Mark III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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