Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D→Canon EOS 90D
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS 5D. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS 90D
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Resolution32MP vs 13MP (+20MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate10fps mechanical vs 3fps
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Battery life~1300 shots (CIPA with OVF) vs ~800 shots (CIPA)
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Generation14 years newer (2019 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 90D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.2 | ||
| Street | +0.8 | ||
| Travel | +1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.5 | ||
| Documentary | +2.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.6 | ||
| Landscape | +1.9 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.9 | ||
| Casual | +2.1 | ||
| Food | +2.2 | ||
| Macro | +2.3 | ||
| Architecture | +1.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D | EOS 90D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £60 used | £863 | |
| Released | 2005 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.8MP full-frame CMOS | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel AF) | |
| Resolution | 13MP | 32MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | 4K/30p (1.6× crop), FHD/120p | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder | Dual Pixel CMOS AF (live view), 45-point phase-detect (OVF) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 3fps | 10fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~800 shots (CIPA) | ~1300 shots (CIPA with OVF) | ↑ |
| Weight | 810g (body only) | 701g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.95× magnification | |
| Screen | 2.5" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF / EF-S | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 5D and EOS 90D next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 90D against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS 5D
Related buying guides
Camera family history