Canon 5D Mark II vs Sony RX10

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon 5D Mark II vs Sony RX10

35mm 864.0mm²
21.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark II Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark II.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX10 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX10 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX10.
Compare Sony RX10 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX10 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark III
Compare 5D Mark II vs 5D Mark III

Succeeded by the Sony RX10 II
Compare RX10 vs RX10 II

Compare CANON 5D MARK III vs SONY RX10 II

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5D Mark II advantages over Sony RX10

Larger sensor
35mm vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.41 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
5D Mark II test data on DxO Mark RX10 test data on DxO Mark

1,815 vs 474 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

850 vs 420 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
75 mm vs 102 mm
Thinner
Bigger JPEG buffer
75 vs 21 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/3200 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony RX10 advantages over Canon 5D Mark II

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$698* vs $2999
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Higher max flash sync
1/3200 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
10 years vs 15 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
1229k vs 920k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 3.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.5 fps vs 3.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read RX10 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5D Mark II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm f/4 lens

All 5D Mark II Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX10

Sony RX10

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon 5D Mark II Full Review

Smaller than SLR/CSC with comparable lenses; Larger sensor than other bridge cameras; SLR-like body without the hassle of changing lenses; Weather-sealed; Constant f/2.8 maximum aperture; Generous zoom range; Great viewfinder; Swift performance; Plenty of enthusiast-friendly features including raw shooting; Wi-Fi and NFC wireless sharing.
Expensive compared to other bridge cameras; Menus respond slowly after burst shooting; Lens doesn't zoom very quickly; High ISO performance doesn't quite match RX100 II.
Read our Sony RX10 Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic FZ1000

Canon 5D Mark II

Panasonic FZ1000

$1085
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$773
1 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark II vs Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX10

Panasonic FZ1000

$698
1 inch

Top deck display
Integrated ND filter

$773
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony RX10 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Compared to Nikon D3X

Canon 5D Mark II

Nikon D3X

$1085
35mm

Shoots 1080p video
Bigger JPEG buffer

$2500
35mm

Fast startup
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 5D Mark II vs Nikon D3X

Sony RX10

Nikon D3X

$698
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2500
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 vs Nikon D3X

Compared to Nikon D600

Canon 5D Mark II

Nikon D600

$1085
35mm

More telephoto lens reach
Bigger JPEG buffer

$1900
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon 5D Mark II vs Nikon D600

Sony RX10

Nikon D600

$698
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$1900
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 vs Nikon D600

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 6D

$1085
35mm

Less shutter lag
More AF points

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 6D

Sony RX10

Canon 6D

$698
1 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1699
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 vs Canon 6D

Compared to Sony RX10 II

Canon 5D Mark II

Sony RX10 II

$1085
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Canon 5D Mark II vs Sony RX10 II

Sony RX10

Sony RX10 II

$698
1 inch

Less expensive

$998
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony RX10 vs Sony RX10 II

Compare Other Cameras?