• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 35mm 858.0mm2
  • 20.8 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 102,400

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Differences

Canon G16 advantages over Nikon D5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Less expensive
    $499 vs $3930
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • 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
  • Thinner
    40 mm vs 92 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Lighter weight
    355g vs 1415g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    250 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Nikon D5 advantages over Canon G16

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 1/1.7 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 6.45 vs 1.90 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Better color depth
    25.1 vs 21.0 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,343 vs 230 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 3780 vs 770 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    590k vs 307k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.31 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.8 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    200 vs 5 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    12.1 fps vs 1.8 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    183 vs 39 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    3276800 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

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.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • 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

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D5

Review Excerpt

  • AF speed vastly improved; Increased continuous frames per second (JPEGs at 12.5fps vs 10fps in G15); Solid build and ergonomic, comfortable feel; Excellent f/1.8-2.8 5x optical zoom lens; Advanced photographic features, including PASM dial and RAW capture; Dedicated ISO button; Customizable buttons; Excellent macro mode; 1080p/60fps Full HD video.

  • LCD screen not articulated; Larger design makes it not very pocketable; Optical viewfinder not very accurate; RAW burst shooting still slow; Wi-Fi is clunky to set-up & no remote shooting capabilities; No built-in GPS.

  • Excellent image quality; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 153-point autofocus system; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K video recording; Pro-quality camera body; Outstanding battery life.

  • Large and heavy body might not be right for all; Loud shutter; Underutilized touchscreen; Low ISO dynamic range not as good as predecessor; Extended high ISOs not very useful; Sluggish Live View AF.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus XZ-2

Canon G16
Olympus XZ-2
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
Nikon D5
Olympus XZ-2
  • $5213
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Canon G15

Canon G16
Canon G15
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
Nikon D5
Canon G15
  • $5213
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Internal flash

Compared to Pentax MX-1

Canon G16
Pentax MX-1
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
Nikon D5
Pentax MX-1
  • $5213
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $400
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon D4S

Canon G16
Nikon D4S
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Nikon D5
Nikon D4S
  • $5213
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $5399
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO

Compared to Canon 1DX Mark II

Canon G16
Canon 1DX Mark II
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $2999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Nikon D5
Canon 1DX Mark II
  • $5213
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $2999
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
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