Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Side-by-side specs, features and our lab-measured performance for the Canon 5D Mark III and the Canon 6D.

Canon 5D Mark III

Pro SLR · Released 2012 · 22.3 MP · 35mm

Read our review Compare with another camera

Canon 6D

SLR · Released 2012 · 20.2 MP · 35mm

Read our review Compare with another camera

Compare their image quality Open both cameras in the Comparometer: the same studio scenes, at every ISO, side by side.

Key differences

Why pick the Canon 5D Mark III

More resolution: 22.3 MP vs 20.2 MP
Faster continuous shooting: 6 fps vs 4.4 fps
Deeper RAW buffer: 18 frames vs 17 frames
Faster autofocus shutter lag (lab tested): 0.12s vs 0.29s
Bigger screen: 3.2 in vs 3 in
Lighter: 950 g vs 1,448 g
Dual card slots
Headphone jack

Why pick the Canon 6D

More dynamic range (DxOMark): 12.1 EV vs 11.7 EV
More shots per charge (CIPA): 1,090 shots vs 950 shots
Built-in Wi-Fi
Built-in GPS
Costs less (street price when tested): $1,699 vs $2,299

Worked out from the spec sheets and our lab measurements. Image quality, handling and autofocus tracking are judged in the reviews.

Full specifications

Show differences only

Specification	Canon 5D Mark III	Canon 6D
Overview
Camera Format	Pro SLR	SLR
Date Available	2012-03-20	2012-12-15
Currently Manufactured	No	Yes
Retail Price	$3500.00	$2399.00
Street Price	$2,299.00	$1,699.00
Weight	33.5 oz (950 g) includes batteries	51.1 oz (1,448 g) includes batteries, kit lens
Size	6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0 in. (152 x 116 x 76 mm)	5.7 x 4.4 x 2.8 in. (145 x 111 x 71 mm)
Waterproof	No	No
Predecessor	Canon 5D Mark II	–
Successor	Canon 5D Mark IV	Canon 6D Mark II
Sensor
Effective Megapixels	22.3	20.2
Sensor Format	35mm	35mm
Sensor size	864mm2 (36.00mm x 24.00mm)	855.62mm2 (35.80mm x 23.90mm)
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer	Canon	Canon
Approximate Pixel Pitch	6.25 microns	6.54 microns
Focal Length Multiplier	1.0x	1.0x
Aspect Ratio	3:2	3:2
Anti Aliasing Filter	Fixed	Fixed
Sensor shift image stabilization	No	No
Self-Cleaning	Yes	Yes
Image Resolution	5760 x 3840 (22.1 MP, 3:2), 3840 x 2560 (9.8 MP, 3:2), 2880 x 1920 (5.5 MP, 3:2), 1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2), 720 x 480 (0.3 MP, 3:2)	5472 x 3648 (20.0 MP, 3:2), 3648 x 2432 (8.9 MP, 3:2), 2736 x 1824 (5.0 MP, 3:2), 1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2), 720 x 480 (0.3 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format	JPEG (EXIF v2.3), RAW, M-RAW (10.5MP), S-RAW (5.5MP); 14-bit CR2	JPEG (EXIF v2.3), .CR2 14-bit RAW, mRAW, sRAW; RAW+JPEG
RAW Capture Support	Yes	Yes
Sensor scores (DxOMark)
DxO Sensor Score	81	82
DxO Color Depth Score (bits)	24.0	23.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs)	11.7	12.1
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso)	2,293	2,340
Autofocus
Auto Focus Type	Phase Detect : 61-point (up to 41 cross-type points); One to five cross-type AF points at f/2.8, 10 to 20 cross-type AF points at f/4, and 15 to 21 cross-type AF points at f/5.6.	Phase-detection: 11 points, 1 center cross-type point with -3 to +18 EV sensitivity rating
On-Sensor Phase Detect	No	No
Focus Peaking	No	No
Manual Focus	Yes	Yes
Auto Focus Assist Light?	No	No
Speed (Imaging Resource lab tests)
Continuous-mode frames/second	6.0	4.4
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution)	6.0	4.4
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution)	63	1250
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps)	6.0	4.4
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames)	18	17
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid)	0.12 seconds	0.29 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused)	0.061 seconds	0.059 seconds
Startup Time	0.5 seconds	0.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution)	–	0.52
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame)	–	0.52
Viewfinder and screen
Viewfinder	Optical / LCD	Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type	SLR type; fixed eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x magnification, 21mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter, fixed focusing screen, on demand grid	SLR type; fixed eye-level pentaprism, 97% coverage, 0.71x magnification, 21mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter, interchangeable focusing screen (Eg-A provided)
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent)	0.71x	0.71x
Rear Display Size (inches)	3.2	3.0
Rear Display Resolution	1,044,000 dots (348,000 px)	1,044,000 dots (348,000 px)
Touchscreen	No	No
Articulating Screen	No	No
Tilt Swivel Screen	No	No
Selfie Screen	No	No
Top Deck Display	Yes	Yes
Exposure
Minimum ISO (native)	100	100
Maximum ISO (native)	25600	25600
ISO Settings	Auto, 100-25600 in 1/3 or 1 EV steps, expandable to 50 (L), 51200 (H1) and 102400 (H2)	Auto, 100-25600 in 1/3 or 1 EV steps, expandable to 50 (L), 51200 (H1) and 102400 (H2)
Shutter Speed Range	1/8000 - 30 sec	1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes	63-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial (center, 7.2%), Spot (center, 1.5%)	63-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial (8%), Spot (3.5%)
White Balance Settings	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature
Time Lapse (intervalometer)	–	No
High Resolution Composite	No	No
Self Timer	2, 10 seconds	2, 10 seconds
Creative Exposure Modes	–	Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control; Multiple Exposure (up to 9 images)
Video
Can take movies	Yes	Yes
Movie Resolution	1920x1080 (30p/25p/24p) 1280x720 (60p/50p) 640x480 (30p/25p)	1920x1080 (30p/25p/24p) 1280x720 (60p/50p) 640x480 (30p/25p)
Movie File Format	.MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264), ALL-I and IPB modes	.MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, ALL-I and IPB modes, Linear PCM audio)
HD Video Out	Yes	Yes
HD Video Connection	HDMI	HDMI
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	Yes	No
Lens
Lens Mount	Canon EF	Canon EF
Lens	–	Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM; 18 elements in 13 groups, including 3 aspherical and 1 S-UD element
Focal Length (35mm equivalent)	–	24 - 105mm
Focal Length (actual)	–	24 - 105mm
Zoom Ratio	–	4.38x
Aperture Range	–	f/4 - f/22
Optical Image Stabilization	No	Yes
Filter Thread	–	77.0mm
Flash
Built-in Flash	No	No
Max Flash Sync	1/200	1/180
Flash Exposure Compensation	+/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection	Hot Shoe, PC Sync	Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control	No	–
Storage and connectivity
Usable Memory Types	CF1 / SD / SDHC / SDXC	SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support	No UHS support	UHS-I
Dual Card Slots	Yes	No
Built-In Wi-Fi	No	Yes
Bluetooth	No	No
NFC	No	No
Built-In GPS	No	Yes
External Connections	USB 2.0 High Speed	USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
Remote Control	Yes	Yes
Remote Control Type	Optional Wired or Wireless	Optional Wired, IR Wireless or Wi-Fi
Battery
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF)	950 shots	1090 shots
Battery Form Factor	Proprietary LP-E6	Proprietary
Usable Battery Types	Lithium-ion Rechargeable or BG-E11 battery grip	Lithium-ion rechargeable
Internal Charging Supported	No	No
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter)	Yes	Yes
Other
Tripod Mount	Yes	Yes
Color Filter Type	RGBG	RGBG
Composite Video Out	Yes	Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video	Yes	Yes
Integrated ND Filter	No	No
Auto Focus	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed)	0.71x	0.71x
Eye-level Viewfinder	Yes	Yes
Rear Display	Yes	Yes
Max Playback Zoom	10.0x	–
Auto ISO Mode	Yes	Yes
Program Auto Exposure	Yes	Yes
Aperture Priority	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure	Yes	Yes
Flash Modes	–	E-TTL II Auto Flash, Metered Manual, FE Lock
Other Memory	UDMA7 compliant	–
Uncompressed Format	RAW, M-RAW (10.5MP), S-RAW (5.5MP); 14-bit CR2	.CR2 14-bit RAW, mRAW, sRAW; RAW+JPEG
Included Memory	No memory included	No memory included
PictBridge Compliant	Yes	Yes
DPOF Compliant	Yes	Yes
Connections (extended)	Mini HDMI (Type C), Remote Jack, Stereo Mic Jack, Stereo Monitor Jack, PC-Sync Terminal	Mini HDMI (Type C), Remote Jack, 3.5mm Stereo Mic Jack
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames)	Unlimited	Unlimited
Camera penalizes early shutter press?	No	No
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps)	6.0	4.4
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames)	7	7
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR)	0.78 seconds	0.67 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR)	0.060 seconds	0.066 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus)	0.095 seconds	0.074 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes)	Optical Viewfinder: Full AF shutter lag, wide-area mode: 0.142s Live View: Full AF shutter lag, phase-detect: 0.823s Full AF shutter lag, contrast-detect: 0.780s Prefocused: 0.060	OVF mode: Full AF lag, Wide-area mode = 0.206s Live View mode: Full AF phase-detect = 1.679s Full AF contrast-detect = 0.670s Prefoced = 0.066s
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View)	200 shots	220 shots
Batteries Included	1 x Proprietary LP-E6 Lithium-ion rechargeable	1 x Proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable
Dedicated Battery Charger Included	Yes	Yes
Included Software	Canon EOS Digital Solution Disc	Canon EOS Digital Solution Disc
Normal Focus Range	–	45 cm to Infinity 17.7 in to Infinity
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot)	–	0.52

Highlighted cells mark the better figure where one is clearly better. Timings and buffer depths come from our lab tests; DxOMark scores are DxOMark's own.

Canon 5D Mark III highlights

New 22.3-megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor, DIGIC 5+ Processor, 61-point AF System, 63-zone iFCL Metering System, 6fps Bursts, Full HD video, 100% OVF, 3.2" 1.04M-dot LCD, Dual Card Slots (SD+CF), HDR Mode, Multiple Exposure Support, Scene Intelligent Auto, Comparative Playback, Dual-Axis Electronic Level, Auto Lighting Optimizer, In-Camera RAW Processing.