Three-way Comparative Review: A classic, first published 07 December 2005 SPECIAL OFFER: Buy both Zeiss ZF Lenses and the Diglloyd Guide to Digital Infrared Photography and get D2X vs EOS free (request it post-purchase). This review is still relevent in 2008, even you’re planning on buying a newer camera such as the Nikon D3/D300 and/or Canon 1D(s) Mark III. The review will help you understand the issues between cameras, what to look for, and how to evaluate them. Don’t buy a $5000 or $8000 camera unprepared—read this review and give yourself a strong thought-framework for choosing a new camera. If you are considering the Nikon D2X, the Canon EOS 5D or Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II this review is a must-read. You won’t find anything else even remotely approaching the depth and breadth this review offers—on the web or in print. Even if you already have one of these outstanding cameras, this review offers valuable insights into multiple areas of performance, including resolution, color, noise, long exposures, usability, depth of field, background blur, and lens evaluations. See the Table of Contents for a complete list, reader comments, or see below to purchase. In 2000, I predicted to the late Galen Rowell (www.mountainlight.com) that the advent of a 16-megapixel digital SLR would be the end of 35mm film for most purposes. While Galen was skeptical, I maintained a firm conviction that this would come to pass within a few years (and sadly, Galen, an outstanding human being, is not here to see it). And indeed we now have not one, but three cameras which all outperform 35mm film. The November 2004 debut of the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II, and the February 2005 debut of the Nikon D2X made me sit back and carefully study the pros and cons of those two digital SLRs in the April 2005 diglloyd review Nikon D2X vs Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II (please see reader comments on that review to see reactions). This article advances that comparison in considerably more depth and breadth, while simultaneously including the new 12.8-megapixel Canon EOS 5D, which debuted in October 2005. The review is approximately 170 megabytes due to the size and number of the example photos, including large crops, aperture series, etc. They are of sufficient number and quality to be very revealing of how these cameras perform—and ample for the reader to make independent judgments (though all comparisons are accompanied by evaluations). There is simply nothing else like this review with its profusion of high-quality examples. A note on Canon vs NikonSome individuals who have an affinity for one brand or another take offense at any article or discussion in which a shortcoming of “their” brand is pointed out. Surely it’s clear that Canon has greatly improved the 1Ds Mark II since the original 1Ds, and the EOS 5D over the 20D. The same progression is true for the Nikon D2X as compared with the Nikon D1X—yet perfection has certainly not been achieved with any of these cameras. The article points out merits and shortcomings of each camera with no favoritism toward one brand or the other. The author has purchased all of the cameras and finds things to like and dislike with each of them—all such items being clearly explained in the review. The expressed preference of any photographer for one camera over another should be relevant only if that preference is based on objective considerations which are consistent with your considerations. Read this article if you want to make your own decision as to which camera is best for your particular work, based on many carefully prepared side-by-side examples. Still not sure it's worth it? The free Depth of Field section posted
at What does it cost?This review is no longer available separately. Comments from readersDH, location unspecified, 15 Jan 2006 DS, location unspecified, 10 Jan 2006 BW, location unspecified, 9 Jan 2006 KR, location unspecified, 9 Jan 2006 Craig Tanner, The
Radiant Vista, 16 Dec 2005 Your tests on noise alone made the review worth it to me. Being a teacher and having students who own the other two cameras (5D and D2X) tested also made the review particularly relevant to me. I learned quite a bit from the information. I like your approach of owning all three and using them when they work best. Unfortunately I don't think this is practical for everyone but there is plenty of great information to help those who have to decide to make an informed choice. After reading this review it makes me think that when (if) Nikon comes out with full frame sensors that the competition for the high end of the market will really heat up again which will be good for all of us. ...Thank you again Lloyd for all of the work you put into creating a great photographer's reveiw of these three very important cameras.... GK, San Antonio, TX, 16 Dec 2005 NP, location unspecified, 15 Dec 2005 NP, location unspecified. 14 Dec 2005 DW, location unspecified. 14 Dec 2005 MH, location unspecified. 07 Dec 2005
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