Which One: Canon 5D Mk II vs Canon 5D Mk III vs Fujifilm X Pro 1

by Chris Gampat on 07/22/2012

It’s been a while since we’ve done a bit of a quick image comparison, but this will be a very interesting one. Fujifilm touts the X Pro 1 as having image quality equivalent to a full frame DSLR. The Canon 5D Mk III is among the best when it comes to DSLRs and the 5D Mk II, although aging, is still quite a formidable force.

So when the three cameras shoot relatively the same image in the same settings, can you tell the difference between their images?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Image one is from the 5D Mk III, Image 2 is from the Fujifilm X Pro 1, Image 3 is from the 5D Mk II. Thanks for trying!

Gear Used

Testing Conditions

All three cameras were set to ISO 200, f4 and 1/125th of a second. The Vivitar 285HV was set to the same power output for each photo and bounced at the ceiling.

The images were brought into Lightroom and had the blacks, clarity, sharpness, and white balance all adjusted to be the same levels. Additionally, the exposures were changed a bit to ensure that the histograms are all the same.

In the export process, all the images were sized down to 2000 pixels wide to simulate what one might upload to the web. In real life, that is what most readers of this blog do.

All cameras were focused on the Voigtlander lens.

Image Results

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

What Do You Think?

No peeking at the EXIF data. Let us know in the comments what you think and why you think so.

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Tagged as: 5d Mk II, 5d mk III, canon, fujifilm, image quality, x pro 1

Chris

3 looks like it might be the X-Pro. Very hard to tell.

It’s funny how things change — I recently bought a Canon refurb 5d2 for under $1500, so to me the X-Pro (starts at $1700 body-only) feels like the luxury item where you pay extra for the benefit of a more portable body, better AF, etc. I can’t imagine having thought this way about the 5D a few years ago!
- Jhgnag
  
  I am between these two cameras and can’t make up my mind. Which did you end up with and why?
SpoorthyVemula

i think 1 and 3 are the canons. NOt sure but I think #1 is the mark III and #3 is the mark II
sirWild3

I agree with Spoorthy, #’s 1 and 3 are the Canon’s, but I have no idea which one is which. (I’m happy about that since I have a Mark ii haha)
Rollingster

The second photo has a deeper DOF compare to the other 2 (looking at the word “Finest”). This reflects the difference between an apc vs full frame sensor. 2nd photo is X pro 1.
Curacion

I like the colors of the MKII most. Besides that, DOF clearly shows which one is the Fuji
PatRM2

Having been in photography since the dawn of man, and having used 4×5, 2 1/4, 35mm, and now digital, and having taught photography and darkroom for decades, under the confines of the test, does it matter? Oh, one more thing, the transmission of the info to the public, and the equipment on the viewers end (monitors) really makes this an interesting but not conclusive venture. Have fun.
Masterichoo

DOF is the best way to find out, indeed. The second image has a more detailed foreground than the other 2, so it probably belongs to the Fuji X-Pro1.
Dan

For me, image 2 is the best among the three because it has the best contrast range and sharpest details, particularly on the focused subject, the joints on the table’s surface and the readability of the texts on the objects.
supercobra

1st pic: X Pro 1
2nd pic: 5DMII
3nd pic: 5dMIII
http://www.facebook.com/fiddlergene Gene Lowinger

As I look at the three images up close, it depends at what particular detail I look at as to which image is sharpest. If anyone can really tell, they’re a better man than me. In then end all three are incredibly close. And that for me tells the whole story. If the XP1 took ANY one of those shots, as close as they are, the XP1 is the camera for me.
DE-PICT

DOF gives the game away for the Fuji (picture 2) and I have to say that it is the most pleasing picture to me, particularly in contrast, but the colour is pretty close to the MKIII, with perhaps a bit more depth.

The other 2 (Canon’s?) threw me. Picture 3 seems better than picture 1 to me as I can pick out more detail, especially on the strap. Maybe there was a shift in the focus point…..its quite significant!
Picture 1 however, does have a similar colour rendition to the Fuji, but a little less vibrant.

I’d be pleased to accept donations for any of these cameras!
- ChrisGampat
  
  You have some very good observations that are also extremely subtle hints as to which photo is which.
  
  One key word: autofocus.
  
  *-Chris Gampat*
  Editor in Chief, ThePhoBlographer.com
  Twitter.com/Phoblographer
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- jake
  
  sure ? no2 is the most pleasing?
  I thought no1 is much better and the no1 is the 5D3.
jake

it was very easy the 1 is the MK3 and the 3 is the MK2 , I have been shooting Nikon +Canon+ Pentax for quite a long time so I can tell it.
but I am not so impressed with the Fuji , I thought it is a bit better than the MK2 but it is not.
IMO, the EM5 is a bit better camera than the Fuji Xpro1 and NEX 7 (I own the NEX7 and EM5).
but seriously , APS-C is doomed and I am sure it is a dying format, we won’t see any more serious expensive APS-C like my D300s was.
- Duarte
  
  Hello Jake..and everyone,
  U mention the Pentax.. I’ve got a Nikon D7000.. ( 35mm F2D, the 55-200mm VR and the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8)
  But i am a big Pentax fan. I am not satisfied with the Tele/zoom i’ve got.. so i was aiming at a 2nd body with a decent DX tele -> namely the K5 (or even just the Kr) with the 50-135mm f2.8 Tele. What do you reckon ? Is its AF really that slow?
  
  I think i’d rather lug 2 good DX bodies (always very useful) than a FF 70-200mm tele with a D800.
  I normally shoot portrait at gigs&parties (other than architecture) _ i’m a musician&architect .
  
  PS : the alternative would be ditching the DX system which i really like..and go for a Fuij X-100 and a D800.
  Any suggestiona guys ?
  
  Duarte (Portugal)
Dave SE22

Tough test, the only difference I can judge is in dof: looking closely at the wallet and the wide strap behind the camera, image 2 is sharp for both, image 3 is sharp for the strap but not on the wallet, and 1 is sharp on neither. No idea which is which.
Gene

You all wrong guys. #3 is a Fuji X Pro1.I’m sure.
Serge

First looking for Fuji XPro which doesn’t have the same sensor size / crop factor than the 5Ds. Consequently on the Fuji, the dof for a same frame taken with the same aperture & composition, won’t be as shallow as the 24*36 5Ds. That’s why I m expecting the Fuji picture being nb 2.
With the Lightroom work done “blacks, clarity, the exposures were changed a bit to ensure that the histograms are all the same.” I am not able to resolve the riddle. I would just guess that Mark II is nb 1 and Mark III is nb 3 , but that’s only a guess due to the more sensitivity of Canon last full frame. 5DMark II Fuji X Pro 1 5D Mark III
UncleFuji

Well, my guess is the top pic is my old camera, the 5d mk 2, the middle pic is my new camera, the xpro1, and the last picture is the camera i’ve no interest in any more, the 5d mk 3.
Sarbaso

I guess that Picture Number is from a Mark 3, it has less warmer Colors than Picture Number 3 which is from a Mark 2.

Picture Number 2 is defintly a Fuji X-Pro 1 because of the sharpness. The Fuji dont use a Antialising Filter which produces such sharpness.
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http://twitter.com/LynnBernardi Lynn

Haven’t read other comments, but here is my guess:

#1 = 5Dm2,
#2 = Fuji,
#3 = 5Dm3
- ChrisGampat
  
  Why do you think so?
  
  *-Chris Gampat*
  Editor in Chief, ThePhoBlographer.com
  Twitter.com/Phoblographer
  Facebook.com/ThePhoblographer
  - http://twitter.com/LynnBernardi Lynn
    
    Hi Chris. #2 has more area in focus, and I’m assuming it’s because of the different sensor size. So that leaves 1 & 3. 3 looks a little nicer to me, so I’m assuming it’s the newer version of the 5D. Am I close or totally off base?
http://www.smudgedphoto.co.uk/ Harrogate Wedding Photographer

Surely they’ll all be fairly similar at those ideal settings? It’s at the extremes where the better cameras start to show the edge?
- ChrisGampat
  
  I think you’re missing the point of this test. It is to see if you can tell the difference between the three.
  
  There are subtle hints at which one is which.
  
  *-Chris Gampat*
  Editor in Chief, ThePhoBlographer.com
  Twitter.com/Phoblographer
  Facebook.com/ThePhoblographer
  - http://www.smudgedphoto.co.uk/ Harrogate Wedding Photographer
    
    Haha, yep I understand. In which case I’m stumped!
LCN

#1 = 5DMKIII / #2 = X-Pro1 / #3 = 5D MKII. Most impressive is that the image of the X-Pro1 can perfectly be hided between a factor 2 more expensive camera and one everybody was considering as the best standard on the market… which proofs something.
quad

The 2nd one is Fuji due to larger DOF, then between 1 and 3, the 1st one is 5D mk III, more accurate color balance, which leaves the 3rd one to be 5D mk II.
Will P

The first and third look the best to me, the second I don’t like as much. I have no idea which is from which camera.
http://twitter.com/doubles_player Dan

Agree with you for all the same reasons. Two Dans can’t be wrong.
Scott

You are wrong , they are all iPhone pics
Acephoto

1 mkii
2 fuji
3 mkiii

No 2 is cropped. 1&2 are warmer. And 3 is sharper
tino

what do you intend to compare? the look? the sharpness?
2 for sure is the best looking picture, it has more “look”. though it’s because of different framing.
then you compared all with same aperture, which results fuji having deeper DOF, good or bad? I think the DOF is one of the fuji’s weaknesses compared to d800/5dx.
In general the fuji files(if converted correctly from raw) are far superior in detail, sharpness and contrast to anything else.
I did have a fashion shooting outside though yesterday and I missed so many good shots because there are just out of focus….the best sensor and lenses wont help if the pic is out of focus.
Now I’m considering the d800. I have the d700 and I prefer much to shoot with the x pro. though if the focus is not on spot I may loose the great pics. It might be ok with still photography, but a model you cant always reproduce the exact smile or expression when you missed the focus.
http://twitter.com/PhotoMadd Photo Matt Madd

I have an X-Pro 1, and from my experience of how it renders the images I’d say it was no.2 – which also looks the best to me! … and that’s exactly why I bought an X-Pro 1!
Me…

Image No 2….
http://www.facebook.com/brad.horn.9 Brad Horn

I agree with prior comments that image 2 looks to be the X-Pro1. Less bokeh on the APS-C sized sensor. The real test would be to do the same test at 3200 ISO. My 60D reaches its limits at 3200 and becomes unusable at 6400. However, the images I’ve seen from the X-Pro1 at these settings are jaw-droppingly sweet.
Gabriele Lopez

I don’t care, the point is that when you open a box of good pictures is hard (silly?) to discuss with camera did what.
http://twitter.com/_chalkie_ Graham White

I’m not overly hung up on which camera produced which shot as all 3 cameras are great, but for me Image 2 is the most pleasing. If that turns out to be from the Fuji then I might have to seriously consider how much longer I use a Canon as my 1st choice of camera!
ben bornert

Wtf is the answer? Which camera took each picture?
wondering

What kind of stupid test is this? All scaled down and being different sizes.
Ed. Dickau

Image #2 is the best and as I own and use the Fuji X PRO 1 I am all in on it being the Fuji image!
http://twitter.com/fosforicosas Pablo Ferrufino

1 may be de MkIII, i see better colors
2 definitely the X Pro 1, look at the sharpness in the Signature
3 the MkII
JudyB

Have no idea which camera for which shot, but like 3 the best, then 2.
Abhinav

Image # 2 looks the best of the lot here
Danelkins

1 is Mk2, 2 is Fuji and 3 is Mk3. All images look good with even light and good exposure. Now, under not so well lit environments the three cameras will easily be recognized.
alfred

2 is best for my tastes.. guessing canon mkII
alfred

2nd is mkii …ah, and first one is the fuji, I think
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Chirp

Image 1&2 are canons–5dmk II&III… Image 3 xpro1