Nikon D3x vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II review

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To analyze real-life achievement we attempt the aforementioned arena with the Nikon D3x and Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 5D aural a few moments of anniversary added application their RAW modes and abject sensitivities.

This arena appropriate wide-angle coverage, so we called aerial affection lenses for anniversary arrangement which included the 24mm focal length: the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f2.8 and the Canon EF 24-105mm f4L, both set to 24mm f8. To see how the bodies analyze with agnate prime lenses, analysis our Aerial ISO after-effects folio area 50mm f1.4 models were fitted.

High ISO Noise Abridgement was set to the absence Normal and Standard settings on the D3x and 5D Mark II respectively. Active D-Lighting and the Auto Lighting Optimiser were both disabled for this test. Both cameras were set to their RAW modes, with the suppliedcomputer application acclimated to accomplish conversions: Nikon’s Capture NX 2.2.0 and Canon’s Digital Photo Able 3.6, both application their absence settings with Chromatic Aberration abridgement enabled. Note: Sony was clumsy to accumulation an Alpha A900 for allegory here, but you can see after-effects for it taken with the Carl Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 lens from the aforementioned position in our Sony Alpha A900 review. The images were taken on a altered day, but still accord an adumbration of corresponding detail; the RAW sample for the A900 is at the basal of its aboriginal after-effects page.

At aboriginal glance, crops from the Nikon D3x’s candy RAW book attending acutely softer than those from the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. The Canon crops attending abundant crisper and sharper. Some of this is due to the aberration in lenses acclimated for this accurate test, so to akin the arena acreage we adapted agnate 50mm f1.4 primes for our Aerial ISO after-effects page. But back examination that page, you’ll see the Canon samples are still acutely punchier.

This aberration apparent throughout our after-effects pages is partly due to their corresponding sensor designs and anti-aliasing filters, but abundantly afflicted by angel processing and the absence settings in their supplied RAW converters. By absence Nikon is opting for a beneath candy approach, acceptance you to brand your own preferences later, while Canon is activity for a added ‘cooked’ angel that’s accessible for activity after modification.

By accretion the accurateness and adverse on the D3x or abbreviation them on the 5D Mark II, you can accompany both images to a agnate appearance, but it absolutely confirms the ambition markets of anniversary camera: the D3x is a top-end able anatomy which expects a assertive bulk of tweaking by its owner, admitting the EOS 5D Mark II is added consumer-focused with crisper images by default. Coincidentally, this access is additionally reflected in anniversary model’s in-camera JPEG processing.

Looking above the processing and optical differences though, there’s little amid them in agreement of recorded detail in a real-life archetype like this. The D3x may action a few added Megapixels and bear a tighter crop as a result, but there’s no greater detail in there on this accurate sample. The D3x does accept a 18-carat resolution benefit, but to see it you’ll charge to photograph abstruse archive in a controlled ambiance – which is what we’ve done on our D3x Studio Resolution page. Analysis it out to see the abstruse differences amid anniversary sensor afore again comparing their corresponding achievement at aerial sensitivities.