Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5: 10 things you need to know

How does Canon’s blisteringly fast EOS-1D X Mark II shape up versus Nikon’s high-ISO monster, the D5?

The similarities between the successors to the EOS-1D X and the D4S are obvious: they both offer a resolution of 20MP, 4K video recording and more AF points than you can shake a stick at.

But what are the key differences between the two full-frame flagship DSLRs? Here, we get under the skins of the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 and compare their key specs…

SEE MORE: Canon vs Nikon: the in-depth DSLR comparison you’ve been waiting for!

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

Nikon D5

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5: 01 Sensor and resolution

When it comes to sensor resolution and image size, there’s little to separate the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and the Nikon D5. Both cameras have a full-frame sensor, but with a resolution of 20.8MP, the D5 has a modest advantage versus the EOS-1D X Mark II’s 20.2MP.

Compared to the cameras that they’re replacing, the D5 shows the biggest increase in resolution. It gains 4.6 million pixels over the D4S, versus the EOS-1D X Mark II’s 2.1 million pixel increase over the EOS-1D X.

To cope with the demands of increased shooting speeds, higher ISO sensitivities and 4K movie recording, both cameras feature the latest image processors from their respective manufacturers. Canon drives the updated EOS-1D X with Dual Digic 6+ processors, while the D5 gets a new Expeed 5 engine.

SEE MORE: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II hands-on review

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

Nikon D5

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5: 02 High ISO

In terms of headline figures, the Nikon D5 has the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II over a barrel when it comes to high ISO. The Nikon D5’s standard ISO range is ISO 100 to 102,400, but it can be expanded to ISO 3,280,000 equivalent.

The EOS-1D X Mark II offers a native sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 51,200, which is 1 stop less than the D5’s. Its highest expanded sensitivity is ISO 409,600 – around 3 stops lower than the D5’s.

Again, in comparison to their predecessors the D5 shows the biggest leap, with a 2-stop rise in the standard ISO range and a 3-stop gain in the expanded range over the D4S. The EOS-1D X Mark II shares the same ISO range as the Mark I version, with a 1-stop push in the expanded ISO range.

We’re reserving judgement on the performance of both cameras at their expanded settings until we’ve thoroughly tested them, particularly the D5 – 3 million ISO may just be a step too far.

SEE MORE: Nikon D5 hands-on review

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5: 03 Autofocusing and metering
With 153 autofocus points available, the Nikon D5 is once again the headline-grabbing camera. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II has the same number of AF points as the original EOS-1D X – 61 in total. But at least all of the EOS-1D X Mark II’s AF points are manually selectable, versus 55 on the D5.

The D5 offers 99 cross-type AF points and 15 points that work with f/8. Here, the EOS-1D X Mark II beats the D5: all of its AF points offer f/8 autofocus. But Nikon’s AF system is more sensitive – down to -4 EV, versus -3 EV for the EOS-1D X Mark II.

Both cameras offer focus tracking in Live View mode, with the EOS-1D X Mark II being the first of Canon’s full-frame DSLRs to feature Dual Pixel CMOS AF.

In terms of metering, it’s another battle of the big numbers. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II’s RGB metering sensor features 360,000 pixels, including IR pixels that can detect infrared light.

The Nikon D5 features a new 180,00-pixel RGB metering sensor. Its metering range in Matrix or centre-weighted is -3 to +20 EV, which is more sensitive than the EOS-1D X Mark II’s 0 to +20 EV.

SEE MORE: Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S: 10 things you need to know about Nikon’s flagship DSLR

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5: 04 Continuous shooting and buffer capacity

If the machine-gun purr of a professional DSLR in full flight floats your boat, then the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II has to be top of your list. It’s capable of shooting 14 frames per second with autofocus and autoexposure, increasing to a top burst speed of 16fps without autofocus in Live View mode.

By comparison, the Nikon D5 ‘crawls’ along at up to 12fps with AF and AE, which is boosted to 14fps with the mirror locked up ad AF and AE fixed.

Buffer capacity is an obvious concern when you’re tearing through frames at these speeds. The EOS-1D X Mark II can shoot a continuous burst of 170 full-resolution raw files while Nikon clocks the D5 at up to 200 raw files.

So, while the EOS-1D X Mark II will potentially slow down sooner than the D5, on paper at least, the EOS-1D X’s faster top speed may prove more useful in day-to-day photography. Sports photographers are likely to hold a different view.

SEE MORE: Nikon D500 vs Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Nikon D5

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5: 05 Memory cards

As expected at this level, both cameras have twin memory card slots. That’s where the similarity ends.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II has a CF card slot and a CFast 2.0 card slot. It’s the first EOS stills camera to offer CFast 2.0 compatibility, which offers a write speed that’s three times faster than a top-end CompactFlash card (440 MB/s versus 150 MB/s).

Nikon offers two flavours of D5: one with dual high-speed CF card slots and the other with dual XQD slots. XQD offers faster read and write speeds than CF cards, similar to that offered by CFast 2.0.

The choice of either XQD only or CF only may not be as appealing as Canon’s split CF/CFast 2.0 approach, which delivers both speed and backwards compatibility.

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