Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Nikon D700
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Nikon D700 are professional level DSLR cameras that serve the high end of the camera market. The most significant and most noticeable difference between the two is in their respective sensors. The D700 has more traditional 12 megapixel sensor while the 5D Mark II has an excessive 21 megapixel sensor. Though the extremely high resolution can be useful when doing big printouts, like billboard big, it isn’t really practical for most uses. Taking shots with the 5D Mark II at full resolution would also rapidly fill your memory cards as the file sizes can be quite big.
Another thing that the 5D Mark has over the D700 is its ability to shoot full HD video; the D700 is not able to shoot video at all. HD video recording on a DSLR might seem like a novelty but the 5D Mark II has proven that its ability to shoot video is not half baked. It’s been used to exclusively shoot an episode of the American hit series House, just to prove that it can compete with mainstream camcorders.
Despite being overshadowed in new features, the D700 does have some fine points that photographers can appreciate. The D700 is able to shoot continuously at 5 frames per second or up to 8 fps with the use of an optional grip. On the other hand, the 5D Mark II is only able to shoot at a paltry 3.5 fps. The faster continuous shooting speed is a huge advantage in action photography.
Another positive aspect of the D700 is its ability to use DX lenses in crop mode. This gives the D700 user a much varied choice when it comes to lenses. The 5D Mark II is not able to use EF-S lenses of any type and users are pretty much limited to EF lenses. The D700 is also equipped with a built-in pop-up flash that can help when you need a little bit more light in your shot. The 5D Mark II lacks a built-in flash, forcing users to bring an external flash or to forego the flash altogether.
Summary:
1. The 5D Mark II is equipped with a 21 megapixel sensor while the D700 only has a 12 megapixel sensor
2. The 5D Mark II is able to record 1080p video while the D700 is not
3. The 5D Mark II is slower at shooting continuous stills compared to the D700
4. The 5D Mark II is not able to work EF-S lenses while the D700 can use DX lenses
5. The 5D Mark II does not have a built-in flash while the D700 does