Canon 5D Mark III vs Fujifilm X-H1

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Fujifilm X-H1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in March 2012 and February 2018. The 5D Mark III is a DSLR, while the X-H1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a full frame (5D Mark III) and an APS-C (X-H1) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 22.1 megapixels, whereas the Fujifilm provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

	VS
Canon 5D Mark III		Fujifilm X-H1
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses		Fujifilm X mount lenses
22.1 MP, Full Frame Sensor		24 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25600 (50-102400)		ISO 200-12800 (100-51200)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)
3.2" LCD, 1040k dots		3.0" LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fully flexible touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second		14 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
950 shots per battery charge		310 shots per battery charge
152 x 116 x 76 mm, 950 g		140 x 97 x 86 mm, 673 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Fujifilm X-H1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 5D Mark III and the Fujifilm X-H1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Fujifilm X-H1 is notably smaller (23 percent) than the Canon 5D Mark III. Moreover, the X-H1 is markedly lighter (29 percent) than the 5D Mark III. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (5D Mark III) and the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-H1). Mirrorless cameras, such as the X-H1, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the 5D Mark III gets 950 shots out of its LP-E6 battery, while the X-H1 can take 310 images on a single charge of its NP-W126S power pack. The power pack in the X-H1 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 5D Mark III»	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	33.5 oz	950	Y	Mar 2012	3,499		Canon 5D Mark III
	Fujifilm X-H1«	5.5 in	3.8 in	3.4 in	23.7 oz	310	Y	Feb 2018	1,899		Fujifilm X-H1
	Canon 5D Mark IV« »	5.9 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	31.4 oz	900	Y	Aug 2016	3,499		Canon 5D Mark IV
	Canon 5DS« »	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	32.8 oz	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699		Canon 5DS
	Canon 5DS R« »	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	32.8 oz	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699		Canon 5DS R
	Canon 6D« »	5.7 in	4.4 in	2.8 in	27.2 oz	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099		Canon 6D
	Canon 5D Mark II« »	6.0 in	4.5 in	3.0 in	30.0 oz	850	Y	Sep 2008	3,499		Canon 5D Mark II
	Canon 5D« »	6.0 in	4.4 in	3.0 in	31.6 oz	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299		Canon 5D
	Fujifilm X-T4« »	5.3 in	3.7 in	2.5 in	21.4 oz	500	Y	Feb 2020	1,699		Fujifilm X-T4
	Fujifilm X-Pro3« »	5.6 in	3.3 in	1.8 in	17.5 oz	440	Y	Oct 2019	1,799		Fujifilm X-Pro3
	Fujifilm X-Pro2« »	5.6 in	3.3 in	1.8 in	17.5 oz	350	Y	Jan 2016	1,699		Fujifilm X-Pro2
	Fujifilm X-T2« »	5.2 in	3.6 in	1.9 in	17.9 oz	340	Y	Jul 2016	1,599		Fujifilm X-T2
	Nikon D610« »	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.2 in	30.0 oz	900	Y	Oct 2013	1,999		Nikon D610
	Nikon D600« »	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.2 in	30.0 oz	900	Y	Sep 2012	2,099		Nikon D600
	Nikon D800« »	5.7 in	4.8 in	3.2 in	35.3 oz	900	Y	Feb 2012	2,999		Nikon D800
	Nikon D800E« »	5.7 in	4.8 in	3.2 in	35.3 oz	900	Y	Feb 2012	3,299		Nikon D800E
	Panasonic GH5« »	5.5 in	3.9 in	3.4 in	25.6 oz	410	Y	Jan 2017	1,999		Panasonic GH5
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The X-H1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 46 percent) than the 5D Mark III, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 5D Mark III features a full frame sensor and the Fujifilm X-H1 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the X-H1 is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the X-H1 offers a slightly higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 22.1 MP of the 5D Mark III. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.92μm versus 6.25μm for the 5D Mark III). However, it should be noted that the X-H1 is much more recent (by 5 years and 11 months) than the 5D Mark III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the X-H1 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The X-H1 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm X-H1 are ISO 200 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the X-H1 provides a better video resolution than the 5D Mark III. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X-H1 has an electronic viewfinder (3690k dots), while the 5D Mark III has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the X-H1 has a higher magnification than the one of the 5D Mark III (0.75x vs 0.71x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 5D Mark III and Fujifilm X-H1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The X-H1 has a touchscreen, while the 5D Mark III has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the X-H1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm X-H1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 5D Mark III writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the X-H1 uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. The X-H1 supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the 5D Mark III cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Fujifilm X-H1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the 5D Mark III has a headphone jack, which is not present on the X-H1 This port makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

The X-H1 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Fujifilm. In contrast, the 5D Mark III has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 5D Mark III was succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Fujifilm websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 5D Mark III or the Fujifilm X-H1 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 5D Mark III:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (950 versus 310) on a single battery charge.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2012).

Advantages of the Fujifilm X-H1:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.75x vs 0.71x).
• More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (14 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (140x97mm vs 152x116mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 277g or 29 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards on both slots.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (46 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 11 months of technical progress since the 5D Mark III launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the X-H1 is the clear winner of the contest (19 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 5D Mark III and the Fujifilm X-H1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 5D Mark III or the X-H1. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	cam era   labs	dp re   view	e photo   zine	ima ging resource	photo graphy   blog	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 5D Mark III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2012	3,499		Canon 5D Mark III
	Fujifilm X-H1	+	86/100	4.5/5	..	4.5/5	Feb 2018	1,899		Fujifilm X-H1
	Canon 5D Mark IV	+ +	87/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	3,499		Canon 5D Mark IV
	Canon 5DS	+	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699		Canon 5DS
	Canon 5DS R	+	83/100	5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699		Canon 5DS R
	Canon 6D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099		Canon 6D
	Canon 5D Mark II	91/100	79/100	4/5	5/5	..	Sep 2008	3,499		Canon 5D Mark II
	Canon 5D	88/100	+ +	o	o	..	Aug 2005	3,299		Canon 5D
	Fujifilm X-T4	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2020	1,699		Fujifilm X-T4
	Fujifilm X-Pro3	+	85/100	4/5	..	..	Oct 2019	1,799		Fujifilm X-Pro3
	Fujifilm X-Pro2	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	1,699		Fujifilm X-Pro2
	Fujifilm X-T2	+ +	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jul 2016	1,599		Fujifilm X-T2
	Nikon D610	+ +	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,999		Nikon D610
	Nikon D600	+ +	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099		Nikon D600
	Nikon D800	+ +	82/100	5/5	5/5	5/5	Feb 2012	2,999		Nikon D800
	Nikon D800E	..	84/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2012	3,299		Nikon D800E
	Panasonic GH5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jan 2017	1,999		Panasonic GH5
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

Specifications: Canon 5D Mark III vs Fujifilm X-H1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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