What are the best full frame DSLR cameras?

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Aug 30, 2023

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Nikon D810 vs Nikon D5 vs Pentax K-1

vs Nikon D780 vs Canon EOS 6D Mark II vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D850 vs Canon 5DS / R vs Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Specs

Screen size

3.2" fixed

Max resolution

7360 x 4912

Lens mount

Nikon F

ISO Range

64 - 12800 (boosted to 32 - 51200)

AF points

Weight

980 g

Dimensions

146 x 123 x 82 mm

Video resolution

1080p60; 720p60

Continuous drive

5 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

MPEG-4; H.264

Built-in flash

Yes

Sensor size

Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.7x

Ports

USB 3.0; HDMI

Microphone

Stereo

Processor

EXPEED 4

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/8000 sec

Storage types

SD / SDHC / SDXC; CF

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

1200

Screen dots

1229000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

3:2; 5:4

Image file formats

JPEG; RAW; TIFF

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±5

Remote control

Yes

External flash

Yes

WB Bracketing

Yes

Flash range

12m

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3.2in

Max resolution

5588 x 3712

Lens mount

Nikon F

ISO Range

100 - 102400 (boosted to 50 - 3280000)

AF points

153

Weight

1415 g

Dimensions

160 x 159 x 92 mm

Video resolution

2160p30; 1080p60

Continuous drive

14 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

MPEG-4; H.264

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.72x

Ports

USB 3.0; HDMI

Microphone

Stereo

Processor

Expeed 5

Touchscreen

Yes

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/8000 sec

Storage types

Dual CF or Dual XQD

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

3780

Screen dots

2359000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

1:1; 5:4; 4:3; 3:2

Image file formats

JPEG; NEF

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±5

Remote control

Yes

External flash

Yes

WB Bracketing

Yes

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3.2in

Max resolution

7360 x 4912

Lens mount

Pentax KAF2

ISO Range

100 - 204800

AF points

Weight

1010 g

Dimensions

137 x 110 x 86 mm

Video resolution

1080i60; 1080p30; 720p60

Continuous drive

4.4 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

MPEG-4; H.264

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.7x

Ports

USB 2.0; HDMI

Microphone

Stereo

Processor

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Sensor-shift

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/8000 sec

Storage types

Dual SD / SDHC / SDXC

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

760

Screen dots

1037000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

3:2;

Image file formats

JPEG; RAW

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±5

Remote control

Yes

External flash

Yes

WB Bracketing

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Yes

Sensor

Screen size

Max resolution

Lens mount

ISO Range

AF points

Weight

Dimensions

Video resolution

Continuous drive

Sensor type

Video formats

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

Ports

Microphone

Processor

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

Storage types

Exposure compensation

Battery Life (CIPA)

Screen dots

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

Image file formats

Viewfinder coverage

Environmentally sealed

AE Bracketing

Remote control

External flash

WB Bracketing

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3" Fully articulated

Max resolution

6240 x 4160

Lens mount

Canon EF

ISO Range

100-40000 (expands to 50-102400)

AF points

Weight

Dimensions

Video resolution

Continuous drive

Sensor type

Video formats

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

Ports

Microphone

Processor

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

Storage types

Exposure compensation

Battery Life (CIPA)

Screen dots

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

Image file formats

Viewfinder coverage

Environmentally sealed

AE Bracketing

Remote control

External flash

WB Bracketing

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

26 MP full-fram CMOS

Screen size

3.2in

Max resolution

5760 x 3840

Lens mount

Canon EF

ISO Range

100 - 25600 (boosted to 50 - 102400)

AF points

Weight

950 g

Dimensions

152 x 116 x 76 mm

Video resolution

1080p29.97; 720p59.94

Continuous drive

6 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

H.264

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Full frame (36 x 24 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.71x

Ports

USB 2.0; HDMI

Microphone

Mono

Processor

Digic 5+

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/8000 sec

Storage types

SD / SDHC / SDXC; CF

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

950

Screen dots

1040000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

3:2;

Image file formats

JPEG; RAW

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±3

Remote control

Yes

External flash

Yes

WB Bracketing

Yes

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3.2in

Max resolution

5472 x 3648

Lens mount

Canon EF

ISO Range

100 - 51200 (boosted to 50 - 409600)

AF points

Weight

1530 g

Dimensions

158 x 168 x 83 mm

Video resolution

2160p60; 1080p120

Continuous drive

16 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

MPEG-4; H.264; Motion JPEG

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Full frame (36 x 24 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.76x

Ports

USB 3.0; HDMI

Microphone

Mono

Processor

Dual DIGIC 6+

Touchscreen

Yes

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/8000 sec

Storage types

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

1210

Screen dots

1620000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

3:2;

Image file formats

JPEG; RAW

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±3

Remote control

External flash

Yes

WB Bracketing

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3.2 in.

Max resolution

4969 × 3313 (45.7 MP)

Lens mount

Nikon F

ISO Range

64 - 25,600 (boosted to 102,400)

AF points

153

Weight

915 g

Dimensions

146x124x78.5 mm

Video resolution

3840x2160

Continuous drive

7 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

MOV, MP4

Built-in flash

Sensor size

35.9x23.9 mm

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

100%

Ports

Microphone

Processor

EXPEED 5

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

Storage types

Exposure compensation

Battery Life (CIPA)

Screen dots

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

Image file formats

Viewfinder coverage

Environmentally sealed

AE Bracketing

Remote control

External flash

WB Bracketing

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3.2in

Max resolution

8688 x 5792

Lens mount

Canon EF

ISO Range

100 - 6400 (boosted to 50-12800)

AF points

Weight

930 g

Dimensions

152 x 116 x 76 mm

Video resolution

1080p30; 720p60

Continuous drive

5 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

H.264

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Full frame (36 x 24 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.71x

Ports

USB 3.0; HDMI

Microphone

Mono

Processor

Dual DIGIC 6

Touchscreen

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/8000 sec

Storage types

SD / SDHC / SDXC; CF

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

700

Screen dots

1037000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

3:2; 16:9

Image file formats

JPEG; RAW

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±3

Remote control

Yes

External flash

WB Bracketing

Yes

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Sensor

Screen size

3.2in

Max resolution

6720 x 4480

Lens mount

Canon EF

ISO Range

100 - 32000 (boosted to 50 - 102400)

AF points

Weight

800 g

Dimensions

150.7 x 116.4 x 75.9 mm

Video resolution

2160p29.97; 1080p59.94

Continuous drive

7 fps

Sensor type

CMOS

Video formats

MPEG-4; H.264

Built-in flash

Sensor size

Full frame (36 x 24 mm)

Crop factor

Viewfinder magnification

0.71x

Ports

USB 3.0; HDMI

Microphone

Mono

Processor

Digic 6+

Touchscreen

Yes

Image stabilization

Shutter speed range

30-1/8000 sec

Storage types

SD / SDHC / SDXC; UHS-I; CF

Exposure compensation

±5

Battery Life (CIPA)

900

Screen dots

1620000

Image aspect ratio options (w:h)

3:2

Image file formats

JPEG; RAW

Viewfinder coverage

100%

Environmentally sealed

Yes

AE Bracketing

±3

Remote control

Yes

External flash

Yes

WB Bracketing

Yes

Flash range

Wi-Fi

Yes

Sensor

Pros + Cons

Pro
Great autofocus

It's fast and decisive both in good light and in low light. It accurately recognizes faces and focuses on the nearest eye.

Comment

Pro
Flat color profile for video

A flat color profile captures footage in low contrast and higher dynamic range allowing for easier color grading in post-production.

Comment

Con
Settings banks don't save all settings

Certain settings including AF and Advance modes can't be saved to settings banks and thus can't be recalled.

Comment

Con
Lacks peaking for video

Focus peaking is not present in D810.

Comment

Nikon is a horrible value proposition. At this writing, the Nikon D810 sells for $2796 (body only) at B&H. Meanwhile, B&H also sells the Pentax K-1 (body only) for $1896. That's $900 less. Truthfully, 99% of DSLR purchasers are not capable of maxing out the capabilities of either of these magnificent cameras. So, if you are part of that 1%, go ahead and get the Nikon. Everyone else should be getting the Pentax (and an FA 31, which you can now afford because you didn't get the Nikon).

Comment

Pro
Advanced autofocus

D5 has 153 AF points of which you can select 55. 99 AF points are cross-type (of which 35 are selectable). 15 AF points work with f/8 lenses (of which 9 are selectable). The autofocus works down to LV -4. Autofocus is amazingly fast at 14 frames per second with top of the class accuracy (in tests performed by Tony Northrup it was only second to 1DX Mark II in terms of how many shots were in focus having just 6% fewer of shots be in focus).

Comment

Pro
Huge ISO range

D5 has a native ISO range of 100 to 102,400 which can be expanded from 50 to 3,280,000.

Comment

Con
Image quality is surpassed by much cheaper cameras

Nikon puts D5's AF capabilities above everything else to the point where cameras that cost less than half the price (like Nikon's own D810) have clearer, sharper images with higher dynamic range and higher resolution.

Comment

Con
Single-purpose

It's an extremely specialized camera. Unless you're doing photography that involves fast moving targets, the camera's capabilities will not justify the price.

Comment

Con
Internal 4K video capture is limited to 3 minutes

Fortunately video can be sent over HDMI to an external recorder.

Comment

Con
Dynamic range of base ISO could be better

According to tests performed by DxOMark, dynamic range of the D5 is at ~9.35 stops for base ISO (50 to 100). Lowest of any FF Nikon DSLR.

Comment

Pro
Can automatically detect faces and focus on them

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Comment

Pro
Can shoot stills during video

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Comment

Pro
Durable

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Comment

Pro
Great high ISO imaging capabilities

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Comment

Con
4K video has a 1.3x crop

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Comment

Con
AF in video mode is lousy

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Comment

Con
Lacks built-in Wi-Fi

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Comment

Con
AF point coverage could be better

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Comment

Con
Low resolution for a flagship

The camera is 20MP, D810, for example is 36.3 MP.

Comment

Con
Not all AF points can be manually selected

Out of the 153 AF points only 55 can be selected.

Comment

Pro
Can take super low noise, high sharpness images with Pixel Shift Resolution enabled

K1 has an alternate shooting mode that can significantly reduce noise and increase sharpness. It's called Pixel Shift Resolution. Once enabled it will take 4 shots moving the sensor by 1 pixel each time in order to capture all color information for each pixel instead of distributing it over 4. A visualization can be found here. Pixel Shift Resolution shooting mode takes longer as it's taking 4 shots instead of one and requires a couple of seconds after the shots have been taken to process the images into one so it won't work for sports or action, but it's great for landscape photography.

Comment

Pro
In-body image stabilization allows stabilizing fast prime lenses

You can potentially do night photography without a tripod by using a fast prime lens wide open with in-body image stabilization.

Comment

Pro
Great interface

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Comment

Pro
Good dynamic range

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Comment

Pro
LCD can be pulled out of the cradle

K-1 has a cross-tilt LCD.

Comment

Pro
The K-1 + one of the Pentax Limited full-frame, all mechanical lenses is the dominant design in photography

It's not the camera alone; it's the camera and the lens together. Pentax's best lenses are the FA31/FA43/FA77 Limited series. There is no other camera + lens combination that can compete with the K-1 + one of the FA Limited lenses on a price/performance basis. It is not even a close competition.

Comment

Pro
Built-in GPS

Great searching through picture libraries by location.

Comment

Pro
Manual sensor shift allows taking tilt-shift photos with any lens

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Comment

Pro
Has LEDs that illuminate key parts of the camera

There's an LED that shines light on rear controls, there's another one that illuminates the lens mount, and an LED that highlights the card bay and remote release port. These can be really helpful in the dark.

Comment

Pro
Automatically fixes horizontal level

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Comment

Con
Autofocus could be better

Autofocus won't be able to consistently keep up with fast-moving subjects so it's not the best camera for action or sports. Additionally, it only has 33 AF points which by today's standards is on the lower side of things and they're not spread around as much as in other cameras.

Comment

Con
Video capabilities could be better

It's reasonable to expect more than 1080p30 in a 2016 flagship camera.

Comment

Con
Limited lineup of full-frame lenses

While Pentax has among the best selection of lenses created for APS-C sensors, this is their first full-frame camera and there aren't that many of them.

Comment

Con
Lens availability might be an issue

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Comment

Pro
Fully articulated touchscreen

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Comment

Con
No 4K movie capture

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Comment

Pro
Good autofocus system

61-point autofocus system with 41 cross-type points that performs well in low light.

Comment

Pro
Complete manual control for video

Shutter, aperture and ISO can be set manually for video.

Comment

Pro
Excellent ergonomics

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Pro
Excellent build quality

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Comment

Con
The camera is showing its age

5D Mark III was released in 2012.

Comment

Con
Dynamic range could be better

5D Mark III has 11.7 stops of dynamic range while competitors have around 14 stops. And shadow recovery is lacking as well limiting HDR photos further.

Comment

Con
AF point coverage is restricting

Layout of AF points restricts to compose shots in a certain way.

Comment

Con
Lacks continuous AF in movie mode

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Comment

Con
Lacks programmable Auto ISO

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Comment

Con
Can't set arbitrary exposure time

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Comment

Con
AF points don't illuminate in Servo mode

It can be difficult to see AF points in low light as they do not illuminate in Servo mode.

Comment

Con
Autofocus subject tracking could be better

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Comment

Con
Not yet available

The camera's planned release date is April 2016.

Comment

Pro
Excellent continuous drive

The camera can shoot 14fps RAW without any limitations and 16fps with a locked up mirror. The buffer holds 170 RAW frames at 14fps while JPG buffer is unlimited.

Comment

Pro
Flicker detection

The camera can detect flickering light sources and sync up with them to shoot at peak brightness in order to avoid underexposing the image by accident.

Comment

Pro
Focus peaking in live view

When using manual focus lens, you can turn on focus peaking to see which parts of the picture in in focus, as there will be a colour (by the default settings red) "painted" to tell you that that part of the picture is in focus

Comment

Con
Expensive to get "faster" frame rate

While it ships with a standard frame rate of 7fps, to get to its full functionality of 9fps, you will need the hand grip, as well as the D5 grip battery and charger, which cost a lot more extra.

Comment

Pro
Focus Shift stacking

Also know as focus stacking, this camera is able to do focus shift photography on its own after the set up, thus it will not be so tedious in terms of capturing the photo.

Comment

Pro
Flicker detection

The camera can detect flickering light sources and sync up with them to shoot at peak brightness in order to avoid underexposing the image by accident.

Comment

Pro
Good autofocus system

61-point autofocus system with 41 cross-type points that performs well in low light. In addition, 5 central autofocus points turn into dual-cross-type points with fast (f/2.8 or faster) lenses increasing the precision even further. 5DS / 5DSR AF coverage

Comment

Con
Limited video capabilities

No HDMI output, no headphone socket.

Comment

Con
Dynamic range could be better

According to tests performed by DxOmark 5DS / R has 12.41 stops of dynamic range in print and 11.08 stops on screen for images taken at 100 ISO while cameras in this price range commonly push 14 in print and 13 on screen.

Comment