Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Canon EOS 5D Mark II 27.1 e⁻ (ISO 100), Canon EOS 5D Mark III 27.7 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II was measured at 22 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 6.77 DN, or 27.1 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 1250 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 6400 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 61,399 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 400.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III was measured at 28 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 102400. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 6.45 DN, or 27.7 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 8000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 25600 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 61,512 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 430.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III read noise table

ISO	Canon EOS 5D Mark II	Canon EOS 5D Mark III
50	6.821	6.498
100	6.774	6.453
125	8.515	8.056
160	5.426	5.464
200	6.869	6.727
250	8.574	8.456
320	5.938	5.979
400	7.413	7.311
500	9.383	9.318
640	6.821	6.774
800	8.574	8.574
1000	11.004	10.778
1250	9.918	9.318
1600	12.381	11.632
2000	15.562	14.420
2500	19.562	14.320
3200	24.420	18.126
4000	30.910	22.471
5000	38.319	27.096
6400	49.867	34.297
8000	–	42.518
10000	–	47.505
12800	97.006	59.714
16000	–	74.028
20000	–	92.411
25600	194.012	114.563
51200	–	218.275
102400	–	380.038

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