Canon 5D Mark III vs Zeiss ZX1
The Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Zeiss ZX1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in March 2012 and September 2018. The 5D Mark III is a DSLR, while the ZX1 is a fixed lens compact. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 22.1 megapixels, whereas the Zeiss provides 37.4 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Zeiss ZX1? 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 Zeiss ZX1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth 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 Zeiss ZX1 is notably smaller (25 percent) than the Canon 5D Mark III. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 5D Mark III is splash and dust resistant, while the ZX1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the ZX1 has a lens built in, whereas the 5D Mark III is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 5D Mark III and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.
Concerning battery life, the 5D Mark III gets 950 shots out of its Canon LP-E6 battery, while the ZX1 can take 250 images on a single charge of its Zeiss DD-PS1A power pack.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canon 5D Mark III | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 950 g | 950 | Y | Mar 2012 | US$ 3 499 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Zeiss ZX1 | 142 mm | 93 mm | 46 mm | 800 g | 250 | n | Sep 2018 | US$ 5 999 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Canon 1D X Mark II | 158 mm | 168 mm | 83 mm | 1530 g | 1210 | Y | Feb 2016 | US$ 5 999 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon 5D | 152 mm | 113 mm | 75 mm | 895 g | 400 | Y | Aug 2005 | US$ 3 299 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Canon 5D Mark II | 152 mm | 114 mm | 75 mm | 850 g | 850 | Y | Sep 2008 | US$ 3 499 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Canon 5D Mark IV | 151 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 890 g | 900 | Y | Aug 2016 | US$ 3 499 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Canon 5DS | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Canon 5DS R | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Canon 6D | 145 mm | 111 mm | 71 mm | 770 g | 1090 | Y | Sep 2012 | US$ 2 099 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Canon 6D Mark II | 144 mm | 111 mm | 75 mm | 765 g | 1200 | Y | Jun 2017 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 11. | Canon 7D II | 149 mm | 112 mm | 78 mm | 910 g | 670 | Y | Sep 2014 | US$ 1 799 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Canon 70D | 139 mm | 104 mm | 79 mm | 755 g | 920 | Y | Jul 2013 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Leica Q2 | 130 mm | 80 mm | 92 mm | 718 g | 370 | Y | Mar 2019 | US$ 4 999 | amazon.com | |
| 14. | Leica V-LUX 5 | 136 mm | 97 mm | 131 mm | 812 g | 350 | n | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 249 | amazon.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ1000 | 137 mm | 99 mm | 131 mm | 831 g | 360 | n | Jun 2014 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic FZ1000 II | 136 mm | 97 mm | 131 mm | 810 g | 350 | n | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
| 17. | Sony RX100 VI | 102 mm | 58 mm | 43 mm | 301 g | 240 | n | Jun 2018 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
| Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the ZX1 offers a higher resolution of 37.4 megapixels, compared with 22.1 MP of the 5D Mark III. This megapixels advantage translates into a 30 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the ZX1 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 6.25μm for the 5D Mark III). However, it should be noted that the ZX1 is much more recent (by 6 years and 6 months) than the 5D Mark III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.
The resolution advantage of the Zeiss ZX1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZX1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.4 x 25 inches or 95.1 x 63.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.1 x 50.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 5D Mark III are 28.8 x 19.2 inches or 73.2 x 48.8 cm for good quality, 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for very good quality, and 19.2 x 12.8 inches or 48.8 x 32.5 cm for excellent quality prints.
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 Zeiss ZX1 are ISO 80 to ISO 51200 (no boost).
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canon 5D Mark III | Full Frame | 22.1 | 5760 | 3840 | 1080/30p | 24.0 | 11.7 | 2293 | 81 | |
| 2. | Zeiss ZX1 | Full Frame | 37.4 | 7488 | 4992 | 4K/30p | 25.2 | 14.1 | 2759 | 94 | |
| 3. | Canon 1D X Mark II | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/60p | 24.1 | 13.5 | 3207 | 88 | |
| 4. | Canon 5D | Full Frame | 12.7 | 4368 | 2912 | none | 22.9 | 11.1 | 1368 | 71 | |
| 5. | Canon 5D Mark II | Full Frame | 21.0 | 5616 | 3744 | 1080/30p | 23.7 | 11.9 | 1815 | 79 | |
| 6. | Canon 5D Mark IV | Full Frame | 30.1 | 6720 | 4480 | 4K/30p | 24.8 | 13.6 | 2995 | 91 | |
| 7. | Canon 5DS | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.7 | 12.4 | 2381 | 87 | |
| 8. | Canon 5DS R | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.6 | 12.4 | 2308 | 86 | |
| 9. | Canon 6D | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/30p | 23.8 | 12.1 | 2340 | 82 | |
| 10. | Canon 6D Mark II | Full Frame | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 1080/60p | 24.4 | 11.9 | 2862 | 85 | |
| 11. | Canon 7D II | APS-C | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 22.4 | 11.8 | 1082 | 70 | |
| 12. | Canon 70D | APS-C | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/30p | 22.5 | 11.6 | 926 | 68 | |
| 13. | Leica Q2 | Full Frame | 46.7 | 8368 | 5584 | 4K/30p | 26.4 | 13.5 | 2491 | 96 | |
| 14. | Leica V-LUX 5 | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.2 | 12.4 | 584 | 65 | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ1000 | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.1 | 11.7 | 517 | 64 | |
| 16. | Panasonic FZ1000 II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.1 | 12.4 | 546 | 65 | |
| 17. | Sony RX100 VI | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.1 | 12.3 | 478 | 64 | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the ZX1 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
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the ZX1 has an electronic viewfinder (6221k 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 ZX1 has a higher magnification than the one of the 5D Mark III (0.74x vs 0.71x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 5D Mark III, the Zeiss ZX1, and comparable cameras.

| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canon 5D Mark III | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0/s | n | n | |
| 2. | Zeiss ZX1 | 6221 | n | 4.3 / 2765 | fixed | Y | 1/1000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
| 3. | Canon 1D X Mark II | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 16.0/s | n | n | |
| 4. | Canon 5D | optical | Y | 2.5 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
| 5. | Canon 5D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.9/s | n | n | |
| 6. | Canon 5D Mark IV | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0/s | n | n | |
| 7. | Canon 5DS | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
| 8. | Canon 5DS R | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
| 9. | Canon 6D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 4.5/s | n | n | |
| 10. | Canon 6D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.5/s | n | n | |
| 11. | Canon 7D II | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | Y | n | |
| 12. | Canon 70D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0/s | Y | n | |
| 13. | Leica Q2 | 3680 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
| 14. | Leica V-LUX 5 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1240 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ1000 | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 16. | Panasonic FZ1000 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1240 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 17. | Sony RX100 VI | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | Y | Y | |
| Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. | |||||||||||
One feature that is present on the 5D Mark III, but is missing on the ZX1 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.
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 ZX1 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 5D Mark III writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the ZX1 uses an internal SSD.
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 Zeiss ZX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canon 5D Mark III | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 2. | Zeiss ZX1 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
| 3. | Canon 1D X Mark II | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 4. | Canon 5D | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 5. | Canon 5D Mark II | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 6. | Canon 5D Mark IV | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| 7. | Canon 5DS | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 8. | Canon 5DS R | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 9. | Canon 6D | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 10. | Canon 6D Mark II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| 11. | Canon 7D II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 12. | Canon 70D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 13. | Leica Q2 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | - | Y | - | Y | |
| 14. | Leica V-LUX 5 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ1000 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| 16. | Panasonic FZ1000 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 17. | Sony RX100 VI | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y |
It is notable that the 5D Mark III has a microphone port, which is missing on the ZX1. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 5D Mark III (unlike the ZX1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the 5D Mark III and the ZX1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 5D Mark III was replaced by the Canon 5D Mark IV, while the ZX1 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the 5D Mark III and ZX1 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 5D Mark III Manual (free pdf) or the online Zeiss ZX1 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Is the Canon 5D Mark III better than the Zeiss ZX1 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 5D Mark III:
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
- Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
- Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/1000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (950 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2012).

Arguments in favor of the Zeiss ZX1:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (37.4 vs 22.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 30%.
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
- More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.71x).
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (4.3" vs 3.2") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2765k vs 1040k dots).
- Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 5D Mark III requires a separate lens.
- More compact: Is smaller (142x93mm vs 152x116mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the 5D Mark III).
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
- Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
- Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
- Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
- More prestigious: Has the Zeiss luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
- More modern: Reflects 6 years and 6 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 ZX1 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 11 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro 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 Zeiss ZX1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 5D Mark III or the ZX1 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.
Expert reviews
This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canon 5D Mark III | .. | + + | .. | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2012 | US$ 3 499 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Zeiss ZX1 | 3/5 | .. | .. | 83/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2018 | US$ 5 999 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Canon 1D X Mark II | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | US$ 5 999 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon 5D | .. | 88/100 | .. | + + | o | .. | Aug 2005 | US$ 3 299 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Canon 5D Mark II | 4/5 | 91/100 | .. | 79/100 | 4/5 | .. | Sep 2008 | US$ 3 499 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Canon 5D Mark IV | 4.5/5 | + + | 4/5 | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2016 | US$ 3 499 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Canon 5DS | .. | + | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Canon 5DS R | 5/5 | + | .. | 83/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Canon 6D | 5/5 | + + | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | US$ 2 099 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Canon 6D Mark II | 4/5 | + | 4/5 | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2017 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 11. | Canon 7D II | 4.5/5 | + | 3.5/5 | 84/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | US$ 1 799 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Canon 70D | 5/5 | + + | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2013 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Leica Q2 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Mar 2019 | US$ 4 999 | amazon.com | |
| 14. | Leica V-LUX 5 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 249 | amazon.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ1000 | 4/5 | + + | .. | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2014 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic FZ1000 II | .. | .. | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
| 17. | Sony RX100 VI | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 83/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2018 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
| Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||||
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Check 5D Mark III offers at
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Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Fujifilm X-H2
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Leica V-LUX 5
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D600
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon Z9
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A7C II
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony HX350
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Zeiss ZX1
- Leica D-LUX 5 vs Zeiss ZX1
- Nikon D810 vs Zeiss ZX1
- Panasonic G80 vs Zeiss ZX1
- Panasonic GF6 vs Zeiss ZX1
- Panasonic TS7 vs Zeiss ZX1
Specifications: Canon 5D Mark III vs Zeiss ZX1
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.
| Camera Model | Canon 5D Mark III | Zeiss ZX1 |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | Fixed lens compact camera |
| Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | 35mm f/2.8 |
| Launch Date | March 2012 | September 2018 |
| Launch Price | USD 3,499 | USD 5,999 |
| Sensor Specs | Canon 5D Mark III | Zeiss ZX1 |
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
| Sensor Size | 36.0 x 24.0 mm | 36.0 x 24.0 mm |
| Sensor Area | 864 mm2 | 864 mm2 |
| Sensor Diagonal | 43.3 mm | 43.3 mm |
| Crop Factor | 1.0x | 1.0x |
| Sensor Resolution | 22.1 Megapixels | 37.4 Megapixels |
| Image Resolution | 5760 x 3840 pixels | 7488 x 4992 pixels |
| Pixel Pitch | 6.25 μm | 4.81 μm |
| Pixel Density | 2.56 MP/cm2 | 4.33 MP/cm2 |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
| Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 25,600 ISO | 80 - 51,200 ISO |
| ISO Boost | 50 - 102,400 ISO | no Enhancement |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 81 | .. |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.0 | .. |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.7 | .. |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2293 | .. |
| Screen Specs | Canon 5D Mark III | Zeiss ZX1 |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | 0.74x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 6221k dots | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | no Top Display |
| LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
| Rear LCD Size | 3.2inch | 4.3inch |
| LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | 2765k dots |
| LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Fixed screen |
| Touch Input | no Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
| Shooting Specs | Canon 5D Mark III | Zeiss ZX1 |
| Focus System | Phase-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
| Continuous Shooting | 6 shutter flaps/s | 3 shutter flaps/s |
| Electronic Shutter | no E-Shutter | up to 1/8000s |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
| Storage Medium | CF or SDXC cards | SSD cards |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | Single SSD |
| Connectivity Specs | Canon 5D Mark III | Zeiss ZX1 |
| External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
| Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | no PC Sync |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 3.1 |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | no HDMI |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | no MIC socket |
| Headphone Socket | Headphone port | no Headphone port |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | Wifi built-in |
| Near-Field Communication | no NFC | NFC built-in |
| Bluetooth Support | no Bluetooth | Bluetooth built-in |
| Body Specs | Canon 5D Mark III | Zeiss ZX1 |
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | not weather sealed |
| Battery Type | Canon LP-E6 | Zeiss DD-PS1A |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 950 shots per charge | 250 shots per charge |
| Body Dimensions |
152 x 116 x 76 mm (6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0 in) |
142 x 93 x 46 mm (5.6 x 3.7 x 1.8 in) |
| Camera Weight | 950 g (33.5 oz) | 800 g (28.2 oz) |

Check 5D Mark III offers at
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Check ZX1 offers at
ebay.com
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