Sony a200 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a200 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a200 is manufacturered by Sony but Canon EOS 5D Mark II is from Canon. Both Sony and Canon are well known brands though.

These two camera models were both released 2008.

Camera Released
Sony a200 2008
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 2008

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a200 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Canon EOS 5D Mark II has a "Canon Full Frame"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

Camera Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 **
Sony a200 75 mm
Sony APS-C sensor
Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.5
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 50 mm
Full-frame sensor
No crop factor/focal length multiplier

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Sony a200 has a 10 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS 5D Mark II has 21,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Camera Megapixels
Sony a200 10 MP
10036224 pixels
3872 x 2592
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21,1 MP
21026304 pixels
5616 x 3744

Canon EOS 5D Mark II has a 110 % larger resolution than Sony a200. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Canon EOS 5D Mark II has a larger ISO-range than Sony a200. Canon EOS 5D Mark II has an ISO range that stretches from 50 to 25600 while Sony a200 has 100 to 3200.

Camera ISO Range
Sony a200 100-3200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 50-25600

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a200
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a200 can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS 5D Mark II can shoot up to 3,9 pictures per seconds.

Camera FPS (Frames per second)
Sony a200 3
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 3,9

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

It is only one of these two cameras that support recording movies and movie clips and that is Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Sadly, the Sony a200 does not support this.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II weighs 850 gr (equal to 1.87 lb) which is 49% heavier than Sony a200 and its 572 gr (or 1.26 lb).

Camera Weight
Sony a200 572 gr
1.26 lb
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 850 gr
1.87 lb

Sony a200 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a200 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Name Sony a200 Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Manufacturer Sony Canon
Release Date and Price
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Release Year 2008 2008
Release Date 2008-01-07 2008-09-17
MSRP 599 USD 2699 USD
Buy it today
Camera Type
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Camera Type DSLR DSLR
Sensor
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Sensor Size APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm) Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)
Sensor Type CCD CMOS
Resolution 3872 x 2592 pixels 5616 x 3744 pixels
Megapixels 10 MP 21,1 MP
Image Processor Bionz DIGIC 4
Image
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Range 100 - 3200 50 - 25600
White Balance Presets 6 6
Custom White Balance Yes Yes
Image Stabilization Yes
(Built-in Super SteadyShot)
Yes
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating 0 stops 0 stops
Uncompressed format RAW RAW
Optics & Focus
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Autofocus Motor Yes Yes
Autofocus Phase Detect
Multi Area
Center
Selective Single Point
Single
Continuous
Contract Detect (sensor)
Phase Detect
Multi Area
Selective Single Point
Single
Continuous
Face Detection
LiveView
Focus Points 9 9
Lens Mount Sony A

See Compatible Lenses
Canon EF

See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier APS-C Sensor (1.5x)
1.5x multiplier
Example:
24 mm becomes 36 mm
50 mm becomes 75 mm
100 mm becomes 150 mm
200 mm becomes 300 mm
Full frame
No multiplier
Example:
24 mm remains 24 mm
50 mm remains 50 mm
100 mm remains 100 mm
200 mm remains 200 mm
Screen & Viewfinder
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Articulated LCD No Fixed
Screen size 2.7” 3”
Screen dots 230000 920000
Touch screen No No
Screen type N/A TFT liquid-crystal color LCD
Live view No Yes
Viewfinder Type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 95% 98%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.83× (0.55× 35mm equiv.) 0.71×
Viewfinder Resolution N/A N/A
Photography features
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Frames per second 3 fps 3,9 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash Yes No
Built-in Flash Range 12 meters N/A
External Flash Yes Yes
Self-Timer Yes Yes
Time-lapse No Yes
Metering modes Multi
Center Weighted
Spot
Multi
Center Weighted
Spot
Exposure Compensation +/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps) +/- 2 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Video recording No Yes
Video format N/A H.264
Video resolution N/A 1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone No Yes
Built-in Speakers No Yes
Storage
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Memory Card Compact Flash
Compact Flash
Connectivity
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
HDMI Output No Yes
Microphone Port No Yes
Headphone Port No No
Wireless No Yes
Optional
Remote Control Yes (Wired or wirelss (optional)) Yes (N3 connector)
GPS No No
Body & Dimensions
Sony a200
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Enviromentally sealed No Yes
Battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery Details NP-FM500H Battery
Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 750 shots 850 shots
Width 131 mm 152 mm
Height 99 mm 114 mm
Depth 71 mm 75 mm
Weight 572 gram 850 gram