Nikon D5 has a
21.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor. On the other hand, Canon 7D MII has a
20.0MP APS-C (22.4 x 15 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 6 (dual) processor.
Below you can see the D5 and 7D MII sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D5 and Canon 7D MII Cameras
As seen above, Nikon D5 has a 2.5x Larger sensor area than Canon 7D MII. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Nikon D5 and Canon 7D MII sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D5 has scored 88, 18 points higher than 7D MII.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Nikon D5
88
25.1 bits
12.3 Evs
2434 ISO
Canon 7D MII
70
22.4 bits
11.8 Evs
1082 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Nikon D5
or the
Canon 7D MII ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(Full frame versus APS-C),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
