Canon EOS 5DS vs Canon EOS 5DS R

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon EOS 5DS and the Canon EOS 5DS R, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Both cameras were introduced in February 2015. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Canon EOS 5DS Highlights

      • 50.6 MP Full Frame CMOS Sensor
      • 100 - 6,400 Native ISO
      • 61 Focus Points (61 Cross-type)
      • 3.2" 1,040k dot Fixed Screen
      • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
      • 5.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • 30 min Video Recording Limit
      • Wheather Sealed Body

      Canon EOS 5DS R Highlights

      • 50.6 MP Full Frame CMOS Sensor
      • No Optical Low-pass Filter
      • 100 - 6,400 Native ISO
      • 61 Focus Points (61 Cross-type)
      • 3.2" 1,040k dot Fixed Screen
      • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
      • 5.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • 30 min Video Recording Limit
      • Wheather Sealed Body

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R.

      PROS

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      •   Video Capture
      •   Large Sensor
      •   High Resolution Sensor - 50.6 Megapixel
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   High DxO Overall Score - 87
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Video Capture
      •   Large Sensor
      •   High Resolution Sensor - 50.6 Megapixel
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      •   Price
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   -2 EV Min AF Detection
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   Price
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   -2 EV Min AF Detection
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   DxO Overall Score - 86
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots

      Advantage of Canon EOS 5DS

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon EOS 5DS over Canon EOS 5DS R.

      Canon EOS 5DS vs Canon EOS 5DS R
      Cheaper $3699/£2999/€3999 (body only) vs $3899/£3199/€4249 (body only)
      Higher DxO Low Light ISO 2381 vs 2308
      Higher DxO Color Depth 24.7 vs 24.6
      Higher DxO Overall Score 87 vs 86

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Canon EOS 5DS.

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Canon EOS 5DS R.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Canon EOS 5DS Canon EOS 5DS R
        Video Capture
        Large SensorFull FrameFull Frame
        High Resolution Sensor50.6 Megapixel50.6 Megapixel
        Many Focus Points6161
        Many Cross-type Focus Points4141
        Face Detection
        Live View Autofocus
        Large Screen3.2"3.2"
        High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)1/8000 sec1/8000 sec
        Webcam Functionality
        High USB SpeedUSB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec)USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec)
        HDMI Output Mini Mini
        Environmental Sealing
        Many Storage Slots22
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Canon EOS 5DS Canon EOS 5DS R
        No Image Stabilization
        Screen TypeFixedFixed
        Low Video Resolution1920 x 10801920 x 1080
        Low Video Recording Limit30 min30 min
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-in GPS
        No Built-In Wi-Fi
        No Built-In Bluetooth

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Screen

      Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R have 3.2" Fixed screens with 1,040k dot resolution.


      Viewfinder

      Cameras have built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinders. They both have 100% coverage and 0.71x magnification.

      Sensor

      Both models feature a 50.6 megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor with dimensions of 36 x 24 mm and a total area of 864 mm2. Their native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 12,800 in boosted mode.


      Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

      Sensor size chart
      Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
      Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
      Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
      Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
      Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

      Photography Features

      Cameras are equipped with Dual DIGIC 6 processor and can take pictures up to 8688 x 5792 resolution.


      Lens Mount

      Cameras have Canon EF lens mount. Due to their Full Frame sensor their crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is equal to 1x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length.


      No Low-Pass Filter on Canon EOS 5DS R

      There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Canon EOS 5DS R. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.


      No Image Stabilization

      The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Canon EOS 5DS it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Canon EOS 5DS R nothing can be done. On Canon EOS 5DS R it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Canon EOS 5DS nothing can be done.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Canon EOS 5DS has a Mini HDMI and Canon EOS 5DS R has a Mini HDMI connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R come with LP-E6 battery pack with battery life of 700 shots.


      External Storage Slots

      Cameras have two card slots - one for SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) and one for CompactFlash (UDMA 7).

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Canon EOS 5DS R has Electronic shutter and Mechanical Focal Plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec on Canon EOS 5DS, and up to 1/8000 sec on Canon EOS 5DS R. Cameras can shoot continuously up to 5.0 fps.


      Focusing

      Both cameras have Dual Pixel CMOS AF system with 61 (41 cross-type) focusing points and from -2 to +18 EV detection range. and from -2 to +18 EV detection range.


      Exposure

      Both cameras' exposure metering ranges from 0 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on both models.


      Flash

      Cameras have no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected to both of them via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec on both cameras.

      Physical Parameters

      Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R bodies have the same dimensions of 152 x 116 x 76 mm (5.98 x 4.57 x 2.99") and they both weigh 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz).

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      152 mm

      116 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      152 mm

      116 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      116 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      116 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      76 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      76 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      Size comparisons of Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R

      Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      EXCELLENT
      86
      •   Large Sensor
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      EXCELLENT
      86
      •   Large Sensor
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      74
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      74
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      70
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      70
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      82
      •   Large Sensor
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      82
      •   Large Sensor
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      79
      •   Large Sensor
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      GOOD
      79
      •   Large Sensor
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      76
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      GOOD
      76
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R and give both of them the score of 73 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      OVERALL
      73
      OVERALL
      73

      Sensor

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      75
      •   Large Sensor
      •   High Resolution Sensor - 50.6 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   High DxO Overall Score - 87
      GOOD
      75
      •   Large Sensor
      •   High Resolution Sensor - 50.6 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   DxO Overall Score - 86

      Photo

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      75
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      GOOD
      75
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec

      Video

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      BAD
      32
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      BAD
      32
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   Low Video Recording Limit

      Focusing

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      83
      •   -2 EV Min AF Detection
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      GOOD
      83
      •   -2 EV Min AF Detection
      •   61 Focus Points
      •   41 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      74
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      GOOD
      74
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot

      Connectivity

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      77
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      GOOD
      77
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Canon EOS 5DS

      Canon EOS 5DS R

      GOOD
      72
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      GOOD
      72
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 700 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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