Canon’s EOS 5Ds is a full-frame DSLR boasting 50.6 Megapixels, making it not just Canon’s highest resolution camera to date by a long margin, but also leap-frogging the 36 Megapixel Nikon D810 and 42 Megapixel Sony A7r II. Announced in February 2015, it comes in two versions with the alternative 5Ds R model employing a low-pass canceling filter for potentially sharper results, albeit with increased risk of moire. This review applies to both models. more

Canon EOS 5DS / 5DS R key features

  • 50MP CMOS sensor
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • ISO 100-6400 (Extends to 12,800)
  • 61-point AF module with input from 150k pixel metering sensor
  • Dual Digic 6 processors
  • 3.0″ 1.04M-dot LCD
  • CF & SD slots (UHS-I compatible)
  • 1080/30p video
  • M-Raw and S-Raw downsampled formats
  • 30MP APS-H crop and 19.6MP APS-C crop modes
  • USB 3.0 interface

SUMMARY

The Canon 5DS R, the highest-resolution EOS body to date, is an all-around striking camera that captures some seriously impressive, incredibly detailed photographs. The higher resolution sensor does make shooting technique more crucial though, and the video features and ISO range are limited compared to other full-frame cameras, so the camera is certainly not everyone. For professional and advanced enthusiast portrait, editorial, landscape, and nature photographers looking for extreme image detail in a tried-and-true Canon DSLR package — without jumping to a digital medium format system — the Canon 5DS R is the answer.

Design and Features

If you’ve picked up a 5D Mark III ($797.00 at Amazon), you’ve picked up the 5DS R ($3,699.00 at Amazon). It’s a big, heavy SLR, measuring 4.6 by 6 by 3 inches (HWD) and weighing about 1.9 pounds without a lens. It feels heavy, even for its size, thanks to a full mag-alloy chassis and a dust- and splash-resistant build that gives it pro-grade durability. This isn’t out of the ordinary for a pro-SLR; the Nikon D810 features similar construction, measuring 4.9 by 5.8 by 3.3 inches (HWD) and weighing just shy of 2 pounds. The D810 includes an in-body pop-up flash, which is missing from the 5DS R.

Canon 5DS R VS Canon EOS 5DS AND Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5DSCanon EOS 5DS RCanon EOS 5D
Mark III
Pixel count50.2MP50.2MP22.1MP
ProcessorDigic 6Digic 6Digic 5+
Minimum ISOISO 100
(50 ext)
ISO 100
(50 ext)
ISO 100
(50 ext)
Maximum ISOISO 6400
(12,800 ext)
ISO 6400
(12,800 ext)
ISO 25,600
(102,400 ext)
Maximum frame rate5 fps5 fps6 fps
Autofocus61 point, of which 41 are cross type and 5 are double-cross type61 point, of which 41 are cross type and 5 are double-cross type61 point, of which 41 are cross type and 5 are double-cross type
Metering sensor150k pixels (RGB+IR)150k pixels (RGB+IR)63-segment (RG/GB)
Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter?YesSelf-cancellingYes
Uncompressed HDMI outputNoNoYes
Headphone jack?NoNoYes
USB connectionUSB 3.0USB 3.0USB 2.0