Canon 5DS PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Canon EOS 5DS? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Canon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the 5DS offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Canon EOS 5DS below.

In any case, the 5DS is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was announced on February 6th, 2015, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3227 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued, but there has not been a direct replacement model for the 5DS from Canon.
Canon's instruction manual for the 5DS
The camera's instruction manual is 532 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the 5DS is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Canon EOS 5DS manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Canon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Canon 5DS manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Canon EOS 5DS
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your 5DS by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Canon 5DS is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
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Canon 5DS FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the 5DS.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the Canon 5DS based on?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used in the Canon 5DS to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Canon equipped the 5DS with the DIGIC 6 (Dual) image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon 5DS?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-12800.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS 5DS?
Canon does not publish a shutter rating for the 5DS. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 150 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 150 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 150 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Canon 5DS?
Canon embeds the number of shutter actuations in the camera firmware. You can check the number of shots that your 5DS has taken up to now by using a third-party app, as described on the Canon 5DS shutter count page.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Canon 5DS?
No, the Canon EOS 5DS has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon 5DS for flash photography?
The 5DS's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Canon 5DS support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Canon 5DS use?
The camera gets its power from the LP-E6 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Canon 5DS?
Yes, Canon offers the BG-E11 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Where can I find the best deals for the Canon 5DS?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Canon.
Further reading
How does the 5DS stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5DS
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Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Canon EOS 5DS.
Camera Model | Canon 5DS | |
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | |
Launch Date | February 2015 | |
Launch Price | USD 3 699 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
---|---|---|
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 36.0 x 24.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 864 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43.3 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 50.3 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 8 688 x 5 792 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.14 μm | |
Pixel Density | 5.82 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 6 400 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 12 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | DIGIC 6 (Dual) | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 87 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.7 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.4 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2381 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 150 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | CF or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 3.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | LP-E6 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 700 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
152 x 116 x 76 mm (6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 930 g (32.8 oz) |
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