Canon 200D vs 5DS

The Canon EOS 200D (called Canon SL2 in some regions) and the Canon EOS 5DS are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2017 and February 2015. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (200D) and a full frame (5DS) sensor. The 200D has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the 5DS provides 50.3 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 200D		Canon 5DS
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		50.3 MP, Full Frame Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)		ISO 100-6,400 (50 - 12,800)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.2 LCD, 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
650 shots per battery charge		700 shots per battery charge
122 x 93 x 70 mm, 453 g		152 x 116 x 76 mm, 930 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 200D and the Canon EOS 5DS? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 200D and the Canon 5DS are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 200D can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the 5DS is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 5DS is considerably larger (55 percent) than the Canon 200D. Moreover, the 5DS is substantially heavier (105 percent) than the 200D. It is noteworthy in this context that the 5DS is splash and dust-proof, while the 200D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor (as in the 5DS) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (200D). You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 200D gets 650 shots out of its LP-E17 battery, while the 5DS can take 700 images on a single charge of its LP-E6 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 200D	122 mm	93 mm	70 mm	453 g	650	n	Jun 2017	549
2.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
3.		Canon 250D	122 mm	93 mm	70 mm	449 g	1070	n	Apr 2019	599
4.		Canon 2000D	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	475 g	500	n	Feb 2018	449
5.		Canon 77D	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	540 g	600	n	Feb 2017	899
6.		Canon 800D	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	532 g	600	n	Feb 2017	749
7.		Canon G9 X Mark II	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	206 g	235	n	Jan 2017	529
8.		Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499
9.		Canon 1D X Mark II	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
10.		Canon 5D Mark IV	151 mm	116 mm	76 mm	890 g	900	Y	Aug 2016	3,499
11.		Canon M5	116 mm	89 mm	61 mm	427 g	295	n	Sep 2016	979
12.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
13.		Canon 760D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	649
14.		Canon 100D	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549
15.		Nikon D850	146 mm	124 mm	79 mm	1005 g	1840	Y	Jul 2017	3,299
16.		Nikon D3400	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	445 g	1200	n	Aug 2016	499
17.		Nikon D810	146 mm	123 mm	82 mm	980 g	1200	Y	Jun 2014	3,299
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 200D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 85 percent) than the 5DS, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 200D features an APS-C sensor and the Canon 5DS a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the 5DS is 160 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 50.3MP, the 5DS offers a higher resolution than the 200D (24MP), but the 5DS nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.14μm versus 3.72μm for the 200D) due to its larger sensor. However, the 200D is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 4 months) than the 5DS, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 5DS implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 5DS for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 43.4 x 29 inches or 110.3 x 73.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 34.8 x 23.2 inches or 88.3 x 58.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 29 x 19.3 inches or 73.6 x 49 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 200D are 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm for good quality, 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm for very good quality, and 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The 200D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 200D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS 5DS are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-12800.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 5DS has a markedly higher DXO score than the 200D (overall score 8 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 1.1 bits higher color depth, 1 EV of lower dynamic range, and 1.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 200D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.4	1041	79
2.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
3.		Canon 250D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/25p	23.9	13.4	1791	82
4.		Canon 2000D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	11.9	1009	71
5.		Canon 77D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.3	971	78
6.		Canon 800D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.7	13.1	1586	80
7.		Canon G9 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.9	12.5	522	65
8.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
9.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207	88
10.		Canon 5D Mark IV	Full Frame	30.1	6720	4480	4K/30p	24.8	13.6	2995	91
11.		Canon M5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.4	1262	77
12.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
13.		Canon 760D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
14.		Canon 100D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
15.		Nikon D850	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.4	14.8	2660	100
16.		Nikon D3400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	13.9	1192	86
17.		Nikon D810	Full Frame	36.2	7360	4912	1080/60p	25.7	14.8	2853	97
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the 200D provides a higher frame rate than the 5DS. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the 5DS is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 200D and the 5DS are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the 5DS offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 200D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the 5DS has a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.54x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 200D, the Canon 5DS, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 200D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
2.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
3.		Canon 250D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
4.		Canon 2000D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
5.		Canon 77D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
6.		Canon 800D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
7.		Canon G9 X Mark II	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	8.2	Y	Y
8.		Canon M100	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
9.		Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2 / 1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0	n	n
10.		Canon 5D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.2 / 1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	7.0	n	n
11.		Canon M5	2360	n	3.2 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	n
12.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
13.		Canon 760D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
14.		Canon 100D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9	Y	n
15.		Nikon D850	optical	Y	3.2 / 2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	n
16.		Nikon D3400	optical	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
17.		Nikon D810	optical	Y	3.2 / 1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	Y	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The 200D has one, while the 5DS does not. While the built-in flash of the 200D is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Canon 5DS has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 200D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the 5DS uses Compact Flash or SDXC cards. The 5DS features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 200D only has one slot. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 200D and Canon EOS 5DS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 200D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
2.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 250D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon 2000D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon 77D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Canon 800D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
7.		Canon G9 X Mark II	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
8.		Canon M100	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
9.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 5D Mark IV	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Canon M5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
12.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon 760D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Canon 100D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D850	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Nikon D3400	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y
17.		Nikon D810	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the 200D offers wifi support, while the 5DS does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 5DS (unlike the 200D) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The 5DS is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the 200D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 200D was succeeded by the Canon 250D. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 200D or the Canon 5DS – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 200D:

• More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (1 EV of extra DR).
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x93mm vs 152x116mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 477g or 51 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (85 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 4 months of technical progress since the 5DS launch.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 5DS:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (50.3 vs 24MP), which boosts linear resolution by 45%.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (8 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.1 bits more color depth).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.2 stops ISO advantage).
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.54x).
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2015).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 5DS comes out slightly ahead of the 200D (15 : 14 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 200D and the Canon 5DS place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 200D or the 5DS. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 200D	4/5	+ +	4/5	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549
2.		Canon 5DS	..	+	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
3.		Canon 250D	..	o	4.5/5	79/100	4/5	4/5	Apr 2019	599
4.		Canon 2000D	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449
5.		Canon 77D	4.5/5	..	4/5	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	899
6.		Canon 800D	4.5/5	..	3.5/5	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	749
7.		Canon G9 X Mark II	4/5	..	4/5	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	529
8.		Canon M100	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
9.		Canon 1D X Mark II	..	..	4.5/5	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999
10.		Canon 5D Mark IV	4.5/5	+ +	4/5	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	3,499
11.		Canon M5	4/5	+	4/5	82/100	4/5	4/5	Sep 2016	979
12.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	..	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
13.		Canon 760D	5/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649
14.		Canon 100D	4/5	+	..	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
15.		Nikon D850	4.5/5	+ +	5/5	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2017	3,299
16.		Nikon D3400	4/5	+	4/5	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499
17.		Nikon D810	5/5	..	5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	3,299
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon 200D vs Canon 5DS

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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