Canon 5DS R Comparison Review
The Canon EOS 5DS R is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera that was announced in February 2015 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 50.3 megapixel.
Is the Canon 5DS R a good camera? The 5DS R has a Camera Elo of 2097. This rating puts the 5DS R among the top 20 percent of all digital single lens reflex cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the 5DS R ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3.5-star performance rating.
| Canon 5DS R |
|---|
| Digital single lens reflex |
| Canon EF mount lenses |
| 50.3 MP, Full Frame Sensor |
| 1080/30p Video |
| ISO 100 - 6 400 (50 - 12 800) |
| Optical viewfinder |
| 3.2 LCD, 1040k dots |
| Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) |
| 5 shutter flaps per second |
| Weathersealed body |
| 700 shots per battery charge |
| 152 x 116 x 76 mm, 930 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
The physical dimensions of the Canon 5DS R relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon 5DS R alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 5DS R | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | 3,699 |  | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | 144 mm | 111 mm | 75 mm | 765 g | 1200 | Y | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | | |
| Canon 1D X Mark II | 158 mm | 168 mm | 83 mm | 1530 g | 1210 | Y | Feb 2016 | 5,999 | | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | 151 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 890 g | 900 | Y | Aug 2016 | 3,499 | | |
| Canon 5DS | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | 3,699 | | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 950 g | 950 | Y | Mar 2012 | 3,499 | | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | 152 mm | 114 mm | 75 mm | 850 g | 850 | Y | Sep 2008 | 3,499 | | |
| Canon 5D | 152 mm | 113 mm | 75 mm | 895 g | 400 | Y | Aug 2005 | 3,299 | | |
| Nikon D850 | 146 mm | 124 mm | 79 mm | 1005 g | 1840 | Y | Jul 2017 | 3,299 | | |
| Nikon D810 | 146 mm | 123 mm | 82 mm | 980 g | 1200 | Y | Jun 2014 | 3,299 | | |
| Sony A99 II | 143 mm | 104 mm | 76 mm | 849 g | 490 | Y | Sep 2016 | 3,199 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon 5DS R was launched in the US market at a price of $3,699. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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.
Check Amazon price
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Canon 5DS R features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon 5DS R among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.
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"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 5DS R | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.6 | 12.4 | 2308 | 86 | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | Full Frame | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 1080/60p | 24.4 | 11.9 | 2862 | 85 | |
| Canon 1D X Mark II | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/60p | 24.1 | 13.5 | 3207 | 88 | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | Full Frame | 30.1 | 6720 | 4480 | 4K/30p | 24.8 | 13.6 | 2995 | 91 | |
| Canon 5DS | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.7 | 12.4 | 2381 | 87 | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | Full Frame | 22.1 | 5760 | 3840 | 1080/30p | 24.0 | 11.7 | 2293 | 81 | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | Full Frame | 21.0 | 5616 | 3744 | 1080/30p | 23.7 | 11.9 | 1815 | 79 | |
| Canon 5D | Full Frame | 12.7 | 4368 | 2912 | none | 22.9 | 11.1 | 1368 | 71 | |
| Nikon D850 | Full Frame | 45.4 | 8256 | 5504 | 4K/30p | 26.4 | 14.8 | 2660 | 100 | |
| Nikon D810 | Full Frame | 36.2 | 7360 | 4912 | 1080/60p | 25.7 | 14.8 | 2853 | 97 | |
| Sony A99 II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 25.4 | 13.4 | 2317 | 92 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The 5DS R indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the 5DS R can use is 1080/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the 5DS R has an optical viewfinder that provides a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.71x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 5DS R and comparable cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 5DS R | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.5 | n | n | |
| Canon 1D X Mark II | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 16.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 5DS | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.9 | n | n | |
| Canon 5D | optical | Y | 2.5 | 230 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.0 | n | n | |
| Nikon D850 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 2359 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0 | n | n | |
| Nikon D810 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1229 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A99 II | 2400 | Y | 3.0 | 1229 | full-flex | n | 1/8000s | 12.0 | n | Y |
One useful feature of the 5DS R is a presence of a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.
Connection 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 5DS R and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 5DS R | Y | mono | mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon 1D X Mark II | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Canon 5DS | Y | mono | mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | Y | mono | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 5D | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Nikon D850 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Nikon D810 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Sony A99 II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y |
It is notable that the 5DS R has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 5DS R. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 5DS R | + | 83/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | 3,699 | |
|
| Canon 6D Mark II | + | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | |
|
| Canon 1D X Mark II | .. | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | 5,999 | |
|
| Canon 5D Mark IV | + + | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2016 | 3,499 | |
|
| Canon 5DS | + | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | 3,699 | |
|
| Canon 5D Mark III | + + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2012 | 3,499 | |
|
| Canon 5D Mark II | 91/100 | 79/100 | 4/5 | 5/5 | .. | Sep 2008 | 3,499 | |
|
| Canon 5D | 88/100 | + + | o | o | .. | Aug 2005 | 3,299 | |
|
| Nikon D850 | + + | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2017 | 3,299 | |
|
| Nikon D810 | .. | 86/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2014 | 3,299 | |
|
| Sony A99 II | .. | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 3,199 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Canon 5DS R FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the 5DS R.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the 5DS R based on?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Canon equipped the 5DS R with the DIGIC 6 (Dual) image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the 5DS R?
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 R?
Canon does not publish a shutter rating for the 5DS R. 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.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences?
No, the Canon EOS 5DS R 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 flash?
The 5DS R's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Canon 5DS R 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 5DS R 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 5DS R?
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 5DS R?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on eBay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Canon.
Camera to camera comparisons
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 5DS R vs Canon 70D
- Canon 5DS R vs Canon R
- Canon 5DS R vs Canon XT
- Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-A1
- Canon 5DS R vs Leica S3
- Canon 5DS R vs Leica X1
- Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D7200
- Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D800
- Canon 5DS R vs Panasonic FZ82
- Canon 5DS R vs Panasonic GH5s
- Canon 5DS R vs Panasonic TZ100
- Canon 5DS R vs Ricoh GR
| Camera Model | Canon 5DS R | |
| 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 | no AA 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) | 86 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.6 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.4 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2308 | |
| 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 | 1040k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
| 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 | |
| Second Storage Option | 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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