Canon 5DS R vs Leica C-LUX

The Canon EOS 5DS R and the Leica C-LUX are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2015 and June 2018. The 5DS R is a DSLR, while the C-LUX is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (5DS R) and an one-inch (C-LUX) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 50.3 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 20 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon 5DS R		Leica C-LUX
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-360mm f/3.3-6.4
50.3 MP, Full Frame Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (50 - 12,800)		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2330k dots)
3.2 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1240k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
700 shots per battery charge		370 shots per battery charge
152 x 116 x 76 mm, 930 g		113 x 67 x 46 mm, 340 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 5DS R and the Leica C-LUX? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 5DS R and the Leica C-LUX is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The C-LUX can be obtained in two different colors (gold, blue), while the 5DS R 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 Leica C-LUX is considerably smaller (57 percent) than the Canon 5DS R. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 5DS R is splash and dust resistant, while the C-LUX does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the C-LUX has a lens built in, whereas the 5DS R is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 5DS R and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The power pack in the C-LUX can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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
	Canon 5DS R	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	32.8 oz	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
	Leica C-LUX	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	370	n	Jun 2018	1,049
	Canon G5 X Mark II	4.4 in	2.4 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	230	n	Jul 2019	899
	Canon 1D X Mark II	6.2 in	6.6 in	3.3 in	54.0 oz	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
	Canon 5D Mark IV	5.9 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	31.4 oz	900	Y	Aug 2016	3,499
	Canon 5DS	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	32.8 oz	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
	Canon 5D Mark III	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	33.5 oz	950	Y	Mar 2012	3,499
	Canon 6D	5.7 in	4.4 in	2.8 in	27.2 oz	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
	Canon 5D Mark II	6.0 in	4.5 in	3.0 in	30.0 oz	850	Y	Sep 2008	3,499
	Canon 5D	6.0 in	4.4 in	3.0 in	31.6 oz	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299
	Leica V-LUX 5	5.4 in	3.8 in	5.2 in	28.6 oz	350	n	Jul 2019	1,249
	Leica D-LUX 7	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Nov 2018	1,195
	Nikon D850	5.7 in	4.9 in	3.1 in	35.5 oz	1840	Y	Jul 2017	3,299
	Nikon D810	5.7 in	4.8 in	3.2 in	34.6 oz	1200	Y	Jun 2014	3,299
	Sony RX100 VII	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.7 in	10.7 oz	260	n	Jul 2019	1,199
	Sony A99 II	5.6 in	4.1 in	3.0 in	29.9 oz	490	Y	Sep 2016	3,199
	Sony RX100 IV	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	280	n	Jun 2015	999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Metric

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The C-LUX was launched at a lower price than the 5DS R, despite having a lens built in. 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.

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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 5DS R features a full frame sensor and the Leica C-LUX an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the C-LUX is 87 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around CMOS sensors.

With 50.3MP, the 5DS R offers a higher resolution than the C-LUX (20MP), but the 5DS R nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.14μm versus 2.41μm for the C-LUX) due to its larger sensor. However, the C-LUX is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 4 months) than the 5DS R, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the 5DS R has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 5DS R implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 5DS R 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 Leica C-LUX are 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm for good quality, 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 5DS R has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica C-LUX are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

	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
	Leica C-LUX	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G5 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	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 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
	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
	Leica V-LUX 5	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Leica D-LUX 7	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	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 RX100 VII	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.8	12.4	418	63
	Sony A99 II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	25.4	13.4	2317	92
	Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the C-LUX provides a better video resolution than the 5DS R. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the C-LUX has an electronic viewfinder (2330k dots), while the 5DS R has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the 5DS R has a higher magnification than the one of the C-LUX (0.71x vs 0.53x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 5DS R and Leica C-LUX along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

	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
	Leica C-LUX	2330	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Canon G5 X Mark II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
	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 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	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
	Leica V-LUX 5	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
	Leica D-LUX 7	2764	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
	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 RX100 VII	2359	n	3.0	921	tilting	Y	1/2000s	90.0	Y	Y
	Sony A99 II	2400	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
	Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0	1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0	Y	Y

One feature that is present on the 5DS R, but is missing on the C-LUX is 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.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the C-LUX is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon 5DS R and the Leica C-LUX both have 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 5DS R writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the C-LUX uses SDXC cards. The 5DS R features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the C-LUX 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 5DS R and Leica C-LUX 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 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	-	-	-
	Leica C-LUX	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon G5 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	3.1	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 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon 5D Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon 5D	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
	Leica V-LUX 5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Leica D-LUX 7	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	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 RX100 VII	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony A99 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the 5DS R has a hotshoe, while the C-LUX does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

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

Both the 5DS R and the C-LUX are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. Neither of the two has a direct predecessor, so perhaps they will constitute the origins of new camera lines for Canon and Leica. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Leica websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 5DS R or the Leica C-LUX – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon EOS 5DS R:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (50.3 vs 20MP) with a 59% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.53x).
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control 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 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (700 versus 370) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• 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 available for much longer (launched in February 2015).

Arguments in favor of the Leica C-LUX:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 1040k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 5DS R requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x67mm vs 152x116mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the 5DS R).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 4 months of technical progress since the 5DS R launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the C-LUX comes out slightly ahead of the 5DS R (17 : 16 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 sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape 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 5DS R and the Leica C-LUX place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, 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 shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 5DS R or the C-LUX. 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 table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	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
	Leica C-LUX	..	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	Jun 2018	1,049
	Canon G5 X Mark II	+	82/100	..	..	4/5	Jul 2019	899
	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 6D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
	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
	Leica V-LUX 5	..	..	4/5	..	4/5	Jul 2019	1,249
	Leica D-LUX 7	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	Nov 2018	1,195
	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 RX100 VII	..	..	4/5	..	5/5	Jul 2019	1,199
	Sony A99 II	..	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	3,199
	Sony RX100 IV	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999
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.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Canon 5DS R vs Leica C-LUX

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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