In This Post
Introduction
This review of the Canon 5DS and 5DS R will be a short one for the following reasons:
- The Canon 5DS and 5DS R were introduced to fill gaps that the Canon 5d Mk iii lacked at the time.
- Since their introduction the Canon 5D Mark iv has been brought out and does pretty much everything these two models do, and more.
They are therefore all but redundant models in technology, features, capabilities and price – having been matched or overtaken by the Canon 5D Mark iv.
You can read my full review of the Canon 5D Mk iv here.
Between the 5D Mk iv, the Canon EOS 1D-X Mk ii and the new Canon EOS R (full-frame mirrorless) it’s hard to imagine that Canon will update the 5DS and 5DS R.
But who knows where technology will take us and where Canon is ultimately headed?
The differences between the cameras are tabled in the chart below
Comparison Chart
5D Mk iv
5DS
5DS R
EOS-1D X Mkii
Price (Dec 2018)
$2,799.00
$3,499.00
$3,699.00
$5,499.00
Mega pixels
30.4
50.6
50.6
20.2
ISO Range
100 – 12,800
100 – 6,400
100 – 6,400
100 – 51,200
Anti-Aliasing Filter
Removed
No
No
Yes
No
Shutter Speeds
30 – 1/8000 sec
30 – 1/8000 sec
30 – 1/8000 sec
30 – 1/8000 sec
Burst Rate
7 fps
5 fps
5 fps
14 fps
WiFi
WiFi + NFC
No
No
No
Touch Screen
No
No
No
Yes
GPS
Yes
No
No
Yes
AF Points
61
61
61
61
Dimensions
5.93 x 4.58 x 2.99 in
150.7 x 116.4 x 75.9 mm
6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0 in
152.0 x 116.4 x 76.4 mm
5.93 x 4.58 x 2.99 in
150.7 x 116.4 x 75.9 mm
6.22 x 6.60 x 3.25 in
158.0 x 167.6 x 82.6mm
Weight
31.4 oz / 890 g
32.8 oz / 930 g
32.8 oz / 930 g
54.0 oz / 1530 g
The Canon 5DS and 5DSR have more megapixels than both the 5D MK iv and the 1DX Mkii and the both have a slower maximum shutter speed. All of this leads to greater detail at the extreme pixel peeping level.
But – only in conditions where you can control the light or the light is good.
Both cameras were introduced after the Canon 5D Mk iii (before the 5D Mark iv) and made a big, but disappointing, splash when launched. The introduction of the 5D Mk iv made them all but redundant.
The 5DS R has had the anti-aliasing filter “removed” and for $200.00 more you get extremely sharp photos. I read somewhere that the anti aliasing filter has not actually been removed but has been negated by the addition of a second filter! Don’t ask me how that works – I’m just a photographer.
With it’s much higher burst rate (14fps) the EOS 1D X Mkii is in a class of it’s own for almost $3,000.00 more.
Conclusion
Obviously there are photographers who will want the finer detail in their images, possibly for printing, but for the majority of photographers one has to wonder if the Canon 5D Mk iv doesn’t cover all the bases?
Final Word
Overall I have been a bit negative towards the 5DS and 5DS R and I don’t mean to be.
I do however thin that with the introduction of the Canon 5D Mk iv and the mirrorless cameras (Canon’s own EOS R full frame model) these two models are old technology at an inflated price.
If I was in the market for a Canon full frame DSLR today I would opt for the Canon 5D Mk iv over the 5DS or 5DS R.
But that’s me – I do believe that anyone looking at looking at buying either of these models will have a specific need and already know exactly what they want.
For more reviews from photographers who have bought these models click on the links below: