What the owners think
Three Canon EOS 5DS R users give their verdicts
Rob Bates
After using many cameras from Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm to name a few, I still favour the sharpness and resolution of the Canon EOS 5DS R. I know it can be a touchy subject, but for me megapixels are crucial. With the crop sensor on the EOS 70D, which I regularly used with a Sigma 50-500mm lens, I thought I had a great wildlife set-up. After upgrading to the EOS 5DS R and the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM I no longer had the same extensive range, but found I can crop in further and achieve sharper results. I only own a pair of lenses now – the EF 16-35mm and EF 100-400mm. With anything that falls between
I choose to crop in. I have given the camera a real hammering, from super-long exposures during astrophotography in freezing conditions, to shooting many thousands of timelapse images. It has taken a soaking from some waves too and continues to perform faultlessly. If anything did ever happen to it I would go straight out and buy another. It’s hard to think of any bad points. A flip screen for situations like vlogging would be helpful, but I don’t find this essential. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending the 5DS R to anyone sitting on the fence. My website is www.robbatesphotography.co.uk and I’m on Instagram @RobBates Photography
For and against
+ Excellent battery life
+ Durable and built to last
+ Superb range of EF lenses available
– Lacks a flip screen for vlogging
Aaron Eskaran
I realise resolution isn’t everything, but I decided to jump to the Canon EOS 5DS R after being tempted by all of Canon’s release videos. It looked very impressive and I was probably one of the first photographers in Hawaii to start shooting with it. The amount of detail I was able to capture in and out of the water was astounding compared to any other DSLR I had previously used. Saying that, I still had to make sure the light I was shooting in was good and my technique was sound to avoid noisy images. Its 5fps burst rate isn’t the fastest, but the resolution was gamechanging for its time. It was tricky to get the right wave movement when shooting fast-breaking water but when I was able to time it right, it was magic. Prints from this camera are exceptional and I still use it today alongside my Canon EOS R5. I usually pair it up with my EF 16-35mm lens and it has proven to be extremely reliable all around the world on my travels. Find me on Instagram @Aeskaran
For and against
+ Extremely robust
– High ISO performance compared to new models
Thomas Richardson
I purchased my 5DS R in 2016, a year after it was released by Canon. I was hesitant at first to drop such a large amount of money on a full-frame DSLR that I felt was aimed towards the digital medium format market in terms of megapixels and image output size, but I still went for it. The reason for purchasing the camera was originally for capturing large-format timelapse photographs, but as time went on, I found it to be a very versatile camera for general stills. It didn’t take me long to find out that the high megapixel output and ability to crop in tightly was perfect for motorsports when using long telephoto lenses. One downside to the camera is that it isn’t the best in low light, especially in this modern age where cameras have incredibly impressive low-light capabilities. But still as a workhorse and being used in daylight and the right type of conditions, I find the 5DS R to be the perfect camera for landscapes and motorsports.
More of my photographs can be viewed by going to www.twrichardson.co.uk and on Instagram @mccrutchescam
For and against
+ Ability to crop in tightly to motorsport subjects
- Not the best in low light