Canon EOS 5DS vs EOS R Review

Canon EOS 5DS images above

There are a few reviews out there for the Canon EOS 5DS and the EOS R but when considering replacing my Fujifilm XT-1 mirrorless system then it made sense to add the EOS R to allow the use of my L series lenses while having the convenience of a more compact body for street and travel photography, but how do they compare?

First of all, I am not going to provide all manner of technical comparisons, this is more about how I feel as an owner of both cameras, using them in real world situations.

The first things that I noticed about the images were that long range landscapes appeared sharper with the 5DS (50.6mp) than the EOSR (30.3mp) and that should not be a surprise given the difference of resolution but I still reach for my 5DS for landscape images before the EOS R.

When taking the photos of kayakers dropping a 8m waterfall I was impressed with the faster shutter speed of the EOS R (8 fps) versus the 5DS but the lag that comes from being mirrorless is quite frustrating. I realise that the conventional DSLR means that I can see the image while the camera is processing a burst of images but that allows me to compose the next burst, while the EOS R, being an electronic viewfinder leaves me with a blank screen.

I have had the 5DS for longer than the EOS R so this next comment is perhaps a little unfair but I just like where the buttons are on the 5DS. I can keep the camera to my eye and make most of my adjustments while with the EOS R I find myself jumping between the quick menu on the rear screen and the buttons as there are to few to customise it for all the easy access controls that I would like.

The final thing that I would say is that the lack of an intervalometer in the EOS R is a drawback. If you want to take images of stars with a view to capturing star trails then an intervalometer is a must. I realise that the EOS R has a free app and this may offer that feature (I have not looked yet) but the apps which connect to cameras have been a frustration for me. They frequently fail to connect, take several attempts (I had the same issue with the Fujifilm app) but once they find the camera then they tend to work okay. For me, I want a quick and slick connection so that I can use it for the image I am seeking, and stay in the moment but my experience of camera apps has, unfortunately, not been that.

I love the lighter feel of the EOS R (circa 660g vs 845g for the 5DS) and the silent shutter, again for street photography. The grip on both is good but it is more positive on the EOS R but if I was to have only one camera for all occasions, I would still stick with the 5DS for all round ease of use and quality of results.

Canon EOS R images above