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Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850

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Canon 5DS

51 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon 5DS
$3,699.00
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Nikon D850

46 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon D850
$3,296.95
Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Semi-Pro DSLR cameras. Canon 5DS has a 51.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Nikon D850 has a 46.0MP Full frame sensor.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Canon 5DS and Nikon D850 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon 5DS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-02-06
  • 51MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400 ( expands to 12800)
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 3.2″ Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 5.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 930g. 152 x 116 x 76 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon D850 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-08-24
  • 46MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 64 - 25600 ( expands to 32-102400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2 Tilting Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 7.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 9 fps with MB-D18 battery grip
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 1015g. 146 x 124 x 79 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D810 Compare
Reasons to choose Canon EOS 5DS over Nikon D850
Max Sensor Resolution 51 MP vs 46 MP 10% more pixels
Weight 930 g vs 1015 g 85 g lighter
Reasons to choose Nikon D850 over Canon EOS 5DS
Wireless Connection Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Articulating Screen Yes vs No Flexible shooting positions
Touch Screen Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max ISO 25.600 vs 6.400 300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points 153 vs 61 92 more focus points
Number of Cross Type Focus Points 99 vs 41 58 more cross type focus points
LCD Screen Resolution 2.359k dots vs 1.040k dots 126% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting 7.0fps vs 5.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life 1840 shots vs 700 shots 1140 more frames with a single charge
Headphone Port Yes vs No better video control
Color Depth 26.4 vs 24.7 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 14.8 vs 12.4 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 2660 vs 2381 better High ISO performance
Price $3,297 vs $3,699 $402 cheaper
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
NFC Connection Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Shutter Life Expectancy 200000 cycles vs 150000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Illuminated Buttons Yes vs No Find the buttons easily in dark
Smartphone_remote control Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
8K Timelapse mode Yes vs No Create 8K resolution timelapse videos
Autofocus at f/8 aperture 15 point vs 1 point Autofocus with teleconverters
Common Strengths of Canon EOS 5DS and Nikon D850
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution 51 MP vs 46 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size 3.2″ vs 3.2 Large display
LCD Screen Resolution 1.040k dots vs 2.359k dots Higher resolution screens
Microphone Port Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune) Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy 150000 cycles vs 200000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Storage Slot 2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-I vs UHS-II Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Canon EOS 5DS and Nikon D850
Image Stabilization No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Built-in Flash No vs No Require external flash
Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon 5DS and Nikon D850. Canon 5DS is 8mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Nikon D850 but it is also 6mm wider.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon 5DS and Nikon D850.
Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850 Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon 5DS is 85g lighter than the Nikon D850 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Canon 5DS and Nikon D850 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

5DS
D850
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

5DS
D850
Min
Average
Max
Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850: Sensor Comparison

Canon 5DS has a 51.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Dual DIGIC 6 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D850 has a 46.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor.

Canon 5DS's sensor provides 5MP more than Nikon D850's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D850's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the 5DS and D850 sensor size comparison.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850 Sensor Size Comparison


Canon 5DS and Nikon D850 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Canon 5DS and Nikon D850 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon 5DS and Nikon D850 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon 5DS for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D850 for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 51.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon 5DS for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Canon 5DS for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D850 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
41 Cross Type Focus sensors
61 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 700 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
99 Cross Type Focus sensors
153 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1840 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon 5DS for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon D850 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
930g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1015g
Body Thickness 79mm
Read the details

Canon 5DS for Landscape Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D850 for Landscape Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 51.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Nikon D850 vs Canon 5DS Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D850 has an advantage over Canon 5DS There are 286 lenses for Nikon D850's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 251 lenses for Canon 5DS's Canon EF lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 65 lenses for Canon EF mount and 88 lenses for Nikon F mount with IS.

Lens Type # of Canon 5DS Lenses # of Nikon D850 Lenses
Standard Zoom 25 (22 Full Frame) 33
Standard Prime 14 (14 Full Frame) 18
Wideangle Zoom 26 (17 Full Frame) 30
Wideangle Prime 43 (43 Full Frame) 45
Telephoto Zoom 48 (45 Full Frame) 49
Telephoto Prime 37 (37 Full Frame) 40
SuperZoom 17 (9 Full Frame) 30
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 3 (3 Full Frame) 8
Macro Prime 22 (20 Full Frame) 22
Perspective Control Prime 15 (15 Full Frame) 10
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) 1
TOTAL 251 (225 Full Frame) 286
Canon 5DS vs Nikon D850: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon 5DS and Nikon D850, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon 5DS and Nikon D850 scores compare:

Canon 5DS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #20 out of 92 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #37 out of 1131 in all Cameras
Nikon D850
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #2 out of 92 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #3 out of 1131 in all Cameras

Nikon D850 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon 5DS in all criterias except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon 5DS. Otherwise, Nikon D850 is the better camera overall.

Canon 5DS
Canon 5DS
$3,699.00

Nikon D850
Nikon D850
$3,296.95

Nikon D850 vs Canon 5DS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon EOS 5DS Nikon D850
Brand Canon Nikon
Announced 2015-02-06 2017-08-24
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Price $3,699.00 $3,296.95
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 36 x 24 mm 35.9 x 23.9 mm
Area 864.00mm2 858.01mm2
Megapixels 51 megapixels 46 megapixels
Max Resolution 8688 x 5792 8256 x 5504
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 12800 ISO 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 64 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 32 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 61 153
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Canon EF Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 251 286
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.2″ 3.2
Resolution 1,040k dots 2,359k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71 0.75
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 930g 1015g
Dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm 146 x 124 x 79mm
Battery Life 700 shots 1840 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 87 100
DxO Color Depth 24.7 26.4
DxO Dynamic Range 12.4 14.8
DxO Low Light ISO 2381 2660
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