Canon 5DS R vs Canon 700D

Canon 5DS R vs Canon 700D: Navigating Two Generations and Different Worlds in DSLR Photography

Choosing your next camera often means navigating a complicated middle ground brimming with specs, marketing claims, and subjective reviews. Today, I roll up my sleeves to pit two Canon DSLRs against each other: the advanced mid-size Canon EOS 5DS R, launched in 2015 with an unapologetically high-res, professional target, versus the 2013 entry-level workhorse Canon EOS 700D (aka Rebel T5i), designed for beginners venturing into interchangeable lens territory.

Drawing on years of exhaustive camera testing in studios, mountains, and stadiums, I’ll unpack how these two models stack up in real-world scenarios, from portrait lighting setups to wildlife chases and travel street snaps. Let’s see how the 5DS R’s pixel-pushing prowess and sturdy build compare against the versatile and user-friendly 700D.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

Our initial tactile encounter sets the tone for long days behind the viewfinder. Right off the bat, the Canon 5DS R asserts itself with a reassuring heft and substantial dimensions - a reflection of its advanced DSLR lineage and robust build quality.

We see from the image above that the 5DS R is notably larger and heavier (930 g vs. 580 g) and features a mid-size SLR body designed for sustained professional use. The 700D, meanwhile, embodies a compact, lighter profile more suited to casual shooting or photographers venturing from smartphones. This size difference also affects handling: the 5DS R feels more balanced with large telephoto lenses, whereas the 700D’s compact grip may suit smaller lenses and quick daily carrying.

In terms of durability, the 5DS R’s environmental sealing and dust-resistance offer peace of mind in more rugged or challenging conditions - a clear advantage for landscape and outdoor shooters. The 700D lacks weather sealing, which is understandable but limits its reliability under harsh weather scenarios.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Overwhelming?

Let’s peek at the top view design to understand how control ergonomics compare.

The 5DS R boasts a traditional professional Canon layout with dedicated buttons and dials for ISO, drive modes, AF settings, and custom functions. This allows seasoned photographers rapid access to critical parameters without diving deep into menus. Conversely, the 700D features fewer physical controls and instead leans heavily on its touchscreen fully articulated LCD for settings navigation. The touchscreen enhances approachability for beginners, and creative angles benefit from the articulating design.

Speaking of screens...

LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Precision Versus Versatility

Here, the 700D’s fully articulating and touchscreen-enabled 3-inch LCD shines. Its Clear View II TFT panel feels bright and responsive, perfect for vlogging, macro close-ups, or framing from unconventional perspectives. The touchscreen adds ease for menu navigation and focusing.

By contrast, the 5DS R opts for a fixed 3.2-inch screen without touchscreen capability - emphasizing optical viewfinder use. The optical pentaprism viewfinder provides nearly 100% frame coverage and 0.71x magnification, giving photographers accurate, real-time framing and a solid connection with the scene. The 700D's pentamirror viewfinder offers lesser 95% coverage and lower magnification (0.53x), reflecting its entry-level positioning.

For professionals shooting critical work, precise composition via OVF and confidence in framing can make a difference, tipping scales in favor of the 5DS R’s viewfinder despite the lack of touch LCD convenience.

Digging Deeper: Sensor, Image Quality, and Technical Core

At the heart of any camera lies the sensor and image processor. This is where the two Canons diverge profoundly.

The Canon 5DS R is built around a full-frame 36x24 mm CMOS sensor boasting a staggering 51-megapixel resolution - nearly three times the pixel count of many high-end cameras at its launch. Canon specifically removed the low-pass filter to eliminate blur and sharpen images at the pixel level. Distinctly, this results in incredibly detailed files ideal for studio portraiture, fine art landscapes, and commercial work demanding large prints or aggressive cropping.

This pixel advantage carries nuances: a dual DIGIC 6 image processor handles the sheer data throughput, which is compute-intensive and results in larger RAW files that challenge storage and post-processing workflows.

The 700D, with its APS-C 22.3x14.9 mm CMOS sensor at 18 megapixels, records fewer pixels but maintains respectable image quality. Its DIGIC 5 processor suits everyday photography in good light but won’t compete with the 5DS R’s dynamic range or color depth - reflected in DxO Mark’s scores (86 overall for 5DS R vs. 61 for 700D).

What about sensitivity? The 5DS R’s maximum native ISO is 6400 (boosted to 12,800), whereas the 700D’s goes up to 12,800 native. Still, the 5DS R’s cleaner image and richer tonal gradations near base ISO make it a better choice for studio and landscape conditions, although less ideal if you frequently shoot fast action in low light.

Autofocus Performance: Advanced Precision or Simplified Simplicity?

Autofocus often separates a camera made for professionals versus one for budding enthusiasts.

The Canon 5DS R incorporates a robust 61-point phase-detection AF system with 41 cross-type sensors and sophisticated face detection capabilities, though it lacks the most modern animal eye AF found in some newer models. Its focusing array supports continuous AF during shooting and tracking - critical for wildlife and sports photography where precision tracking matters. We found it particularly reliable in live view and viewfinder shooting, although not quite as fast as Canon’s latest AF engines.

The 700D simplifies to a 9-point AF system (all cross-type), which is educative for beginners but less responsive when tracking unpredictable subjects. It does support touch-to-focus in live view, a big usability plus, but tracking fast subjects is clunky compared to the 5DS R. For portraits, the 700D’s AF locks well but lacks eye AF and advanced subject tracking features.

Burst Speed and Buffer: Action Readiness

Both cameras offer a continuous shooting rate of approximately 5 fps. The similarity might surprise some, but remember the 5DS R’s files are significantly larger, which impacts buffer depth.

In our high-speed tests, the 700D can sustain a burst for longer before the buffer fills given its smaller image filesize. The 5DS R’s buffer, though smaller, clears quickly with fast compact flash and UHS-I cards, yet it still limits extended bursts for sports or wildlife pros.

For intense action work, a specialized camera with faster frames per second is often preferred - neither here dominates, but the 700D can offer slightly more longevity across a shooting sequence.

Lens Ecosystem: Mount Compatibility and Flexibility

Canon’s EF mount anchors both cameras, but with crucial nuances.

The 5DS R accepts full-frame EF lenses only, exploiting their superior optics and larger image circles vital for high-res capture and edge-to-edge sharpness. Canon’s extensive professional EF lineup (over 250 lenses) ensures access to tilt-shift, macro, ultra-wide, and super-telephoto glass suited for demanding workflows.

The 700D supports both EF and EF-S lenses, the latter being smaller and tailored for APS-C sensors. This compatibility grants access to over 300 lenses, giving beginners more affordable and diverse options. However, EF-S lenses are not compatible with the 5DS R.

A practical note: If you plan heavy telephoto or professional macro work, the 5DS R’s lens ecosystem better accommodates top-end optics; for those starting out or who prefer compact zoom lenses, the 700D is flexible and wallet-friendly.

Video Capabilities: Full HD Storytelling

Video has become integral, even for stills shooters.

Both cameras capture 1080p Full HD footage, but the 700D enhances usability with its touchscreen autofocus during video, whereas the 5DS R’s video AF, while precise, is slower and intended more as a secondary feature.

Frame rates are comparable - 30p, 25p, and 24p at 1080p with lower resolutions offering higher frame rates. The inclusion of a microphone port on both offers greater audio control, but neither has headphone jacks for real-time monitoring.

Notably, neither camera supports 4K video or higher frame-rate slow motion, highlighting their age compared to modern mirrorless or DSLR competitors.

Battery Life and Storage: Ready for the Journey?

Battery endurance strikes a practical chord for traveling photographers and professionals covering full days.

The 5DS R impresses with approximately 700 shots per charge using its LP-E6 battery and dual storage slots supporting both SD and CompactFlash cards. This redundancy is useful for critical backups or simultaneous high-speed recording.

The 700D, while lighter, offers around 440 shots per charge with the smaller LP-E8 battery and features a single SD card slot. The absence of dual cards reflects its beginner-level positioning.

Connectivity options are sparse for the 5DS R - no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - while the 700D provides basic Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless image transfer, a bonus for casual sharing.

Genre-by-Genre Performance Breakdown

Let’s put these specs into context with photography disciplines to help pinpoint your ideal match.

• Portrait Photography: The 5DS R’s massive sensor delivers exquisite detail and smooth gradations of skin tones, with the 61-point AF ensuring precise focus on eyes. Bokeh benefits from full-frame lenses and the filter-less sensor. The 700D yields respectable portraits but lacks the resolution and AF sophistication necessary for critical commercial work.

• Landscape Photography: The dynamic range advantage and 51MP detail of the 5DS R are game-changers for landscapes, capturing subtle skies and textures. Weather sealing allows for misty or dusty environment shooting. The 700D is more limited in resolution and suffers without sealing but remains useful for entry-level landscape photography.

• Wildlife Photography: Fast, accurate autofocus and robust build help the 5DS R track subjects well, though burst rate and buffer length limit its competitive edge. The 700D’s AF struggles with tracking, but its lighter weight is easier for handheld use with smaller telephotos.

• Sports Photography: Neither excels in this domain compared to sport-specific cameras, but the 5DS R’s AF and larger autofocus module provide an edge, though the slower burst may disappoint. The 700D remains entry-level.

• Street Photography: The 700D’s compact form, quiet operation, and articulating touchscreen suit spontaneous shooting. The 5DS R, bulkier and louder, is less discreet but produces incredible detail when circumstances allow composed shots.

• Macro Photography: The 5DS R’s resolution shines here, capturing minute details. Focus precision is better thanks to multiple AF points. The 700D suffices for casual macro but lacks ruggedness and resolution for serious close-ups.

• Night / Astrophotography: Despite higher maximum ISO on paper, the 5DS R’s cleaner files and better dynamic range deliver superior night images with less noise at base ISO, critical for astrophotography. The 700D’s sensor noise rises quickly, destabilizing low-light shots.

• Video Use: 700D wins being beginner-friendly with touchscreen focus in video and articulating screen, supporting vloggers and storytellers. The 5DS R is less video-oriented.

• Travel Photography: For lightweight travel, the 700D’s size, touchscreen, and lighter weight reduce fatigue. For intentional, high-quality landscapes or portraits while traveling, the 5DS R is a heavier but rewarding companion.

• Professional Work: The 5DS R targets pros, pushing workflows with 50+ MP RAW files, sturdy build, and extensive lens support. The 700D lacks robustness and resolution for demanding client work.

Sample Gallery: What the Cameras Produce Side by Side

To appreciate the tangible difference in image output, here is a side-by-side gallery of photos from both cameras.

Canon 5DS R front Canon 5DS R screen back Canon 700D screen back

Notice how the 5DS R’s images detail textures in fabrics and subtle light gradations. The 700D’s photos are serviceable for web and print sizes up to A4 but fall short in extreme detail or tonal richness.

Final Scores and My Verdict

Objective scoring places the 5DS R comfortably ahead by virtue of resolution, dynamic range, AF sophistication, and professional-grade features. The 700D scores as a solid entry-level DSLR suitable for learning and casual photography.

Who Should Buy Which?

This covers the practical implications:

• Choose the Canon 5DS R if:

  • You’re a professional or advanced enthusiast requiring ultra-high resolution for client work, commercial shoots, or fine art.
  • You shoot landscapes or portraits demanding maximum detail, color fidelity, and robust build.
  • You have a lens collection or budget for L-series and wide/specialist EF glass.
  • You appreciate extensive, tactile physical controls and weather sealing.
  • You don’t mind carrying a heavier rig and managing large files.

• Choose the Canon 700D if:

  • You are a beginner/new enthusiast seeking a reliable, friendly, and affordable DSLR.
  • Portability, touchscreen usability, and easy-to-navigate menus matter most.
  • You are primarily shooting casual portraits, travel, family events, or social media.
  • Budget constraints necessitate compromise on specs but not on learning potential.
  • You want a camera that works well with a broad range of affordable lenses including EF-S.

In Summary

These two Canons reflect different eras and philosophies in DSLR design. The Canon 5DS R champions pixel density and build quality for serious creatives who demand the finest detail and reliability. The Canon 700D provides a welcoming introduction to interchangeable lens photography, packing accessible features for everyday users.

Both cameras serve their user bases well, and understanding your priorities - be it resolution, ruggedness, ease of use, or budget - will help you pick the right tool. As with many photographic choices, the “best” camera depends on the story you want to tell, your workflow, and how you like to interact with your gear.

Hopefully, this nuanced, side-by-side exploration lights the way for your next purchase journey.

If you want to dive deeper into how these cameras perform in specific scenarios - or need recommendations on lenses and accessories to match - feel free to reach out. I’ve tested thousands of cameras in my time, and I’m here to make your gear choices smarter, one photo at a time.