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Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
72
Overall
74
Canon EOS 5DS front
 
Nikon D500 front
Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Key Specs

Canon 5DS
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 930g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Launched February 2015
Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Succeeded the Nikon D300S
Photography Glossary

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Canon 5DS and Nikon D500, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the 5DS (51MP) and D500 (21MP) and the 5DS (Full frame) and D500 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The 5DS was launched 11 months prior to the D500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the 5DS scores versus the D500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5DS over the Nikon D500

 5DS D500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Canon 5DS

 D500 5DS 
RevealedJanuary 2016February 2015Fresher by 11 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution2359k1040kSharper display (+1319k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 5DS and Nikon D500

 5DS D500 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3.2"3.2"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon 5DS has got outside dimensions of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 930 grams (2.05 lbs) whilst the Nikon D500 has sizing of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs).

Check the Canon 5DS and Nikon D500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the 5DS and the D500.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the 5DS and D500 is 55 and 56 respectively.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at specs. The visual below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5DS and D500.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 5DS because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Canon 5DS will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 30 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older 5DS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 sensor size comparison

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5DS Portrait photography factors
Nikon D500 Portrait photography factors
85
has manual focus
high resolution (51 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
79
has manual focus
good MP (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 5DS Street photography factors
Nikon D500 Street photography factors
61
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
68
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5DS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D500 as a Sports photography camera
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
high resolution (51 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (700 per charge)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
good MP (21 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery power (1,240 shots)
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5DS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D500 as a Travel photography camera
57
weather proofing
high resolution (51MP)
not so great battery life (700 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
68
great battery power (1,240 shots)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
features touch to focus
good MP (21MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5DS Landscape photography advice
Nikon D500 Landscape photography advice
75
has manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
high resolution (51MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (700 CIPA)
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
good MP (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery power (1,240 shots)
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 5DS
Vlogging with Nikon D500
30
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
31
touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 5DS vs Nikon D500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5DS and Nikon D500
 Canon EOS 5DSNikon D500
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 5DS Nikon D500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2015-02-06 2016-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual DIGIC 6 Expeed 5
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixel 21 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 8688 x 5792 5568 x 3712
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max boosted ISO 12800 1640000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 61 153
Cross type focus points 41 99
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Nikon F
Total lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3.2 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dot 2,359k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.66x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 930 gr (2.05 pounds) 860 gr (1.90 pounds)
Physical dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 87 84
DXO Color Depth rating 24.7 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.0
DXO Low light rating 2381 1324
Other
Battery life 700 pictures 1240 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible), CompactFlash XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant)
Storage slots Two Two
Pricing at launch $3,699 $1,497