Clicky

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
72
Overall
74
Canon EOS 5DS front
 
Nikon D800 front
Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Key Specs

Canon 5DS
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 930g - 152 x 116 x 76mm
  • Introduced February 2015
Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Old Model is Nikon D700
  • Renewed by Nikon D810
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the 5DS (51MP) and D800 (36MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (Full frame).

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The 5DS was manufactured 2 years after the D800 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the 5DS matches up versus the D800 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 5DS over the Nikon D800

 5DS D800 
IntroducedFebruary 2015June 2012More modern by 33 months
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Canon 5DS

 D800 5DS 

Common features in the Canon 5DS and Nikon D800

 5DS D800 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3.2"3.2"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon 5DS provides physical dimensions of 152mm x 116mm x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 930 grams (2.05 lbs) while the Nikon D800 has dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Check out the Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the 5DS compared to the D800.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 5DS and D800 is 55 and 54 respectively.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 5DS and D800.

As you can tell, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Canon 5DS to resolve extra detail due to its extra 15 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more modern 5DS provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 sensor size comparison

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5DS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon D800 Portrait photography highlights
85
focusing manually
great megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
83
you can focus manually
amazing megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Canon 5DS Street photography details
Nikon D800 Street photography details
61
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
60
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Canon 5DS Sports photography information
Nikon D800 Sports photography information
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
great megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (700 per charge)
74
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
amazing megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Travel Comparison

Canon 5DS Travel photography details
Nikon D800 Travel photography details
57
environment proof
great megapixels (51 megapixels)
not so great battery life (700 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
environment proofing
amazing megapixels (36 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Canon 5DS Landscape photography features
Nikon D800 Landscape photography features
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Canon EF mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
great megapixels (51MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (700 shots)
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
amazing megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5DS Vlogging highlights
Nikon D800 Vlogging highlights
30
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
30
offers face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

Canon 5DS vs Nikon D800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5DS and Nikon D800
 Canon EOS 5DSNikon D800
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 5DS Nikon D800
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2015-02-06 2012-06-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual DIGIC 6 Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 51 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 5:4 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 8688 x 5792 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 61 51
Cross type focus points 41 15
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Nikon F
Amount of lenses 250 309
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 930g (2.05 lb) 900g (1.98 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 116 x 76mm (6.0" x 4.6" x 3.0") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 87 95
DXO Color Depth rating 24.7 25.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.4
DXO Low light rating 2381 2853
Other
Battery life 700 pictures 900 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible), CompactFlash Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Card slots 2 2
Launch pricing $3,699 $2,999