Canon 5DS Long-term Review: Fantastic Image Quality, Even in 2023

When I was looking for a camera that could shoot higher resolution than my Canon 5D Mark IV, I had three options: Phase One, Canon 5DD, or mirrorless. I ended up getting the Canon 5Ds, and after using it for a bunch of work, here are my long-term thoughts.

Introduction

When I initially faced the problem of needing a higher-resolution camera, I was tempted to go for a medium format system and enjoy all the benefits it would bring. After all, an old Phase One 645 with a P-series back can be easily bought for only a little bit more. The dilemma was huge, and after careful consideration, I bought the Canon 5DS.

This camera does not need an introduction. It is an iconic piece of gear that photographers all around the world have used for almost any genre of work where high resolution was a priority. The colors are rich, the resolution high, and the autofocus mediocre. In this review, we will take a closer look at the Canon 5DS and see if it fits a modern professional’s workflow.

Sensor Quality

This is one of the best sensors Canon has ever made. I would argue it is one of the best full frame sensors ever put in a camera. It is the reason the camera exists in the first place. Canon’s goal was to make a studio camera that would replace their aging Canon 1Ds Mark III. The “s” in the name stands for studio, which implies that this camera is aimed primarily at still life, fashion, portrait, and food photographers. It is best used in a controlled environment. The sensor is capable of producing stunning detail, but only in an environment where you do not have to push ISO. With great megapixel counts come poor low-light performance.

The 50.6-megapixel sensor in the camera is sensational. It is capable of capturing detailed images with rich colors and sharpness. This makes the camera ideal for the most demanding of jobs. The dynamic range is quite impressive as well, allowing the files to be rich in color and depth. Unfortunately, the ISO range is pretty bad, and the camera’s images are practically unusable beyond ISO 1,600. The range goes from ISO 100-6,400 and is expandable to 50-12,800. This is not the camera to use in challenging light conditions. This is a camera for those situations when you can either have a tripod or strobes filling in the gaps.

Focusing

Going from the biggest pro of the camera to the biggest con. On paper, this camera has the same autofocus system as the Canon 5D Mark III. Indeed, 61 AF points, 41 of which are cross-type, might give you the confidence that you can get extremely accurate and sharp images every time. However, the confidence would be false.

You see, with great resolution comes great responsibility. The sad truth is that even if your camera nailed focus, the slightest movement in the subject will render that useless. I rarely, if ever, use the Canon 5DS in situations where I am not sure about focusing the camera. It is best used with a stopped-down aperture and a subject that does not move too much. I take a lot of frames and make sure to listen for the beep before photographing to make sure that the focus has locked on. With a resolution so high, even the smallest imperfections are visible in the picture.

Long-term Reliability

I care a lot about reliability for the sole reason of hating to buy or replace equipment. The gear I buy has to be reliable enough to be used for multiple productions a week for at least a few years (in the case of a camera). Just like every professional camera Canon makes, this one is made from a rugged magnesium alloy, which makes it both lightweight and durable. The camera is weather-sealed, which I personally had the pleasure of testing under pouring rain. The dials are quite robustly designed, and the camera only shows some signs of wear when it comes to the rubber padding around the grip. Although not nice, it is expected from a device that is used weekly. My shutter is nearing the dreaded 150,000 cycles mark; however, the camera seems to be just fine. I have yet to see how many actuations it will actually have before I have to replace it. The Canon 5DS is a reliable camera that is made for professional photographers. If I could only bring one body to a shoot, I would have no problems with taking this one.

Obvious Drawbacks

So far, we have been praising the camera, but let’s take a look at some of the things that make it not so good. First and foremost, it has to be the sheer skill required to make use of the camera’s resolution. At first, my results with the 5DS were rubbish because I did not understand the fundamentals of using such an advanced camera. The focus has to be perfect, as well as the subject more or less stationary. It’s better to use flash to freeze the motion. My best results with the Canon 5DS were in situations where there was little movement in the subject, high-power flash was used, and the aperture was stopped down. It’s not too hard, but it does take some getting used to. The camera is not a video camera; the 5DS is a pure stills camera. I tried shooting b-roll on this, and it ended up looking mediocre, almost unusable. If you are planning to do any kind of video while also wanting to capture high-resolution stills, look in the direction of the Canon EOS R5.

What I Liked

• Sensor quality 
• Dynamic range
• High resolution

What Could Be Improved

• Focusing 
• Video features 
• ISO performance

Closing Thoughts

Overall, the Canon 5DS is a solid performer that is as good of an addition to your arsenal as it would’ve been when it was released. If you are a photographer who is looking to capture stills of the highest quality, this camera is for you. I use my Canon 5DS on the most demanding of jobs when top image quality is required. This is the camera on which I have shot some of my best work. This is also the camera I use on editorial shoots and whenever I want to get a medium format feeling. Every image I take with this camera feels a little different. The sound of the shutter is a little slower, and the images feel more special.