Canon EOS 5DS R

The Canon EOS 5DS R is a full-frame DSLR from 2015 built around a single idea: resolution. Its high-resolution CMOS sensor is aimed at photographers who print large or crop hard.

That character suits landscape, studio and architectural work, where deliberate framing and a tripod are normal. The optical pentaprism viewfinder gives a direct view of the scene, and the Canon EF mount determines which lenses attach.

Owning it means carrying a substantial body of around 930 grams with weather sealing for outdoor conditions, and managing large files across its SD and Compact Flash slots.

Resolution is the reason this camera exists. With 50.6 megapixels spread across a full-frame CMOS sensor, you can crop tightly into a landscape or architectural frame and still have plenty of pixels for a large print.

The Optics score of 73 reflects a good specification overall, placing it in the top 19% of cameras in our database for Optics. The Canon EF mount determines which lenses attach to the body.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so slow-shutter work may need steadier technique, a stabilised lens or a tripod. The ISO range stops at 6400, leaving less sensitivity headroom when light falls.

For composition, the autofocus system provides 61 selectable points. The 1/8000 maximum shutter speed can help when you want wide apertures in bright conditions, and the five fps maximum burst rate favours brief, considered sequences over rapid bursts.

Video is supported but modest, and the score of 57 matches that. Recording tops out at Full HD resolution, so this is a camera for occasional clips rather than a primary filmmaking tool.

Frame rates reach up to 30 fps, and footage is recorded in MOV files. For documenting a scene or producing simple content alongside stills, that is workable.

Built-in timelapse creates interval sequences without an external intervalometer. It is useful for slowly changing scenes such as clouds or shifting light, and adds a motion option beyond conventional Full HD clips.

If video matters equally with stills in your work, treat the Full HD limit as the deciding factor before buying.

The features score of 59 is rated modest. The 3.2 inch TFT LCD carries 1,040,000 dots for reviewing focus and detail, and live view is available when you want to compose on the screen.

The screen is fixed and not touch-sensitive, so overhead or ground-level framing is less convenient and menu or focus-point changes are not made through touch input.

There is no built-in flash, but the camera accepts external flash units, which suits controlled lighting setups. Weather sealing helps in dust and damp outdoor conditions, though it is not waterproofing.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are absent, so the camera lacks those built-in wireless connections. There is also no built-in GPS receiver for location tagging.

Two card slots, one for SD including UHS-I cards and one for Compact Flash, let you choose your card system and carry plenty of capacity. High-resolution files make that headroom matter on a long shoot.

The LP-E6 battery is rated at 700 shots, a figure that is not a promise of real-world endurance, so a spare battery is worth packing for longer sessions.

The camera does not provide USB charging, so a cable connected to the body cannot top up the battery. The storage and battery score of 65 is rated good, with dual card slots earning full marks, partial credit for battery life and none for USB charging.