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EOS-1Ds vs EOS M5

Quick take: The EOS M5 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS-1Ds is the most affordable; only the EOS-1Ds is weather sealed.

15 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

EOS-1Ds — Full-Frame Dslr History & Canon Archive Collections: The world's first production full-frame DSLR — the EOS-1Ds arrived in 2002 with 11MP and changed professional photography forever. Historically irreplaceable.

EOS M5 — Travel & Portrait: The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.

Who should buy what
EOS-1Ds (2002)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Collectors and historians of professional digital photography
  • Canon archivists who want the full EOS-1 lineage represented
  • Photography educators documenting the full-frame transition
EOS M5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
  • Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
  • Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
  • Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS-1DsCanon · 2002EOS M5Canon · 2016
Price £200Best£350
Sensor 11.1MP full-frame CMOS24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel)
Resolution 11.1MP24.2MPBest
Video —1080p/60p
Autofocus 45-point AF with 7 cross-type pointsDual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection
Burst Rate 3fps continuous9fpsBest
Battery Life ~500 shots per chargeBest~295 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1270g (body only)427g (body only)Best
Dimensions 155.6 × 117.8 × 79.9mm116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder OVF, 0.70× magnification, 100% coverageElectronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type
Screen 2.0" fixed LCD3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots
Mount Canon EFCanon EF-M mount
Memory Cards CompactFlash Type I/IISingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB 1.1, FireWireUSB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS-1Ds
EOS M5
Portrait
5.1/10
5.9/10
Street
3.6/10
6.2/10
Travel
3.5/10
5.6/10
Wedding & Events
4.6/10
4.5/10
Documentary
3.6/10
4.2/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
5.3/10
Landscape
4.2/10
4.6/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
5.3/10
Casual
1.9/10
4.4/10
Food
3.5/10
5.4/10
Macro
3.2/10
4.4/10
Architecture
4.0/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
5.7/10
4.1/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.7/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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