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EOS 5DS vs D500
Quick take: The EOS 5DS has the highest resolution at 51MP; the D500 is the most affordable; only the D500 is weather sealed.
16 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.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS 5DSCanon · 2015 | D500Nikon · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £337 used | £258 usedBest |
| Sensor | 50.6MP full-frame CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.6MPBest | 20.9MP |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | 4K UHD/30p (1.5× crop), 1080p/60 |
| Autofocus | 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder with EOS iTR face / colour tracking; contrast AF with face tracking in live view | 153-point phase-detect (99 cross-type, 55 selectable) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ~1240 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 930g (with battery) | 860g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 152 × 116.4 × 76.4mm | 147 × 115 × 81mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.0x |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF | Nikon F-mount (DX) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Dual slots: XQD + SD |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, mini HDMI, 3.5mm mic, PC sync, N3 remote | USB 3.0, mini HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (SnapBridge), NFC, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks, 10-pin remote |
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 5DS
D500
Portrait
6.4/10
5.9/10
Street
4.6/10
4.9/10
Travel
4.1/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
6.6/10
Documentary
4.1/10
5.6/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
6.6/10
Landscape
5.6/10
5.3/10
Wildlife
5.4/10
6.4/10
Casual
2.8/10
3.6/10
Food
4.8/10
5.0/10
Macro
4.3/10
4.1/10
Architecture
6.1/10
4.9/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
5.5/10
Filmmaking
—
5.1/10
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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