Decision tools · Compare

EOS 5DS vs A1 II

Quick take: The EOS 5DS has the highest resolution at 51MP; the EOS 5DS is the most affordable; only the A1 II is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·15 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?

A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.

Who should buy what
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
  • Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
  • Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
  • Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS 5DSCanon · 2015A1 IISony · 2024
Price £337 usedBest£5,699
Sensor 50.6MP full-frame CMOS50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS
Resolution 50.6MPBest50.1MP
Video Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/608K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3
Autofocus 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder with EOS iTR face / colour tracking; contrast AF with face tracking in live viewAI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train
Stabilisation No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS)
Burst Rate 5fps30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest
Battery Life ~700 shots (CIPA)Best~530 shots (CIPA)
Weight 930g (with battery)743g (body only)Best
Dimensions 152 × 116.4 × 76.4mm136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71xEVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available
Screen 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots
Mount Canon EFSony E-mount (full-frame)
Memory Cards Dual slots: CompactFlash + SDDual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity USB 3.0, mini HDMI, 3.5mm mic, PC sync, N3 remoteUSB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size

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
A1 II
Portrait
6.4/10
9.0/10
Street
4.6/10
6.6/10
Travel
4.1/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
8.7/10
Documentary
4.1/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
9.3/10
Landscape
5.6/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
5.4/10
9.2/10
Casual
2.8/10
5.3/10
Food
4.8/10
8.5/10
Macro
4.3/10
8.1/10
Architecture
6.1/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
7.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.4/10
Filmmaking
—
8.2/10

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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