Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV→Canon EOS 5DS
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS-1D Mark IV. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS 5DS
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Resolution51MP vs 16MP (+34MP)
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Generation6 years newer (2015 vs 2009)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS-1D Mark IV | EOS 5DS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.8 | ||
| Street | +0.6 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.9 | ||
| Landscape | +1.7 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.5 | ||
| Casual | +0.4 | ||
| Food | +1.1 | ||
| Macro | +0.8 | ||
| Architecture | +1.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS-1D Mark IV | EOS 5DS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 used | £337 used | |
| Released | 2009 | 2015 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.1MP APS-H CMOS | 50.6MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 51MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 45-point phase-detect (39 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder with EOS iTR face / colour tracking; contrast AF with face tracking in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~1500 shots (CIPA) | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1180g (body only) | 930g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS 5DS next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 5DS against your specific genres — not just specs.
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