Upgrade Guide

Canon EOS 50D→Canon EOS 5DS

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Canon

EOS 50D

£94 used

2008

→

Upgrade to

Canon

EOS 5DS

£337 used (+£243)

2015

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the EOS 50D. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the EOS 5DS

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.

Full spec comparison

Spec	EOS 50D	EOS 5DS
Price	£94 used	£337 used
Released	2008	2015	↑
Sensor	15.1MP APS-C CMOS	50.6MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution	15MP	51MP	↑
Video	No video	Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60
Autofocus	9-point phase-detect AF (all cross-type); contrast and face-detection AF 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	6.3fps	5fps	↓
Battery Life	~640 shots (CIPA)	~700 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	730g (with battery)	930g (with battery)	↓
Weather Sealed	Not weather sealed	Not weather sealed
Viewfinder	Optical pentaprism, 95% coverage, 0.95x	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	Single CompactFlash slot	Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD

Compare side-by-side

See EOS 50D and EOS 5DS next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 5DS against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the EOS 50D

Related buying guides

Camera family history