Upgrade Guide

Canon EOS 5D Mark II→Canon EOS 5DS

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

You own

Canon

EOS 5D Mark II

£66 used

2008

→

Upgrade to

Canon

EOS 5DS

£337 used (+£270)

2015

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the EOS 5D Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the EOS 5DS

Unchanged or similar

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 5D Mark II	EOS 5DS
Price	£66 used	£337 used
Released	2008	2015	↑
Sensor	21.1MP full-frame CMOS	50.6MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution	21MP	51MP	↑
Video	Full HD 1080p/30	Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60
Autofocus	9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) 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	3.9fps	5fps	↑
Battery Life	~850 shots (CIPA)	~700 shots (CIPA)	↓
Weight	890g (with battery)	930g (with battery)	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Not weather sealed	↓
Viewfinder	Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.71x	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 5D Mark II 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 5D Mark II

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Camera family history