Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D500

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Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D500

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35mm 864.0mm²
50.6 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon 5DS R Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 5DS R in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 5DS R.
Compare Canon 5DS R image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5DS R conclusion.

APS-C 369.0mm²
20.9 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D500.
Compare Nikon D500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D500 conclusion.

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Differences

Canon 5DS R advantages over Nikon D500

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
5DS R test data on DxO Mark D500 test data on DxO Mark

2,308 vs 1,324 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More pixels
50.6 vs 20.9 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Nikon D500 advantages over Canon 5DS R

Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 0.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D500 test data on DxO Mark 5DS R test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 12.4 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1240 vs 700 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
99 vs 41
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Higher-res screen
590k vs 348k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.17 vs 0.27 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More AF points
153 vs 61
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
10.2 fps vs 4.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.2 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
200 vs 15 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
1638400 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 5DS R User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D500 User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 5DS R

Body Only

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Buy the Nikon D500

Body Only

Body Only
Body Only 100th Anniversary Edition
Kit with 16-80mm f/2.8-4 Lens

All D500 Deals

Review Excerpt

Phenomenal resolution and sharpness; Fine Detail Picture Style is like in-camera Unsharp Mask; Excellent print quality; Decent high ISO performance; Improved normalized dynamic range compared to 5D Mark III; Decent burst speed with good buffer depths; Built-in intervalometer & timelapse movie mode.
AF speed tested closer to consumer-level DSLRs; Dynamic range lower than competing models from Nikon & Sony; Lack of OLPF means subject to more aliasing artifacts with some subjects; No 60p video frame rate; No headphone jack; Timelapse video is only 1080p.
Read our Canon 5DS R Review

Superb image quality; Great high ISO performance; Rugged, comfortable camera body; Sharp articulating touchscreen display; Excellent AF point frame coverage; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K UHD video; Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth.
Somewhat large for an APS-C camera; Expensive for a DX camera; 4K UHD video doesn't offer full DX field-of-view; No built-in flash; Still uses contrast-detect for Live View AF; Dual slots use two different card types (XQD and SD).
Read our Nikon D500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D810

Canon 5DS R

Nikon D810

$1849
35mm

Less expensive
More cross-type AF points

$2246
35mm

Bigger pixels
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D810

Nikon D500

Nikon D810

$1598
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$2246
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon D500 vs Nikon D810

Compared to Canon 5DS

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5DS

$1849
35mm

Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1549
35mm

Less expensive
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Canon 5DS

Nikon D500

Canon 5DS

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1549
35mm

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Canon 5DS

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-3 II

$1849
35mm

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D500

Pentax K-3 II

$1598
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Sony A68

Canon 5DS R

Sony A68

$1849
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Sony A68

Nikon D500

Sony A68

$1598
APS-C

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D500 vs Sony A68

Compared to Nikon D850

Canon 5DS R

Nikon D850

$1849
35mm

Less expensive

$2464
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D850

Nikon D500

Nikon D850

$1598
APS-C

Less expensive
NFC

$2464
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D500 vs Nikon D850

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