Canon 5DS R vs Nikon Z7

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Canon 5DS R vs Nikon Z7

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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.

35mm 858.0mm²
45.7 megapixels
ISO 64 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon Z7 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon Z7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the Z7.
Compare Nikon Z7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon Z7 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon Z7 II
Compare Z7 vs Z7 II
Compare Canon 5DS R vs Nikon Z7 II

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Differences

Canon 5DS R advantages over Nikon Z7

Less expensive
$1499* vs $3097
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

700 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility

Nikon Z7 advantages over Canon 5DS R

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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.
Z7 test data on DxO Mark 5DS R test data on DxO Mark

2,668 vs 2,308 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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.
Z7 test data on DxO Mark 5DS R test data on DxO Mark

14.6 vs 12.4 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Newer
6 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More dots on screen
2100k vs 1044k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.80x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
9.0 fps vs 4.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
23 vs 15 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 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
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 5DS R User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Z7 User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 5DS R

Body Only

All 5DS R Deals

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Buy the Nikon Z7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens and FTZ adapter

All Z7 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

Familiar design in a compact form; Rugged build quality; Gorgeous EVF; Excellent image quality; Good autofocus; In-body image stabilization; Good 4K video recording.
Single card slot; Not as good at subject tracking as some Nikon DSLR cameras; Limited native lens selection (although adapter works well); Limited buffer depths.
Read our Nikon Z7 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 Z7

Nikon D810

$2147
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2246
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Nikon Z7 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 Z7

Canon 5DS

$2147
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1549
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Canon 5DS

Compared to Pentax K-1

Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-1

$1849
35mm

Fast startup
More cross-type AF points

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Pentax K-1

Nikon Z7

Pentax K-1

$2147
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1800
35mm

High resolution composite
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Nikon Z6

Canon 5DS R

Nikon Z6

$1849
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1396
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7

Nikon Z6

$2147
35mm

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1396
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Nikon Z6

Compared to Canon EOS R

Canon 5DS R

Canon EOS R

$1849
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1499
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Canon EOS R

Nikon Z7

Canon EOS R

$2147
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Canon EOS R

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