Canon 5DS R vs Sony RX10 II

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon 5DS R vs Sony RX10 II

Leave Feedback

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.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX10 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX10 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX10 II.
Compare Sony RX10 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX10 II conclusion.

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5DS R advantages over Sony RX10 II

Larger sensor
35mm vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.14 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 RX10 II test data on DxO Mark

2,308 vs 531 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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
Thinner
76 mm vs 102 mm
Thinner
More pixels
50.6 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Sony RX10 II advantages over Canon 5DS R

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$998 vs $1499
Save money for lenses or accessories
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
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Higher max flash sync
1/3200 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Less shutter lag
0.16 vs 0.27 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
14.2 fps vs 4.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
44 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
29 vs 15 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
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
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 5DS R User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read RX10 II User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5DS R

Body Only

All 5DS R Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX10 II

Sony RX10 II

All RX10 II 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

Excellent build quality; Superb viewfinder; Excellent image and video quality for its class; Bright and versatile zoom lens; Very fast autofocus; Great burst performance and depth; Incredible slow-motion capabilities; Really intuitive Wi-Fi image transfer; Good battery life.
Expensive compared to its nearest competitors; Less zoom reach than rivals; Soft in corners wide-open; Slow buffer clearing; Small rear control dial has poor tactile feedback; Long delay to render each high frame-rate movie; No tilt/swivel or touch on the LCD panel.
Read our Sony RX10 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX10

Canon 5DS R

Sony RX10

$1499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$698
1 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Sony RX10

Sony RX10 II

Sony RX10

$998
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Higher effective ISO

$698
1 inch

Less expensive

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Sony RX10

Compared to Nikon D810

Canon 5DS R

Nikon D810

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
More cross-type AF points

$2997
35mm

Bigger pixels
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Nikon D810

Sony RX10 II

Nikon D810

$998
1 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2997
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Nikon D810

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Canon 5DS R

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$1499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$899
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Sony RX10 II

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$998
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Integrated ND filter

$899
1 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Longer exposure

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Compared to Canon 5DS

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5DS

$1499
35mm

Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1549
35mm

Less expensive
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Canon 5DS

Sony RX10 II

Canon 5DS

$998
1 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1549
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Canon 5DS

Compared to Pentax K-1

Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-1

$1499
35mm

Fast startup
More cross-type AF points

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5DS R vs Pentax K-1

Sony RX10 II

Pentax K-1

$998
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$1800
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Pentax K-1

Compare Other Cameras?