Canon 5DS 50.6 mp sensor: I recently purchased the Canon 5DS 50 mp camera. Using the Canon 2.8 16-35 L lens, the images are not as sharp as I expected. I have gone thru the lens...

WGWATSON

I recently purchased the Canon 5DS 50 mp camera. Using the Canon 2.8 16-35 L lens, the images are not as sharp as I expected. I have gone thru the lens calibration using several techniques and there is no calibration problem. Have used a tripod & increased shutter speed to reduce hand-held shake. Have delayed 1/8 sec between mirror-up & shutter trigger. Have used AF-Servo to help lock focus. Question#1- Any other suggestions & #2- The sensor can be reduced from 50 megapixels to 28 megapixels so what happens to the other 22 million pixels?

WGWJ

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

I also own a 5DS a wonderful camera with no issues --
If I was experiencing similar issues I would attempt to isolate the problem down to -- Is it the Lens or is it the Camera ?? -- Assuming you have another lens -- Try it out & "see" what you get --- Then go from there
As for what happens to the 22 million pixels -- My assumption is that they are turned off / cropped - out

Should have added an additional step when your attempting to isolate the problem -- Is it a "user" problem -- in other words all the standard stuff - such as -- did you switch the lens from"MF" to "AF" -- Read you manual for the proper AF Sensor set-up for your lens - Group A to Group H

Regis Loc: Coeur d' Alene, Idaho

WGWATSON wrote:

I recently purchased the Canon 5DS 50 mp camera. U... (show quote)

Try a different lens. I have a Canon 5Dsr and many lenses. My Sigma 24-105 works great. My Tamron 28-300 is so-so. My Canon 100-400 II is great, etc.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

WGWATSON wrote:

...so what happens to the other 22 million pixels?

WGWJ

They're dumped into the EPR (Extra Pixel Receptacle). Must be emptied every month.

You have a good camera and a good lens, so you will be able to get good, sharp shots. As others have suggested, try different lenses. A tripod and 1/8 second delay shouldn't be necessary.

JPL

WGWATSON wrote:

I recently purchased the Canon 5DS 50 mp camera. U... (show quote)

Have you used 2 sec timer to shoot or are you pressing the shutter and taking the shot instantly? Better to try to take the shot with 2 or 10 sec timer hands off. Then there is no chance you are shaking the camera when taking the shot.
Yes, like others mention, try a different lens.
What ISO are you using?
Have you tried manual focus in live view?

Haydon

The 16-35 2.8L II was a lens Canon did not recommend for use on the 5Ds(r). It was fine stopped down on lower megapixel bodies but was notorious for edge sharpness concerns. It wasn't until they produced the 16-35 F4 L did they succeed in producing decent corner sharpness with their UWA lenses.

Bryan over the The-Digital-Picture.com outlines what Canon recommends for that megapixel beast. The 16-35 F2.8L II isn't on the list.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=15356

I own that lens by the way and typically use it at F8-F11 and found it be fine on my 5DIII.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Just a thought - the high resolution of a 50Mp sensor makes any minor camera movement more obvious. Of course, that is if the lens is up to it.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Haydon wrote:

The 16-35 2.8L II was a lens Canon did not recomme... (show quote)

Thanks for supplying the recommended lens list ---
I checked out the listing of Canon recommended lens for it's 5DS/R & I'm rather shocked to see that - that is if my old tired eyes are seeing correctly - the 35mm 1.4L & the 35mm 1.4L II were not on the list but the far lesser in price & quality 35mm 2.0 was --- All I can say & report is that my "old in the tooth" 35mm 1.4 L does a superb job - I may even say outstanding high quality job -- when used with my 5DS

Haydon

ken_stern wrote:

Thanks for supplying the recommended lens list ---
I checked out the listing of Canon recommended lens for it's 5DS/R & I'm rather shocked to see that - that is if my old tired eyes are seeing correctly - the 35mm 1.4L & the 35mm 1.4L II were not on the list but the far lesser in price & quality 35mm 2.0 was --- All I can say & report is that my "old in the tooth" 35mm 1.4 L does a superb job - I may even say outstanding high quality job -- when used with my 5DS

Joel Grimes has used a 5DSR in several of his portrait lifestyle shoots paired with a 35 1.4L II. That lens was raved for its sharpness when it was released. Its omission brings question to the list. There isn't any doubt some lenses are better suited to Canon's high megapixel beast but much like Nikon's D850 some of it might simply be a marketing ploy.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

WGWATSON wrote:

I recently purchased the Canon 5DS 50 mp camera. U... (show quote)

I'm curious ---
So when you do solve your problem
Consider reporting back to us

WGWATSON

I have a Canon EF 24-70 2.8 II coming. Will see if that helps. Looked at a lot of U-Tube videos comparing Primes with Zooms. Don't want to do a lot of lens changes in the field, especially when traveling. The 16-35 L works fine with my 1DS Mark ii, so will probably keep it. B&H purchase offer is <$400.00.

I tried reducing the sensor to the 28mp setting to see if the lower pixel count might make a difference. None that I can visualize.

Thanks for all the input. Will update later

WGWJ