tropics68 Loc: Georgia

I have a legitimate question I am hoping to get some opinions on. I have a Canon 6D and am considering upgrading. I have several Canon L lenses so I am only interested in Canon. My two candidates are the 5Ds and the 5DIV. My objective is image quality and not how many features a camera has. The only feature I would like to have is a flip screen but that is not available in FF Canons (except maybe the 6Dii and it is not worth $1000 to me so that camera is out). I ran across a website that is set up to provide side my side image comparisons from nearly every camera I could think of and I discovered that image quality on these two at low ISO is, to me, nearly indistinguishable from the 6D and at high ISO the 6D is comparable to the Mark IV and clobbers the 5DS. What am I missing? Remember for me it is all about image quality. I printed two identical 8 X10 shots one from the 5ds and one from the 6D. I see no real difference.

This is the site in case anyone is interested.

https://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

P.S. I understand IQ is subjective but to me it is sharpness, low noise, and color rendition.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I own the 5D IV and the 5DSR, and the 6D. If you want a really good general purpose camera with really good image quality and the capability to shoot 4K video then the 5D IV is the way to go. If you want mind boggling resolution from a camera that's not really a general purpose camera, but can be used as such once one learns the camera, there's nothing like the 5DSR. I would pay the extra money for the R model. My instances of moire have been negligible and the resolution is that much better without the AA filter effect.

The images are only as good as the monitor they are viewed with.

When the 5DS and 5DSR first came out I had no interest in buying one, until I say first hand what the 5DSR was capable of. The detail was absofreakinlutely mind blowing. So I got one and don't regret it one bit.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

I really am leaning towards the 5Ds but when I looked at some reviews it got poor grades on higher ISOs and the site above verified that. I do not shoot video at all. Appreciate your info. Maybe I will get the 5Ds or 5Dsr and keep the 6D for low light stuff.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I use my 6D primarily in low light where it excels.
I use my. 5D IV for general photography and the 5DSR when I want the best detailed image imaginable. It is not a good camera for low light conditions; it likes a lot of light.

Jim Bob

OK. I don't think the OP asked about video. There is a difference between the ultimate quality of an image and what is actually displayed on a monitor.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

So, what kind of photography? Landscapes, studio, street, sports, BIF...? It makes a difference.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The 5DS and SR is what you want for IQ (in better light) - But you need to realize, you need the BEST lenses and a tripod and the best monitor to take advantage of the IQ.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Exactly. For pure resolution in good light the 5DSr is king, but for low light, high ISO and/or fast moving subjects, the 5D4 is the choice (better DR, better high ISO performance, better AF at low light and at f8, faster burst rate, etc). Horses for courses...

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Comparing at 100% will always bias the results towards cameras with larger photosites, so a 6D will certainly "clobber" a 5DS

But if you "downsample" the images from the 5DS to 20.2 mp, the story changes considerably. Then the 5DS has the clear advantage.

Or thinking of it another way, "upsample" the 20.2 mp image to 50 mp, and see how good that 6D image looks.

You do need to compare apples to apples. You can't compare prints made at 300dpi - the 6D would be 12x18, the 5DS would be 19x29 - and make a fair comparison.

The interesting thing about downsampling is that noise is averaged across pixels, so what looks noisy at 100% without downsampling looks pretty darn good with it. There is less advantage to getting a camera with fewer larger pixels. I learned this immediately when I bought my first D800 and compared it to images from the D700. Yeah it was noisier, but downsampled the noise level was far less - almost indistinguishable from shots I took with a D3S up to about ISO 6400, which was the low light/high ISO/low noise King for many years.

I think you'll love the 5DS

wmpark

In case it is of interest, the 5DM4 is now available refurbished at cannon USA for $2799. I just got one and really like it.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Interesting comparison site. I have the 5D Mark IV and think it's top notch. I'd like to have the 5DS-R too, but think I'll wait until the next 50 megapixel camera comes out or buy one used.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

And what the printer is capable of printing!

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

I bought the 5Ds from Canon this afternoon so now I am waiting to get it. I want to thank all of you for your input. That was the camera I wanted in the beginning and most of you agreed it was what I should get. I will keep my 6D just in case for a back up. Thanks again.