If you are a Canon-using photographer you are almost certainly aware that Canon has released two new DSLR cameras in the 5D series, the 5DS and the 5DS R models. Both provide approximately 50 megapixels (MP) of sensor resolution along with some other improvements. The cameras seem to be an excellent next evolutionary step for Canon photographers who can use the additional resolution.

I have the 5DS R model and I’ve had the chance to photograph with it twice as of this date. I have been asked to share my thoughts on the camera, but it is still a bit too early for me to write a full report — I want to make more photographs with it and I want to make some very large prints from the files first. Meanwhile I can share a few things:

• The camera can produce files with impressively high resolution and detail.
• Not everyone is going to see (literally and figuratively!) the benefits of the greater sensor resolution. If you are not printing large and working rather carefully, you may not see much difference at all.
• In order to  benefit from the resolution potential of the cameras you will need to pay careful attention to a number of things: the quality of your lenses, careful and accurate focus, aperture selection, camera stability, and careful work in post-production (including things such as cloning, sharpening, etc).
• Many Canon lenses have the resolution necessary to take advantage of the high MP sensor, but some don’t. The lesser lenses will still work fine, you just won’t see much or any improvement. Canon has recently upgraded a number of its core lenses and it each case the newer models will work well. I’m shooting with the EF 16-35mm f/4L IS, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, and the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II — and I can report that all four of these recent lenses work very well with the camera.
• I appreciate some other new features. For example, since I like to print in the 4:3 aspect ratio I find the ability to indicate this crop in the LCD display in live mode to be quite useful.
• I also am glad that that camera carries on the general interface and the overall “feel” of previous camera in the 5D series. There are a few changes, but I have been able to get up and running very quickly without feeling much like I was trying to learn a new body
• Since someone may ask, do I think that Nikon photographers should consider “upgrading” to this higher MP Canon. In a word, no. Nikon makes great gear, too, and the difference between 36MP and 50MP is far smaller than many might think.

That’s all for now. Before long I will share a more in-depth post about the camera, my experience using it, and the files it produces. In the meantime, here are links to some earlier posts on the camera.

• Canon 5DS R: A Printing Test
• Looking at Canon 5Ds RAW Files: Noise and Dynamic Range.
• Canon EOS 5Ds and 5Ds R Release Near?
• Canon 5Ds and 5Ds R Pre-orders Available

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. Blog | About | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | 500px.com | LinkedIn | Email

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