[dcstep]

The 5DsR and the 7D MkII have the same pixel-density, but the full-frame 5DsR has more than twice the sensor area than the crop-sensor 7D MkII, so I thought it'd be fun to compare.

I compared at ISO 400, 800 and 1600, because these are my prime bird-in-flight ISOs, used to allow high shutter speeds. I used my very sturdy Induro C414 tripod and heavy duty Arca-Swiss Z1 ballhead. I used Liveview 10x focus with the 7D2 and 16x with the 5DsR. I cropped each of the images to 1584x1056p so that we see the same number of pixels with each camera, possible due to the equal pixel-density.

Here are the resulting images, process with DxO Optics Pro 10.4 with "No Correction" except geometric distortion correction was applied.

ISO 400

5DsR

5DsR ISO-400 1584x1056 by David Stephens, on Flickr

7D MkII

7D MkII ISO-400 1584x1056p by David Stephens, on Flickr

ISO 800

5DsR

5DsR ISO-800 1584x1056p by David Stephens, on Flickr

7D MkII


7D-MkII ISO-800 1584x1056p by David Stephens, on Flickr

ISO 1600

5DsR

5DsR ISO-1600 1584x1056p by David Stephens, on Flickr

7D MkII

7D-MkII ISO-1600 1584x1056p by David Stephens, on Flickr

Keep in mind that neither is sharpened and can be improved with a tiny bit of post processing.

Still, you can see that the 5DsR's ISO 1600 is almost as sharp as the 7D MkII at ISO 400!! The 5DsR neutralizes the anti-aliasing filter, adding to clarity and that may be the whole reason for the difference. I also think that the color rendition of the 5DsR is superior also, but that could be the Raw converter's profile being better for the 5D than the 7D. Don't know, but it's better, to my eye.

Needless to say, I'm really pleased with my 5DsR. Here's a real world shot, at ISO 1600, with almost no crop:

Cotton-tail Close-up by David Stephens, on Flickr

[Mr Tonka]

Interesting comparison. The 5DsR seems to capture A LOT more detail than the 7Dii at any ISO.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Interesting comparison. The 5DsR seems to capture A LOT more detail than the 7Dii at any ISO.

I agree. It's hard giving up 10-fps, but I think I'll be using it for lots of my bird and wildlife shots.

[tdott]

How do you like the focusing system? Or are they essentially the same?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by tdott

How do you like the focusing system? Or are they essentially the same?

Yeah, they're the same. I think that my keeper rate would be the same with either. For anything other than birds in flight, the AF system is full proof. BIF requires lots of practice.

Dave

[yakuza70]

Seems like a good argument to move up to full frame from a crop sensor!

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by yakuza70

Seems like a good argument to move up to full frame from a crop sensor!

I'm afraid that you miss the point. They have the same pixel-density, so it's not FF vs. crop. I suspect that the difference in clarity and resolution comes from neautralizing the anti-aliasing filter in the R. Maybe they'll make a 7D MkIIIR some day in the not so distant future.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Railgun

What lens?

EF 70-200mm f/4L IS at 200mm, f/8, Liveview, with AF with 10x magnification, on a very sturdy tripod/ballhead combo.

Dave

[allachie9]

Yes, that makes the 5DsR a pretty clear favourite and although I'm still more than happy with my 5DIII, I think I know what I'd like to replace it with . . if ever.

When you get fed up photographing money Dave, let me know and I'll take the camera (and the money) off your hands.

Or maybe I should wait until the USD - GBP rate improves

[M_Six]

So are you suggesting I should be Jonesing for a 5DsR now instead of the 7D MkII? Make up my mind already.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by allachie9

Yes, that makes the 5DsR a pretty clear favourite and although I'm still more than happy with my 5DIII, I think I know what I'd like to replace it with . . if ever.

When you get fed up photographing money Dave, let me know and I'll take the camera (and the money) off your hands.

Or maybe I should wait until the USD - GBP rate improves

Thanks Alan.

I bought this from Camera Canada, taking advantage of the Canadian $ at $1.30 for 1 USD.

After decades of wondering why the USD was so weak, it's nice to be on the other end of the stick, for a change.

Dave

[dcstep]

Sorry, but someone in another forum thought that the 7D MkII might not have been holding focus. I think he's right and that the 7D MkII may have been in AI Servo mode instead of One-Shot. So I set it in One-Shot mode and just compared at ISO 1600. The difference got much smaller:

5DsR

5DsR Retest ISO-1600 1584p by David Stephens, on Flickr

7D MkII

7D-MkII Retest ISO-1600 1584p by David Stephens, on Flickr

[Weebl]

Not a good idea for subject matter, I believe you violated one of the US S.S. rules about this. You don't want their attention as they might take all and you have to prove yourself to get it back.

Personally, I like knowing the detail and thanks. but I would delete the post and flickr just in case. You have more than a buck or two in equipment.

[dcstep]

The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992, Public Law 102-550, in Section 411 of Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations, permits color illustrations of U.S. currency provided:

• The illustration is of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of the item illustrated


• The illustration is one-sided

[dcstep]

After a few weeks shooting the 5DsR and continuing to shoot my 7D MkII, here's my strategy. My confidence in the resolution of the 7D MkII is exceptional at ISO 800 and below. You can get a superior shot with the 5DsR, but only if the subject isn't moving, you're using a tripod, mirror lock up and remote release. For hand held shooting of fast moving objects, the 7D MkII is king. Some say the AF isn't as good as the 5D MkIII or 5D sR, but I have no idea what they're talking about. I own all three and have shot many, many shots with each, and see no difference in tracking ability and my "keeper rate". At ISO 1600, I shoot everything on the 5DsR and put up with the "SLOW" 5-fps.

For everything else, the 5DsR is king. Travel, portrait, landscape, etc. is where it shines. The huge files has me putting in for a major computer upgrade for Christmas, but it's worth the trouble.

If you don't see the point of 10-fps, get the 5DsR. If you shoot moving subject and have some OOF shots, then then the 7D MkII is the way to go. Of course, a two-body system is ideal, if you can justify the investment.

Dave

[M_Six]

Would you consider a 5DsR and a 7D MkII as a good two-body system? With no 5D MkIII?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Would you consider a 5DsR and a 7D MkII as a good two-body system? With no 5D MkIII?

I'm not into video, so there's nothing that the 5D3 does better than the 5DsR for my usage. The AF may be slightly superior on the 5DsR, but they're really close in that regard. For printing large, the 5DsR is going to blow away the 5D3, without any real high-ISO penalty. Oh, the 5DsR does top out at ISO 12800, but I don't go beyond ISO 6400 anyway, with the 5D3. If you need screaming high ISOs, then the 1D X is the way to go.

For image quality at ISO 800 and below, the 7D2 competes head-to-head with the 5DsR. You have to look at the pixel-level to start to see differences. I think they're an ideal team.

I thought about keeping the 5D3, but don't know when I'd use it. If I shot wedding, it'd be my second body, with no crop-sensor needed. Also, if I were a pro wedding photographer, I might go with the 5D3 as primary because of file size and processing inefficiencies. I might do the bride portrait with the 5DsR and everything else with the 5D3. The system demands of the 5DsR are HUGE.

Now, the next question is, do I buy a new lens or upgrade my computer system?

Dave

[M_Six]

True, upgrading to a 5DsR means upgrading PP equipment as well. My laptop has an i5 and 16GB RAM, so it'll work ok as a mobile processing unit. But my desktop is a Mac Mini with similar specs but hobbled with an Intel 4000 graphics card. A new high end iMac may be needed. Or even a Mac Pro beast. And storage, storage, storage.

[Itsed65]

I'm eyeing the 5k retina iMac, but to spec it up, even with cheaper aftermarket RAM, it would be north of 2 grand. I have a Synology home server,with 6TB, so storage isn't a problem.

I'm holding back on cameras until I see what the new 1dx has to offer. Between my 1dIV, 5D3, and 7D2, I'm pretty well covered. My only real current temptation is a 500v2.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

True, upgrading to a 5DsR means upgrading PP equipment as well. My laptop has an i5 and 16GB RAM, so it'll work ok as a mobile processing unit. But my desktop is a Mac Mini with similar specs but hobbled with an Intel 4000 graphics card. A new high end iMac may be needed. Or even a Mac Pro beast. And storage, storage, storage.

Storage is cheap and 16GB of RAM is plenty, but you want as high a processor speed as you can afford. My DxO program is fast vs. DPP and LR, but it still churns a good bit. DxO makes use of a good video card by combining its memory with the RAM, but speed of the processor is paramount.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

I'm eyeing the 5k retina iMac, but to spec it up, even with cheaper aftermarket RAM, it would be north of 2 grand. I have a Synology home server,with 6TB, so storage isn't a problem.

I'm holding back on cameras until I see what the new 1dx has to offer. Between my 1dIV, 5D3, and 7D2, I'm pretty well covered. My only real current temptation is a 500v2.

I'd be surprised if they don't announce the 1D XI in September, but I bet it'll compromise resolution to get speed and high-ISO performance. I think I'd rather have a 5DsR/7D2 combo over a 1D XI, but we'll see. They may have a major AF upgrade up their sleeves, which could be a major selling point.

Dave