How does the Canon EOS 5Ds R hold up to medium format cameras? (PhaseOne IQ250 & Hasselblad X1D)

Canon EOS 5Ds R: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

At a glance:

• 50.6 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with ISO 100-6400 (Lo: 50 and H1: 12,800) sensitivity range.
• Dual DIGIC 6 Processors for outstanding image processing speed and camera responsiveness.
• 5 frames per second (fps) with selectable burst speeds and silent shutter mode.
• 61-point wide area AF with 41 cross-type sensors with iTR, AI Servo AF III and AF Configuration tool.
• 150k pixel RGB+IR metering sensor.
• 100% magnification Intelligent Viewfinder II with electronic overlay.
• 1.3x, 1.6x and 1:1 ratio crop modes with masked viewfinder display.
• Mirror Vibration Control System to reduce mirror vibration blur.
• Fine Detail Picture Style.
• CF + SD (UHS-I) dual memory card slots.
• Peripheral Illumination and Chromatic Aberration Lens Correction in camera.
• Multiple Exposure and HDR mode.
• Customisable Quick Control screen.
• Built-in timer functionality – bulb timer and interval shooting timer.
• Time-lapse Movie function.
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for high-speed tethering and image/movie transfer.
• 150,000 shutter cycle life.

No doubt that Canon stepped into the medium format domain with its innovative Canon EOS 5Ds R camera, a 50MP DSLR. The question is how well the EOS 5Ds R holds up to medium format champions like the PhaseOne IQ250 and the new Hasselblad X1D.

Kjell Post wanted to know and posted an 8 minutes video where he compares these three 50MP cameras. He writes:

Here’s our test of three different 50MP camera systems. We used a Canon 5DsR with a 70-200 f/2.8 L II, a PhaseOne IQ250 with a Schneider-Kreuznach 110 f/2.8, and the Hasselblad X1D with the 90mm f/3.2. We looked at sharpness, highlight and shadow recovery, and skin colours. The test does not claim to be exhaustive or perfect, but we hope you find it interesting.