Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

Canon is in top two most popular brands of DSLRs on the market, along with Nikon. The Japanese corporation was founded in 1937 and since then, they’ve managed to grow into one of the most appreciated and renowned optical and imaging products manufacturer in the world.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a top-end DSLR camera. It is more than just an entry-level product, as it gives you all the tools and features of a professional camera.

Main specifications:

• Magnesium alloy body
• Shutter durability: up to 150,000 cycles
• Total pixels: approx. 31.7 MP
• Effective pixels: approx. 30.7 MP
• Aspect ratio: 3:2 (Horizontal: Vertical)
• Lens mount: Canon EF Mount
• Compatible lenses: Canon EF Lenses (excluding EF-S and EF-M)
• Image sensor type: CMOS sensor (compatible with Dual Pixel CMOS AF)
• Recording media: CF Card, Type I drive; SD, SDHC, SDXC memory cards
• USB 3.0
• Dual Pixel RAW
• WiFi, GPS, NFC
• ISO 100-32000 (expansion up to 102400, down to 50)
• 4K 30 fps video, Full 1080p HD at 60 fps, HD 720p at 120 fps
• Weather sealing
• 2 in, approx. 1,620,000 dot Clear View II LCD monitor with touch screen
• Transparent LCD viewfinder with 100% coverage
• Time-lapse movie option
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• Battery: 900 shots/charge
• DIGIC 6+ Image Processor
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 5.93 x 4.58 x 2.99 inches
• Weight: 31.39 oz. (with battery, CF card, SD card)

You can read the full specifications here: https://downloads.canon.com/nw/camera/products/eos/5d-mark-iv/specifications/canon-eos-5d-mark-iv-with-canon-log-specifications-chart.pdf?cm_mmc=nw-_-eos-5d-mark-iv-_-specifications-_-download

Design

In terms of design, not much has changed in the Mark IV camera. It looks pretty similar to the older models and the most notable difference will be discovered and experienced in terms of internal upgrades. The biggest visible difference is the added responsive touchscreen, which really helps you navigate easier and faster through the menu. The resolution of the screen is also improved to 1.620k dots, as supposed to 1.040k dots, in the Mark III version. The Mark IV is also a bit lighter, weighing only 890g.

Features

There are lots of features to appreciate in the new Canon EOS 5D. The new and improved sensor (30.4 MP) is a noticeable upgrade from the old 22.3 MP one found in the Mark III. There is also less noise and a better dynamic range thanks to the on-chip digital to analogue conversion.

The Mark IV can shoot photos at a rate of 7 fps.

The improved ISO range (100-32,000) allows you to control the noise even when you’re on a higher ISO setting.

The Dual Pixel RAW is another new, useful feature, as it allows you to fine-tune focus and the best part is that you can do all these micro-adjustments (to ghosting, autofocus, bokeh) after capture, in Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV also has some upgrades when it comes to video capabilities. There is 4K video capture at 30 fps, or if you need more fps, you can shoot in Full HD, at 60 fps. You won’t experience as much overheating either with the Mark IV, when shooting videos. However, we feel we should mention that when shooting in 4K, you’ll have a crop factor of 1.64x, which is a bit disappointing, given that you’re paying for a full frame camera in a pro price range. Moreover, when shooting in 4K you’ll have to settle with using an SD card because capturing on an external device via its HDMI output, we’ll limit you to only 1080p.  

The Mark IV is equipped with a Digic 6+ processor, ports for external mic and headphones, USB 3.0 and HDMI Mini out. There is also built-in GPS, NFC and WiFi connectivity.

The value of the Mark IV is unquestionable, but it still has to face a tough competition on the DSLR market. There are other alternatives out there and in the end is up to you if you are willing to make the compromise of buying something cheaper and skimping on some of the features, or choose something pricier and get a more appealing set of specs.