The Canon 5D Mark IV is exactly what many expected from the new Canon: a worthy successor to the legendary line of cameras, each model of which pushes the notion of possibilities digital photography setting new quality standards.
“People ask me why buy a new camera, the answer is simple: this is the camera that will work in any conditions” - Ulla Lohmann on the Canon 5D Mark IV
The official announcement of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV took place at the end of August 2016 - and it has undoubtedly become one of the most anticipated events of the current year. After all, more than four years have passed since the introduction of the previous version of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, and many advanced amateur and professional photographers have been looking forward to this camera for a long time.
Statistics based on the analysis of EXIF data of almost 6 million photos uploaded to various major photo hosting sites (for example, Flickr, 500px, etc.) indicate that the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is one of the most common and commonly used full-frame SLR cameras. Almost every second photographer involved in professional photography can find a 5D Mark III. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the photographic environment (at least in the part that uses Canon technology), one of the most discussed questions right now is whether to switch from Canon 5D Mark III to Canon 5D Mark IV?
Canon 5D Mark IV: Evolution, not revolution
What can be said about the new Canon camera? This is not a revolutionary DSLR, but "just" another full-frame camera using advanced technology, with a price, although not low, but still quite affordable for demanding professional photographers and enthusiasts.
“This cell has everything I need; The perfect combination of low light technology and ease of use makes my work a pleasure.” - Christian Andrelle on the Canon 5D Mark IV
The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is not primarily a sports DSLR, but it is quite capable of successfully handling tasks such as shooting scenes with actively moving objects, shooting in difficult lighting conditions, etc.
For sports photographers, there is a completely different camera - one capable of shooting at up to 14 frames per second, as well as at much higher ISO values.
As for studio photographers, they may prefer cameras with a 50-megapixel matrix. Since these cameras are very demanding on the quality of lighting and therefore are mainly suitable only for photography in the studio.
So, the new Canon EOS 5D Mark IV will be of most interest to fans of "general" photography who need a reliable, versatile tool.
Canon 5D Mark IV: More Pixels, More Possibilities
Canon's new full-frame sensor has a resolution of 30.4 megapixels, which is almost a third more than in the previous version (the 5D Mark III has a 22-megapixel sensor). Which, of course, allows you to improve not only image quality, but also expand the focusing capabilities by placing 61 AF points (41 cross-type) on the matrix.
Conveniently located AF area selection switch on the back of the camera allows you to change AF points without taking your eyes off the camera
The same can be said about other innovations of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV - this is an evolutionary development of the previous model, including many of the things that photographers asked for (built-in GPS module, Wi-Fi connectivity, etc.). The evolution can also be traced in the characteristics of the camera: the improvement in the quality of photographs, the expansion of the dynamic range of images, in comparison with its predecessors, of course, is noticeable, but it cannot be called revolutionary.
Canon 5D Mark IV: Ability to shoot at ISO 102400
At the end of the first day of testing the Canon 5D Mark IV, one photo was taken that interested us very much. From an artistic point of view, there is nothing interesting about it, but it was shot in ISO H2 (102400) mode, the highest sensitivity available on this camera.
Canon 5D Mark IV. ISO 102400 (H2), shutter speed 1/2500 s… In principle, an incredible result is obtained - of course, there is noise, but it is in a much more acceptable range than one would expect.
We expected terrible image quality, with pronounced noise. But, as you can see, the photo turned out to be quite high quality. The shutter speed when shooting was 1/2500 s ... So, yes, using the ISO H2 mode for shooting at dusk or at night is quite justified, and can produce very decent results. By the way, this good example qualitative improvement of technologies (on the third "Mark" it was also possible to set such a high value of , but the results were much worse).
Canon 5D Mark IV: Improved dynamic range
Canon often gives its rivals from Sony and Nikon a well-founded opportunity to attack through various test results, indicating that Canon could do with a wider dynamic range (that is, the ability of the sensor to capture as much detail as possible in the highlights and shadows).
In fact, this is a simple demagoguery akin to the one that can be developed around the topic “What will photography be like in 10 years?”. No one will deny that it would be just great with a single press of the shutter button to make, for example, located in the shade, against the background of blue above it, but modern technologies until they allow it.
The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV copes with quite complex scenes with dignity, which indicates the expansion of the dynamic range of its matrix.
In our opinion, the Canon 5D Mark IV has taken a significant step forward in this direction. Of course the results laboratory tests will be more visual, but purely subjective, progress in expanding the dynamic range new camera Canon turned out to be very significant. So, this is another big plus for the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, which greatly increases the chances of photographers capturing as much detail in highlights and shadows as possible.
Canon 5D Mark IV: Dual Pixel Technology
Canon's new camera is capable of reading information independently of each of the two photodiodes that make up one pixel:
Does it have any practical value? It is still difficult to answer this question unambiguously. The focus shift is so small that in practice it will not be so easy to notice the effect of this effect. Although, it's safe to say that there are photographers who can find worthy use of this feature.
The second function, which gives a more visual effect, has received a name that can be translated as " Displacement». It consists in some displacement of the blur area in the photo. For a visual demonstration of the effect, below we provide an animation:
As mentioned above, the effect of this function is more pronounced, isn't it? To be honest, the difference between the two images is striking. But no matter how such an effect is achieved, it looks interesting, and its practical use quite easy to imagine - regrouping appearance background may be useful for .
Canon 5D Mark IV: Image quality
As for the image quality, we can say that it has received its natural development. To some, its improvement may not seem as pronounced as we would like, but it is worth remembering that Canon's new product is not a revolution in the world of full-frame DSLRs. To describe the image quality of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, suffice it to say that they demonstrate almost everything that modern full-frame SLRs are capable of.
This opinion may seem purely subjective, and many will dispute it, but we believe that it is the subjective perception of a photo that is more important for a photographer, and not graphs and ratings of laboratory tests. After all, most often the results obtained in real conditions will not be as pronounced as the results of tests in the laboratory. And what do you think about this? Share your opinion in the comments.
On our own, we add that for portrait and landscape photography, the results of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV are more than sufficient. Of course, shooting in ideal conditions with a high-end prime could reveal all the advantages and disadvantages of Canon's new images, but are they really that important to the photographer? The answer to this question can be given by everyone independently. To us, the images taken on the Canon 5D Mark IV with Canon's lenses - 28mm f / 1.8, 85mm f / 1.8 and 16-35mm f / 2.8 - seemed excellent.
Canon 5D Mark IV: Autofocus
Of course, one of the most important components in a marketing campaign to promote the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a voluminous description of the autofocus system and the possibility of using its 61 points (41 of which are cross-type).
On the Canon 5D Mark IV's autofocus system, again, we can say that it does exactly what it is supposed to do. The camera was tested in real conditions while filming a jousting tournament near Pilsen. And, as you can see in the attached images, the autofocus system had no problems shooting in fairly difficult situations (bright afternoon light, fast-moving objects in the frame, etc.):
Moreover, it should be noted that the shooting was carried out with a 70-200mm f / 4 lens, which, by definition, cannot show such high results in focusing as its newer and faster brother.
As noted above, a small switch on the back of the camera is used to select the AF area, making autofocusing almost intuitive.
So the Canon 5D Mark IV has a lot of potential to help the photographer improve image sharpness. However, to be honest, they will be used by few people, because in 90% of cases, photographers work in a mode where only one focus point is used - the central one.
Description
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Body DSLR with state-of-the-art technology
The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Body DSLR with interchangeable lenses has received a large number of updates. There is a 30 megapixel sensor, Dual Pixel AF system, a new focusing module, high-speed burst shooting and support for 4k video. At first glance, the presented device has no flaws. And in part, it's true.
Design
It is impossible to see cardinal changes in design. Canon doesn't like fast and drastic changes, which is why all its devices have a similar look and feel. The case is made of metal and additionally protected by plastic. You can operate the device under any conditions - under snow, rain, in severe frost. This is possible due to the special system of dust and moisture protection. The weight of the device is heavy, which makes it difficult to hold it with one hand.
The protrusion intended for the grip is covered with rubber. It does not slip and provides special comfort in operation.
Controls Kenon EOS 5D Mark IV Body
On the front there is a connector for the remote control, an IR receiver window and a key that can be programmed. The upper part is occupied by the mode selector, flash, shutter button, dials, a universal set of keys and a large screen. On the bottom panel there is a socket and a battery compartment.
Most of the interfaces are located on the left. There is an audio jack for headphones, microphone, USB, HDMI, sync connector. On the right side is a slot for cards, an NFC module. The back panel is occupied by the mode switch, selector dial.
Display
Live View screen shows all shooting characteristics, grid, quick menu, histogram, virtual horizon. Its diagonal is 3.2 inches. Due to the high resolution, good viewing angles, brightness and color reproduction are provided. But the display does not have a mechanism and does not rotate to the sides.
The viewfinder guarantees a high magnification factor. It provides the photographer with an unlimited number of possibilities. The eyecup here is large, it limits the field of view at the edges and at the top of the frame.
Functions and autofocus EOS 5D Mark IV Body
The matrix is presented with 31.7 megapixels, of which 30.4 megapixels are active. The powerful DIGIC 6+ chipset is installed here. The shooting speed is 7 frames per second, but with tracking autofocus - 4.3. Autofocus here has been significantly updated. It is represented with 61 dots. The coverage area has been increased, so the user can count on greater opportunities even with tracking focus.
The mechanical shutter operates with a shutter speed. It turns on quietly, but not silently. The TTL sensor is responsible for metering. He does his job well. Built-in NFC and Wi-Fi let you wirelessly transfer pictures from your camera to your phone.
Photography
The camera is in automatic mode. There is an unlimited number of ways of in-camera processing of frames. Signature filters allow you not to use special effects. The device works great with multiple exposure, emphasizing brightness and contrast.
Pictures taken with the device show decent sharpness, color reproduction and detail. The main feature of the presented model is the built-in Dual Pixel RAW system. It uses two phytodiodes on each pixel. If the system is turned on, the resulting photos are enlarged. But she is able to transform the picture, removing light and other imperfections.
The picture even at medium values shows high quality. There is excellent detail, wide dynamic range, natural color reproduction.
autonomy
EOS 5D Mark IV The body is equipped with the classic LP-E6 battery. It is capable of taking 900 shots on a single charge. The exact battery life depends on the enabled mode, temperature, the use of different modules.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III is no exaggeration living legend. This camera for its time was good for everyone. But time does not stand still, and competitors are catching up, so the third “carrot” needed an update, which we are testing today.
The new version, the EOS 5D Mark IV, received a 30 megapixel sensor with Dual Pixel AF, the focus module was also significantly improved, the burst shooting speed was increased to 7 fps, 4K video, of course, is also announced. In general, at first glance, we have a fairly fast-shooting camera with a fairly high resolution of pictures and support for 4K video. Why not a universal solution?
Specifications
| Camera type | SLR camera with interchangeable lenses |
| Matrix | CMOS, 36 x 24 mm, EOS built-in cleaning system |
| Effective pixels | 30.4MP |
| Total pixels | 31.7 MP |
| Low pass filter | built-in |
| lens mount | EF |
| CPU | Canon DIGIC 6+ |
| Photo frame dimensions | 3:2 6720×4480, 4464×2976, 3360×2240, 1696×1280, 640×480 4:3 5952×4480, 3968×2976, 2976×2240, 1920×1280, 720×480 16:9 6720×3776, 4464×2512, 3360×1888, 1920×1080, 720×408 1:1 4480×4480, 2976×2976, 2240×2240, 1280×1280, 480×480 |
| Photo format | JPEG (Exif 2.30), 3 compressions, DCF 2.0, DROF 1.1RAW (14-bit, Canon original RAW 2nd version) Order format compatibility digital printing version 1.1 |
| Video frame size | 4K (17:9) 4096 x 2160 (29.97, 25, 24, 23.98 fps)Full HD (16:9) 1920 x 1080 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 23, 98 fps) HD (16:9) 1280 x 720 (119.9, 100 fps) |
| Video file format | MP4 (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: MPEG-4 AAC), MOV (Motion JPEG) |
| Sensitivity | Standard Range: ISO 100-32000 in 1/3 EV increments Extended range: L: 50, H1: 51200, H2: 102400 |
| Shutter speed range | 30–1/8000 s (in 1/3-stop increments), Bulb |
| Metering modes | Evaluative metering, partial center metering, center-weighted average metering, spot metering |
| Exposure compensation | -5…+5 EV in steps of 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV |
| Flash | Not |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, frame coverage 100%, magnification 0.71x |
| Display | LCD touch screen ClearView LCD II (TFT), 3.2″, 1620K dots |
| Data carrier | 1x CompactFlash Type I (UDMA 7 compatible) (Not compatible with Type II and Microdrive) 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC and UHS-I |
| Connectors | HDMI (type C), external microphone (mini-jack 3.5 mm), headphones (mini-jack 3.5 mm), USB 3.0, N3 connector (connector remote control), X-sync port |
| Additionally | Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz), NFC, GPS |
| Nutrition | Lithium-ion battery LP-E6N 14 Wh (7.2 Volts, 1865 mAh) |
| Dimensions, mm | 150.7 x 116.4 x 75.9 |
| Weight, g | 800 (hull only) |
Appearance
The external differences between the novelty and its predecessor are so insignificant that it is extremely difficult to notice them during a cursory examination. The first thing that catches your eye is a new control element on the back surface - a key with a free play on one edge. Let's call this key a pedal. This control is programmable, and from a subjective point of view, it is more suitable for scrolling through the focus area modes. It is noteworthy that the Canon EOS 1Dx Mark II does not have such a pedal. Apparently, the manufacturer decided to test the innovation on a more affordable full-frame solution, because users of flagship reportage cameras have rather conservative views on how to control the camera. Actually, the same can be said about the touch control, which, unlike the same 1Dx Mark II, is available not only in Live View mode, but also in the Q-menu (quick menu), as well as in the main menu.
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The second difference from its predecessor is the reshuffle of the connectors. Port N3, intended for connecting a remote control, moved from the side to the front. The X-sync port has got a separate rubber plug, the 3.5 mm mini-jack connectors for connecting headphones and a microphone are now hidden under one plug, which is very convenient during video recording.
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HDMI and USB 3.0 connectors are hidden under the third plug on the side surface, while the Canon EOS 5D Mark III had a regular miniUSB (USB 2.0) port. In addition, the programmable key under the bayonet lock key disappeared, and the system speaker from the lower left corner of the rear surface was moved closer to the center, so that the novelty does not cover it with a hand when working with the keys on the left side of the display.
On the right side surface there is only a cover for the memory card slot with the usual SD and Compact Flash slots. And no CFast. By and large, the implementation of CFast support would not cost the manufacturer so much, but for the user, the final cost of ownership could increase significantly due to the extremely high cost of this type of media. In the case of a flagship reporter, the cost of media is no longer so relevant, so it has support for CFast media. In general, there would be no differences from its predecessor at all if it were not for the NFC logo.
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There are no visual differences at all in the upper and lower parts of the body, although the battery grip from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III cannot be installed on the tested camera.
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The case is traditionally built using magnesium alloys, which are characterized by high strength and low weight. But for a camera costing from 3500 bucks, it's more likely mandatory item than a feature. However, protection against moisture and dust getting into the case has become better due to improved rubber gaskets. Of course, this is not complete protection, as the footnote in the press release says, but even in heavy rain the camera cannot be damaged. Of course, water procedures without consequences are possible only if a protected lens is used. However, it was not necessary to expect otherwise, because among the mass cameras with interchangeable lenses and the possibility of immersion in water, one can only recall the Nikon 1 AW1 with a small 1-inch sensor. In the case of a full-frame DSLR, complete protection against water ingress would result in huge weight and dimensions.
Display, viewfinder and user interface
The viewfinder remains the same - 100% frame coverage and a magnification of 0.71x. There is no shutter to prevent exposure disturbance due to light through the viewfinder. Apparently, in the table of ranks is not allowed. The display has not increased in size - all the same 3.2 inches. Given the lack of a swivel design, adding another 0.2-0.3 inches is quite possible. It's hard not to remember the Pentax K-1 with its 3.2-inch tilting display that can be rotated in any direction. The resolution of the LCD matrix has been significantly increased - up to 1,620 thousand dots, like the flagship 1Dx Mark II. Apparently, this matrix with a touch layer is absolutely identical, only the tested camera uses touch control capabilities to its fullest in all menu items. The viewing angles of the display are huge, the backlight brightness is also decent, and the color reproduction is pleasing to the eye. If even Canon had spied a good oleophobic display coating from smartphone manufacturers, then there would be nothing to complain about at all. Traditionally, an additional segment display is provided, which, in conjunction with a mass of hot keys, allows you to minimize the use of the menu.
The graphical interface is familiar to users of Canon cameras. The differences from other cameras in the lineup and its predecessor are quite minor, so if you have experience using Canon EOS series cameras, you won’t have to get used to it. The touch control feature makes it especially easy to operate the camera in the quick menu. However, in the main menu, “touch” navigation is also convenient if the fingers are not too large. Below are some screenshots of the user interface for your reference.
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Features and additional functions
There are often not so many additional functions for DSLRs, but still they are. For example, interval shooting. In the settings of this mode, it is possible to set the interval from 1 second to 100 hours without 1 second, as well as specifying the number of frames from 1 to 99 and an unlimited number. Unfortunately, unlike Nikon DSLRs, it is not possible to set the exact start time for interval shooting.
Canon was the first to make a full-frame camera with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS modules, and it was far from the flagship, but the most affordable full-frame camera in the EOS line - the 6D model. In its most expensive reporter, Canon is still trying to make money on attachments. However, a caveat must be made here. The built-in Wi-Fi module in the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV only works on 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n networks, while the Canon WFT-E8 plug-in module works on 5 GHz 802.11ac networks, which has a great effect on the data transfer speed in conditions with an abundance of neighboring access points in the 2.4 GHz band. Connection settings include transfer to a PC using the included EOS Utility software, printing to a Wi-Fi printer, uploading to the cloud, and transferring data to an FTP server.
Of course, it is possible to transfer images and videos to a smartphone. The presence of NFC in a smartphone greatly reduces the connection time. Without this function, the settings have to be entered manually. Private Xiaomi smartphone Mi5 connected to the camera in NFC mode in about 8 seconds. Unfortunately, you can view a video or an enlarged photo on a smartphone only after downloading the file to the device's memory, which is not very convenient. In terms of remote control, too, not everything is smooth. You can shoot both photos and videos, including 4K video, but the number of available settings is small. In photo mode, you can select the sensitivity level from the standard range, enter exposure compensation, control shutter speed and aperture in the corresponding modes, select the drive mode, select the white balance setting and autofocus operation mode. Of course, the selection of the focus point is possible by touching the smartphone screen. Of the features, it is worth noting the ability to disable the LiveView mode, which allows you to use your smartphone only as a remote control, which saves battery power. In video mode, in addition to the functions available in photo mode, you can select the frame resolution and recording format, activate the Servo AI autofocus mode, and adjust the microphone sensitivity.
The control program also allows you to record the coordinates received from the smartphone's GPS module in the image metadata. But there is no need for this, because the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV has its own built-in satellite navigation module. The built-in module can be used not only to record image metadata, but also as a GPS tracker with data updates with a period of 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 seconds, as well as 1, 2 and 5 minutes. The received data can be written to a memory card.
Camera in action
Turning on the camera is extremely fast, so there is simply no need to measure such a short period of time. But serial shooting is already much more interesting. The manufacturer claims 7 frames per second, which is only a little more than in the case of its predecessor, which could capture 6 frames per second. But let's not forget that the resolution of the frame has increased significantly, and the size of the image file has increased accordingly. And in general, at full frame, except for expensive flagships, there are not many DSLRs that can shoot bursts at about 7 frames per second or more. Nikon D750 can shoot 6.5 frames per second, but its class is slightly lower than that of the tested camera, Nikon D810 is capable of shooting 5 frames per second, while Pentax K-1, the limit is 4.4 frames per second. Only the Sony Alpha a99 II translucent mirror DSLR, which is capable of capturing up to 12 frames per second, surpasses the tested camera in speed.
Claimed maximum burst without frame rate degradation when using a UDMA 7 Compact Flash memory card is 21 images in RAW and until the memory card is full in JPEG. In practice, when using our methodology and recording images on a SD UHS-1 U3 memory card (recording speed up to 80 MB / s), we managed to take 18 frames in RAW, 13 frames in RAW + JPEG, and when using only JPEG, the burst duration is really limited available memory on the card or battery charge.
The camera, as in the case of the previous model, has 61 focus points, of which 41 points are cross-type sensors, but at f / 8, there are 21 cross-type sensors versus one single in the case of the EOS 5D Mark III. Actually, the focus module of the flagship Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera has exactly the same characteristics. In the case of the camera under test, there are many options for selecting the focus area: by center point, manual point selection, extended area, surround (3x3 points), zone selection, large area, as well as automatic selection. From a subjective point of view, the most convenient mode change option is the “pedal” next to the quick menu button. However, you can customize it to your liking. The number of focus points used can only be limited to cross-type sensors, 15 and 9 points. The autofocus settings provide 6 customizable autofocus behaviors for different shooting conditions. Adjustable options are tracking sensitivity, changing the autofocus behavior when slowing down / speeding up the subject, as well as adjusting the speed of automatic focus change. Such adjustments are extremely important for reportage, when there is often no time to reconfigure the autofocus behavior.
In LiveView mode, the touch display helps a lot, which allows you to select the focus object simply by pointing your finger on the screen. Unfortunately, as with the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, Gesture Mode is not supported. As a result, you have to use virtual or physical keys to zoom in on the focus area, and you have to use the joystick to move the enlarged focus area. An increase in the zone is possible only by 5 and 10 times. There is traditionally no “peaking” mode, and this is a significant drawback for amateurs subject photography and video shooting.
Autofocus speed was measured in conjunction with a Canon ZOOM Lens EF 24-70mm 1: 2.8 L II USM lens. As the name suggests, the lens uses an ultrasonic motor to achieve faster and quieter focusing. With the phase focusing method, the camera aimed at the object in 0.32 seconds, and with the contrast method, in just 0.22 seconds. This is how the Dual Pixel AF function, which was mentioned earlier, manifests itself in practice. In general, it is worth stating the fact that in LiveView mode Nikon DSLRs they are hopelessly behind, and only a DSLR with a translucent mirror Sony Aplpha a99 II can compete.
But Dual Pixel AF provides not only faster focusing speed, but higher autofocus sensitivity. The manufacturer claims a minimum sensitivity of -3 EV. For comparison, the Nikon D810 has a minimum AF range of -2 EV, the Pentax K-1 has the same sensitivity as the tested camera. However, Canon is still not a champion in the class, because the Sony Alpha a99 II has a declared lower sensitivity limit of -4 EV. In practice, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV was able to lock onto the test pattern in phase mode at 0.2 lux, and also 0.18 lux in LiveView, which in both cases corresponds to a value of -4 EV. This is such a low level of illumination that it is useless to focus on the eyes when focusing manually, because simply nothing is visible. Summarizing, we can say that in the photo shooting mode, the autofocus performance of the tested camera is, without exaggeration, excellent.
TTL exposure is measured using a 150,000-pixel, 252-zone RGB sensor with infrared ray detection. In general, everything is like the flagship, except for the lower resolution of the sensor. However, the recognition of the IR spectrum is not so unheard of, because even many smartphones are equipped with such sensors. Exposure metering works in the following modes: evaluative, partial, center-weighted, spot. It is possible to introduce exposure shift in the range from -5 to +5 in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 steps, it is also possible to shoot with bracketing 2, 3, 5 and 7 frames in increments of 1/3 to 3 EV. Exposure metering often works quite correctly, and only with a lack of dynamic range pulls out shadows. But on the other hand, automation works great in backlighting and copes well with the sun in the frame. With artificial lighting, automation works flawlessly. When using lamps with a color temperature of 5500 K, the error was only 0.02 EV, which is impossible to notice in principle.
White balance presets include sunny, cloudy, shade, incandescent, one fluorescent (4000K), flash. There is also a manual choice of color temperature in the range of 2,500 - 10,000 K. But there is only one container for manual settings, which is terribly disappointing. Of course, fine-tuning is provided on the A-B / G-M scale with the possibility of white balance bracketing up to 7 frames. Automation in general works correctly. Under artificial lighting with fluorescent lamps with a color temperature of 5500 K, there is practically no error at all.
Noises
The standard sensitivity range is relatively small - from 100 to 32,000 units in ISO equivalent. However, for most situations this is more than enough. The extended range includes ISO 50, 51200 and 102400. The settings provide three modes of software noise reduction, as well as a multi-frame noise reduction mode. But unlike the Pentax K-1, multi-frame noise reduction cannot use the RAW format. Unfortunately, it was not possible to convert RAW files using the DCRAW package, which we use when testing cameras, so the conversion was carried out in the bundled Digital Photo Professional 4 software. When converting, noise reduction was completely disabled.
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Flash
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, of course, does not have a built-in flash, because its value for such an advanced solution tends to zero. But there is a "hot shoe" and a connector for connecting the synchronization cable. Although the last one this stage this is more of an atavism than a really necessary feature. The settings are quite standard. You can select the mode - E-TTL, stroboscope, manual mode with power divider up to 1/128. When installing a radio synchronizer, separate control of groups is possible. Unfortunately, setting a different reflector zoom value for individual groups is not provided. However, this function is implemented in some radio synchronizers. By the way, the camera works without problems with Chinese E-TTL flashes and radio synchronizers. When working with the Yongnuo YN-685, no problems of collaboration were identified at all, and when working with the YN-622C-TX synchronizer, it was not possible only to select the second-curtain synchronization mode, which, as in the case of a separate reflector zoom, can be implemented by the synchronizer itself. It is noteworthy that, unlike the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, while working with the above flashes and a synchronizer, when trying to change the settings, the system did not please with an incompatibility message. Of course, it is unlikely that a buyer who is able to pay a decent amount for the carcass of the camera under test and a set of optics will use Chinese attachments. But this possibility should not be ruled out either.
Photo examples
Video recording mode
The Canon EOS 5D series cameras essentially pioneered the movement of shooting video on cameras. The EOS 5D Mark III has thus become a bestseller among videographers. The novelty in theory was to bring something new, at least 4K video. And there is 4K video, but it is not shot from a full frame, but with a 1.64x crop, which is commensurate with APS-C matrices. Everything would be fine, but the shooting angle is significantly narrowed because of this, so there is a problem with wide shots. Of course, you can put more wide-angle optics, but there are problems with this in the Canon EF optics line. Wider ones are already fisheye lenses. Of course you can try your luck EF-S lens ami. But here it is worth noting that Canon's EF-S optics have an elongated shank, so they cannot physically be set to full frame. But third-party EF-S lenses work on the tested DSLR in 4K video recording mode without problems and the mirror is not touched. But in any case, you should be careful. Yes, and keeping a separate wide-angle EF-S lens exclusively for 4K video shooting is not too humane in relation to the wallet (photos, as well as FullHD video, are shot from full frame, so there is strong vignetting with EF-S optics at full frame).
However, the claims do not end there. When recording FullHD video, 8-bit color and 4:2:0 sampling are supported. Here the difference from the ancestor lies only in the support of the 1080/60p mode. When recording 4K video, the situation is slightly better, because the color sampling is 4:2:2, but the color is still 8-bit. When outputting to HDMI, the color sampling is 4:2:2, but the color is also 8-bit, and 4K output is not supported at all. Further more. There is traditionally no peaking, “zebra” and logarithmic curves are also absent, so only alternative firmware can save the situation, which even allows you to shoot RAW video. But there is no Magic Lantern build for the tested camera yet, although there is one for the 5D Mark III. Of the interesting innovations, only HDR video can be noted, which is gaining popularity. But here's the problem - HDR video is only supported when recording in 1080/25p IPB format. Thanks to the touch screen, it is convenient to change parameters directly during video recording, but competitors have it too.
In general, in video mode, cameras from Sony are much preferable. Panasonic's advanced mirrorless cameras are also good in video mode, but the micro 4/3 system can't compete with full-frame still mode, which is still the main function of the camera. All of these shortcomings regarding competing cameras may seem absurd and short-sighted, but in fact, in this way, the manufacturer is simply trying to transfer video enthusiasts to their line of Canon EOS Cinema cameras.
Battery and battery life
The camera uses a battery with a standard capacity of 14 Wh for its class. According to the manufacturer, when tested according to the CIPA standard, the camera is capable of capturing 900 frames on a single charge, which is 50 less than its predecessor. For comparison, Nikon D810 can shoot 1200 frames on a single charge, Pentax K-1 - 760 frames, and Sony Alpha a99 II without a battery handle or a set of batteries in your pocket is completely unsuitable for serious work, because on one battery it can shoot only a miserable 490 frames. In practice, the tested camera is capable of capturing just over 1000 frames with rare use of the menu and the display turned on during operation.
Conclusion
The manufacturer obviously tried to polish the capabilities of the camera in photo mode, and the video mode improved a little. But the improvements to the video mode were made in such a way as not to interfere with sales of their own EOS Cinema series cameras. Unfortunately, these actions already at the development stage hurt sales of the tested camera, because the rating of expectations among videographers was prohibitively high, and they were so disappointed. However, the test subject has a lot of improvements over its predecessor. By and large, Canon has managed to create a fairly versatile camera that is suitable for subject shooting, and for landscape, and for portrait, and for light reportage shooting. Among full-frame cameras, in terms of versatility in still mode, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is hard to beat. Of course, the Sony Alpha a99 II suggests itself, but it will only compete with a battery handle in the kit. The Nikon D810 is inferior in burst shooting speed, its autofocus is not so agile and tenacious, and in general this camera is tailored for specific tasks, not versatility, and its direct competitor is the Canon EOS 5DS / 5DS R.
Minuses:
- lack of support for multiple touch with touch control;
- unnecessarily simplified video shooting mode relative to competitors;
- HDMI output does not support 4K resolution;
- CFast and/or SD UHS-II cards are not supported.
Pros:
— convenient management;
— touch screen with advanced control;
- fast and extremely sensitive autofocus;
- comparatively high speed serial shooting;
— built-in WiFi/NFC module;
- Built-in GPS receiver.
25.08.2016 14242 Tests and reviews 14
The Canon EOS 5D series is arguably one of the most recognizable line of cameras in the digital age and the new Mark IV is designed to appeal to a wide range of hobbyists and professionals alike. With a nearly identical look and feel to its predecessors, it gets significant upgrades under the hood: a 30.4MP high-resolution Dual Pixel sensor, 4K video recording, an upgraded autofocus system, a touch screen, improved weather resistance, built-in Wi-Fi with support for NFC and GPS. What are other news? Let's break the tradition of our reviews, which start with the appearance, and continue to study the most interesting part of the novelty - the electronic filling of the camera.
The Mark IV is built around a new CMOS sensor and its powerful image processing subsystem relies on the powerful Digic 6+ processor. Now about the new sensor: each of the 30 million pixels of the EOS 5D Mark IV camera consists of two photodiodes, which can be used together or separately. This technology allows you to create Dual Pixel RAW (DPRAW) files. This file format contains two images taken from two slightly different angles. When processing footage with software Digital Photo Professional, the user will be able to apply the data contained in the Dual Pixel RAW format file to micro-adjust the position of the zone maximum sharpness. The RAW file becomes very bold, up to 70 megabytes, but the photographer has the right to a small error in focus, which is very cool.
The AF system is borrowed from the flagship 1D X Mark II and features 61 AF points (41 of which are cross-type) and has a 24% greater vertical coverage than the Mark III system. The sensitivity of the center point has increased from -2 EV to -3 EV (it's already very dark, tin is straight!) (in Live View mode, the sensor is sensitive to -4EV with a fast lens). Compatibility with various optics has also been improved: now, when using f / 8 lenses, all AF points remain operational, only the number of cross points is reduced to 21. The EOS 5D Mark IV introduces Dual Pixel CMOS AF, one of the main updated features in comparison with EOS 5D Mark III. Smooth and precise focus transitions are now made in all resolutions from 4K to Full HD with a simple touch of the LCD screen.
The metering module, also responsible for assisting tracking autofocus, now consists of 150,000 metering zones. Similar to other modern Canon DSLRs, the sensor also has infrared sensitivity. The RGB+IR metering system provides precise exposure metering, helps to account for flickering light sources, and improves scene recognition and face detection in the frame. The operation of the exposure metering module is served by a separate DIGIC 6 processor (in addition to the main DIGIC 6+). Low-light performance has been improved across the entire ISO range at the same time as lowering digital noise. Also, the maximum ISO value has been increased to ISO 32.000 (expandable to ISO 102.400). The Digital Lens Optimizer's built-in lens aberration correction improves lens performance by compensating for factors such as diffraction, distortion, and chromatic aberration, resulting in markedly improved image quality.
The EOS 5D Mark IV can shoot continuously at 7fps with full autofocus and autoexposure, capturing up to 21 RAW or unlimited JPEG images in a single shooting session. In Live View mode, continuous shooting at 4.3 fps is possible. with tracking autofocus. The Intelligent Viewfinder II with shooting information (such as a dual-axis electronic level) clearly shows the scene seen through the lens with nearly 100 percent coverage.
The "Fine Detail" setting on the 5D Mark IV is designed to capture the maximum amount of detail captured by the high-resolution sensor in an image. This setting emphasizes tone transitions and high detail. The High Detail Picture Style has three adjustable sharpening options, similar to the Unsharp Mask filter in Adobe Photoshop and Canon's DPP software.
The LCD touch screen has a diagonal of 3.2" and a resolution of 1.620.000 and allows you to select menu commands with a touch and view images by scrolling through them with your finger. Four color options allow you to use the screen at any time of the day or night.
4K video recording is a welcome addition to this camera, which users can record at 24p or 30p, albeit at 1.64x. High-definition 4K and Full HD multi-frame-rate recording, including 60p slow motion, expands your movie-making experience. Also borrowed from the flagship EOS-1D X Mark II is 4K video shooting and saving any shot as a highly detailed 8.8MP snapshot to a memory card in JPEG format. HD video recording at 120 fps captures the finest details in the fastest subjects. Video will be recorded with 4:2:2 compression and MJPEG 8bit encoder at 500 Mbps. Full HD will be recorded in both ALL-I (for editing), IPB (compressed) and IPB Light (highly compressed). But HD-rollers will be recorded only in ALL-I (for editing).
Built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and NFC technology let you connect your EOS 5D Mark IV to your smartphone, tablet or laptop, or directly to your favorite cloud-based image sharing apps. This is quite a modern solution for publishing images in in social networks or forwarding them to customers. Those who shoot in Wi-Fi locations and need extra security will appreciate the support for FTP/FTPS protocols. The camera supports remote control using a mobile device running the Canon Camera Connect app (iOS or Android). As with the EOS-1D X Mark II, the image crop and resize function allows you to recompose after shooting, resize, and immediately send images via Wi-Fi.
Finally, another improvement was the appearance of a built-in GPS-receiver, traditionally for Canon cameras, which has advanced settings to effectively save energy. The GPS Canon EOS 5D Mark IV has a dual purpose: in addition to the usual determination of coordinates, it allows you to accurately synchronize time using atomic clocks, which can be important when many photographers shoot one event or you work with several cameras at the same time.
The EOS 5D Mark IV's self-timer shooting function will be useful, allowing time-lapse shooting up to 3600 frames with the formation of dynamic Full HD video up to 2 minutes long. The microphone and headphone jacks allow you to record audio for video and control the audio level, but the device can also record and play audio on its own, using the built-in mono microphone and speaker. The HDMI connector is designed to output uncompressed Full HD audio and video to external recorders and monitors. And all these "treasures" are hidden in a dust- and moisture-proof magnesium case, which has become somewhat lighter than the previous model.
One of the nicest features of the new “five” is the viewfinder. It is still large, light and comfortable, but you won’t surprise anyone with this for a long time. The main feature is information content. In addition to the grid, focus points, frame counter, battery and shooting mode, it can display a dual-axis digital level, as well as many different indicators. One of them is the flicker detection, and it is very useful when shooting under fluorescent and LED lamps. And, of course, this is a classic optical viewfinder - I hope that we will not see electronic viewfinders in Canon DSLRs for a long time.
Other important little things
I mentioned above how Dual Pixel technology affects the autofocus system, but that's not all. Since there are two photodiodes in each individual pixel instead of one, this allows more information to be captured for RAW images. To do this, you will need to enable a separate mode (and even assign its inclusion to one of the new buttons). This information can be used in different ways.
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