Canon EOS 1D MK IV review

The long awaited professional body from Canon

The decision to upgrade to a professional model is not something to be taken lightly. To state the obvious at £4,449 the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is only going to appeal to those who are professional or are a serious hobbyist. The benefits of moving up the ladder to a model of this calibre are numerous with the most obvious advantage being the ability to produce top quality images. The recent advancement in sensor technology means large useable ISO ranges are now feasible and the Canon 1D Mark IV is one of the leaders in this sector of the market.  

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is a welcome addition to the EOS range and a much needed upgrade from the 1D Mark III which has now been discontinued. Most professionals will be pleased to hear that the 10-megapixel sensor has been significantly increased to a 16- million megapixel resolution. When the 1D Mark III was released many grumbled over the 10MP sensor, so it is reassuring to see Canon have taken this on board. However this is not the only component to have been substantially improved. The EOS 1D Mark IV accompanies Canon’s most advanced AF system to date with a 45-point Auto Focus sensor.

This complex feature takes some getting use to and instructions from the manufacturer need to be followed closely. There is an immense amount of settings and possible combinations to the AF system however once the camera has been adjusted the results are noticeable. It is a must have feature for any sports photographer as the 1D Mark IV has the capability to perform in a numerous amount of tricky situations. When tested on fast moving subject matter the majority of the shots were useable with key focus points sharp and accurate. Compared to the 5D Mark II that only accompanies a nine point AF feature and the previous 1D Mark III which supported a 19 AF system this really is a big step forward from Canon. 

The continuous shooting feature at 10fps has been marginally upgraded from the Mark III to the Mark IV.  Although the shooting rate of 10fps remains the same the advancement of the Dual DIGIC 4 processor means the speed at which this model can process data is faster. Along with new UDMA technology images can be written at 121 images JPEG or 28 images RAW which is fast. For the photographer who needs rapid shooting this camera is ideal.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is full of many other features that will excite any professional photographer. The large ISO range extends all the way to 12,800, which was one of the first things DCE tested. At 12,800 images are highly impressive even if some results did produce noise in the darker areas. Where the 1D Mark IV stands above its predecessor’s and competition is the excellent image quality around ISO 6,400. Most cameras at this level will be peaking the Canon 1D Mark IV is still producing strong results. Having the flexibility in lowlight conditions without a tripod is what provides the user with confidence that a shot is never going to be missed. The ISO range can also be pushed three stops above 12,800 to a whopping 102,400 however these images are not full resolution and if enlarged to any decent size are unusable.

After inspecting the colour balance across the spectrum images appear to be well balanced. Even after shooting on a challenging overcast day the 1D Mark IV managed to produce some vibrant shades. The auto white balance performs well however when tested with one challenging situation in a dark yellow room the 1D Mark IV did struggle. This was not an issue as corrections were easily made postproduction with the RAW file. Shooting in this format ensures that even dire exposures can be rescued, which again is reassuring for the professional photographer.   

A frequently made complaint regarding the 1D Mark III was the tendency to underexpose. This does not appear to be such an issue with the 1D Mark IV as overall highlights and shadows are close to accurate with only the occasional blip in quality. Even when tested in an extreme dynamic exposure the 1D Mark IV managed to maintain a good amount of detail in the shadows and only one small area had a highlight blow out. 

Looks wise there are minimal differences between the Canon 1D Mark III and 1D Mark IV with controls and buttons in a near identical layout. The shutter release can easily be pressed in either the landscape or portrait orientation as there are two separate buttons situated on the body. Despite the heavy weight the body shape rests easily in the hands and the back dial on the body ensures a quick access to many options. Menu options are easy to navigate and settings can be saved to adapt to the photographer’s way of shooting. One area that could be problematic is the access to the HD video. This is not a major issue however a more obvious control would be useful especially for those who need to flick efficiently between the two modes.

The body has been cast from strong magnesium metal that is reassuringly sturdy and feels it can endure the odd knock and bump. Compared to the 1D Mark IV’s major rivals on the market the body is significantly lighter however after a day out in the field and with a lump of L glass situated on the end there are some definite neck strains. The popular Canon EOS 5D Mark II could still be more appealing for those who are out and about as the 1D Mark IV weighs a noticeable 1000g heavier. For the wedding photographer the body is not the ideal weight although having the flexibility of ISO 12800 inside a church is mighty tempting.     

Compared to its major rival on the market the Nikon D3s the 1D Mark IV retails £300 dearer however the full HD video is the major attraction over the Nikon. Although these two models are in major competition with each other for most consumers at this end of the market they have already established whether they are a Canon or Nikon user. The bigger question is should the Canon user upgrade? 

When it comes to value for money then £4,449 is certainly not cheap. After assessing the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV in comparison to the 1Ds Mark III and 5D Mark II which sit above and below it in the pecking order it is debatable whether the new model is good value for money or not. Compared to the mighty Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III the new 1D Mark IV comes across as an excellent deal. The retail price is significantly less and the upgraded specs from the 1D Mark III really have made a good impression.

On the other hand compared to the 5D Mark II the price of the 1D Mark IV is significantly more and for the photographer who does not require the advanced AF settings and larger ISO range then the 5D Mark II is an excellent alternative cheaper choice. However the two main selling features on the Mark IV should not be denied recognition and presently the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is at the top end of digital camera technology and will not be upgraded for some time. It is a lot of money to fork out however for those who can then the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is a superb investment.