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1D Mark IV Unboxed!

Canon Rumors
Canon Rumors
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Under the weather
Sorry for the delay, I had a nice bout with some bad chicken or stomach virus.

Mark IV Unboxings!
This is from Andrew Hobbs. He received his Mark IV in Melbourne, Australia.

Rudolph The Mark IV Lover

This comes from Jesper in Denmark

1D Mark IV Box
1D Mark IV Unboxed!

Time off

I’ll be off to Ireland on Friday, I’ll be tied up travelling on Christmas Day and sleeping off the jet lag on the 26th.

Everyone have a great and safe Christmas/other holiday/Friday.

cr

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84 Comments

  • Is it just coincidence that both of these new owners have displayed the camera without the battery in place? They probably took these pictures to kill time while their batteries were charging!

  • Very cool! Congrats to both of them and I hope you all have a very happy holiday! I hope this means the price of a 1Ds Mark III body will drop over at keh.com :) My 20D is still holding on me :)

  • I know the feeling of getting a new and exciting camera. I am so happy for you guys!

    I will wait for the 5D III. :-)

  • From all the high iso tests I’ve seen thusfar d3s is two stops better than 1d mk iv, I think even the 2 year old d700 has less color noise at 12800 iso. When is canon gonna realize this?

  • This is not a replacement for the 1Ds MK III, it replaces the 1D MK III. The 1Ds MK IV is still out somewhere in the future.

  • I’ve tempoorarily cancelled my 1D MK IV order to wait for professional examples. So far, the ones I’ve seen that were taken by pro’s appear about the same to me, the 1D3 may be 1/2 stop better.

    No one has yet shown 1D MK IV pictures developed from RAW, since RAW converters are not available, comparing D3S RAW with 1D MK IV jpeg is not conclusive. Those who claim to be showing RAW images are really showing jpeg ones, they just do not know any better, and their photo skills match their knowledge.

    That will be changing over the next few days and weeks, so we can get real comparisons.

  • I found out later… but thanks anyways!

    personally I think there ain’t no stupid question, but this was certainly an exception :p

  • saw those, and like I said the 3 year old D3 and the d700 handle noise a lot better.

    And the D3s is definitely about 2 stops better when comparing raw files.

    Canon just needs to realize they can’t keep increasing MP and they can’t use the APS-H sensor anymore. If this body were FF and 16mp it would have been much better.

  • haha I know that, but since a MK IV is already now, a 1Ds version of this camera is bound to come out, thus price drops! So far everything would be an upgrade from my 20d (its served me quite a few years) but I really want to go FF to a body I wont regret buying (and buying a new 1D body is out of the question on my budget)

  • grazie mille!

    it has a really great high-iso performance! after the first watch on your pictures, i think this camera delivers even at 25600 iso usable images (for me).

    these are great news. but i’m still waiting. i hope, there will be one left for me between christmas and new year… i odered it one month ago…

    merry christmas to all of you guys!

  • thanks for posting. If you get a chance to do testing in low light situations plz post those as well!

  • mgobbi, a few friends and I will be waiting by our computers hitting refresh at that hour tomorrow then!

  • Thank you so much! My confidence in the 1DMIV is returning. Mine is ordered and I’m so nervous about if it will be worth it and a significant upgrade from the 5D with image quality. Any doubts or concerns in what you’ve seen so far. What are the pros and cons you’ve experienced so far? These images don’t have NR applied correct? From DPP it looks to have been originally set at 2/20 in luminance is all, correct?

  • At this moment I’ve not tested well the camera so.. I can’t list pros and cons.

    The pictures are without any processing. No NR (I think you mean NoiseReduction on camera settings). Picture Style is set to Standard. No other “special” setting.

  • Yes, NR is noise reduction. Please Please give your opinion about the camera in the next couple of days if possible. Thanks again for the shots. Is it possible to upload full-size images somewhere? Perhaps your blog? Enjoy the camera.

  • Jesper (the one unboxing his brand new Canon 1D IV): Where did you get it from? I was told that I had to wait until after new years eve before the shop would have any (I’m in Denmark too).

  • “I think even the 2 year old d700 has less color noise at 12800 iso”

    When was the last time you had trouble effectively negating colour noise from a Canon? Part of the reason that I bought Canon in the first place is that they tend to optimize for having higher colour noise (which is easy to remove without losing detail) & lower luminance noise, whereas Nikon was the other way round (this was back in 2003). Canon RAW files have still largely maintained the principle of “if we’re going to have noise, make sure most of it is colour noise so it’s easy to clean up” on every digital EOS I’ve worked with since the 10D.

  • Thank you very much again for RAW and JPEG. The dark frame 100 ISO looked completely black indeed. Good examples with the statue and red thingy? :) I really appreciate your work and sharing. Thanks. Any comments yet on your perception of this camera compared to others you’ve owned? Any words at all would be additionally appreciated.

  • Thanks for the upload.
    There seems to be a fair bit of luminance and color noise.
    I’ve taken an ISO800, 1/300, shot taken with 5dmkII and the 100mm micro is for comparison.

    The 5dmkII comes ahead in terms of luminance noise, and fair bit ahead in terms of color noise.

    I’m sort of disappointed as I was hoping for something better out of Canon.

  • Like I said, try nikon and you will wonder how canon still stays in business. I gave canon every chance possible to avoid switching but they kept dissappointinh, this time I can only smile about how sweet my d3s will be in low light instead of being dissappointed by the 1d mk iv which is probably worse than a 2300 d700 in every way

  • I just left this message from the “1D Mark IV release date” post and thought it may fit here as well since MM was the main intended audience:

    I’m canceling my 1DMIV order tomorrow. I don’t know if I can switch over to Nikon though. I’d lose so much on equipment. I guess Canon has me trapped for now. Perhaps I’ll save up a bit more get a D3s and shoot both systems. That is an option. Looks like the D3s is out of stock for awhile though. I’ll just keep enjoying my 5D and wait another two or three years to see if Canon makes a camera that will work for me. FF with megapixels between 14-18 and much better low light capabilities and fast autofocus. Yes, something like Nikon makes now :). The 1DMIV just isn’t worth it to me and doesn’t seem to be near good enough in low light situations like I need. Good luck to everyone else that opts for it. I hope it suits them well.

  • From the “1D Mark IV release date” post you could read that I was giving MM a very difficult time about his post talking about the D3s vs 1DMIV. I was wishing that he’d just stop all his blah blah blabbering….but now that I’ve had quite a few images to compare I can also see that this is not the camera for me. If others, like me, see that Canon still has very needed improvements to make, perhaps sales of their cameras will put the point across. I’m still sticking with my 5D as It has made me very happy over the years. I was just very hopeful with the 1DMIV thus i put in an order 1 month ago with buydig.com. But now after spending at least 20 hours over the last week alone studying, reading, comparing images every which way I could, I am through. I spent to much time on this homework. I had almost convinced myself to just go for it on faith as I really want it to be the camera for me. But alas, I do not think that the ISO is much better in the 1600 and 3200 range compared to my 5D to warrant the $5K. I really hope that it works fabulously well for everyone else who buys it. I however am not going to continue down this path of the 1DMIV. A Canon 24-70 2.8 IS I would definitely buy though! The lens is more important anyways isn’t it?
    And no, this is not MM masquerading as Tyson.
    Also, for anyone who is using the FastStone image viewer to view the RAW images previously posted on dpreview, I don’t think that is shows near the noise as it should when compared to Canon’s DPP, at least my 5D images have much less noise in FastStone than my DPP software shows. I had to increase noise reduction to 7/20 to match the base value that FastStone was kicking out.

  • It seems there are less wankers annoying people on Nikon forums.

    What’s missed in all this ISO peeping is that 1080p HD is far superior to 720p, but I haven’t seen people tease Nikon owners about it on their forums. Yet we get to suffer this nonsense about possible Nikon superiority when pixel peeping 25600 ISO or whatever. The 1D4 has 4 million pixels more, it’s simply too exhausting to zoom to the pixel level ;) Video/still integration is the future and Canon obviously has the edge in that. I am dying to get my pre-ordered 1D4. Been playing around with my Gitzos and Manfrottos tri/monopods, managed to get quite decent steadicam-like contraptions with some addons.

    Check out the Blue Moon video by Canon. I’d been wanting to get a Nikon as an addition, for variety but To me, that was decisive, I was surprised Nikon only does 720p – like my mini Canon P&S. I’d assume the D4 will catch up with that, but that’s quite a while away.

  • Why are nikon users allowed to troll these comments so much?

    If you like to measurebate, lock yourself in a room and do it privately.

  • Well just FYI I was a canon user… And I definitely don’t take sides, just trying to make everyone realize what the better tool is for their money. When you’re spending 5k why would you not get the best available… Given you can switch systems nikon is the better way to go for most, and I’m hoping more ppl switch to send canon a message that they need to cut this marketing crap with high mps and focus on things like image quality, high iso performance, af, and things photographers need like nikon does. Video is also just a gimmick, canon is better at that but most photographers don’t plan on doing films.

  • No I don’t work for nikon, and nor do I work for apple. I just like people to be informed about what they have specially when they can get a far better product for their money. This is why I promote macs once I made the switch and saw the difference and same with nikon.

    If you keep buying the canon products then canon will continue thinking they are doing everyhing right… When clearly they aren’t. I’m a little upset at canon because I had to lose 1000s to switch to nikon, but it feels great having a camera that focuses and just works! All this time I was using canons I was blind to how easy things could be with nikons full frames. Most people use canons because before nikon came out with their full frames canon was way ahead and nikon couldn’t compare, but once nikon had their full frames canon got left far behind and I have a feeling they will stay behind with the junk they are releasing in comparison to the nikon bodies. If you’re a new photographer start with nikon! If you are a canon user with a small investment switch! If you are a canon user with a big investmet then you decide if havin a superior body is worth the loss when switching, to me it was.

  • best comparison yet! Thanks for posting. If you have other opinions on this camera please feel free to reply to my post here and paste them. Seriously deciding if it’s worth 5000 dollars. How is the Autofocus?

    And how would you compare it to the D700 since I saw you have both. I guess D3s is a souped up d700 so the d700 comparison can give a good idea of how they compare.

  • Thanks again for posting images Mgobi. To my eye in these images the MK4 is superior tot he 5D MK2 due to fabulous detail. Up to ISO 3200 and 6400 noise is certainly visible but looks controllable. To me it is still overwhelmed by the detail. At ISO 12800 the MK4 noise is significantly more and at 25600 they look the same.

    My overall impression is the MK4 looks good and the ability to show fine detail is superb.

    I sure hope the USA deliveries start this week; I am on top of the List at Hunts.

  • Funny… I’ve used both Macs and Windows based PC’s, and to me Mac represents the worst if the two and are certainly not all that they are hyped to be. To each their own I guess.

  • Thanks mgobbi. I agree. It appears that there is more noise in the 1D mk IV photos, but there is also a lot more detail. It’s easier to remove noise than it is to gain detail from the original file, so I’m still satisfied. :-)

  • I have little to no interest at all in video capabilities and for this reason never comment on the 720 vs 1080 feature of Nikon vs Canon. I want a great still camera, not a video camera. I really want a camera that has great low light abilities with low noise to freeze action when ext. flash is not possible.

  • It’s really insulting when people post this stuff here.

    Oh gee, I would NEVER have even thought to compare how the competition stacks up. What’s that? There’s ANOTHER camera company out there? Good thing you mentioned it, otherwise I might not have ever tried out their system.

    Come on, the average reader here has been around the block a few times and can think for themselves. Most I’m sure check out various photo sites that will post results of tests and comparisons.

    To think your 5-10 lines of highly subjective opinion is going to sway or inform anyone more than all that’s available online is just pure ego.

  • Tacksharp on DPReview put it best:
    And they’d still find something to gripe about as long as it’s not a Nikon. The pattern goes like this:
    1. It can’t do what Nikon can do.
    2. It can? Well, then it can’t do it as well as Nikon.
    3. It can? Well, it just caught up to Nikon.
    4. It surpasses Nikon? Well, that feature is not important anyway.
    5. The latest Nikons get that feature? Well, it’s important now.
    6. Better than the current Nikon? Well, you have to compare it to a future Nikon.

  • Funny thing is, when someone even mentions the video on the D3s, they never discuss that the 720 res video is only 5 minutes long! Canon’s 1080 is almost 30 minutes. That’s almost like the 4 minutes per roll of Super 8 film I use to get!

    BTW: I own D3s and 1D Mk III. IV on order.

  • What’s up with people comparing the two? Both camera companies make great cameras. Suited for a wide range of photographers. If you don’t like Nikon that’s fine, if you don’t like canon that’s fine also. Just take your cameras out and shoot photos.

  • it’s because canon needs to learn a lesson and if people keep buying their cameras they will never improve, that’s why the two need to be compared so photographers always get the best tool. If these two were close then there would be no need, but when there is a clear winner by far…then you know one company is being lazy and just not focusing in IQ.

    And to all those people who are boasting the video feature of 1d mk iv as the reason that it can hang with the D3s….video doesn’t mean anything, if you want to make videos go out and buy a RED one camera or a real video camera. I am discussing these in terms of stills, videos are out of the equation and just looked at as a bonus feature for casual clips and the 720p serves that purpose well.

  • Sounds to me like MM has buyers regret. Seems he’s more trying to convince himself he made the right decision so he’s saying anything he can against Canon.

    “…if you want to make videos go out and buy a RED one camera or a real video camera.”

    This statement tells me he’s a fanboi trying to defend his Nikon idol.

    LOL

    If he understood the vast benefits to independent film makers that the 5DII and 1DIV have given them (DOF control alone is worth it) he wouldn’t be making this stupid statement.

    The RED one is way too expensive (cheaper to shoot film) for most and real video cameras don’t have film making quality a lot of people need (in independent films).

    Just because NIKON have made it an afterthought in their cameras, doesn’t mean every user uses video as a “bonus feature for casual clips”.

    Also it seems to MM “IQ” means less color noise. Color noise doesn’t bother me, it’s luminance noise that causes the most problems. Nikon seem worse in this area.

    Nikon Cameras are fine, they have their disadvantages as well as advantages. If they work for YOU fine. I don’t need the need for a mass switch to Nikon to “teach Canon a lesson”.

    MM is a troll.

  • Thank you so much for posting these up.
    After careful examination, the 1d mkIV comes ahead of the 5dmk2 in terms of luminance and color noise. This is evident at the ISO 12800 shots.

    For some reason the shots I had taken with my 5d2 and 100mm is micro came out cleaner than your ISO800 outdoor shot.

    I am looking forward to getting my 1dmk4, hopefully in the next month.
    On a side note, I noticed that it retails for 15kMYR in Malaysia, which is just under 4400USD. That’s a bargain, compared to what we are set to pay for in Australia.

    How much is the price in Italy?

  • Thank a lot for these shots. This firmed up my conclusion that the 1dMk4 produces cleaner shots at ISO1600+ than the 5D2.

    How is the Zeiss performing on the 5D2. Any comments/remarks, and do you think it would be a better investment than Canon’s 16-35MM?

  • I don’t understand the need for photographers to do all this trash talking. Canon and Nikon are both great cameras, choose the one you like and take some pictures. If you buy one and don’t like it, then try another one. How many of you out there have driven the same brand car throughout your life, probably not many. It’s ok to say why you like one camera more than another, but unless you’re getting paid by one of the camera companies, why not stop the trash talk.

  • It’s not like the mark 4 is the last camera that’s going to come out from Canon. It still has a crop sensor and from the samples I’ve seen. It does fine. Noise is controllable. A lot of photographers are still using the 1dmark3 on the field and I do to. Every camera is made for a certain type of photography category. If it’s doesn’t fit you don’t buy it. Don’t criticize a company. There’s more cameras to come. We all use Dslrs as a tool to improve our photography. I don’t understand how canon hasn’t improved? I see a lot of improvements in their products. Just because one camera is pointed towards low noise at high iso’s doesn’t mean the other that’s compared to it is inferior. All cameras have strong and weak points. The mark four was made for the average professional sports and wild life photographer. It’s a dependable workhorse like my trusty 1d mark 3. Fast and retains alot of detail.

  • +10000000, very well said..
    To MM, Compare a 20″x30″ prints of D3s and 1D MK IV. then come back to this site and comment. compare them in a real world uses. video capability on Canon DSLR targets the indi film makers, not photographer.

  • Hi Ezzat san,

    > How is the Zeiss performing on the 5D2. Any comments/remarks,
    > and do you think it would be a better investment than Canon’s 16-35MM?

    I can’t compare them right now, my 16-35/2.8 II copy is crap so I sold already. Perhaps another copy is better than that. My feeling of Zeiss 2,8/21 is better than crap zoom of course :)

    17-40/4 < 16-35/2.8 II <<<<<< Zeiss 2,8/21 << 24/1.4 II << TS-E24 II <<<<<< 14-24/2.8

    Well, sorry for OT.

  • Well, long story short I got usable ISO 6400 on EF body so I am very happy.

    6400: same as D700 (=D3) or better. finally!
    12800: My D700 have fatal banding noise but 1D4 haven’t so better than that too.
    H1(25600): Barely usable for monochrome newspaper
    H2(51200): for emergency? pretty impossible
    H3(102400): gee… Nothing is better than H3.

    H3 is cover up for spec sheet, vs D3s obviously. Big company doing child fight but you should know Canon is bigger than Nikon 10 times more. I feel ashamed as a Japanese… Well, technological progress is always welcome.:)

    BTW, I can call ISO 12800 is regular ISO. I put these pictures at my flickr so judge them yourself please.

  • If you are 1D3 user, I recommend renew.

    – 1st, plus 2 stops ISO performance progress. better than D700/D3 (not D3s of course :p)
    – 2nd, same interface and feelings like your APS-H experience
    – 3rd, decent LCD. finally…

    I should compare 1D4 and D700 because D700’s imager is equal to D3 so this compare isn’t pointless. I feel 1D4 equal D700 or maybe better than that. It means Canon’s anti-noise technology is 2 years behind from Nikon.

    Well… 2 years since heavy loss.

    We are experiencing hardships after the Canon was defeated in the 3rd war. So it isn’t sarcasm but I feel it is great. Only 2 years after the defeat, Canon tries to rejoin to the frontline.

    Perhaps if they make FFnized 1D, I guess we can get more better ISO performance than Nikon. But Canon didn’t. Why? I don’t know:p

    Anyway thanks comment and sorry for my english.

  • The 1d mkIV should naturally be better than the 5d mkII. I know this seems counter intuitive, since the 5d mkII is a full frame (FF) sensor, but the 1d mkIV is almost two times more expensive the than 5d mkII.

    Just to be clear.

  • Thank you!
    With the 1dMk4 shots, did you have highlight tone priority on or off?
    Regards

    I’m quiet tempted to get the TS-E II, it’s way more versatile and sharp than the 24/1.4LII

  • I like to shoot action and bird. Crop camera(7D) help me with my 400 f5.6. The AF points cover bigger area then FF. I do not need to recompose after AF lock. After using 7D, I always keep my 5DII in the bag. 18MP also allow me to crop as f5.6 cannot AF with TC. 600mm is too expensive for me with FF. If I use FF with 12MP, after cropping -> 5MP ?? Why pay so much for 5 MP camera ? How to print A3 ? The noise from 7D is easier to be handle and still remain detail. I really hope to own the 1D4 one day, it should be a lot better the 7D.

  • Did anyone else notice the difference in exposure times. The 5d2 and 7d needed 1/40 or 1/50 where as the 1d4 was shooting the same shot at 1/250 or faster in a lot of them. Amazing to say the least but can onyone offer an explanation?

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