OK so we now know what the 5D Mak IV is going to be based on the history of CR track record of accuracy.
The 5D model, the MK II, is a camera that single-handedly started the ''DSLR Revolution'' which completely turned the video/cinema world upside down.
Then Canon made improvements to the 5DII on the III (real good improvements), but other manufacturers seemed to just keep pulling ahead in video technology and we've been waiting for Canon to strike back and come back as the video leader.
The biggest and most major downside with Canon DSLRs (and 5DIII) is video resolution/sharpness. Many think it's just that it doesn't shoot 4K video but the fact is that it shoots quite soft 1080p video. While it's contained in a 1080p wrapper it's much closer to 720p. This was fine in the earlier days but now companies are offering real 1080p resolution (Sony A7s) and beyond (4K) in cheaper and smaller cameras. Canon needed to address this ASAP before anything else. It's resolution after all that gives that WOW effect and why everyone is jumping to GH4/A7s. It looks impressive and sharp in YT in 1080p and 2160p.
The first Canon to address this is the 1DX II which offered incredible resolution at 4K (real DCI) (well the 1DC was the first and had that resolution way back but we won't count it, being at launch a 12.000 USD camera). But both cameras are really not at a price point to make an impact on the video world as a whole. It's a sports DSLR.
Which brings us to the 5D IV.
What does it have for us video peeps:
1- 4K MJPEG 500mbps.
People who are bitching about that and saying it should be H.264, have NEVER used that codec before and know very little about videography.
Motion Jpeg on the 1DC and 1DXII and 5DIV, is a MUCH superior codec to ALL competing 4K cameras out there. It's simply a much higher image quality. Much higher data and less to zero compression artefacts. And a little unknown fact is that MJPEG on the 5D is 500mbps 8bit 4:2:2, meaning it's EBU Broadcast approved and is ''broadcast quality/accepted'' for HD acquisition while all the other competitors simply cannot be used for that as they have 100mbps 8bit 4:2:0 codecs. So the MJPEG codec offers much higher colour and data information.
This comes in the form of larger file sizes, OF COURSE it does. Would you rather a lower quality codec in a smaller file? Canon could have easily done that. But they choose MJPEG to leap the competition and give a higher IQ. If you want small file sizes, th 5D IV and 1DX II can also shoot h.264 4:2:0 HD. Go ahead and shoot that.
If you ever used the Canon MJPEG 4K files you know what the image quality is like in terms of lack of compression artefacts, fine film grain, huge colour palette, much more versatile and grade-able image than H.264. Just better and better. Again. Want smaller files, shoot H.264 HD or convert your MJPEG files to anything on you PC, even Standard Def for all I know.
MJPEG 500Mbps 4:2:2 4K images is the most exciting part about the 5DIV video, as it means it's again for once has just has better IQ and higher end image than all the rivals. Not a downside. The fat files with Canon filmic and proven picture styles' colours, lowlight, 4K sharpness, will give very special images at that price point.
2- Slowmotion
The 5DIV gives us slowmotion capability. One is 2x slo-mo in 1080p. and 4X slo-mo in 720p.
While I wanted 4x at 1080p, its great we do have the ability to hand out slowmotion files for out clients. Wedding videographers will be using that 2x 1080p a lot for sure. And sports videographers will be using that 4x 720p.
3- Dual Pixel AF with Touch panel
No other video shooting device has this. It's the first time we can now shoot high quality, broadcast level, 4K 4:2:2 video, and have out focusing performed using a touch screen. This feature is HUGE. It almost eliminated the need for follow focus devices and even focus pullers on high end shoots. It proved to be that reliable and good on the 1DXII. It's magic. And best of all, works with all AF lenses. Now any inexperienced shooter can shoot large sensor video with organic focus pulls, and pros can forget about one burden (focus ring) and focus on composition, and this will be also extremlely handy for rigs and stabilization units like steadicams/glidecams/ronins/movi etc where previously your only option was to get a wireless follow focus device and hire someone to focus on a separate monitor for you. Now set to face detection, record. See how big this actually is? This technology will be scaled up in the far future to Alexa/Red type cameras I am sure.
From the 5D II to III Canon tried to fix the problems of shooting video on DSLRs and these will translate to the MK IV surely so add those too.
1- Eliminated moire and aliasing
2- Gave good audio with silent manual control with the touch pad
3- Gave a headphone out to monitor audio
4- fixed overheating issues and extended recording to the max 30min vs 12min.
5- offered a dedicated record and video liveview mode with meters, dedicated expsoure
6- gave a 1080p HDMI output for monitoring and clean for recording
So the 5D IV is a very interesting video proposition. The things it lacks are:
1- We don't know if the 4K is FF or a 1:1 crop. Which would be a near APS-C one. Still good but we hope for FF. The 1:1 crop from the 20mp 1DXII gives a small crop to APS-H but at 30mp 1.6/1.7x crop is not small and is a totally different sensor size. This could potentially make the 5D a 4K APS-C camera and a FF HD camera.
2- Canon refuses to give non "C" cameras "C"-Log. Which increases highlight DR by at least 1-2 stops (time to install that Cinestyle again to get LOG images -which works very well with the 1DXII btw-)
4- Canon refuses to give manual focus users simple aids like peaking.
5- Of course no EVF and tilty LCD, so you'll get those screen loups out of the closet again (which do make great EVFs to be honest but just another thing to carry and makes the camera bigger)
The biggest missing detail by far is the 4K video crop. If it's a whole sensor downsample from 30mp to 4K (which Canon has never done) or a 1:1 APS-C+ Crop.
So how does it leap other common rivals?
A7s/r: 500mbps 4:2:2 vs 10mbps 4:2:0, higher image quality overall, much better colour rendition and skin tones, much stronger body and button layout. Magical focus system and bigger cheaper lens line-up. Much bigger battery life and no overheating issues.
GH4: Same huge codec difference so higher data rate but the Panny has good Canon-like colours so that's not issue as the sony. Bigger stronger body, DPAF, Much bigger sensor (biggest one here, two different camera classes) and lowlight performance (horrible on GH4) and DR.
I can't wait to play with fat colourful MJPEG files off the 5D IV and see how it does in 4K lowlight at 6400+ ISO.
My next video rig is probably going to be the 5D IV + Zucoto LCD loup + Rode mic + new 24-105mm F4/L.
Small, stabilized, simple, with cinema/broadcast quality files.
The 5D model, the MK II, is a camera that single-handedly started the ''DSLR Revolution'' which completely turned the video/cinema world upside down.
Then Canon made improvements to the 5DII on the III (real good improvements), but other manufacturers seemed to just keep pulling ahead in video technology and we've been waiting for Canon to strike back and come back as the video leader.
The biggest and most major downside with Canon DSLRs (and 5DIII) is video resolution/sharpness. Many think it's just that it doesn't shoot 4K video but the fact is that it shoots quite soft 1080p video. While it's contained in a 1080p wrapper it's much closer to 720p. This was fine in the earlier days but now companies are offering real 1080p resolution (Sony A7s) and beyond (4K) in cheaper and smaller cameras. Canon needed to address this ASAP before anything else. It's resolution after all that gives that WOW effect and why everyone is jumping to GH4/A7s. It looks impressive and sharp in YT in 1080p and 2160p.
The first Canon to address this is the 1DX II which offered incredible resolution at 4K (real DCI) (well the 1DC was the first and had that resolution way back but we won't count it, being at launch a 12.000 USD camera). But both cameras are really not at a price point to make an impact on the video world as a whole. It's a sports DSLR.
Which brings us to the 5D IV.
What does it have for us video peeps:
1- 4K MJPEG 500mbps.
People who are bitching about that and saying it should be H.264, have NEVER used that codec before and know very little about videography.
Motion Jpeg on the 1DC and 1DXII and 5DIV, is a MUCH superior codec to ALL competing 4K cameras out there. It's simply a much higher image quality. Much higher data and less to zero compression artefacts. And a little unknown fact is that MJPEG on the 5D is 500mbps 8bit 4:2:2, meaning it's EBU Broadcast approved and is ''broadcast quality/accepted'' for HD acquisition while all the other competitors simply cannot be used for that as they have 100mbps 8bit 4:2:0 codecs. So the MJPEG codec offers much higher colour and data information.
This comes in the form of larger file sizes, OF COURSE it does. Would you rather a lower quality codec in a smaller file? Canon could have easily done that. But they choose MJPEG to leap the competition and give a higher IQ. If you want small file sizes, th 5D IV and 1DX II can also shoot h.264 4:2:0 HD. Go ahead and shoot that.
If you ever used the Canon MJPEG 4K files you know what the image quality is like in terms of lack of compression artefacts, fine film grain, huge colour palette, much more versatile and grade-able image than H.264. Just better and better. Again. Want smaller files, shoot H.264 HD or convert your MJPEG files to anything on you PC, even Standard Def for all I know.
MJPEG 500Mbps 4:2:2 4K images is the most exciting part about the 5DIV video, as it means it's again for once has just has better IQ and higher end image than all the rivals. Not a downside. The fat files with Canon filmic and proven picture styles' colours, lowlight, 4K sharpness, will give very special images at that price point.
2- Slowmotion
The 5DIV gives us slowmotion capability. One is 2x slo-mo in 1080p. and 4X slo-mo in 720p.
While I wanted 4x at 1080p, its great we do have the ability to hand out slowmotion files for out clients. Wedding videographers will be using that 2x 1080p a lot for sure. And sports videographers will be using that 4x 720p.
3- Dual Pixel AF with Touch panel
No other video shooting device has this. It's the first time we can now shoot high quality, broadcast level, 4K 4:2:2 video, and have out focusing performed using a touch screen. This feature is HUGE. It almost eliminated the need for follow focus devices and even focus pullers on high end shoots. It proved to be that reliable and good on the 1DXII. It's magic. And best of all, works with all AF lenses. Now any inexperienced shooter can shoot large sensor video with organic focus pulls, and pros can forget about one burden (focus ring) and focus on composition, and this will be also extremlely handy for rigs and stabilization units like steadicams/glidecams/ronins/movi etc where previously your only option was to get a wireless follow focus device and hire someone to focus on a separate monitor for you. Now set to face detection, record. See how big this actually is? This technology will be scaled up in the far future to Alexa/Red type cameras I am sure.
From the 5D II to III Canon tried to fix the problems of shooting video on DSLRs and these will translate to the MK IV surely so add those too.
1- Eliminated moire and aliasing
2- Gave good audio with silent manual control with the touch pad
3- Gave a headphone out to monitor audio
4- fixed overheating issues and extended recording to the max 30min vs 12min.
5- offered a dedicated record and video liveview mode with meters, dedicated expsoure
6- gave a 1080p HDMI output for monitoring and clean for recording
So the 5D IV is a very interesting video proposition. The things it lacks are:
1- We don't know if the 4K is FF or a 1:1 crop. Which would be a near APS-C one. Still good but we hope for FF. The 1:1 crop from the 20mp 1DXII gives a small crop to APS-H but at 30mp 1.6/1.7x crop is not small and is a totally different sensor size. This could potentially make the 5D a 4K APS-C camera and a FF HD camera.
2- Canon refuses to give non "C" cameras "C"-Log. Which increases highlight DR by at least 1-2 stops (time to install that Cinestyle again to get LOG images -which works very well with the 1DXII btw-)
4- Canon refuses to give manual focus users simple aids like peaking.
5- Of course no EVF and tilty LCD, so you'll get those screen loups out of the closet again (which do make great EVFs to be honest but just another thing to carry and makes the camera bigger)
The biggest missing detail by far is the 4K video crop. If it's a whole sensor downsample from 30mp to 4K (which Canon has never done) or a 1:1 APS-C+ Crop.
So how does it leap other common rivals?
A7s/r: 500mbps 4:2:2 vs 10mbps 4:2:0, higher image quality overall, much better colour rendition and skin tones, much stronger body and button layout. Magical focus system and bigger cheaper lens line-up. Much bigger battery life and no overheating issues.
GH4: Same huge codec difference so higher data rate but the Panny has good Canon-like colours so that's not issue as the sony. Bigger stronger body, DPAF, Much bigger sensor (biggest one here, two different camera classes) and lowlight performance (horrible on GH4) and DR.
I can't wait to play with fat colourful MJPEG files off the 5D IV and see how it does in 4K lowlight at 6400+ ISO.
My next video rig is probably going to be the 5D IV + Zucoto LCD loup + Rode mic + new 24-105mm F4/L.
Small, stabilized, simple, with cinema/broadcast quality files.
about praise: this is a post specifically made to highlight the praise that people here seem to miss because they are photographers. Plus I listed the rivals' merits anyhow (EVF, Peaking, zebras, tilt screen), but one thing that seems strangely overlooked is that the 5D (based on Canon 4k mjpeg history) will have the highest image quality of all the DSLRs/mirrorless cameras at the price point, doesn't that matter a bit? Plus the usability issues can be worked around as we did for years in the 5D days (Loup gives you a huge EVF, IS lenses are better for video than IBiS which is a known fact as IBIS shows occassional robotic jumping, and an external small LCD/EVF can guve you peaking for manual focus, but DPAF will make manual focus much less usable for you, trust me, it's magic!). So it's an extremely appealing proposition for cinemstography, as the cinema-grade 1DC/1Dx image has finally came down to 5D price point. It's not a very appealing proposition for wedding/doc as the large high quality codec in 4K is going to be suitable for high end applications. Unless it has a very good h.264 HD mode for docs as the 1dx does. 6- HDMI: It's maxed out at 1080p 60p. On the 1dx and 1dc, when the camera is internally set to 4k crop mode, the 1080p 4:2:2 hdmi output is one of the highest quality HD ever, rivaling C300. 5D MK IV will be the same. So for those who donlt want to shoot MJPEG and downscale to HD, the camera HDMI can internally make a 4kto2k downsample and record it to ProRes via any cheap Ninja star/2/blade. But no 4K HDMI. Good thing internal 4K is high quality!
