How much better would the 5D mkIV have to be for you to upgrade from your mkiii?

[privatebydesign]

One thing that has improved two stops over the life of these ff cameras is the software.

I can use images shot two stops under exposed at max iso now, I couldn't a few years ago. I don't need a new camera, I just have to throw down $150 every year or two to get better and better software that enables ever higher iso performance.

 

[EvillEmperor]

I shoot sports and I'm young and I wasn't able to afford the 1D X (that was never an option) and I had used my school's 7D for a while, and I knew the day the MK III was announced that I would get it one day. I got it a year later and I'm very happy. The only thing I would wish for would be higher FPS, maybe a little lighter, and if the SD slots would be faster. The FPS I find is too slow for baseball, because for a pitcher and batter I don't need continuous auto focus, and I find with 6 fps it's harder to make contact with the ball with the bat. It works great indoors, where the AF doesn't slow down at all, unlike the 7D while shooting.

 

[jdramirez]

I shoot sports and I'm young and I wasn't able to afford the 1D X (that was never an option) and I had used my school's 7D for a while, and I knew the day the MK III was announced that I would get it one day. I got it a year later and I'm very happy. The only thing I would wish for would be higher FPS, maybe a little lighter, and if the SD slots would be faster. The FPS I find is too slow for baseball, because for a pitcher and batter I don't need continuous auto focus, and I find with 6 fps it's harder to make contact with the ball with the bat. It works great indoors, where the AF doesn't slow down at all, unlike the 7D while shooting.

for baseball, tripod mount, focus manually or spot focus, and have a wired release and time it right. the more you watch, the more you practice, the easier it gets.

 

[tpatana]

Give me most of these and I'll consider:

1: Two (or more) stop improvement on ISO
2: 720p240 (I'd be ok with 1080p240 too)
3: 10fps+ (and naturally plenty of buffer, ~20+ would be nice)
4: Dual-CF slots with separate data channels for writing (so it could flush buffer to both cards, roughly doubling the speed it can empty the buffer)
5: Integrated grip (=1D style body (I know Canon don't want this, they want 1D to look the king))

Not so important but nice to have:

6: GPS/Wifi
7: Dual-pixel AF -thingy
8: Wireless video link for GoogleGlass (or similar), so you could use live-view shooting while watching the scene through your video glasses. Nice for composing/shooting when you must hold the camera at a funny angle/position and can't use the OVF.
9:Couple GBs of internal memory for those moments when you MUST take the shot and you're either just filled your card or were exchanging the card for a fresh one. Such shouldn't happen to a professional, but it does happen to me.
10: 3G/4G modem and capability to upload directly to the service/system of your choice. (I take this back, no respectable photog would upload without editing, only for mag/paper if you must send it right away for the editor)

I'd pay some money if they add all those.

 

[skfla]

Give me most of these and I'll consider:

1: Two (or more) stop improvement on ISO
2: 720p240 (I'd be ok with 1080p240 too)
3: 10fps+ (and naturally plenty of buffer, ~20+ would be nice)
4: Dual-CF slots with separate data channels for writing (so it could flush buffer to both cards, roughly doubling the speed it can empty the buffer)
5: Integrated grip (=1D style body (I know Canon don't want this, they want 1D to look the king))

Dude, I'm curious-are you serious or is this american sarcasm/irony?

 

[Maxaperture]

I moved on (ASAP) from a 7D to a 5DII, and then exchanged that for a 5DIII when I could afford it.
I love it, I feel really spoilt, and we mustn't forget how fast this incredible technology is moving.
However, I do have one disappointment, the focus points, if they could just spread them out
63 points are superb to have, and as we all know, they're seriously effective. But it would be fantastic if they were spread over a larger percentage of the frame.

 

[Canon1]

Two stops of ISO? I don't think that's theoretically possible. 1/2 stop of ISO is a big difference.
The difference between the original 5D and the 5D MK III is less than 1 stop. The original 5D is the lowest scoring Canon FF sensor (as far as high ISO is concerned) that DXO has measured.

Even the 1D X is a hair less than 1 stop better than the original 5D.

I would disagree with this. the 5DIII is one full stop better then the 5DII. (Shooting RAW) Testing has shown this as well as my real world experience. The 5DIII is at least 2 stops better then the 5DC.

I'd be happy to see some reliable test results other than those of DXO. DXO has a pretty good and accurate test capability. What many of us do not like is their self assigned sensor ratings which reflects some unknown weightings that may or may not reflect our actual usage. The accuracy of their basic test results though is well accepted.

I've had the original 5D, two 5D MK II's and two 5D MK III's. and I'd love to be able to say my MK III's are full stop better than my MK II's. But that's only wishful thinking.

There are well done accurate measurements at DXO of the high ISO capability of various sensors, the range is much narrower than people think.

Here is their high ISO rating of CMOS Sensors RAW output since 2004. I did not include the CCD sensor from the original 1DS MK I, (ISO 954) because it was a different technology.
From the lowest to the highest CMOS FF sensor, the difference is about one stop.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Ratings/(type)/usecase_sports


EOS 5D - ISO 1368

EOS 1Ds MK II - ISO 1480

EOS 1DS MK III - ISO 1663

EOS 5D MK II - ISO 1815

EOS 5D MK III - ISO 2293

EOS 1D X - ISO 2786

EOS 6D - ISO 2340

I as well have owned these three generations of cameras and my opinion is based solely on real world experience. I really don't hold much stock in tests that DXO or any other outfit performs. They are a nice comparison on paper but once you get out into the field that "testing" doesn't always hold true.

Perhaps I should elaborate on my statement. I believe that the 5DIII is a full stop better then the 5DII regarding noise for a couple of reasons. The type of noise between these two cameras is very different. The 5DII has colorful noise which in my opinion eats up detail and is not that easy to eliminate in post without even more detail loss. The 5DIII has strictly luminance noise (in the usable iSO range) which is much more easy to eliminate in post and the detail retention is much much better. Images shot at ISO 6400 with the 5DIII are often better out of camera then ISO 3200 of the 5DII. Then because the noise is easier to manage there is even a larger divergence.

I find that I rarely apply NR on images shot at ISO 3200 or below. It almost looks to me as if the luminance noise of the 5DIII resembles sharpening artifacts. Either way I'm confident shooting at 1-2 stops higer in ISO with my 5DIII then my 5dII. Hopefully this explanation helps clarify where I am coming from with my comments. Happy shooting.

 

[mrsfotografie]

I've decided to skip the 5DIII upgrade and wait to see if the 5D4 will be a big enough leap forward to even consider upgrading. Quite happy with the Mk2 right now.

I concur.

So I choose "2 stops of improved and usable ISO performance (low light capabilities)" compared to the MkIII to make me upgrade to a MkIV from my MkII.

Going from a MkII to a MkIII is not worth it IQ-wise.

On second thought maybe a 1D style body would be an upgrade ergonomically (haven't ever used one so can't really say). However for this reason a 1D series body is quite possibly the next step in my upgrade path although it really is a lot of money. I expect the 5D series to remain the more compact form factor it is now.

 

[rpt]

I would not upgrade to a 5DIV. My second body will be a crop camera - possibly after 2 to 3 years. Replacement of the 5DIII will be much later. Even if the 5DIV had all those listed, I'd stay with my 5DIII.

 

[danski0224]

I still haven't figured out how to use all of the stuff in the 5DIII, so an upgrade wouldn't make much sense for me.

If there is an update for the 1DsIII, and if I could afford it, that would pique my interest.

 

[jdramirez]

I would not upgrade to a 5DIV. My second body will be a crop camera - possibly after 2 to 3 years. Replacement of the 5DIII will be much later. Even if the 5DIV had all those listed, I'd stay with my 5DIII.

I believe we are in the same boat. It's a nice boat though.

 

[rpt]

I would not upgrade to a 5DIV. My second body will be a crop camera - possibly after 2 to 3 years. Replacement of the 5DIII will be much later. Even if the 5DIV had all those listed, I'd stay with my 5DIII.

I believe we are in the same boat. It's a nice boat though.

My perspective is that I got myself a professional camera (now some of these 1D folks may object but I am "standing my ground" technically I am sitting but wth!) and I am going to need that time to use all the features including the ones that ML unlocks! Dual ISO! Wow! Hmmmmm back to the topic - yes, it will take me time to accumulate the moolah to get to the next FF.

 

[Krob78]

1. Two stops improved noise performance.
2. Improved Dynamic Range
3. Two Compact Flash card slots that operate at equal rates
4. Expanded AF points
5. Higher Silent Frame Rate

I do not have the need for a larger file.

5. Higher Silent Frame Rate

Agree with everything here but the higher silent frame rate would be really great! I've thought that since day one!

 

[Zv]

I've decided to skip the 5DIII upgrade and wait to see if the 5D4 will be a big enough leap forward to even consider upgrading. Quite happy with the Mk2 right now.

I concur.

So I choose "2 stops of improved and usable ISO performance (low light capabilities)" compared to the MkIII to make me upgrade to a MkIV from my MkII.

Going from a MkII to a MkIII is not worth it IQ-wise.

On second thought maybe a 1D style body would be an upgrade ergonomically (haven't ever used one so can't really say). However for this reason a 1D series body is quite possibly the next step in my upgrade path although it really is a lot of money. I expect the 5D series to remain the more compact form factor it is now.

I don't think the 5 series will ever have the built in battery grip design as the 5D line was created just to make FF more compact. Personally the 1D style body just seems too big and would just take up room in my bag!

 

[AlanF]

I love the 5D III. It will serve me for many years. My next upgrade will be a 7D II to complement the 5D III if the sensor is improved.

 

[tpatana]

Give me most of these and I'll consider:

1: Two (or more) stop improvement on ISO
2: 720p240 (I'd be ok with 1080p240 too)
3: 10fps+ (and naturally plenty of buffer, ~20+ would be nice)
4: Dual-CF slots with separate data channels for writing (so it could flush buffer to both cards, roughly doubling the speed it can empty the buffer)
5: Integrated grip (=1D style body (I know Canon don't want this, they want 1D to look the king))

Dude, I'm curious-are you serious or is this american sarcasm/irony?

I'm a Finnish guy, not American. And yes, I'm serious.

Tell me one of those that shouldn't be in 5D4? I know the #5 is out of reach for political reasons, but all others should be fine.

 

[bdunbar79]

Give me most of these and I'll consider:

1: Two (or more) stop improvement on ISO
2: 720p240 (I'd be ok with 1080p240 too)
3: 10fps+ (and naturally plenty of buffer, ~20+ would be nice)
4: Dual-CF slots with separate data channels for writing (so it could flush buffer to both cards, roughly doubling the speed it can empty the buffer)
5: Integrated grip (=1D style body (I know Canon don't want this, they want 1D to look the king))

Dude, I'm curious-are you serious or is this american sarcasm/irony?

I'm a Finnish guy, not American. And yes, I'm serious.

Tell me one of those that shouldn't be in 5D4? I know the #5 is out of reach for political reasons, but all others should be fine.

TWO stops improvement on ISO? What does that mean? At the high end? If that happens, then Canon will also have made flying cars and microwaves that serve you your dinner straight from the kitchen into the living room, where you are watching your $150 93-inch LED TV. None of those items you listed make any sense at all.

 

[drmikeinpdx]

More dynamic range would be appreciated. And focus points farther out from the center of the frame. I'd like the ability to make the focus points light up whenever I wanted for low light photography.

 

[noisejammer]

I use my 5D2 for landscape work and have a good selection of Zeiss glass. Autofocus is thus totally irrelevant in my manually focused, live view, 0.1-shot-per-minute world. Since the 5D3 didn't offer much in the way of meaningful improvement - particularly resolution, dynamic range and low ISO noise, I decided to sit on my hands.

The cameras I have are still way better than I am and I don't want another camera that does the same job. If Canon releases something with a combination of enhancements that are significant to me, I'll take it. If not, my 5D2 / 1D4 / Fuji X-E1 combination is more than sufficient.

If - given the rapid development of the mirrorless segment this is a very big "IF" - there's a successor to the 5D4 (for lack of a better name), it will doubtless be quite a different animal from the 5D2. It might even be interesting.

 

[scottkinfw]

This will sound "out there" but what would really be hot would be a built in AFMA system that automatically calibrated each lens to each body (say like FoCal) with the touch of a button. That way, before you go on a shoot, you push a button, it autocalibrates exactly, no targets needed. I would also like to see some really great new sensor technology.

I do love my 5DIII