Review: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV by Lensrentals.com

[LDS]

People rant about the 5D4 because it doesn't have many features that cheaper and older camera products of competitors offer, like:
- Articulating screen
[...]
- Focus stacking mode

What part of "People want a camera that can shoot medium format quality images, with the speed of a Canon 1DX Mark II, and the video functionalities of a RED Weapon – and they want the price to sit under $3,000. " you missed? Probably he should also have added "the iPhone experience" too...

Mixing pro video features with generic consumer oriented ones ("apps installation"? c'mon!) is not sound design... and it's clear the 5D IV is not aimed at filmmakers.

 

[M_S]

See thats the problem imo. No you don't. These are features that more or less exist in todays cameras of lesser caliber than the Mark IV. Not in one camera, but that would be a bang-camera if it would have all the features. The Mark IV was the camera I believed would do the trick, once again, like in old times. But it failed for me. Hybrid is the way these cameras have to evolve or they become obsolete in the future. Videos are shot more and more these days with smartphones with small devices like the gopro or nikon 360 or whatever. Cameras are used for "both" now, like smartphones are used for surfing the net+taking pics+organizer+shooting video. There will always be room for dedicated video cameras for the pro market. But to say to get a hugely expensive video camera just for shooting proper video, knowing that there are devices out there, that can do both, is, at least for me, a statement of yesteryear...

Er...in case you hadn't noticed the 5DIV does have video. The issue comes in that people expect in the 5DIV the same standard of video as they get in top class video machines (as typified by the text in bold).
Sure the Sony has full-whack video but from what I read also has significant heating issues after a short time. Canon has a long history of including functions only when those functions offer genuine advancement and as far as I can see it is no point asking the camera to do professional grade video if you cannot shoot for professional periods of time. Which is shy Canon believes a really, really serious videographer will choose a dedicated machine not a DLSR or mirrorless DSLR-type.

Yeah. Er... I noticed. But you didn't get what I was trying to say. Just giving the capability of getting top class gear and leaving out the stuff that makes that capability useable is just leaving the stuff out of the camera. Its like saying "hey that car drives as fast as a ferrari" but putting not seat in the car. From a marketing standpoint the company can say that the car is as fast as a ferrari, but the user will scratch his had and will move on to a car, that is equally priced, has the speed of the ferrari and still costs as much as a ford.

 

[Mikehit]

No idea what your analogy is about but

Just giving the capability of getting top class gear and leaving out the stuff that makes that capability useable is just leaving the stuff out of the camera.

Fact is, Canon hasn't given the capability so in that respect has not left anything out. It was a design choice. They have made it clear that they will not put that functionality in their stills-oriented cameras (yet).
They have however given it the capability of a stills camera (which is what it is) and done a damned fine job.

 

[LDS]

But to say to get a hugely expensive video camera just for shooting proper video, knowing that there are devices out there, that can do both, is, at least for me, a statement of yesteryear...

The issue is how properly they can do both, really. The ergonomics of a camera to shoot professional video is very different from a still one. You can rig a DSLR to mimic a video camera, and still you have a DSLR which is clumsier to use for professional video. And if a DSLR would move toward a video camera, it would lose its comfortable ergonomics for stills.

Sometimes, a device that can do both even with limitations is OK, often it is not. A product that can't really deliver what it promises will just make users discontent, but those who just look at the specs and never really use the features they demand for...

 

[suburbia]

If I have to read about zebras one more time...

 

[Mikehit]

To be fair, zebras have a use even for stills photographers when shooting with LiveView. I think their association with video may be where Canon does not incorporate it to their DSLRs. Similarly for focus peaking in manual focussing. Maybe Canon don't rate LiveView function as highly as their OVF whereas with EVFs focus peaking and zebras are more useful simply because they are visible in the viewfinder.

Still not a deal breaker for me, just musing.

 

[Orangutan]

These are features that more or less exist in todays cameras of lesser caliber than the Mark IV. Not in one camera, but that would be a bang-camera if it would have all the features.

Features cost money: R&D, integration, documentation, tech support, repair, etc. Piling on new features with low demand just pours money down a hole. To repeat, yet again: I'd love to have all of these features in my Canon body, but I can see that Canon is making the smart business choice by improving the features that promote sales, and deferring features that do not.

 

[bmpress]

Thank you all for your comments. My personal decision is to keep my 5D III for another three years until the dynamic range is improved.

 

[Memdroid]

To be fair, zebras have a use even for stills photographers when shooting with LiveView. I think their association with video may be where Canon does not incorporate it to their DSLRs. Similarly for focus peaking in manual focussing. Maybe Canon don't rate LiveView function as highly as their OVF whereas with EVFs focus peaking and zebras are more useful simply because they are visible in the viewfinder.

Still not a deal breaker for me, just musing.

I think this is why Canon is not incorporating this feature. DPAF tackles this in Liveview already and is highly accurate.

 

[Alex_M]

Let the Canon's official explain what was the driver behind their decision not to include some of the video features that are being discussed. please watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqF-DxCqczA

 

[M_S]

No idea what your analogy is about but

Just giving the capability of getting top class gear and leaving out the stuff that makes that capability useable is just leaving the stuff out of the camera.

Fact is, Canon hasn't given the capability so in that respect has not left anything out. It was a design choice. They have made it clear that they will not put that functionality in their stills-oriented cameras (yet).
They have however given it the capability of a stills camera (which is what it is) and done a damned fine job.

It's a hybrid camera, it has stills and video capability, like every other camera out there today on the market. One of many. So it is at best "also" a stills camera not only a stills camera per se. It has some cool features in the stills area, granted, but even there, there are obstacles which show that they made some very odd design choices, to which they sticked to the end.

 

[LDS]

To be fair, zebras have a use even for stills photographers when shooting with LiveView.

I would find much more useful the viewfinder right side exposure meter which AFAIK comes with the 7D II and 1DX only, which allows for taking separate measurement in spot mode, assessing differences, and, if it works like in the old T90, also create a designed "average" exposure.

Zebras tell me little about contrast and lighting ratios. And unlike a video, people peruse a photo details much more. And not everything can be properly fix in postproduction.

 

[Mikehit]

Let the Canon's official explain what was the driver behind their decision not to include some of the video features that are being discussed. please watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqF-DxCqczA

Excellent link. Thanks for posting.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Thank you all for your comments. My personal decision is to keep my 5D III for another three years until the dynamic range is improved.

That's ironic, as this is one area that is vastly improved over any previous Canon camera. http://bit.ly/2dB2W6f

The difference between the 5D Mark IV and the Sony A7r II is minuscule, and the 5D Mark IV is an infinitely better handling camera.

 

[nehemiah]

Yeah. Er... I noticed. But you didn't get what I was trying to say. Just giving the capability of getting top class gear and leaving out the stuff that makes that capability useable is just leaving the stuff out of the camera. Its like saying "hey that car drives as fast as a ferrari" but putting not seat in the car. From a marketing standpoint the company can say that the car is as fast as a ferrari, but the user will scratch his had and will move on to a car, that is equally priced, has the speed of the ferrari and still costs as much as a ford.

Where is this car? I'd like to purchase one.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Yeah. Er... I noticed. But you didn't get what I was trying to say. Just giving the capability of getting top class gear and leaving out the stuff that makes that capability useable is just leaving the stuff out of the camera. Its like saying "hey that car drives as fast as a ferrari" but putting not seat in the car. From a marketing standpoint the company can say that the car is as fast as a ferrari, but the user will scratch his had and will move on to a car, that is equally priced, has the speed of the ferrari and still costs as much as a ford.

Where is this car? I'd like to purchase one.

The Ford GT qualifies on the speed front, and since it is a Ford, I guess it costs as much as a Ford Get in line...I'm afraid they're all sold out, though.

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

I always find posts like this curious, it's kind of like things those who have not had any experience with the camera say...soooo...here we go

Hell no, NOBODY on the planet did rant about the 5D4 because anybody expected "a camera that can shoot medium format quality images, with the speed of a Canon 1DX Mark II, and the video functionalities of a RED Weapon"!!!

People rant about the 5D4 because it doesn't have many features that cheaper (cheaper than what? d810 is around the same price, so is the a7r2. d750 is IMO not a direct competitor)and older camera products of competitors offer, like:
- Articulating screen not everyone wants that, in fact, many are very vocally against it - myself included.
- Silent Photo Shooting ????? normal shutter is pretty quiet, and the silent mode is quieter than the 5d3, not sure what more you want in a dslr
- EVF reviewing and filming don't do video so this is pretty useless to a stills shooter
- Sensor stabilization it is up for debate for sure what is better, IS in body or IS in lens. I'd prefer it in lens, but that's just me
- Pixelshift no need, not ranting about the lack of, didn't even notice it wasn't there
- Focus Peakingno need, not ranting about the lack of, didn't even notice it wasn't there
- Zebra no need, not ranting about the lack of, didn't even notice it wasn't there
- Fully assignable buttons actually, the buttons are way more customizable on the mk4, and tat new little nubby button is really nice
- Third wheel for ISO not really needed
- APS-C Crop Lens compatibilityreally???? this is a very old horse that's been beaten to death too many times. with so few EFS lenses, come on, you sell them off when you move to FF. Do the research and own the purchase
- Speedbooster Option ??????
- App installation please god no, that's what your phone is for - let your camera be a damn camera
- Hot Shoe multi use for audio etc stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- Thumbnail Videos stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- Video Log/Raw Mode stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K shooting in real Full Frame stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K shooting in any zoom range between Full Frame and the middle 8 MP crop stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K in 3840 width stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K with efficient codec stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- HDMI out in 4K stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K 60fps stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 240fps Video stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- Focus stacking mode this would be neat, and I can see DPRAW evlving to meet this need, but, it's still probably better to complete the stack on your PC rather than in camera

The worst thing is that Canon just did release their best flagship cameras with the 5D4 and 1DX2, that have to last until 2020 with a big gap in specs, as the follow ups of the 6D and 5DsR will hardly include anything of a long list of convenient and modern features. this is totally your opinion, many do find the camera to be quite awesome At the same time you can expect that Sony will come out with a new camera until 2017yup, and in 2018, and in 2019, and in 2020 --- I for one would rather have something with a little more lasting power, as opposed to buying a $3000 camera every year, chasing the greatest spec sheet that merges the best specs of the A99II and A7RII, who are both not having a nearly equally long list of missing features compared to the 5D4.

The times have changed. In 2008 the 5D2 was alone on the market with its set of features and offered (unfortunately by chance it seems) more than people expected, which is why the feedback was 95% positive. Now we have 2016, and subjectively 50% of all people are disappointed about the 5D4, because Canon still acts as if they just have to be a bit better than Nikon and nothing else, like in the last decades.

In summary, have fun with your sony camera's, because it sounds like you just need to buy a sony. I really really hope that the folks at canon are taking the demands of video people with a huge grain of salt, because video folks seem to be really hard to please....

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

If true, than the price of the Canon 5D Mark IV should come down rapidly and by significant amount. We should also expect a flood of used cameras on eBay offloaded by their disappointed owners. Who is going to neeed such a lacking product for US$3500 when there tons of cheaper and better options around? Unfortunately (for cash limited would be buyers), not true and not going to happen. Wedding photogs will continue vote for the camera with their dollars and value of the camera will hold well in time as it should.

holy crap, pinch me, I am actually agreeing with you

 

[douglaurent]

This forum will be interesting in the years 2020-2030, when all the Canon customers who are happy with the current limitations have to become very angry, as Canon by then over the years had implemented all those features of the competitors. All of you please store my wish list from today, so you have a "feature removal" list at hand in the future you can send to Canon - because focus peaking, sensor stabilization etc are really devil's work.

I am a happy person now and in the future, as depending on the project I will use a 5D4, 1DX2, A7R2, A7S2 or other cameras I own, which means any minute I can already work with all relevant features - just not all of them in the same camera, which is inconvenient sometimes. The missing features are much more inconvenient for those who only have access to one camera, or the cameras of one brand.

At the same time I feel sorry for all who don't see any necessity to put pressure on manufacturers, and pay the highest possible prices for intentionally limited products. Maybe someone could answer me which disadvantage you see for the Canon consumers, when someone asks Canon to implement features of their competitors? Any camera includes dozens of features an individual user will not need, so where is the problem?

 

[douglaurent]

I always find posts like this curious, it's kind of like things those who have not had any experience with the camera say...soooo...here we go

Hell no, NOBODY on the planet did rant about the 5D4 because anybody expected "a camera that can shoot medium format quality images, with the speed of a Canon 1DX Mark II, and the video functionalities of a RED Weapon"!!!

People rant about the 5D4 because it doesn't have many features that cheaper (cheaper than what? d810 is around the same price, so is the a7r2. d750 is IMO not a direct competitor)and older camera products of competitors offer, like:
- Articulating screen not everyone wants that, in fact, many are very vocally against it - myself included.
- Silent Photo Shooting ????? normal shutter is pretty quiet, and the silent mode is quieter than the 5d3, not sure what more you want in a dslr
- EVF reviewing and filming don't do video so this is pretty useless to a stills shooter
- Sensor stabilization it is up for debate for sure what is better, IS in body or IS in lens. I'd prefer it in lens, but that's just me
- Pixelshift no need, not ranting about the lack of, didn't even notice it wasn't there
- Focus Peakingno need, not ranting about the lack of, didn't even notice it wasn't there
- Zebra no need, not ranting about the lack of, didn't even notice it wasn't there
- Fully assignable buttons actually, the buttons are way more customizable on the mk4, and tat new little nubby button is really nice
- Third wheel for ISO not really needed
- APS-C Crop Lens compatibilityreally???? this is a very old horse that's been beaten to death too many times. with so few EFS lenses, come on, you sell them off when you move to FF. Do the research and own the purchase
- Speedbooster Option ??????
- App installation please god no, that's what your phone is for - let your camera be a damn camera
- Hot Shoe multi use for audio etc stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- Thumbnail Videos stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- Video Log/Raw Mode stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K shooting in real Full Frame stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K shooting in any zoom range between Full Frame and the middle 8 MP crop stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K in 3840 width stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K with efficient codec stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- HDMI out in 4K stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 4K 60fps stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- 240fps Video stills focused people aren't complaining about this
- Focus stacking mode this would be neat, and I can see DPRAW evlving to meet this need, but, it's still probably better to complete the stack on your PC rather than in camera

The worst thing is that Canon just did release their best flagship cameras with the 5D4 and 1DX2, that have to last until 2020 with a big gap in specs, as the follow ups of the 6D and 5DsR will hardly include anything of a long list of convenient and modern features. this is totally your opinion, many do find the camera to be quite awesome At the same time you can expect that Sony will come out with a new camera until 2017yup, and in 2018, and in 2019, and in 2020 --- I for one would rather have something with a little more lasting power, as opposed to buying a $3000 camera every year, chasing the greatest spec sheet that merges the best specs of the A99II and A7RII, who are both not having a nearly equally long list of missing features compared to the 5D4.

The times have changed. In 2008 the 5D2 was alone on the market with its set of features and offered (unfortunately by chance it seems) more than people expected, which is why the feedback was 95% positive. Now we have 2016, and subjectively 50% of all people are disappointed about the 5D4, because Canon still acts as if they just have to be a bit better than Nikon and nothing else, like in the last decades.

In summary, have fun with your sony camera's, because it sounds like you just need to buy a sony. I really really hope that the folks at canon are taking the demands of video people with a huge grain of salt, because video folks seem to be really hard to please....

I am very happy with all of my Canon and Sony cameras, but I am sad to see Canon being historically behind its competition regarding features in current cameras - especially when we all know they could offer much more and are the overall best brand.

Your red comments do explain why YOU don't need these features. Many other people like and need these features, which is why many bought an A7R2 that already includes most of my list. If you think change and progress is bad, you think against the nature of the planet, business and markets.