Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview review of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV highlights a highly capable 16-megapixel, 1.3x crop-sensor DSLR designed for sports and photojournalism, offering a rugged, weather-sealed build. Key strengths include a 10 fps burst rate, an improved 45-point autofocus system, and excellent high ISO performance. However, the review notes the autofocus system is highly complex to configure, and the highest ISO settings, specifically 102,400, produce poor output. Additionally, the 1335g camera is uncomfortable to hold in portrait orientation, and its fixed screen makes video recording cumbersome.

The-Digital-Picture review highlights the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV as a rugged, high-speed flagship DSLR tailored for sports and wildlife photography, boasting a 16.1-megapixel APS-H sensor and 10 fps continuous shooting. Key advantages include an enhanced 45-point autofocus system, minimal shutter lag, and exceptional weather-sealed build quality.

The Imaging Resource review characterizes the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV as a robust, professional-grade DSLR featuring a 16.1-megapixel APS-H sensor and dual DIGIC 4 processors, enabling 10 frames-per-second shooting. Key strengths include a highly accurate 45-point autofocus system, exceptional color reproduction, and durable weather sealing. Conversely, the review notes the camera's high-ISO noise performance trails that of competing models at ISO 6,400 and above, and the buffer fills quickly during maximum-speed shooting. Additionally, despite offering Full HD 1080p video, the 1D Mark IV's autofocus functionality for video is described as limited. For the full, detailed review, visit Imaging Resource.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV demonstrates exceptional color accuracy and robust dynamic range performance, particularly when handling sRGB color spaces. Imatest analysis shows an excellent average saturation-corrected color error of just 4.35 delta-C units, though colors are slightly less saturated and more true-to-life when switching to the wider Adobe RGB gamut. Its dynamic range scores near the top of all tested SLRs for in-camera JPEGs, recording a total dynamic range of 9.67 f-stops at its native base ISO 100. For low-light environments, the camera excels at keeping noise levels low and fine-grained from ISO 50 up to ISO 800, remaining competitive with the industry's best low-noise sensors in that specific range. However, the camera suffers from significant in-camera oversharpening at default settings, which artificially inflates uncorrected resolution numbers to a combined average of 2,361 LW/PH. Imatest reports that default JPEGs are oversharpened by 13.8% horizontally and 6.9% vertically, meaning users must dial down internal sharpening or shoot in RAW to avoid edge artifacts and capture genuine detail. Furthermore, while low-ISO noise management is stellar, noise increases drastically at ISO 1,600...

The Canon 1D Mark IV is the first camera in its specific series to feature a dedicated movie recording mode, offering full 1080p HD video capability along with a 24p "Motion Picture" frame rate. A major benefit of this camera is its APS-H sensor, which extends lens reach by 25 percent and allows users to capture a shallow depth of field with fast lenses. Additionally, the camera boasts a large battery that can record over 150 minutes of video on a single charge. It also shows significant improvement in reducing "rolling shutter" distortion during fast panning movements compared to earlier models like the 5D Mark II. However, the camera has notable flaws, particularly regarding audio control and overall handling ergonomics. It completely lacks manual audio volume controls, meaning the camera automatically adjusts the sound, which often leads to a distracting background hiss. The device also maintains a heavy digital SLR body design that makes it physically awkward to hold steady like a normal camcorder. Furthermore, changing the lens aperture during recording causes jarring visual steps and loud physical clicks. Finally,...

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV features improved standard color profiles that produce punchier, more dynamic images, saving professional photographers post-processing time, and offers reliable Auto White Balance in standard environments. However, the camera struggles with indoor tungsten lighting, often producing a yellow color cast that requires manual white balance adjustment. Additional drawbacks include a complex menu system with 62 custom functions that can hinder operational speed.

The Amateur Photographer review highlights the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV as a robust, professional flagship with a 16.1-megapixel APS-H sensor, boasting a 10fps shooting speed and improved, larger buttons for better handling. Its magnesium-alloy body features 76 dust- and waterproof seals, designed to endure extreme conditions for sports and photojournalism. However, the review points out that the 300,000-cycle shutter durability may be insufficient for its intended heavy, high-speed usage, and the integrated vertical grip results in a bulky, heavy form factor. While offering robust professional features, the camera's size necessitates specific, larger equipment for transport. amateurphotographer.com

The What Digital Camera review awards the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV a 95% score, highlighting its exceptional 10fps speed, 45-point autofocus, and superior high-ISO performance. The 16.1-megapixel APS-H sensor delivers excellent noise control in a rugged, weather-sealed body. While praising its performance, the review cites a complex menu system that buries key settings as a major drawback. Additionally, the camera lacks the intuitive video controls found on other Canon models.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV serves as a highly capable tool for nature and wildlife photography, offering notable autofocus upgrades and extreme low-light versatility. Key advantages highlighted in the review include the improved AI Servo autofocus tracking when paired with firmware version 1.0.6, which excelled at locking onto and tracking fast-moving subjects like flying sparrows and eagles, even when they passed directly in front of the sun. The camera also features a high-resolution 920,000-dot LCD screen that makes confirming image sharpness and using LiveView much more efficient than on previous pro bodies. Additionally, the reviewer praised its rugged, weather-sealed construction, advanced customization options like Spot AF, focus point auto-selection by camera orientation, and highly usable high-ISO capabilities that deliver acceptable results up to ISO 51,200. However, the camera does present several drawbacks depending on the shooting scenario. The 1.3x crop factor of the APS-H sensor required significant adjustment for focal length expectations, occasionally making certain lenses like the 300mm f/2.8 too long for specific situations. There is also a noticeable drop in overall image detail and resolution down to...

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is a high-end digital SLR camera that bridges the gap between professional still photography and high-quality film production by leveraging its large 27.9 x 18.6 mm APS-H CMOS sensor and Dual Digic 4 processor. Designed for serious photographers, it delivers detailed 16.1-megapixel uncompressed RAW or JPEG images, complete with a 920,000-dot, 3-inch LCD screen and an ergonomically stable body design. For filmmakers, its primary strength lies in its diverse video resolution and frame rate capabilities, recording full 1080p video at cinematic 24fps or 30fps, and 720p at 60fps directly to fast CompactFlash cards. Furthermore, it excels exceptionally well in low-light environments, maintaining pristine image quality up to ISO 1600 with minimal noise. Despite its robust features, the camera has notable operational and design weaknesses that target production workflow efficiencies. Its most glaring limitation is the lack of manual audio level controls due to an un-bypasable audio auto gain feature, which can result in distorted recordings when using external microphones. Additionally, it lacks a dedicated physical toggle switch to seamlessly shift between shooting stills and...