The Canon EOS 5D MkIII is a favorite of professional and aspirational semi-professional photographers, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. At launch in 2012, it was the highest resolution camera the company made, but things have moved on significantly in the past four years. The 5D MkIV brings it up to speed.
First on the list of upgrades is the new 30.4 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. Not only is it higher resolution than the outgoing 22.3 megapixel MkIII, it's combined with a new DIGIC 6+ Image Processor. Maximum standard ISO has been bumped up from 25600 to 32000, with the expanded range remaining ISO 50 to 102,400.
The new image processor will new let the camera shoot at 7 fps, and it's capable of shooting 4096 x 2160 4K video at 30p or 24p, plus HD video at up to 120p. You can also grab 8.8-Megapixel still frames in-camera while shooting in 4K.
Also new to devoted videographers is Dual Pixel CMOS AF, for smoother and more accurate focus while shooting with the mirror flipped up. When you're not running in live view, the MkIV uses a 61-point system with 41 cross points. Canon says all 61 points work with a wider range of lenses and extenders, and are effective right down to f/8.
Canon has also thrown in a new set of connectivity features. Wi-FI and NFC are both standard, as is GPS, making it easier to track, share and print images without a USB cable.
The 5D MkIV will be available from the start of September, with body-only prices kicking off at US$3,499. It will be launched alongside two new EF lenses, including a 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM and an EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM. The lenses will cost $2,199 and $1,099 respectively.
Canon 5D MkIV key specs:
- 30.4 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with ISO range 100–32,000, expandable up to 50–102,400
- 4K Motion JPEG video (DCI cinema-type 4096 x 2160) at 30p or 24p; in-camera still frame grab of 4K 8.8-Megapixel images, Full HD up to 60p, and HD up to 120p
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF for responsive and smooth AF during video or Live View shooting
- Full touch-screen interface on LCD monitor, including selection of AF area
- Up to 7.0 fps continuous shooting speed with high performance DIGIC 6+ Image Processor
- 61 AF points with expanded vertical coverage with 41 cross-points, and AF possible at all 61 AF points with many lens + extender combinations effective to f/8
- 150,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor
- Dual Pixel RAW, in-camera Digital Lens Optimizer during JPEG shooting and Diffraction Correction technologies
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity
- Built-in GPS3 for geotagging
Source: Canon
