If you're a pro photographer working within the Canon system, chances are that the EOS 5D Mark III is part of your kit. Since its release in 2012, the Mark III has proved itself to be as solid of a workhorse as it predecessors. But four years is a long time in technology, so it's not a huge surprise that Canon has decided to update the body.
The new iteration, unsurprisingly dubbed the EOS 5D Mark IV, ups the sensor resolution from 22MP all the way to 30MP, adds Dual Pixel AF for Live View shooting, which is a big plus for working photographers as it delivers smooth, camcorder-like autofocus when shooting video. That goes hand-in-hand with the camera's updated video capabilities, which include 4K DCI capture at 30fps and 1080p at up to 60fps. Clean recording is available for 1080p video over HDMI, but not for 4K.
Another advantage of the Dual Pixel AF design is a new capture mode, Dual Pixel Raw. Canon promises that shooting in this mode will allow photographers to make minute adjustments to plane of sharpness after an image has been captured. At press time just how those adjustments can be made, and how much extra control they'll give you, is unclear. But rest assured we'll give it a close look when the 5D Mark IV comes in for review.
There aren't a lot of cosmetic changes. The remote control connector has been moved to the front of the camera to make way for the larger micro USB 3.0 connector on the side panel, where the Mark IV still offers headphone, microphone, HDMI, and PC sync connections. Rear controls are identical to the Mark III, save for the addition of a small button that can be used to quickly switch through the available focus areas, similar to the lever used on the 7D Mark II.
The mirror mechanism has been refined to reduce vibration, a requirement to get the most out of the 30MP image sensor. Despite the increase in resolution, the sensor can bet set from ISO 100 through ISO 32000 in its native range, with ISO 50 and settings up to ISO 102400 available in extended mode.
And, to take full advantage of the improved video autofocus system, the rear LCD now supports touch input. Weather-sealing has been improved to be as robust as that of the 7D Mark II, which means that you can comfortably use the 5D Mark IV in the harshest environments.
When shooting using the optical viewfinder, you'll take advantage of an improved 61-point autofocus system. It covers a slightly larger area of the frame than the Mark III and all of the focus points are active when using lenses (or lens and teleconverter combinations) as slow as f/8. The metering system uses a 150,000-pixel RGB+IR sensor to ensure exposures are precise and to help the camera better track objects and lock focus on faces.
Continuous focus can track subjects while maintaining a 7fps capture rate. Dual memory card slots—one for CompactFlash and one for SD—are available. To get the best performance you'll want to use UDMA 7 CF memory. You can capture up to 21 Raw images in a burst with this type of memory, compared with 19 shots when using UHS-I SD memory.
Wi-Fi, with support for NFC, is now built-in. You can transfer images to a smarpthone or tablet without having to add an Eyefi card. That's sure to make photographers with a social media following happy, as it makes it easier to share images with followers while on location. Travel photogs will also appreciate an in-camera GPS, which automatically adds location data to photos, and ensures that the internal clock is set correctly, even when hopping across time zones.
In addition to the 5D Mark IV, Canon is also releasing a pair of new lenses and a unique Wi-Fi adapter. The lenses are both updates to existing zooms. The EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM ($1,099) promises better image quality and stabilization than the older EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.
It's joined by the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM ($2,199), an update to the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM and also promises improved image quality, especially toward the edges of the frame.
Owners of the 7D Mark II, 5D S, and 5DS R who want to add Wi-Fi connectivity should take a look at the Wi-Fi Adapter W-E1. It looks exactly like an SD card, but it's not a memory card. The small Wi-Fi adapter slides into your camera's SD slot to add wireless connectivity. You'll need to use CF memory when using this accessory, of course. Pricing and availability are not yet set.
The EOS 5D Mark IV is priced at $3,499 as a body only and will go on sale in September. It will also be available in a kit with the EF 24-70mm f/4L for $4,399 or with the new EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM for $4,599. The 24-70mm kit will go on sale in September, with the 24-105mm bundle following in late October—which is also when the 24-105mm and the new 16-35mm will go on sale.