89%
Gold Award
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89%
Gold Award
Reviewed:
Feb 2010
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Fifth generation of Canon's speed-orientated range of professional DSLRs. The 1D Mark IV retains its predecessors'form factor and 1.3x crop, APS-H sensor size, but this time increases its pixel count to a whopping 16MP. This may not seem like many in the era of 25MP full-frame DSLRs and 14MP compacts, but it's a lot when you consider the Mark IV still has the ability to shoot at 10 frames per second. If you consider that this is almost the same resolution as offered by the last generation of Canon's studio-targeted camera, the 1Ds Mark II, but with the ability to shoot twice as fast, then you start to appreciate what this camera is promising to do.
In our tests it proved that Canon has left the autofocus problems that plagued the Mark III well and truly behind it, and while the Mark IV isn't the best high ISO camera on the market, it's still an exceptionally good one. From the point-of-view of the tasks it was built to tackle (high speed sports), there is nothing that can touch the detailed, high resolution images that it can deliver ten times a second.
| Quick links: | Announcement | Review | Sample gallery | Forum |
| Announced: | Oct 20, 2009 |
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Average rating:
4.38
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Opinion: I already had a 1Ds and a 1Dsii, both of which I'd used for sports photography but bought this because of its faster frame rate. I've used it extensively for running photography. I prefer the new interface, like the big LCD screen and the general handling. The autofocus is very good and I've tweaked it as recommended, but I get better results with one AF spot rather than several, no matter how I tweak it, so I stick to one. With multiple AF points the focus tends to fly around and sometimes onto the background. When I use one AF point it stays on what I want and I get about 90% of shots acceptably sharp as long as I do what I'm supposed to.
The IQ is very good. At base ISO it's in fact stunning. I've done a proper comparison with the 1Dsii and find that they have identical resolution but that this has a stop advantage with regards to noise. The output from the 1Dsii may be slightly sharper. Hard to call.
The battery life is incredible. I'm getting well over 2000 shots per charge. Also, the battery meter appears to be reasonably accurate. I've not had to clean the sensor at all, which is good.
I've had the camera several months and have shot more than 10,000 shots.
While the video can be made to work it's awkward and in my view highly impractical compared to a cheap high-definition camcorder which I've since purchased. The AF lets it (and similar DSLRs) down.
I didn't buy this to do video on it, so that's all right.
Down side?
At VERY low light levels the AF will not work. I think that others have commented on this.
Problems: VERY low light levels, AF will hunt and may not lock. I've learnt to use MF for this occasional occurrence.
Opinion: This is great camera only for street profies. Good for using with tele-zooms and long primes. High ISO good upto 3200 (very usable 6400). Much better camera in every aspect than 7D. But, if want truly great images, save money and choose between Nikon 3Ds or Canon 5D MII.
Problems: Not enougth resolution and detalization.
Opinion: Good, but not better than 7D. Same quality output.
Opinion: Overall D3s much better
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 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
