Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

79

"Highly detailed 16MP images in a wide range of condition"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's image-quality
"Superb build quality with magnesium alloy body and environmental sealing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Overall image quality
Great image quality
74.0
Color depth
Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Canon EOS 500D

52

Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Weight
Light-weight
520 g
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 74.0 vs 63.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 10 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 1500 shots vs 400 shots
Help
Around 4x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 60% larger sensor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 20% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 159 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Canon 500D

Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
2.5x smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
Around 30% more lenses available
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Weight Much lighter 520 g vs 1,230 g
Help
2.4x lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $539.00 vs $4,999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $4,461 cheaper (9.3x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
79 vs 52
Explain scores
Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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Canon 500D vs Canon 550D

begginer. looking to use it for making action sport edits and taking sporty photos.

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" The 550D has slightly better image quality and better video features."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:104 ms
500D:159 ms
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$704 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 with 18-55mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,135 - $9,321 body only

Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Much smaller screen
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$582 body only

Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Does not take movies

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 500D
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 500D
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 500D

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