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

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

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

100
"Very good high ISO performance even at 25,600"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's iso-noise
"Highly detailed 16MP images in a wide range of condition"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,320 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
74.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Canon EOS 500D

66
Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Low light performance Significantly 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
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
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
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 10 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many 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
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
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 Around 60% larger sensor
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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 159 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when taking photos
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
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Lens availability More lenses available 162 lenses vs 125 lenses
Help
 Around 30% more lenses available
Weight Much lighter 520 g vs 1,230 g
Help
 2.4x lighter
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $599.00 vs $4,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,401 cheaper (8.3x less)
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
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
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
100 vs 66
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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS-1D Mark IV
 Canon EOS-1D Mark IV vs Canon EOS 500D
CanonEOS 500D
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
5
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
5
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
4
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
5
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
2
4
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
2
4
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1080p @ 30fps
500D:1080p @ 20fps
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:400 ms
500D:300 ms
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

$652 - $888 body only

$778 - $932 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
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$484 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 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
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $1,035 body only

$922 - $1,099 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
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 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
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 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
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 500D

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Pro DSLR

$7,714 body only
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS-1Ds Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D3S vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$8,000 body only
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Compare the D3X vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$803 body only
Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$997 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Screen size Much smaller screen
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the D5000 vs the EOS 500D

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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