Canon
EOS-1D Mark IV
 vs
Canon EOS
5D Mark II

Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

100
"In addition the adoption of high precision split-level alignment of the magnesium-alloy external covers, high precision dial construction and external rubber grip covers, has improved the camera's dust and water resistance."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's build-quality
"The original 5D was the first 'affordable' and lightweight full frame camera, and set a standard for low noise at high ISO settings that remains competitive three years later."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,815 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
79.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
True resolution
 High true resolution
21 MP
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

85
"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"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

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
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
Battery life
 Great battery life
1500 shots
Focus points
 Many focus points
45

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 10 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Focus points Many more focus points 45 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 206 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 80% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 1,320 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 79.0 vs 74.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Help
 Around 70% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 21 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 850 g vs 1,230 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $2,160.00 vs $4,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,840 cheaper (2.3x less)
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
85 vs 100
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS-1D Mark IV
 Canon EOS-1D Mark IV vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II
CanonEOS 5D Mark II
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
24
87
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
92
18
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
32
71
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
70
24
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
60
35
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
66
25
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
71
26
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1,320 ISO
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:74.0
5D Mark II:79.0
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
400 ms startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1,230 g
5D Mark II:850 g
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

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$879 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$569 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is significantly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$624 - $800 body only

$869 - $1,100 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Pro DSLR

$7,714 body only
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS-1Ds Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS-1Ds Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS 5D Mark II

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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