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

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

83
"the EOS 5D Mark II has an awful lot to recommend it to the serious photographer."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's overall-performance
"the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality - especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

71
"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

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
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
39

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 significantly faster 10 fps vs 3.9 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Focus points Significantly 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
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 80% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
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
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
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 50% larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality 79.0 vs 74.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Help
 Around 70% larger sensor
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 Cheaper $2,130.11 vs $4,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,870 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
71 vs 83
Explain scores
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

advice

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0
votes
by Poti-Jouseevis-Potgieter last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures

3 people recommend the Canon 600D:

" If you are a "beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures" I would recommend ..."

" If you are completely new to DSLR photography then having a 5D2 will give you a very steep learn..."

" The 5D Mark II is a far superior camera to the 600D.  But if you're going to be doing sport and ..."
0
votes
by Kostas-Nomikos last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

Which is better for video shooting?
2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."
0
votes
by ZeroXR last week
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I am considering a future upgrade later on down the line between the 5D Mark II and the 60D. To ...
0
votes
by Ahmed-Khalil last month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I'm a beginner with such kind of cameras. I want to have my own camera to shoot my short films a...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
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
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12,800 ISO
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Sensor size Has a marginally 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
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 Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 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

$2,649 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Slightly 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

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $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
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the D3X vs the 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

discussion

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