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

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Many more cross-type focus points

Grab focus in difficult situations

Shoots significantly faster

10 fps

3.9 fps

More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting

Significantly more focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Significantly longer battery life

1500 shots

850 shots

Around 80% more shots per battery charge

Significantly less shutter lag

104 ms

206 ms

Around 50% less delay when taking photos

More dynamic range

12 EV

11.9 EV

0.1 f-stops more dynamic range

Better boost ISO

102,400 ISO

25,600 ISO

The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better

Better maximum light sensitivity

12,800 ISO

6,400 ISO

The EOS-1D Mark IV's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Has more storage slots

More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards

Better viewfinder coverage

100%

98%

Almost the same

Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Has an external mic jack

Yes

Record high quality audio with an external microphone

Lower noise at high ISO

1,815 ISO

1,320 ISO

The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

Significantly larger viewfinder

0.71x

0.59x

Around 50% larger viewfinder

Better image quality

79.0

74.0

Around 10% better image quality

Significantly larger sensor

Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

APS-H 27.9x18.6mm

Around 70% larger sensor

Higher true resolution

21 MP

16 MP

Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos

Significantly smaller

152x114x75 mm

156x157x80 mm

More than 30% smaller

Better color depth

23.7 bits

22.8 bits

Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color

Significantly lighter

850 g

1,230 g

More than 30% lighter

Thinner

3.1"

Around 10% thinner

Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

68	vs	81
Explain scores

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Weather sealed
	Shoot in extreme weather

	Both have pentaprism viewfinders
	Pentaprism

	Minimal startup delay
	400 ms startup delay

	Fast max shutter speeds
	1/8000 of a second

	No built-in flash
	Professional

Heavy

EOS-1D Mark IV:	1,230 g
5D Mark II:	850 g

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

	No flip-out screens
	Less flexible

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Neither camera can take 3D photos
	No 3d support

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

	No built-in GPS
	Missing geo-tagging

Poor maximum light sensitivity

EOS-1D Mark IV:	12,800 ISO
5D Mark II:	6,400 ISO

	Very small screens
	3.0"

Low image quality

EOS-1D Mark IV:	74.0
5D Mark II:	79.0

dxomark

competitors

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens

Is slightly less noisy at high ISO

Has a slightly higher resolution screen

Has a slower max shutter speed

Has much more shutter lag

Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens

Is slightly less noisy at high ISO

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

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens

Slightly more lenses available

Has a built-in flash

Has a marginally smaller sensor

Has slightly lower image quality

Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens

Has a slightly higher resolution screen

Has a screen which flips out

Is thicker

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 D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens

Is significantly less noisy at high ISO

Has significantly better image quality

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the D600 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Can focus continuously while recording movies

Has a marginally smaller sensor

Has significantly more shutter lag

Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Has a significantly larger screen

Has a marginally smaller sensor

Compare the D7100 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only

Significantly lower noise at high ISO

Has an external mic jack

Less dynamic range

Larger

Compare the EOS 1D X vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only

Much lower noise at high ISO

Significantly better image quality

Significantly fewer cross-type focus points

Significantly more shutter lag

Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

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

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

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II