In Depth: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV vs 5D Mark III: 21 key differences

5D Mark IV vs 5D Mark III: 1-10

Canon has finally confirmed the fourth iteration in its EOS 5D line, the EOS 5D Mark IV. Arguably the most popular DSLR series across the enthusiast/professional spectrum, it blends a handful of expected features with some new technology. We’ve pulled out 21 key differences between the new model and its Mark III predecessor together understand what the new model offers.

1. New sensor

The EOS 5D Mark III didn’t offer too huge a leap in terms of resolution over the previous Mark II – from 21.1MP to 22.3MP – but the new model ramps things up.

Its 31.7MP sensor outputs images at an effective 30.4MP, and Canon states that this is a brand new design. Once again, its pixels are spread over a full-frame surface area, and a low-pass filter is also included in front of it to prevent aliasing artefacts from affecting images.

Although the company hasn’t gone into any specific details on dynamic range, it also promises the sensor delivers a wide exposure latitude.

2. Expanded sensitivity

The new sensor has a slightly broader native ISO range than before, now reaching ISO 32,000 as opposed to the ISO 25,600 limit of the EOS 5D Mark III’s sensor, although the base ISO of ISO 100 is unchanged. With the expanded settings, however, the two are the same, covering a total range equivalent to ISO 50-102,400.

3. New Processor

The new model eschews the previous DIGIC 5+ processor and opts for a newer DIGIC 6+ engine instead. Among other things this said to offer enhanced noise reduction, and also works with higher readout speeds from the sensor to help deliver marginally faster burst shooting (see below) than the EOS 5D Mark III.

4. Dual Pixel Raw format

One feature we’ve not seen before on any EOS model is dubbed Dual Pixel Raw. On the face of it this appears to work on a similar principle as the technology used in Lytro and selected Panasonic models, in that it allows the photographer to select a slightly different point at where the image is sharpest after the image has been captured.

This technology works by capturing two images from very slightly different points of view, a process made possible thanks to two photodiodes incorporated into each pixel (which is the basis of its previously seen Dual Pixel CMOS AF mode, explained below).

Canon states that this technology also allows for two further adjustments. First, out of focus highlights can be shifted horizontally, which Canon reckons the photographer may chose adjust so that they work better with areas that are in focus. The other possible adjustment is reduction over ghosting effects such as flare.

Currently, it appears that you need to use Canon’s proprietary Digital Photo Professional program in order to make these adjustments, which is bundled with the camera as standard.

5. Dual Pixel CMOS AF

A now almost standard part of the modern EOS DSLR feature set, Dual Pixel CMOS AF provides the user with a way to use phase-detect AF when the mirror has been flipped up (ie when using live view and movie recording).

This allows for smooth autofocus changes to be made simply by pressing the touchscreen at the desired point, and for subjects to be effectively tracked as they move across the scene.

This feature was not present on the EOS 5D Mark III, although its appearance on the recent EOS 1D X Mark II meant that it was very likely to make its way here too.

6. Revised AF system

The EOS 5D Mark IV’s 61-point AF system (including 41 cross-type points) appears to be very similar to the one inside the EOS 5D Mark III at first glance, although a more in-depth look reveals a handful of changes that echo those inside the EOS-1D X Mark II.

For a start, the points cover a wider area than before. Furthermore, all 61 points remain effective at f/8, which is great news for those using telephoto lenses with Extenders, perhaps for sports or wildlife. In such a situation, 21 of these points also remain cross type for extra sensitivity, although this can vary with different lenses.

The AF system’s detection range has also been broadened, from -2EV on the EOS 5D Mark III to -3EV here, and this drops down even further to -4EV when using live view. Additionally, there’s also now an AF Area Selection button on the back plate.

7. 4K Video

Hardly surprisingly, the EOS 5D Mark IV joins many other recent releases in offering 4K video recording. This is recorded in the same DCI 4K format as that found inside the recent EOS-1D X Mark II, with a resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels and a choice of 30/25/24fps frame rates.

Additionally, the camera mirrors many other 4K models in offering 120fps shooting when recording in Full HD, with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling in 4K and 4:2:0 subsampling when recording in one of the HD options. The option to output clean footage through the HDMI port is also provided, although only for HD footage with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling.

In contrast, the previous EOS 5D Mark III arrived well before 4K video was expected on such a model, and only offered Full HD video recording (although, as many people are aware, it’s been very well regarded by videographers nonetheless).

8. Stills from video

In line with many other 4K models, the EOS 5D Mark III allows you to extract JPEG frames from 4K footage. Shooting in the DCI 4K format means that these images have a resolution of 8.8MP, as opposed to the lower 8-8.3MP resolution of images extracted from cameras recording the slightly lower resolution UHD 4K footage.

9. Burst shooting

The EOS 5D line is not designed specifically for action photography, although a competent AF system and 6fps burst shooting meant that EOS 5D Mark III still held its own here. And now it’s even faster, shooting at 7fps when set to burst shooting, with autoexposure and autofocus maintained throughout the burst.

Canon reckons that with the right memory card in place you can fire up to 21 Raw images at this speed, as opposed to 18 Raw frames using the EOS 5D Mark III’s 6fps mode. The further promise of unlimited JPEG bursts is also an improvement on that EOS 5D Mark III – although you’d be hard pushed to find anyone who found that camera’s 16,270-frame JPEG burst depth to be an issue.

The camera can also fire at a rate of 4.3fps when tracking a subject using live view.

10. Upgraded LCD screen

Although the display still has the same 3.2-inch dimensions as before, its resolution has jumped from 1.04million dots on the EOS 5D Mark III to 1,620,000 dots here for extra clarity.

Another new feature is dubbed LCD colour tone, which allows the tone of the LCD to be changed in four different ways. This latter feature will also be made available to the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II alongside a handful of additional improvements through a forthcoming firmware update.

5D Mark IV vs 5D Mark III: 11-21

11. Touch control

Once again a feature that began life in more junior models but has since found its way up to the recent flagship EOS-1D X Mark II, touchscreen functionality has finally come to the EOS 5D camp. This feature provides control over the menus, focus-point selection and image review among other things.

12. New metering sensor

Just as the EOS 5D Mark III sported a similar 63-zone iFCL metering sensor to the one inside the EOS 7D, the new EOS 5D Mark IV gains a 150K RGB+IR sensor that mirrors the one inside the recent EOS 7D Mark II (as well as the 5DS and 5DSR).

This uses 252 zones for analysis, and is not only said to provide more accurate exposure than before, but also better focus tracking and subject detection. It even sports its own dedicated DIGIC 6 processor.

13. New silent modes

The EOS 5D Mark III provided users with the option of silent shooting in both single and continuous shooting modes, and this has been fleshed out for the new model. There are now three options: silent high, silent low and silent single, which Canon states are useful when capturing breaking news or animals in their natural habitat.

14. HDR movie mode

The EOS 5D Mark IV becomes the first EOS 5D model to offer an HDR movie mode, something which we first saw in the EOS 760D.

15. Wi-Fi and NFC

The EOS 5D Mark III didn’t sport Wi-Fi although the new model has this built in alongside NFC technology. This means the camera can be controlled remotely from a smartphone or tablet and have images sent cable free to a wealth of other devices.

The camera works in conjunction with the same Canon Camera Connect app that we’ve seen previously, which is available for both iOS and Android platforms.

16. GPS

The new model is also equipped with a GPS system, something missed out of the EOS 5D Mark III but since included elsewhere (such as in the full-frame EOS 6D). This records longitude, latitude, elevation and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and together with the camera’s "enhanced" weather sealing, is said to make it more adept to travel and photojournalism than was the case with previous models.

17. IPTC metadata

The EOS 5D Mark III can record metadata that conforms to the IPTC (International Press and Tele Communication) standard. This allows for a broader range of information about an image to be stored as part of its metadata than usual, such as description of the people or other subjects within it.

18. Size and weight

The differences aren’t too significant here, but the new model is actually a touch smaller and lighter than the EOS 5D Mark III. It measures 150.7 x 116.4 x 75.9mm (next to the EOS 5D Mark III’s 152 x 116.4 x 76.4mm) and weighs 890g – 60g less than before.

19. Digital Lens Optimizer

Canon’s Digital Lens Optimizer mode, which seeks to correct effects such as diffraction and softness caused by the low-pass filter, can now be used for JPEGs as they’re captured, something which was not possible before. Previously you could only apply this to Raw files.

20. Anti-Flicker technology

This option is designed to help capture the shot at just the right moment under artificial lighting sources so that exposure and white balance are not affected by any flickering. It first surfaced in the EOS 7D Mark II, and so was missed out of the older 5D Mark III.

21. USB 3.0 port

The decision to leave out a USB 3.0 port from the EOS 5D Mark II and opt for a USB 2.0 one puzzled some, although Canon has opted for the former type for the new model for much faster data transfer.

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