By William D. Colburn "buys things on amazon far too often" ("A huge step up from the mk III", from amazon.com canon 1d mark IV reviews)

(Edited to fix my poor grammar and reword a few things to be more clear)

The Canon 1D mk III was my first 1-series body. Before that I had, in reverse order, a Canon 5D, a 20D, and 300D. Each step along the way was nicer and nicer. I couldn't imagine a better camera than my Canon 1D mk III, but now I have it.

Over time (mostly through reading about the camera) I learned that my mk III had poor autofocus. I had an early version with the defect, but also because the mk III apparently did not live up to the autofocus of the Canon 1D mk IIn. I had the defect fixed, and my auto focus was better, but still not as good, or so I had read, as the mk IIn autofocus. I can attest that I certainly felt frustrated with the mk III autofocus on a regular basis.

I haven't been to a sporting event yet, so I can't speak to that kind of focusing, but in good light with a stationary subject my gut feeling is that, yes, focusing is better in the mk IV than it was in the mk III. I can also attest that in near darkness conditions, such as when I can't even see my subject (and a 1.2 lens), the autofocus is astounding. Astounding there is relative; in this case I mean it often acquires focus, which is quite a feat in near total darkness.

Canon 1D Mark IV camera is 16MP instead of 10MP, but so far I haven't noticed much of a different in quality from the smaller photosites. Canon said the microlenses were an improvement, and I'm quite willing to believe them.

My ReallyRightStuff L-bracket from my mk III fits perfectly, which is a nice bonus. It uses the same batteries as my mk III was well. The mk IV doesn't come with a wall adapter like the mk III did, but I have a mk III so it wasn't a terrible loss for me.

The battery life is supposedly down with the larger sensor. Canon claims something like 1200 shots I think, while the mk III supposedly got 1900. I know I usually got 7000 per battery if I drained a battery over a few months, or about 12000 if I shot a major event in a single day. While the battery performance still seems good (I didn't start with a fresh battery, and I've been out in the cold a lot with it), it is definitely not as long-lived as in a mk III body. The battery smart-logic only understand shutters, and doesn't keep track of video, so shooting movies will play havok with matching up a shot count to the battery life.

The aesthetics of the menu system are much improved. It is basically the same menus as the mk III, but they feel more polished now.

The high iso is, well, high. I won't lie to you: at H3 you get something barely above garbage out of the camera; but you get something! It's absolutely astounding to be able to shoot in that much darkness. H2 is pretty bad, and H1 is kind of all-right. And I haven't found anything that needed any of the H modes; 12800 has been more than adequate for playing around in. I'm quite happy with the exended ISO, and noise at that level is something I expect. The camera can be pushed further with H3 than I even pushed B&W film, and the results are quite good for the circumstances.

When you stick to ISO 12800 or lower the results are quite spectacular. My gut feeling was that 12800 is about as good as 3200 on the 1D mk III, but I hadn't specifically compared them to see. I've uploaded a comparison picture to Amazon showing two shots that compare the ISO. The Canon 1D Mark IV 12800 definitely seems to be better than the mk III H1 (6400).

I like the new rotation-selectable AF points. I like the new corner brightening options.

The video I've barely played with. Auto focus in video sucks, so you need to manual focus. The lack of a level control on audio-in is a serious deficiency. The video does look good though. I've barely played with it though, and I've never owned a video camera (I've only owned a film-based movie camera), so I'm not sure what I can say about it. I do know that it takes a long time to upload a minute of Full HD to YouTube.

I guess that is all I can think of at the moment.

I like my new Canon 1D Mark IV.

By Mark Kitaoka ("Mark III vs. Mark IV", from amazon.com canon 1d mark IV reviews)

I had the Canon 1D Mark IV on order with Amazon since Canon's product announcement on October 20th of 2009. Since my local camera shop received the unit on Monday January 4, 2010 and Amazon still listed it as "Not Yet Received" I purchased mine from the local retailer despite the additional $464 in sales tax.

I have been a Canon 1D Mark III shooter since June of 2007. For my professional work, my primary subject matter is live theatrical performance which includes acting as well as dancing ranging from ballet to traditional Tango to the very fast paced ballroom, specifically shooting Burn the Floor, which is just completing their Broadway run this month. Live performance shooting has many of the same elements of sports photography, except the lighting is much lower and at times more severe due to stage lighting. My Mark III performed well in most instances although I did have occasions where the autofocus did not perform as well as I had hoped. But to be fair, I cannot say with 100% certainty that it was the fault of the gear or the user, me.

For my non professional work I utilized the Canon 1D Mark III for extensive street shooting in the rain, high wind and many other adverse conditions. In all cases the camera performed well enough that I could only blame myself in those instances where I didn't get the shot. This includes night shooting of high movement subject matter.

I have never been concerned about the 10.1 MP size of the Canon 1D Mark III having had many of my images blown up to 6x8 feet posters used on the outside of theatres and large shots used in four color programs. I had several concerns with the Mark III which I had hoped would be addressed in its successor, the Canon 1D Mark IV:

1. A higher ISO range with equal or less noise
2. The ability for the focus point to switch when changing from landscape to portrait orientation. - Although the Custom Function allows one to change the rear wheel to adjust the focus point, I prefer to use that dial to adjust for exposure. Having to switch in a very fast paced situation caused me to miss some great shots.
3. More selection of focus points for manual focus point adjustment

Other than those three wishes, I was happy with my Canon 1D Mark III. In all three cases, the Canon 1D Mark IV met my wishes. I have done a comparison in low light, low contrast situations with both Marks at ISO 6400, which for the Canon 1D Mark III was considered H1. As such, adjusting the ISO from 3200 to 6400 was not possible in 1/3 stop increments. More on that later. In the comparison, the Canon 1D Mark IV handily beats the Canon 1D Mark III in terms of detail and noise at ISO 6400. Much more detail is visible which has something to do with a higher MP count, but at 100% crops, there is a marked difference. The noise on the Canon 1D Mark IV is less and of a different quality than the Canon 1D Mark III, more film like than digital.

During performances I had only used ISO 6400 in conditions which made lower settings impossible. I have always thought that a noisy shot is much better than one that is blurred beyond usage. My clients agree. One of my favorite lenses to use while shooting on stage as well as from the house is the EF 24-105mm f4.0 IS L. The focal range on a 1.3 crop sensor is just PERFECT, but the slowness of the f4.0 kept me from utilizing that lens with the Mark III unless lighting was sufficient. This will all change with the Canon 1D Mark IV as ISO 6400 is just fine using a f4.0 lens in my conditions.

Keep in mind that everyone needs to decide how a camera is to be used, under what conditions and it is naive to think that an investment in current glass won't influence a decision to stay or leave any brand of camera. I am heavily invested in Canon glass and all of them are L series lenses. I find that the color and sharpness of L series lenses are worth the investment, especially since I purchase most of them on the used market. There are folks who love to go back and forth on brand, pixel snooping, stats, etc. in hopes of proving themselves 'right.' I am NOT one of those people. To me a mediocre/poor/boring image is the same whether you take it with film, a full frame DSLR or medium format camera. (BTW, I'm not sure why 35mm is considered FF anyway. I consider 2.25x2.25 my idea of full frame!) My personal opinion is those who often argue ad naseum about camera stats take the lousy or boring pictures anyway.

I have NOT been able to use the camera in high movement, low light performance photography as I write this. My first opportunity for that comes this weekend. It will also be the first time I have the chance to shoot with two separate cameras with different lenses attached. That will give me a good, but not scientific comparison of the cameras, but more important for me is whether keeping both is worth the effort. I will decide if the Mark III gets a new home or not.

My advice is to base your hard earned purchasing dollars on what is right for your situation. My Canon 1D Mark III has performed well in the past and I'm confident after some of my own testing that the Canon 1D Mark IV is even better. Time will tell and as I gain more experience shooting with this new tool, I may add my insights here in the future. Best of luck with your own shooting!

UPDATE January 9 2010
Today I had my first opportunity to shoot in low light with the Canon 1D Mark IV. Although it was NOT as high movement/low light as I am accustomed, it was a very good initial test. I shot a choral group with musicians, so movement was nice and slow, except for the conductor. It was also the first time I was able to use two camera bodies without switching lenses. On the Mark III, I used a EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS and on the Mark IV, I utilized the EF 24-105 f4.0 L IS. This focal range allowed me to cover all that was necessary. Obviously I used the f4.0 on the Canon 1D Mark IV because of its higher ISO range and noise performance.

I want to say that it will take some adjustments moving to the Canon 1D Mark IV. As I reviewed some images from other photographers using the Canon 1D Mark IV prior to receiving my own camera I had no idea what conditions the photographer's lighting conditions presented. I can say that because of the new sensor and ISO performance, it makes scenes appear MUCH more well lit than I experience with my human eye. In the past I have run -1/3 to -2/3 EV when using my Canon 1D Mark III to prevent blow out in highlights even using Highlight Tone Priority. Tonight I set both cameras on 0 EV to compare. The Canon 1D Mark IV presents a brighter image, about 1/3 stop brighter than the Canon 1D Mark III.

Because this was not a paid gig, I took more chances with the imagery than had it been for pay. I found that in camera Noise reduction of 1 Low suits my taste much better than -0 Standard in the Custom Settings function. There is a different quality to the noise produced at Standard over Low. I prefer Canon's Low setting, but your preference may differ. The highest I found it necessary to set the ISO tonight was at 10,000. Upon examining the images on my monitor, there is the most noise in the subtle shadow areas around the subject's chin and lower neck. This is normal in my experience along with noise in large solid color backgrounds. But the noise at 10,000 is easily much better than the Canon 1D Mark III at ISO 6400. In addition the detail that remains at 10,000 eclipses the detail, or lack of detail in the Mark III at 6400. I measure my detail in the hairline wrinkles around the eyes and in the forehead of my subjects. The Canon 1D Mark IV sustained those details where the Canon 1D Mark III at 2/3 stops lower ISO did not.

Also the noise produced by the Canon 1D Mark IV is more chroma than luminance. In my workflow, chroma noise is MUCH easier to reduce than luminance noise. The dynamic range of the Canon 1D Mark IV in terms of color is FAR superior to the Mark III, but I attribute this to a new sensor and new processors. Camera bodies are really just like computers, as soon as they come out they immediately begin to become obsolete. The color and white balance are MUCH better than my Mark III. It still takes some adjustment, but much less than the III.

The automatic focus point association between landscape and portrait is a God send! Also the Canon 1D Mark IV takes advantage of UDMA card speed. I purchased a 32gb Sandisk Extreme CF card for the Canon 1D Mark IV and it's rated at 60mb per second. In shooting RAW burst, the ability of the Canon 1D Mark IV to write to the card after the buffer is full is easily three times as fast as the Mark III, but to be fair the III doesn't have UDMA capability.

So far so good. I plan to keep my Canon 1D Mark III simply because shooting with two cameras with different focal length lenses is the only way to go for my work. At some point I will replace the Canon 1D Mark III with another Canon 1D Mark IV, but that will take time and a few more clients. It will be interesting to see how the images look at high ISO in large format, which much of my work is used as with clients. I'm happy with my choice so far and anticipate that more work in my normal venues will continue to show favorable results.

My issue is now how to build up my neck to support two 1D bodies with a 70-200 on one and a 24-105 on the other! When I use my 28-70 in place of the 24-105 it's going to be a real pain!

FINAL UPDATE: January 17 2010
Tonight I had my first opportunity to shoot a theatrical performance with the Canon 1D Mark IV. I can only say that Auto ISO along with AI Servo will change how I shoot theatre. The settings I used tonight were Highlight Priority On, AI Servo, single shot, Auto ISO, ISO range L to 12800. The lenses I used tonight were the EF 24-105 f4 L IS and the EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS. Anticipation is such a major part of theatrical shooting, waiting for just the right expression, gesture and moment. I was able to capture images tonight with a clarity that I have not experienced with my Canon 1D Mark III. Auto ISO constrained within the parameters I wanted left me free to concentrate entirely on capturing the moment while retaining a speed proportionate to the focal length. By freeing me up from keeping an eye on the shutter speed, which was set by the Auto ISO, I was able to compose my shots more accurately. Using AI Servo for my focusing also allowed me to follow the subject and keep them in focus just before pressing the shutter. I watched and anticipated their expressions like never before.

The ISO varied between a low of 800 in very good stage lighting to a high of 12800 in those scenes where it was too dark for me to know the actor's expression. I ran an EV value between -.33 to -1.0 to compensate for harsh spot lighting, so common in stage work. In those cases where the shot was very dark, where the actor's face was shaded in a very dark manner, ISO 12800's noise is very visible, but not to the point where a noise processor will bring the image back to usefulness. In those cases where light is medium, I will NOT have to use noise reduction post processing for printed images in large format.

So with my last entry I will simply say that I am pleased to have made an investment in the new Canon 1D Mark IV. It surpasses my Canon 1D Mark III in a way that will now allow me to press the limits of my ability to capture even more compelling imagery. And in my work, an image that moves the viewer is one I'm proud to produce, regardless of the equipment. The Canon 1D Mark IV will certainly push my own skill limits in a way I'm happy to undertake. It's a tool that will help expand the level of my own creative process.

Best of luck to all of you in whatever you decide to purchase and shoot. It's time for me to get back to work.

By Me ("Amazing camera", from amazon.com canon 1d mark IV reviews)

I've had the pleasure of using a pre-production Canon 1D Mark IV for several weeks now, and I barely use my Canon 5D Mark II anymore. As a photojournalist, this camera does everything I need it to -- most important for me:

- Low noise high ISO. I have no fear whatsoever going to ISO 12,800. Images are still sharp and have good color. No ugly lines at all. Perfect for shooting sports in stadium with crappy light (see link below).
- Better autofocus, especially in low light. With any camera I've used before, autofocus on low light was terrible. It's still not great, but it's a lot better.
- 10 FPS, with a large buffer. With a fast card (60 MB/s or higher), you can lay on the shutter for several seconds on highest quality before it starts to lag.
- Compared to the 5D Mark II, this thing is built like a beast. I've banged it around a lot and it still looks brand new.

Here are a couple galleries shot entirely with the Canon 1D Mark IV. I believe the ISO for the first one is 5,000 and the second is 4,000:

[...]

By matt buchanan ("Canon 1D Mark IV: The $5000 New King of Cameras", from gizmodo.com canon 1d mark IV review)

The videos are out, and now so's the camera: $5000 buys you a 16MP DSLR that shoots at a whopping 102,400ISO with a new 45-point autofocus system, 10fps bursts, and oh yeah—suck it D3s, incredible 1080p video.

The Canon 1D Mark IV uses an APS-H-sized 16-megapixel sensor that's "similar in size to a Super 35mm motion picture film frame" with a 1.3x crop factor (so not full-frame, booo) , and a normal ISO range of 100 to 12,800, with expanded going up to 102,400 ISO (like Nikon's fresh D3s). The new 45-point autofocus system has 39 cross-type points and uses a new AI Servo II AF predictive focusing algorithm that's supposed to be faster, which is handy, since it shoots in 10fps bursts.

But, let's talk about video, which Canon isn't too shy of making the star of this camera: You get full manual exposure control, stereo mic input, and 1080p video at 24, 25 or 30fps; 720p and standard def at 50 or 60fps; and the samples, while obviously Canon-vetted, so far look seriously amazing (that's a link to a full-res1080p stream of the video above, by Vincent Laforet).

There's a new auto-lighting optimizer that automatically adjusts contrast and brightness in-camera that sounds sorta like Nikon's Active D-Lighting. And hurray, a new white balance algorithm that's better at low color temperatures, something that Nikon's typically been better with in the past.

It's coming out in December for $5000. Man, pro DSLRs just got way more interesting again. Six-digit ISO speeds, extreme low-light performance , high-def video: It's a war. Canon 1D Mark IV.

INTRODUCING THE ULTIMATE MULTIMEDIA IMAGING SOLUTION: THE NEW CANON EOS-1D MARK IV DIGITAL SLR CAMERA

The EOS-1D Mark IV Features a Completely Redesigned 45-Point Autofocus System, Fast 10 fps Continuous Shooting, 16-Megapixel Resolution, Outstanding ISO Sensitivity, and Full HD Video Recording at Selectable Frame Rates

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 20, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is proud to introduce the next evolution in the EOS 1D series of cameras: the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera. The EOS-1D Mark IV is a high-speed multimedia performance monster with a 16-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors, and 14-bit A/D data conversion, all at 10 frames-per-second (fps), with the widest ISO range Canon has produced to date. This new camera also features 1080p Full High-Definition video capture at selectable frame rates packaged in Canon's most rugged and durable professional camera body.

The crowning achievement of Canon's 1D Mark IV Digital SLR is its new autofocus system that starts with 45 AF points including 39 high-precision cross-type focusing points capable of tracking fast moving athletes or wildlife accurately at speeds up to 10 frames per second. With greater subject detection capability than ever before plus a newly redesigned AI Servo II AF predictive focusing algorithm, the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV camera sets new standards for autofocus performance among professional digital SLRs. Whether shooting for the six o'clock news or the front page, the EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR is the quintessential camera to freeze fast-moving action with high-speed stills or capture stunning HD video with dynamic color and image quality. To accompany the new EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera, Canon is also announcing a new accessory, the WFT-E2 II A wireless file transmitter providing photographers with a wide range of professional digital connectivity options.

"Canon works hard to be the imaging leader in all our business endeavors. This goal has fueled our innovation and R&D efforts to engineer the most advanced autofocus system Canon has ever produced. We are proud to announce the camera that will deliver the ultimate in imaging quality to professionals working in all areas of multimedia imaging, whether it's action photography, photojournalism or HD video and cinematography," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV camera will intrigue professional photographers in virtually every category from photojournalism and sports through nature, wedding, portrait and fashion to commercial, industrial and law enforcement. What makes the EOS-1D Mark IV camera different from its predecessors, in addition to numerous focusing system and image quality improvements, is its exceptional Full HD video capture capability. With this new level of functionality, the 1D Mark IV Digital SLR is destined to appeal not only to professional still photographers but also to a diverse market of professional videographers and filmmakers who are looking for exceptional Full HD video quality, amazing low-light performance, outstanding portability and a level of durability unheard of in most HD video cameras in this price range.

New 45-Point Autofocus System
The new EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera features Canon's most advanced Autofocus system to date. It is equipped with a newly developed 45-point AF sensor featuring 39 high-precision cross-type AF points, and an all new AI Servo II AF mode that gives still photographers the power and performance to track and focus a fast-moving subject at speeds up to 10 frames per second. With more than twice as many cross-type focusing points as the EOS-1D Mark III and a new AF sensor construction that improves performance in low light and with low contrast subjects, the EOS-1D Mark IV has greater subject detection capabilities than any previous EOS model. To complete the range of AF improvements, Canon has developed a new AI Servo II AF predictive focusing algorithm that significantly improves responsiveness and stability by making better decisions on focus tracking in a variety of shooting conditions.

Amazing High ISO Performance
Wedding and event photographers shooting in low light without the benefit of a flash can take advantage of Canon's widest ISO range and highest performance ever. The EOS-1D Mark IV camera's ISO speed settings range from 100 up to 12,800 in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments with ISO Expansion settings of L: 50 for bright light or H1: 25,600, H2: 51,200, and H3: 102,400 for even the most dimly lit situations. Photographers and documentary filmmakers working in available light will be impressed by the low-noise image quality of the 1D Mark IV, capturing amazing still images and video footage even at speed settings as high as ISO 12,800. High ISO, low light still images are further enhanced by Canon's adjustable High ISO Noise Reduction feature, now a default setting in the camera.

The EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS HD Video Powerhouse
Over the past year, Canon's EOS HD Video technology has changed the way users capture 1080p HD video and opened new doors for multimedia journalists and Hollywood cinematographers alike with full manual exposure control, selectable frame rates, and interchangeable lenses on some of the largest and most sensitive image sensors on the market. Canon continues this innovation trend with the new EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR with Full HD capture and full manual exposure control, plus selectable frame rates on an all-new APS-H-sized image sensor that's similar in size to a Super 35mm motion picture film frame. The large sensor allows filmmakers to achieve shallow depth-of-field just as cinematographers have traditionally done using much higher-cost motion picture equipment.
The more than 50 Canon EF lenses compatible with the EOS-1D Mark IV give videographers incredible creative options, including an impressive selection of large-aperture professional L-series primes as well as zoom lenses, macro, Tilt-Shift and Fisheye optics. The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV allows for three video recording resolutions – 1080p Full HD and 720p HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio and Standard Definition (SD) in a 4:3 aspect ratio. The camera will record Full HD at 1920 x 1080 in selectable frame rates of 24p (23.976), 25p, or 30p (29.97); and 720p HD or SD video recording at either 50p or 60p (59.94). SD video can be recorded in either NTSC or PAL standards. Sound is recorded either through the internal monaural microphone or via optional external microphones connected to the stereo microphone input. The camera also provides an in-camera video editing function allowing users to remove the start or ending of a video clip directly in the camera to eliminate unwanted footage and speed up post-production.
Image Quality and Performance
The heart of the EOS-1D Mark IV camera's outstanding image quality is a newly developed 16.1-Megapixel CMOS sensor featuring Canon's latest and most advanced proprietary technologies. These technologies include improved photodiode construction to enhance dynamic range and gapless microlenses that are positioned closer to the photodiodes for improved light gathering efficiency. The transmissive quality of the color filter array has been enhanced to improve sensitivity. Canon has also upgraded the sensor circuitry to improve noise reduction before the image data is exported from the CMOS sensor to the rest of the image processing chain.
With 60 percent more pixels than the EOS-1D Mark III, the EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR employs Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors with approximately six times the processing power of DIGIC III for full 14-bit A/D conversion at 10 fps. High-speed continuous shooting up to 121 Large JPEGs is possible using a UDMA CF card. This camera also features three RAW shooting modes for versatility with Full RAW (approx. 16 million pixels), M-RAW (approx. nine million pixels), and S-RAW (approx. four million pixels). Three additional JPEG recording formats (M1, M2 and Small) are also available.
The 14-bit per channel conversion facilitated by the dual DIGIC 4 Processors provides smoother tonalities in final images capturing all 16,384 distinct tones in each channel (red, green and blue) at the full 10 fps frame rate. RAW images shot on the new Canon EOS-1D Mark IV use the entire 14-bit space when converted to 16-bit TIFF files in Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which is supplied with the camera at no extra charge. The 14-bit A/D conversion is also the foundation for Canon's Highlight Tone Priority feature that takes maximum advantage of the camera's extensive dynamic range to preserve detail in highlight areas of the image. Canon's new EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR also features an improved white balance algorithm making colors more accurate when shooting under low color temperature light sources such as household tungsten lamps.
The EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR features Canon's Peripheral Illumination Correction function which corrects darkening that can occur in the corners of images with most lenses when used at their largest apertures. When activated, it is automatically applied to JPEG images and video clips as they are shot. For RAW images, it can be applied in DPP software.
Other new features include a large three-inch solid structure Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dot/VGA resolution and a wide 160-degree viewing angle for enhanced clarity and more precise color when reviewing images and shooting video. The new in-camera copyright information feature helps professionals secure control over images by setting copyright data directly into the camera and appending that information to each image file in the Exif metadata. Additional features include a fluorine coating on the Low Pass Filter to further repel dust and enhance the EOS Integrated Cleaning System.
Minimize Post-Production with Enhanced Canon Auto Lighting Optimizer
Action photography truly is all about speed, capturing a fast subject with fast focusing and fast frame rates. However, all this speed might be wasted if it is slowed down by lengthy post-production procedures to adjust image quality. The EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR helps reduce post-production work with a powerful new Auto Lighting Optimizer (ALO) system. When enabled, Canon's ALO automatically adjusts the image for optimal brightness and contrast on the fly during in-camera image processing, reducing clipped highlights while keeping shadowed areas as clear and detailed as they actually appear. By optimizing brightness and contrast in-camera, Canon's ALO system significantly reduces the need for post-production image optimization, and gives photographers image quality they can take directly to press. Demanding professional photographers who tested ALO clearly stated that this one feature will reduce their post-production image optimization process by more than 75 percent. Canon's ALO works with both RAW[i] and JPEG images as well as video recording.

Rugged Reliability
Canon has taken every measure to ensure that the EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera has the highest degree of weather resistance in the EOS line. The 1D Mark IV camera incorporates a wide range of design features that enhance its durability and reliability for professional assignments. For example, the 1D Mark IV's body, chassis and lens mount are completely weather-resistant and 76 gaskets and seals surround all buttons and seams. The body covers and internal chassis, including the mirror box, are constructed with magnesium-alloy, one of the strongest and rigid metals available for its weight. For added strength, the lens mount is constructed with stainless steel. In fact, when used with Canon's Speedlite 580EX II and/or most current L-series lenses, the entire camera system remains fully weather resistant, so professionals can concentrate on getting the shot instead of worrying about protecting their gear.

New Wireless Connectivity
Canon is announcing the availability of the new WFT-E2 II A* wireless file transmitter exclusively for the EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera. The WFT-E2 II A wireless transmitter is an extremely small and versatile device that offers professional photographers a wide range of digital connectivity options including IEEE802.11a/b/g and Ethernet, ideal for commercial and studio work. In addition to adding the ability to connect to wireless networks over 802.11a, the new WFT-E2 II A adds a wealth of new professional features to the photographer's tool kit. The new Camera Linking feature allows a single photographer to simultaneously fire up to 10 cameras remotely; and the updated WFT Server mode lets you remotely use Live View, control settings, and fire the EOS-1D Mark IV over the internet from anywhere in the world using a standard Web browser or many Web-enabled smart phones. Additionally, geotagging is now possible via Bluetooth, using compatible GPS devices to append coordinate data to the images.

Pricing and Availability
The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in late December, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $4,999.00[ii]. Final pricing and availability for the Canon WFT-E2 II A wireless file transmitter will be available later this year.

© Canon USA, http://usa.canon.com/

By dpmag.com ("CANON EOS-1D Mark IV", from dpmag.com canon 1d mark IV review)

It has been two and a half years since Canon introduced its EOS-1D Mark III pro D-SLR, which amazed action shooters with its ability to shoot 10.1-megapixel images at 10 fps. Now comes its successor, the EOS-1D Mark IV, which can shoot 60% larger images at the same rate and at amazingly high ISOs, and does full HD video, too.

The Mark III featured dual DIGIC III image processors. The Mark IV sports twin DIGIC 4 processors, with approximately six times the processing power. That improves image quality and makes possible HD video and the super-quick performance, even with 14-bit, 16-megapixel images.

The Mark IV retains the efficient 63-zone metering system of the Mark III, which also provides 13.5% partial, 3.8% spot and center-weighted average metering. Spot metering can be linked to the active AF point, and multi-spot metering can consider up to eight spot readings. Also retained is a system that uses ultrasonic vibrations to remove dust from the image sensor.

Like all EOS-1 series cameras, the Mark IV was designed for hard pro use. Body covers, the internal chassis and the mirror box are made of rugged, yet light magnesium alloy, while the lens mount is of stainless steel for added strength. Seventy-six gaskets and seals protect against weather (the Speedlite 580EX II and most current L-series lenses also are fully weather-resistant). Like the EOS-1D Mark III, the Mark IV’s LCD monitor is 3.0 inches, but the resolution has increased from 230,000 dots to 920,000.

Auto Lighting Optimizer automatically adjusts the image for optimal brightness and contrast in-camera, reducing the need for extensive postprocessing corrections.

By Mark Peters ("Canon EOS-1Ds Mark 4", from www.letsgodigital.org canon 1d mark IV review)

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IV digital SLR camera : According to 'EOS' logics, there should be a new Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IV camera in the pipeline. The electronic ink of the Canon 1D Mark IV camera introduction article has not yet dried, but speculations about a Canon 1Ds Mark 4 DSLR camera are already flooding the Internet. The presumed introduction date is the Photokina 2010. The Photokina is a worldwide imaging event held annually in Cologne, Germany. Should this be the case, then the gap between the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark IV and its predecessor would be a little over 2 years On the other hand, there's one thing that continues to linger in the back of our minds; the fact that there was rumor about 'the last EOS' or even; 'no more EOS'.

Does the Electro-Optical System (EOS) still leave years of room for further development, or has the time come for a revolutionary innovation to lift digital DSLR photography to a higher platform? Canon has managed to do this before, in 1987 to be precise, when the brand introduced the EOS as a new system. This turned out to be a revolution in the world of photography, and we all know the success story that followed. However, is there still a possibility to enhance the current EOS system and introduce a high resolution Canon EOS-1D Mark IV?

By Eric Yang ("Canon EOS-1D Mark IV - Fast. Real Fast.", from gearpatrol.com canon 1d mark IV review)

Making sure not to let Nikon get all the limelight, Canon’s new EOS-1D Mark IV is bound to steel some of the thunder from Nikon’s latest DSLR behemoth, the new D3s.

Today, Canon’s announced the new EOS-1D Mark IV, a pro DSLR camera with specific designs catered to those looking for speed (action, sports, news, wildlife, etc). The new EOS-1D Mark IV is built around the new Canon 16.1 megapixel APS full-frame CMOS sensor and a brand new 45-point Auto Focus system (versus Nikon’s 51 point). Utilizing not one, but two DIGIC 4 processors, the Canon allows you to shoot up-to 10 frames per second (how far are we from 30fps?) at an ISO range of 100-12,800. Coincidence that the Nikon’s ISO is 200-12,800, priced $200 more, and shoots at roughtly the same speed? Doubtful.

More images after the jump.

By infosyncworld ("Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Gets Release Date", from www.infosyncworld.com canon 1d mark IV review)

The new Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera for professional photographers will soon be released with a range of multimedia features and image quality improvements.

Canon today introduced the next evolution in the EOS 1D series of cameras: the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera. The EOS 1D Mark IV is a high-speed multimedia performance camera with a 16-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, Dual DIGIC 4 imaging processor, and 14-bit A/D data conversion, all at 10 frames-per-second (fps), with the widest ISO range Canon has produced to date (ISO 100 - 12800 (expandable to L: 50, H1: 25600, H2: 51200, H3: 102400) for shooting from bright to dim light with low noise levels)).

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV also features 1080p Full HD video capture at selectable frame rates (1080: 30p / 24p / 25p, 720: 60p / 50p, 480: 60p / 50p) packaged in Canon's most rugged and durable professional camera body.

Canon's 1D Mark IV Digital SLR sports a new autofocus system that starts with 45 AF points including 39 high-precision cross-type focusing points aiming to track fast moving athletes or wildlife accurately at speeds up to 10 frames per second. The camera also has a newly redesigned AI Servo II AF predictive focusing algorithm. To accompany the new EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera, Canon is also announcing a new accessory, the WFT-E2 II A wireless file transmitter.

What makes the EOS 1D Mark IV camera different from its predecessors, in addition to numerous focusing system and image quality improvements, is its Full HD video capture capability. With this new level of functionality, the 1D Mark IV Digital SLR promises to deliver high-quality Full HD video footage with great low-light performance.

A complete description of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV camera's capabilities can be found here, while specifications can be found here.

Price and release date

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in late December, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $4,999.00. Final pricing and availability for the Canon WFT-E2 II A wireless file transmitter will be available later this year.

By Cliff Smith ("Canon EOS 1D Mk IV – Hands-on Preview", from www.trustedreviews.com canon 1d mark IV review)

As I reported last week, Canon has just announced the launch of the new EOS 1D Mk IV. It's not going on sale until the end of December, but earlier this week I attended the Canon Pro Photo Solutions 09 show at the Business Design Centre in London, where I was able to try out a pre-production sample of the new camera.

From the launch of the original EOS-1D in 2001, the 1D series has been the camera of choice for many of the world's top professional photographers, particularly photojournalists, sports and wildlife photographers, for whom its high speed performance, reliability and robust weatherproof construction are just as important as its class-leading image quality. With the 1D Mk IV Canon has responded to feedback from its professional users and further developed and improved all of these qualities. I suspect that there may also have been some impetus to upstage the Nikon's specialist photojournalism camera the D3s, which is the EOS-1D Mk IV's only real competition.

Handling the 1D Mk IV for the first time it's impossible not to be impressed. It's a big, heavy camera weighing almost 1.2Kg even without a lens, and the immediate impression is a feeling of solid reliability and competence. Canon has put as much effort into the ergonomics of the body as into the performance of the internal components, and it shows. In both vertical and horizontal positions the handgrip is comfortable and secure, and the controls fall perfectly under the fingers for fast and efficient operation. The improved LCD monitor is also superb, a three-inch 920,000-dot screen with a viewing angle of 170 degrees. In order to cut down on glare and internal reflection the gap between the screen itself and the scratch-resistant glass cover has been filled in with a transparent plastic, which also has the effect of making the image on the screen appear closer to the surface. The result is a clear, bright and exceptionally sharp monitor that works well in all lighting conditions.

By Brad ("Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Preview", from dpinterface.com canon 1d mark IV review)

DPInterface Exclusive: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV preview (in-person). Here’s the third and final part of our extensive coverage of the newly announced Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, the moment you’ve been waiting for – our preview!

After previewing the very hot Panasonic Lumix GF1 last month (whose final review will be completed soon), I’ve been writing full reviews of cameras and didn’t think I would be writing another preview so soon. But then again, I didn’t see this one coming – I was recently given the chance to see, hear and feel a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV in person: a chance I couldn’t pass up.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is Canon’s latest professional digital SLR, the much-awaited successor to the EOS 1D Mark III. Canon made several nice improvements here and there to its new flagship, the 1D Mark IV to please more photographers (hopefully, especially with the new AF system).


DPInterface Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Preview
Brad Soo – October 21st, 2009 (Update October 22nd, 2009)

Canon caught a lot of people by surprise yesterday with the announcement of a new camera in their EOS 1-series line. The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is Canon’s latest sports flagship digital SLR camera and as you might expect from its utter size and looks, it’s a professional-level digital SLR, not for the faint-hearted. Nope, it’s not called the 1D Mark 5 neither is it full-frame as speculation around the net suggested – the EOS 1D Mark IV is what it’s called, and it continues the sports 1-series tradition of sporting an APS-H sensor with tremendously fast continuous shooting speeds

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV replaces the 1D Mark III as Canon’s professional sports SLR. Among the various changes the 1D Mark IV brings, there’s one which that I’m sure many photographers will appreciate – a redone 45 point AF system, this time with better accuracy and outdoor performance, and it’s stuffed with cross-type points.

What’s else is buzzing about the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV? Check out its main features:

16 effective megapixels on a new APS-H 1.3X CMOS sensor
Canon EF lens mount
Dual DIGIC IV processors
3 inch LCD (920,000 pixels); live view with face detection available
10 frames per second burst mode
ISO range of 100 – 12800 (Expandable to ISO 50 – 102,400)
Full manual controls; just about everything you can think of
62 Custom Functions allows for lots of customization
New 45 point AF system; now with a whopping 39 cross-type points
Full HD 1080p video with sound; 24, 25 and 30 FPS frame rates available along with 720p and VGA recording
Rugged, weathersealed body design; shutter durability rated at 300,000 cycles
Dual memory card slots (CF I/II and SD/SDHC); camera can take advantage of UDMA enabled cards (up to Mode 6)
Without further delay, our preview of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV starts now!

Before moving on, I’d like to note the camera I have here is a pre-production Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and things are subject to change when the final camera comes out in November/December. For that reason, you probably should wait until our full, final review comes out before judging the camera.


Design and size

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is big, heavy, fast and extremely rugged; that’s great news for journalists, sports shooters or even casual point-and-shooters (if you’re willing to carry this massive camera around) who want to concentrate as much as possible on ‘the big picture’, literally and figuratively, instead of worrying if their camera will fall apart in harsh conditions.
The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV measures exactly the same dimensions (156.0 x 156.6 x 79.9 mm or 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 inches) as its predecessors but weighs in about 0.9 ounces heavier at 1,180 g or 41.6 ounces; compared to the 1D Mark III’s 1,115 grams/40.7 ounces.

It looks big compared to your average SLR but in reality, the EOS 1D Mark IV isn’t really a huge or massive as people think – it only looks big because of its integrated portrait grip; a mid-range SLR outfitted with a battery grip would be about the same size as the 1D.


Compared to the EOS 1D Mark III

Need to know the nitty gritty details on what’s changed? Check out the neat Canon EOS 1D Mark IV vs Mark III comparison table I made.


Box packaging

Right, it’s gonna cost you $5000 (Canon says this is subject to change as well) for this nice, professional SLR. However, the bundle that comes with the EOS 1D Mark IV is just average (what do you expect, this is a professional tool, not some luxury mobile phone):

LP-E4 rechargeable lithium-ion battery with protective cover
Battery charger
Body cap
Neck strap
USB and stereo A/V cables
Camera software CD
User’s manual
As mentioned, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV will go for $5000 and will start shipping around November/December… body only! There are no lens kits or bundles available for the camera – which is perfectly fine for the 1D’s target market who probably have a bunch of lenses lying around anyway.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has two memory card slots: one for Compact Flash Type I/II and the other for SD/SDHC cards. One big improvement here is the 1D Mark IV can take advantage of UDMA-enabled Compact Flash cards (the 1D Mark IV supports up to UDMA Mode 6), which means the camera can perform much faster with one. The old 1D Mark III could use UDMA-enabled cards but with no speed boost or advantage.

The 1D Mark IV uses the same LP-E4 lithium-ion battery as its predecessor so existing 1D Mark III owners can step up easily. The LP-E4 is an ‘intelligent’ battery and it reports the precise amount of juice available (in 1% increments), remaining charge life and serial number to the camera – you can view all of this in the battery section in the menu. Unfortunately, battery life on the EOS 1D Mark IV is down almost 32% compared to the 1D Mark III. The EOS 1D Mark IV is rated to take up to 1500 shots per charge in normal shooting conditions (around 73 degrees or 23 Celcius) and 1200 shots in freezing cold situations (32 degrees/0 Celcius) compared to the 1D Mark III which could take 2200 shots and 1700 shots in those respective temperatures.

Canon has also brought up some battery life numbers for the EOS 1D Mark IV when used in live view mode – the camera can take about 230 to 270 shots per charge in live view mode.


Lens selection

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has an EF lens mount which takes Canon EF lenses (along with third party and Canon’s specialized TS-E tilt-shift and MP-E Macro series of lenses). Canon has a huge selection of lenses ranging from ultra wide-angle to super-telephoto, so I believe they’ve got you covered in terms of lens choice.

One thing I would like to note here is the brand new Canon EF 100 mm f2.8L IS Macro USM. It’s an L-series lens with Canon’s latest ‘Hybrid’ optical image stabilization, which now corrects shift and angular camera shake as well. I had the chance to try out the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV + EF 100 mm f2.8L Macro combo and I found focusing to be fairly snappy for a macro lens. There’s a focus limiter switch which allows you to limit the lens to one of three focus ranges.

External flash units
The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV can support Canon’s Speedlite flashes from the entry-level 270EX to macro ringlights to their 430EX and 580EX series of flashes, as well as third party flashes (though third party flashes cannot sync automatically with the camera).

Canon notes that the EOS 1D Mark IV cannot wirelessly control external flash units unless there’s a master flash or flash transmitter attached to the camera. The reason? Because the EOS 1D Mark IV has no built-in flash. Canon’s own EOS 7D can wirelessly control flashes without attachments to the camera body simply because it has a popup flash.


Camera Tour

On the outside, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV looks a whole lot like its predecessor, the EOS 1D Mark III, save for the model badge, of course.

Another angle of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with the EF 85 mm f1.8 lens

Almost all of the changes of the ‘new’ camera lie within the EOS 1D Mark IV. The biggest change is probably the new 16.1 megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor which produces even higher resolution photos, yet promises the same, extreme burst rate of 10 FPS and ISO expansion up to a whopping ISO 102,400 (for the record, the 1D Mark III had a max ISO of 6,400 after activating ISO expansion). Image quality seems to be promising for sure – from ISO 102,400 shots using a pre-production model, I still managed to make several usable small prints out of them… but we’ll get to the EOS 1D Mark IV photo gallery later on in this preview. While rumors and wishful thinking pointed to a full-frame sensor on the next ‘sports 1D’, the EOS 1D Mark IV announcement today confirmed that Canon still wants to keep the APS-H crop sensors – the camera has a APS-H sensor with 1.3X crop factor, which means a 50 mm lens will become equivalent to 65 mm in 35 mm terms.


Video Recording

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV features a movie mode that allows you to record full HD (1080p) videos with mono sound. For the record, the 1D Mark III didn’t have any movie mode. The EOS 1D Mark IV allows you to select one of three frame rates for your 1920 x 1080 movies: 24 FPS, 25 FPS or 30 FPS.

There are also two lower resolution video sizes available: 720p (1280 x 720) and VGA (640 x 480). At these two settings, you can record at frame rates as high as 60 FPS! All movies are recorded in MOV format and limited to 4 GB per clip. You can manually focus and operate zoom while recording movies as well as adjust exposure (aperture and ISO) if you’re in Manual mode.

Canon wants to keep the EOS 1D Mark IV’s movie quality a surprise until the final, production camera comes out; and I respect that. Sorry folks, I won’t be posting any sample video/movie files until the final review (or if Canon changes their mind, which I doubt).

Alright, that’s enough, more on the camera’s movie mode in the final EOS 1D Mark IV review. Let’s move on


Performance

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has a burst mode that shoots at a blazing 10 frames per second. That’s right folks, TEN pictures, per second, which smokes your typical entry-level or even mid-range digital SLR and is perfect for capturing any sort of action. The EOS 1D Mark IV’s shutter makes a ‘snap’ sound that sounds a bit more… elegant compared to the Mark III each time it takes a photo. In burst mode, it makes a slightly different clack-clack-clack sound as it rattles off at 10 FPS (apparently the fast-firing sound of the shutter fascinates a lot of people; they seem to love it).

With an extremely fast memory card (Read: you’ll need something FAST and UDMA-enabled like a SanDisk Extreme IV or Lexar Pro card) the EOS 1D Mark IV can shoot up to 121 JPEG photos or 28 RAW images in a single burst before the frame rate drops. I don’t deny their claims – I used a SanDisk Extreme IV Compact Flash card (that’s a very fast card, by the way) with the EOS 1D Mark IV and I managed to get about 130 JPEG photos in a row before the camera slowed down. With slower cards, the camera can still take something like 80 JPEG photos (because it has a large buffer), but it takes ages to write them to the memory card.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV powers on pretty much instantaneously and auto focusing is snappy as ever, even on a pre-production unit. I tried out the camera in AI Servo mode with an EF 70-200 mm f2.8 lens and took several sequences of continuous shots of moving subjects in rather hot and humid conditions. I’m glad to report the EOS 1D Mark IV kept up very well (majority were ‘keeper’ shots) – I guess Canon learnt their lesson after the 1D Mark III out-of-focus fiasco and really got down to the drawing board this time. The outlook for the 1D Mark IV appears to be very good and I look forward to seeing equally fantastic (or better) performance in the final, production unit.


Overall impression

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is a big, professional digital SLR. It has almost every manual control imaginable, build quality of a tank and rapid continuous shooting rates. It’s a fantastic camera to use, a little on the heavy side but the 1D’s excellent ergonomics more than make up for its weight. I liked the several nice touches Canon added to the camera – the high resolution LCD, improved button feel and feedback (for glove wearers), and some ‘convenience features’ such as the ability to quickly change LCD brightness and autorotation of AF point layout when tilting the camera back and forth to portrait/landscape positions.

For working professionals, whose bread-and-butter relies on the camera they use, who have a lot of Canon lenses already in their many camera bags, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is an easy pick. For hobbyists and regular Joe’s who want to get the 1D Mark IV… well, you probably won’t regret buying a top-of-the-line camera but be sure to ask your pocketbook and/or spouse first! Performance, autofocus and image quality impressions from this pre-production unit seem to bode well to the results we will probably see on the final camera.

It’s too early to judge the pre-production Canon EOS 1D Mark IV I have here now, but the results look promising. I’ll post my conclusion and final thoughts once I get to review a final, production level camera. Till then, I hope you enjoyed my little preview of Canon’s flagship sports camera I’ve posted today.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below and I’ll try my best to answer them.