Canon EOS 5D Mark IV - Refurbished

Sensor

The Canon 5D Mark IV sensor is an all new in the form of full-frame CMOS capable of producing 30.4 Megapixel images. A significant upgrade on the Canon 5D Mark III and its previous versions.

Thanks to the nature of full-frame sensors its output will be very sharp, noise will be lower in low-light conditions (helped by an increased ISO range) and there will be a great amount of detail in each shot.

Processor

Whilst lenses and sensors are the camera's eyes, the DIGIC 6+ processor, as found in the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, can be likened to the brain.

The better and more powerful the processor, then the better image quality a camera can produce - as it is capable of processing more information before it is written to the memory card (in this case either an SD card or Compact Flash card).

A processor is also responsible for assisting in continuous mode, the more powerful it is then the more images it can buffer and write to memory. In this case, the 5D Mark IV burst mode can capture 7 frames per second (7fps) - another increase on the older 5D models.

Mirror Vibration Control System

Introduced in the Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R, the mirror vibration control system helps to reduce internal vibrations within the mirror system of this camera. Using a range of gears and cams, this was first used to ensure the high resolution and sharpnes of images wasn't affected by firing the shutter - with the higher resolution 30.4 MP sensor, this is going to come in handy.

Additionally the mirror being driven up and down in a more controlled fashion rather than a slap and a thud helps to reduce shutter noise - ideal for use in quieter situations where a camera needn't become a distraction. 

Dual Pixel RAW

An all new mode from Canon for this Digital SLR camera is the Dual Pixel RAW shooting mode. This captures 2 RAW files - one normal RAW and a Dual Pixel RAW. 

Using Canon's DPP (Digital Photo Professional) Software with the Dual Pixel file adds three new processes you can perform post-shoot.

'Image micro-adjustmensts' utilise information in the file regarding depth and let you shift the point of maximum sharpness, whereas 'Bokeh Shift' lets you move blur position in small increments to a more favourable position and finally 'Ghosting Reduction' helps to shift any ghosting or flaring to again enhance your original shot.

4K

Videographers will be delighted by the news that the using the 5D Mark IV for video now includes the ability to record 4K movies (4096 x 2160) at 30p, 25p and 24p with a really impressive bitrate of approximately 500 Mbps. 

For video laypeople, the bitrate is how much data is recorded within a second of video - and to put it into perspective, a 1080p Blu-Ray Disc requires a bitrate of just 40 Mbit/s (320 Mbps).

Obviously filming in 4K with its high bitrate will require much more storage space - so we recommend keeping multiple SD or CF cards with you, and also be sure to have the latest versions which are capable of writing 4K files.

Maximum record duration for a 4K video or Full HD video is just under 30 minutes.

Another feature present when you have recorded a 4K video on the Mark IV is 'frame grab' - which lets you pick any frame from your movie and save it as an 8.8 Megapixel image in its own right.

This opens up a range of possibilities, is useful for grabbing relatively high resolution thumbnails and perhaps can make up for missing a moment where you may have rather adopted some still imagery.

5D Mark IV Video Specifications

Resolution isn't the only thing to have had an improvement in the 5D Mark IV video department, with added frame rates for HD video. You can now capture Full HD at 60 fps which is double the frame rate per second for video in the 5D Mark III. On top of this, for users who want slower motion video capture, the 5D Mark IV can record in HD resolution at 120fps - boasting 70 extra frames on the last model.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF is another innovation that has made its way from the 1D X Mark II to this camera, and is particularly relevant for video capture in that it uses the phase detection auto focus to provide smooth focus tracking.

ISO

The Canon 5D Mark IV ISO now ranges from 100 - 32,000 which is a third of a stop more sensitive, meaning that an already strong low-light performer has become even more capable.

As with other Digital SLRs in this class, there is an expandable ISO with the h2 expanded ISO of 51,200 and the H2 maxing out at 102,400.

Autofocus

Dual Pixel CMOS AF is not only useful for video mode but comes in handy when shooting stills through live view mode - with the added benefit of boosting the speed that the camera and lens can focus on your subject.

The AF system has been taken once again from the latest 1D X and still possesses the same 61 points (41 cross-type) as the 5D Mark III.

A huge difference in this model however is the fact that Autofocus (as per the 1D) can now operate at f/8 opening up a world of opportunity when it comes to focusing using telephoto lenses and teleConverters.

The working range of the autofocus has also improved greatly to now focus down to -3 EV, making it your camera work even better for you in lower light.

Wireless

Modern cameras are about much more than just capturing the moment, they also need to facilitate the documenting and transferring of files. Wireless technology is oozing out of the 5D Mark IV - with Wi-Fi, NFC and GPS technology all built in.

GPS tagging of images lets the intrepid explorers catalogue their files by location and joins in-camera cataloguing with IPTC data in enhancing the overall cataloguing experience.

This feature becomes even handier when used in conjunction with the in-built wireless FTP/FTPS transfer tool. For the first time in a Canon DSLR you can now connect through the camera directly to an FTP server and transfer images, cataloguing being an apt addition if you are sending files to a newsdesk or agency.

Smartphone connectivity is now also a possibility, and a first for the Canon 5D family, with this camera being able to connect to your phone wirelessly via Wi-Fi or NFC to the Canon EOS Remote App. This app not only transfers images to your phone, but also lets you take control of the camera independently of the actual camera, with video capture over Wi-Fi being added to the mix.

Touchscreen LCD monitor

The touchscreen LCD is slightly larger than the one found in the Canon EOS 80D, at 3.2-inches, but uses the same Clear View II technology and is a static screen rather than the vari-angle one in the 80D.

Simply using the tap of a finger you can now adjust focus point during live view and video modes, with the face detection technology coming in useful if your subject is of human form.

You can also edit a variety of controls when in live view mode using the screen, which may suit the working style of some - and doesn't affect the number of physical controls on the camera body, which will suit the working style of others.

Build

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is built around a magnesium alloy and polycarbonate combination with the elements and style in mind. It is a delightful camera to behold, and its controls, if not already familiar to the photographer will become so in no time.

Thanks to a new superspeed USB 3.0 port, the remote control port has shifted to the front of the camera and an additional custom function button has been added to the rear of the camera.

A change in materials has not affected the robustness of the camera, but has managed to trim 50g to take the total weight of the body on its own to around 890g. There have also been a range of changes to the seals in order to improve camera durability in tougher weather conditions.