Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera Review

The "D" means digital and the "1" means top-of-the-line, as-good-as-it-gets, #1. The "Mark IV" in the 1D product name indicates the maturity of this model - the fourth generation. While the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV may not have every DSLR bell and whistle available at its release, it delivers a combination of speed, performance, image quality and durability unmatched by any other Canon EOS DSLR as of this review date.

Who is this camera for? Though price will keep it out of reach of many, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is an ideal tool for photographers in all disciplines, but it is the ultimate tool for photojournalists and sports/action photographers who absolutely cannot miss a shot. When you must (or want to) capture the shot, regardless of the shooting conditions and subject speed, this is the camera to do it with.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's predecessor, the Canon EOS 1D Mark III was geared to the same group. In light of some of the newer Canon EOS DSLRs (especially the Canon EOS 7D), the 1D III was showing signs of age - especially in sensor resolution. I have fielded a significant number of 7D vs. 1D III questions - and the decisions were not always easy. Now, with few exceptions, the 1D IV has the clear performance advantage over the 7D alternative.

Obviously, Canon decided to retain the APS-H/1.3x sensor size for the 1D IV. Many of us were hoping for a full frame 1D this round, but this sensor performs very well. One nice aspect of this format is that the worst performing part of the full frame lens image circle, the corners, is avoided.

To improve light-gathering efficiency, the 1D IV's new sensor features no gap between the microlenses and the distance from the microlenses to the photodiodes has been reduced. The 1D IV sensor utilizes the same self cleaning design as the 1D III, but now includes a fluorine coating on the top surface of the infrared-absorption glass to prevent dust adhesion. I'm pleased with the 1D IV's self-cleaning performance so far.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's very noticeable additional resolution over the 1D III can be seen using the mouseover feature in this Canon EOS 1D Mark IV vs. 1D Mark III resolution comparison using an ISO 12233 Chart. Test results from the EOS 7D (and many other Canon EOS DSLR models) are available for comparison at the same link. While the 7D retains a slight resolution advantage over the 1D IV, the 1D IV images processed to the same sharpness setting are sharper.

Let's continue to review the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's image quality/sensor performance. And more specifically, high ISO performance. The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV goes where no Canon DSLR has gone before (and probably still shouldn't). Never-seen-before-in-a-Canon and unimaginable in the film days, ISO settings of 51200 and 102400 are now available for use. "Of the approximately two stops higher sensitivity that the EOS-1D Mark IV has over the EOS-1D Mark III, one stop is due to the improved CMOS sensor and the other is attributable to the performance boost of the Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors rather than DIGIC III Image Processors" [Canon EOS 1D IV White Paper]

I'm sure you noticed the "and probably still shouldn't" hint about image quality delivered at these mind boggling-high ISO values. The following examples will bring them down to earth. Below are a pair of 100% crop comparisons between the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Identical camera setup, identical targets, identical lighting, identical framing and identical processing. These manually-exposed samples were shot from a Foba Gamma Studio Camera Stand-mounted Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens set to 100mm and f/6.3. RAW images were captured with auto white balance, no noise reduction (a key factor) and the "Standard" Picture Style. Sharpness was set to "1" (very low).

RAW file conversion was done using Canon's Digital Photo Pro (DPP) (free/included). DPP is easy to use and delivers image quality as high as or higher than any other RAW converter available (though more full-featured and easier/faster/nicer to use software is available - such as Adobe Lightroom). Another DPP benefit is that the latest Canon camera models are always supported. RAW images were converted to 16 bit .TIF files and Photoshop CS4 "Save for Web" was used to create the 70% quality JPG crops shown below.

Lighting is from a sweltering 4000 watts of Photoflex Starlite tungsten lights in a pair of daylight-balanced Photoflex SilverDome softboxes.

With those details out of the way, let's review the comparison images. There are many MB of files required to be downloaded to make all of the mouseover and mouseclick links in this review function properly - please be patient while they load. Also note that my 7D delivered exposures that are 1/3 stop darker than my compared-to bodies at the identical exposure settings in this test - thus the +1/3 EV examples presented here.

Differences in noise between the 1D III, 1D IV and 5D II samples up through ISO 6400 are minor and insignificant to my eyes - all 3 DSLRs produce impressive results. Thus, higher resolution wins at final output. The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV maintains its good results while providing far more resolution than the 1D III without an increase in sensor size. The 5D II has the sensor size advantage over the other two cameras.

The 1D IV results are noticeably cleaner (and sharper) than the 7D results even at lower ISO settings.

At ISO 12800 (a setting not available on the 1D III), we get into my avoid-if-possible range for the 1D IV. ISO 12800 noise is noticeable, but images are usable. The 1D IV results appear to be very slightly cleaner than the 5D II at this setting and at ISO 25600, even slightly cleaner. The 5D II retains the resolution advantage of course. 1D IV image detail is being affected significantly at ISO 25600.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV images taken at ISO 51200 with no noise reduction added are, to be clear, ugly at 100%. Adding some noise reduction and reducing the image size significantly gives you something useable. ISO 102400 appears to me to be a marketing invention more than an engineering feat - images at this ISO setting are a disaster at 100%. Significant noise reduction and downsizing will help, but ...

To be fair, Canon refers to ISO 25600, 51200 and 102400 as extended settings H1, H2 and H3. You will want to avoid them if possible, but images can still indeed be made at the High settings. Photographers without these settings available will be putting their cameras away while you continue shooting into the darker lighting conditions.

The "w/ NR" noise reduction samples show that while noise in high ISO images can indeed be reduced, detail is sacrificed in the process. The in-camera-suggested noise reduction amounts are a good starting point and add a stop or so to the usable ISO setting depending on your taste and needs. I generally use a small amount of noise reduction in my high ISO images, but I typically lean toward saving detail over cleaner images.

More resolution brings out more details in the fabric and, aside from the 7D results, the big difference between DSLRs I see in this comparison relates to the resolution of the compared cameras' sensors. More resolution shows more detail.

The 7D's smaller (physical size) sensor has more megapixels than the 1D IV, but it delivers a less sharp image at an identical sharpness setting of "1" ("2" works better) and shows more noise than the larger sensor cameras it is being compared to.

If, even after evaluating the differences, you cannot see a clear low-noise winner in these comparisons, the differences in noise are probably not going to be of significance to you in real world shooting.

Same with resolution. And in this case, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV shows a very nice resolution increase over the 1D III while retaining very good sharpness even at this low sharpness setting.

A resolution increase is not always a good reason alone to buy the next version of the same DSLR model, but in my opinion, the 1D IV's resolution increase over the 1D III is upgrade justification enough. More resolution equals larger and better quality output (including prints) or more headroom for cropping. If you are using a 1D III or similar resolution camera now, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV allows you to frame your shot wider in the heat of the moment and crop later to get perfect framing - with potentially 1D III or more resolution remaining.

Of course, increased resolution usually means a penalty to be paid in terms of file size. The following table shows comparative RAW file sizes for a photo of a standard in-studio setup with a moderately high amount of detail taken with the referenced Canon EOS DSLR body.

An image quality-related Canon EOS 1D Mark IV improvement is the new white balance algorithm that attempts to make colors more accurate when shooting under low color temperature light sources such as household tungsten lamps. Until the 7D came along, Canon EOS DSLRs all evaluated auto white balance poorly under tungsten lights. Choosing the tungsten white balance setting or using a custom white balance was the easy solution to the problem. The EOS 7D gets tungsten white balance right. The 1D IV? Well, it Auto White Balances tungsten better, but images shot under these lights are still more warm-toned than they should be. The 7D definitely has the tungsten AWB advantage.

Like many of its other features, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's 63-zone metering unit is inherited directly from the 1D III. The metering sensor's zone correlation has been optimized for the Area AF frame's 45 AF points. Evaluative, Partial, Spot, and Center-weighted average metering are provided. Partial metering uses about 13.5% of the viewfinder area at the center. Spot metering uses about 3.8% of the viewfinder area at the center. The 1D IV's Evaluative metering algorithm has been improved for less metering dependence on the subject and more consistent metering control.

Do you find AE (Auto Exposure) to be consistently under or over exposing your images? The new AE Microadjustment feature is for you. Dial in up to ±1 stop of adjustment in 1/8-stop increments.

I prefer to use manual exposure settings when possible, but there are times when auto exposure is the better option - such as when shooting under changing light conditions. Of the exposure (image brightness) parameters able to be auto-determined by the camera, the ISO setting is the one that has long been underutilized by the camera's auto exposure functionality (this parameter required a film change in the old days).

Auto ISO has been around for many DSLR iterations, but the full range of ISO settings were not available in all modes until the full Auto ISO feature I've wanted appeared in the EOS 7D: Auto ISO that uses the full normal range of ISO settings in most modes including M mode. And now this very useful feature is available in the 1D Mark IV.

Auto ISO in Manual exposure mode creates what is essentially an Aperture AND Shutter Priority Mode. I can dial in the M mode fixed aperture and shutter speeds I want and let AE determine the ISO setting needed. I can set the fixed shutter speed I need and aperture I want to track sports players from shade to full sun, under changing skies and with a rising or setting sun without exposure setting worries. The camera simply adjusts the ISO settings to accommodate my settings. I love it. Note that no way is provided to set exposure compensation while M mode and Auto ISO - a shortcoming I would like to see Canon address.

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's auto flash exposure algorithm is based on the EOS-1D Mark III's E-TTL II. The 1D IV improves upon this algorithm by utilizing lens distance information. "It is especially effective at wide angles with a small subject or when the subject or background is dark." [CWP]

Like the 1D III, the 1D IV has a fast 1/300 max standard Flash Sync shutter speed for Canon Speedlite Flashes (plus High Speed Synch) and FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) of up to ±3 stops is available in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments. The 1D IV provides a flash menu for complete control of external 580EX II, 430EX II and 270EX Speedlites.

Do you find FE (Flash Exposure) to be consistently under or over exposing your images? The new FE Microadjustment feature is for you. Dial in up to ±1 stop of adjustment in 1/8-stop increments.

As I've said in other reviews, if the shot is OOF (Out of Focus), the best image quality in the world is not going to save the shot. I have also noted that the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV features a new autofocus system:

"The EOS-1D Mark IV's AF system has been comprehensively reconsidered from its design components (sensor, firmware and mechanism) to its manufacturing execution. The design objectives were improved stability, reliability, precision and function. These objectives have been achieved with a totally new AF system, featuring totally new AF hardware and incamera software." [Canon EOS 1D Mark IV White Paper] The white paper goes on to describe many of these changes in depth, but I'll mention some in this review.

The 1D Mark IV uses the same 45 AF point layout as Mark III, but the 1D IV's new low-noise AF sensor has 45 user-selectable AF points. This is the same number of AF points available on the 1D II/N but significantly more than the 1D III's 19. I was not thrilled to lose my AF points when the 1D III arrived - I'm glad to have them back. Of course, if you prefer the 1D III way, Custom Function C.Fn III-10 will let you configure the camera for 19 AF points - or 11, or 9 inner or 9 outer.

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