Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Review
“Multimedia” DSLR with Improved Autofocus
Canon introduced the next evolution in its EOS 1D camera line, the EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR. It boasts a 16.1 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. Sounds like the perfect sports photography camera.
The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV is the most rugged and durable professional Canon camera body to date with a magnesium alloy, weather-resistant body, and features 1080p Full HD (high-definition) video capture at selectable frame rates.
The camera's crowning achievement, however, is an autofocus system that starts with 45 AF points, including 39 cross-type focusing points capable of tracking fast-moving subjects at 10 fps. It has more than twice as many cross-type focusing points as the 1D Mark III and a new AF sensor construction to improve performance in low light and with low contrast subjects, the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV has greater subject detection capabilities than any previous EOS model. To complete the AF improvements, Canon developed an 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.”
Along with the camera, Canon announced the compact WFT-E2 II A wireless file transmitter. It gives you a range of digital connectivity options, including IEEE802.11a/b/g and Ethernet.
The transmitter’s camera linking function lets you simultaneously fire 10 cameras remotely, and its updated WFT server mode lets users remotely use live view, control settings and fire the camera over the Internet. And, geotagging is possible via Bluetooth, using compatible GPS devices to append coordinate data to the images.
When shooting in low light without the benefit of a flash, you can take advantage of Canon’s widest ISO range ever. The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV ISO speed settings range from 100 to 12,800 in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments with 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. Video footage can be captured at settings as high as ISO 12,800, and low-light still images are further enhanced by Canon’s adjustable high ISO noise-reduction feature.
Other features of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV include a 3-inch solid structure, 920,000-dot LCD screen with a 160-degree viewing angle; full manual exposure control; in-camera video editing; selectable frame rates on an all-new APS-H-size image sensor that’s similar in size to a Super 35mm motion picture film frame; three video recording resolutions (1080p Full HD, 720p HD in 16:9 and standard def in 4:3 aspect ratios); sound recording through the internal monaural microphone or via optional external mics connected to the stereo microphone input; high-speed continuous shooting up to 121 large JPEGs (using a UDMA CF card); three RAW shooting modes; three JPEG recording formats; an improved white balance algorithm to make colors more accurate when shooting under low color temperature light sources; a peripheral illumination correction function that corrects darkening that can occur in the corners of images when lenses are used at their largest apertures; and a fluorine coating on the low pass filter to enhance the EOS integrated cleaning system.
A cool bonus is the in-camera copyright information feature that helps professionals secure control over images by setting copyright data directly into the camera.
The camera also helps you reduce post-production work with an auto lighting optimizer (ALO) system that, when enabled, automatically adjusts the image for optimal brightness and contrast on the fly during in-camera image processing, to reduce clipped highlights while keeping shadowed areas clear and detailed. ALO works with RAW and JPEG images as well as video recording.
The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR is scheduled to ship in late December. It will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $4,999. Final pricing and availability for the WFT-E2 II A wireless file transmitter will be available later this year.
Read more information on the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV.