First impression of Canon 1D MarkIV
October 24th, 2009 | Author: admin
This is my first impression of the BETA Canon 1D Mark IV, and not a normal field review! The camera’s CF slot was glued by Canon, and I could not check the image quality and HD-video on a computer screen. As a result, all I can comment on is the handling of the camera and how the photos looks in built-in the camera display.
Today I had the opportunity to test the new Canon 1D Mark IV. I was very excited when I picked up the new workhorse and headed out into the field. As a faithful 1DS and 1D user since 2003, I really wanted to check out its new features.
With this beta camera I was told in no uncertain terms by my Canon agent that I was NOT supposed to view samples of images or HD video clips taken with this camera. That’s OK, but for me as a photographer it is not possible to say much about this camera without viewing the pictures at 100% on my calibrated monitor. Image quality for me is the most important issue with cameras. Cameras and lenses are tools, not toys.
SO, WHAT’S NEW?
The first thing that surprised me with the Canon 1D Mark IV camera was that it looks almost 100% identical to the Canon 1D Mark III camera. Same buttons, LCD screen and viewfinder. This is strange, as I had really hoped that some of the new buttons from the Canon 7D, like the Photo/Movie-button and the AF selection button, would also appear on the new workhorse from Canon. Without an instruction manual I had to spend a minute or two to find where the play button for the HD movie was located. I finally discovered it was activated by the “FEL” button.
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HD-movie
The HD movie option is new, compared to the Mark III cameras, and has the same options as the 7D. You can shoot HD movie in 1920 x 1080 pixels in 24P, 25P and 30P, which is good news for all Europeans! You also have a movie option in 1280 x 720 pixels in 50P or 60P. You choose your desired movie mode in the menu system (See movie below), not like the 7D where you push the Q button and then choose the quality setting directly with the joystick. Sound controls are still missing, as in the 5D Mark II and 7D. I can’t say anything about the movie quality, but you can see the official movies with this camera at Canon Japan
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Custom Functions
The menu in the Canon Mark IV is almost the same as for the 1D / 1DS Mark III. Some of the main differences are:
- C.Fn I 3: ISO 12 800 + H1 (ISO 25 600), H2 (ISO 51 200) and H3 (ISO 102 400). More on high ISO later
- C.Fn I 17: FE Micro-adjustment (New feature)
- C.Fn II 2: More options for High ISO speed reduction
- C.Fn II 4: Auto Lighting Optimizer
- C.Fn III 3: Release/Tracking priority (The same as 7D)
- C.Fn III 8: Better settings for AF expansion points
- C.Fn III 10: Selection of AF points changes
- C.Fn III 16: Orientation linked AF point
- C.Fn IV 11: Select button for starting movie shooting (FEL)
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See video bellow for all Custom Functions in the menu settings
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AF system
The most interesting part of the new Mark IV is the AF system. How precise and fast is it?? Good question!! I tested the Mark IV with some gulls flying toward some branches, and the AF followed very well. But since I can’t check the images, I can’t say anything about how accurate and fast it is compared to 1D Mark III or the new 7D. I’m very surprised that the new innovative and easy AF system of the 7D is not implemented in the 1D Mark IV. I couldn’t find any AF selection button or Q button to easily change between different AF modes. I could not find any option for Spot AF either. In the custom function it is still possible to choose AF expansion points, but it’s more difficult than on the 7D. My impression of the Mark IV AF system is that it is fast and precise, but how good it performs in difficult environments is hard to say for now…
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Frames per second and Buffer Capacity
Canon 1D Mark IV has dual DIGI IV processors that are faster than 1D Mark III. The frame rate and buffer are impressive, doing 10 exposures per second at more than 100 pictures for JPEG and 26 (28 in Canon’s official information with fast UDMA CF-cards) for RAW files. This will be appreciated by sports, wildlife and action photographers. See the video below to see how fast this camera actually is.
Frame rate with JPEG quality high. The CF-card slot was glued, so I don’t know how fast the CF card was.
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Frame rate with RAW. The CF-card slot was glued, so I don’t know how fast the CF card was.
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High ISO
One thing that really impressed me with this camera is the High ISO capabilities. I tested the camera with ISO settings at 1600, 3200, 6400, 12 800, H1, H2 and H3. I first took some test shots without any active High ISO Noise reduction and the images looked very good at ISO 3200 and 6400 when viewing them on the back LCD screen. I have not seen any of this images on my calibrated monitor, so this is only my impression about the camera’s high ISO capabilities. When I activated the High ISO reduction I was very impressed, because the images were very clean up to ISO 12 800. This is very good!! With the new 7D I recommend ISO settings up to ISO 1600, but with the 1D Mark IV it seems that you can push it to ISO 6400 or maybe ISO 12 800 before you suffer from visible noise. BUT, I don’t want to conclude anything here before I can see any images at 100% on my calibrated Eizo monitor. You can see my test shots with High ISO reduction activated below. Note that the LCD screen on the camera will show some patterns in the background that are really not there in the image. See the official High ISO settings at Canon Japan
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Final thoughts
I don’t want to make any conclusions based on this test, before having a chance to check the images at 100% on my computer monitor. But my impression so far is that this is a great workhorse specially designed for action photographers and photo journalists. With the 1D Mark IV’s great potential for HD-movie in 1080P in a rugged and weather sealed body, I think many will start to use this camera.
What about me? I need to do more investigation about the image quality and how fast and precise the AF system is before I decide to order this camera myself. But I won’t be surprised if I start to use this camera on expeditions and assignments when the production models start to show up in December.
Best regard Ole Jørgen Liodden
Thanks to Einar Breen for filming, and Bob Baillargeon for copy-editing!
70 Responses to “First impression of Canon 1D MarkIV”
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It seems a bit dumb to write a first impression review based only in what you have seen on the 3″LCD screen. How difficult would it have been to check a few images first on your calibrated computer monitor before writing a review like this? Sure, on the LCD screen of my 7D the ISO 6400 images look great too! But viewing 100% on my computer monitor it really isn’t all that great.
Therefore, I feel that this review is worthless and does not add anything new or useful to the existing reviews / previews.
Why bother writing this without looking at the image first. Useless article.
Hello John
This is not the type of reviews I like to do, but it was not possible for me to check any images or video. The CF-card slot was locked with glue, and I didn’t have any USB-cable to upload the images. For some reason, Canon is very strict this time about showing anything about this camera. Even Vincent Laforet had to remove his HD-video taken with the beta 1D Mark IV. I would love to give you all a more deaply review of this camera with images, HD-video and real AF-test shooting, but it is not possible. SORRY!
I disagree with you about the ISO 6400 on the Canon 7D. If you zoom in you will see a lot of noise with ISO 6400 (especially in the shadow parts) but almost nothing on the 1D Mark IV. Of course I have to check this on a computer screen when Canon allows me to, but my impression is still that the high ISO on Canon 1D Mark IV is much, much better than on the 7D.
I will get back with images and video, when it is possible.
Ole Jørgen
Good question, Kris!! I’ve also been thinking about this. Why waste time on this type of reviews…
I think this is my last review without showing images or HD-videos.
But, I don’t think anybody else can provide more information about this camera…
Maybe I should delete this “review”???
Ole Jørgen
I’m really not sure what kind of information Canon hopes to transport to photographers and what kind of promotional value if any it may connect with that kind of approach. Glued CF-Card Slots… that’s stuff for booth desks at fairs. And even there it’s kinky. Handing out Pre Release Units to well known professionals who should act as multiplicators and providers of valuable insight shouldn’t be bothered with such restrictions. After all – reviewing the real quality is one thing. Publishing samples which they have all the right to request not to do, that’s a whole different story.
Same with the request to Vincent Laforet to pull back his short film “Nocturne”
Definitely not smart moves from Canon’s side.
Should you delete your first impressions? No, I don’t think so. I find it more worthwile than the 54th repeating of Canon’s Press Release as “preview” on other sites. Therefore I’ll include it in my small list of info on the EOS 1D MIV I intend to keep current until the cam will be available at the vendors: http://tfrank.posterous.com/linksammlung-mit-informationen-zur-canon-eos-0
Have fun,
Torsten
What is the outer ring accessory you have on the focusing ring of your 70-200 called?
@John: perhaps you missed this part: “I was told in no uncertain terms by my Canon agent that I was NOT supposed to view samples of images or HD video clips taken with this camera. That’s OK, but for me as a photographer it is not possible to say much about this camera without viewing the pictures at 100% on my calibrated monitor.”
Would you have preferred that he said nothing at all?
http://www.shots.fr/2009/10/24/canon-eos-1d-mark-iv-embargo-et-silence-radio/
i think the dumb one is you JOHN
since you cannot even read properly
HE COULD NOT CHECK THE PIX ON HIS SCREEN!
cause cf card door was glued!
please read carefully before posting negative messages
John needs to read the whole article before posting, you did mention that the CF was glued. Duh, it’s a test model John! I don’t know why everyone is so up in arms, why not get another peak at the new gear geez?
and Tom, the outer ring accessory is a follow focus and that is a Red Rock video rig. The follow focus really smooths out manual focus by redistributing the force of manual focus, great for filming! Wish I had one, those rigs aren’t cheap.
Oh, leave it up. It’s very educational about Canon and just how screwed up they are. Seriously, what were they thinking? It just makes it look like they have something to hide.
Impressive buffer. Thanks for posting that clip.
I think that people criticizing the review are being a little harsh. While the images seen on the LCD screen are only the compressed jpg “thumbnails”, if they are the same as the 5D2 these thumbnails are full resolution, and when you zoom in as far as you can on the viewfinder, you are actually seeing the individual pixels. As the reviewer says, this isn’t the same as seeing the converted RAW images on a calibrated monitor, but at the same time it is not useless either.
Thank you for taking the time to write the review!
Ron
Obviously there is one mistake. According to official spesifications the camera’s buffer doesn’t have space for over 50 RAW files but rather about 28. I assume the clued CF slot did also mean that you had no CF card inside. The camera is always faster than usual if it does not have to write anything to anywhere.
Hello Tuomo
The camera was glued with a CF-card inside, so my test shot with JPEG was real. With Raw-files I didn´t count but it assumed it was around 50 – I might be wrong, maybe I should count…
I have now updated with a video clip with frame rate with Raw-files. I counted 26 raw-files before the buffer was full, but I don’t know anything about the CF or SD card since the CF-card slot was glued. I don’t think it was fast UDMA 5 or 6 cards. So my assumption of 50+ images with RAW was wrong.
Thanks for the review – it was good for what it was, and for what it wasn’t was not your fault. My big question is – what is Canon afraid of by not letting you look closer at the images – a bad review? I think it reflects poorly on Canon and it does make you wonder. If anything, it says wait for a few IQ and AF reviews before making a buy decision.
Hello Ole Joergen,
It is a matter of course that the 1D IV should be incomparably superior to the 7D when it comes to high ISO capabilities. There simply is no substitute for a larger sensor, and moreover one can reasonably assume that the 1D-model is equipped with more sophisticated circutry to minimize noise in the signal path. I have the same impression from Canon’s press conference on October 20th – where I could see on the camera’s LCD that ISO 102.400 was not pretty but nevertheless it showed quite a bit more detail than I would have expected. Thus I got the feeling that a usable 10.800 might be realistic with the EOS 1D IV, and if such is the case I want it for my photography.
Your article is not useless.
Cheers,
Per Inge
Some people are obviously too lazy or too careless to read this review carefully. The author says quite clearly at the start that the sample he was given had its CF slot glued shut by Canon, so he was not able to check his images on a monitor. If you didn’t think that could result in a worthwhile review of the features, then you shouldn’t have read on. Thank you, Jorgen, for your initial impressions. I’m sure you’ll post a more complete review later if you’re able to do so.
I just find it strange Canon is so reluctant about showing high ISO images, even their own sample images are only upto ISO3200, very odd for a camera which is claimed to have great high ISO capability.
Maybe they are still fine tuning the firmware. Personally I don’t expect the high ISO performance to be much improved over the 5Dmk2 or 1Dsmk3, it is still a DIGIC IV based camera and whilst Canon have improved the sensor itself I doubt this is going to make a significant difference to high ISO shots. Most of the improvement is with the JPEG processing engine and noise reduction algorithms, RAW files will reveal the actual performance of the camera.
I also thought Laforet’s video was pulled because it used (some) Zeis lenses? Not on message there then…..
Sean
Hi Doug
I don’t think Canon have something to hide, but this time they really want to have full control of images taken with the Beta cameras. I’m not sure if that is so smart, but I respect their decision. Canon might have learned something from the AF-problems with the Canon 1D Mark III, and this time they want to make sure that everything is OK..
Hello Per Inge
Yes, I got the same impression as you. ISO 10.800 looks very clean!
Hi GL2
Yes, I will do a real field review when/if I can test a later Beta-version or a production model.
I do not think it strange that Canon does not want images from the pre-production models to be spread. As cameras have become increasingly sophisticated, the possibilities of tweaking image quality by means of firmware adjustments have also increased. We have every reason to believe that the EOS 1D IV is at least as configurable with firmware as previous models, and probably this process is going on now since they intend to optimize image parameters before the final launch.
Per Inge
Hi Per Inge
Yes, you might be right about this. I hope and think the 1D Mark IV will be the new “monster” camera from Canon, and I’m looking forward to shoot with a production model.
Tuomo B: Canon also claims a buffer of 15 RAW for the 7D but Robgalbraith’s tests suggest that with a very fast card you can get a burst of up to 58 RAW+jpeg! It will be interesting to see exactly how many the 1DIV will get.
just curious.
was the USB terminal cover also glued?
and if it wasn’t,
couldn’t you bypass the CF
by connecting directly to laptop
and used canon’s remote shooting software?
but thanks for the pre-preview.
i.
Hi i
I didn’t have a USB-cable with me…
Thanks Ole Jørgen for the RAW buffer video. It’s interesting to see that 26 RAW files is somewhat realistic number. Neil F had an interesting point of the buffer of 7D. I’m also very keen to see how many ID4 will get with a really upbeat card.
Neil F: Actally, I could found only one test result with 7D:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10042-10239
“With a SanDisk Extreme IV 16GB card inserted, we were able to squeeze off 19-20 RAW frames in succession at ISO 100.”
Are there better results somewhere else?
I understand that you are the nestor in testing of Canon gear. I am happy with my friend 5D Mark II. I am a slow person. I wish I can afford some good lenses since I am only a hobby man. I am very impressed about your work in the professional Canon world, and regard it very highly.
“I didn’t have a USB-cable with me…”
I have at least 3 on my desk, and you could easily buy one from any IT store or even supermarket. I would be curious to get theses files, but I am sure you had better things to do.
Dear Mr. Liodden:
Appreciate the extra effort to share your first impression with the rest of the community. It is very useful for you to point out some “backward” arrangements (such as the non-7d like buttons). Hopefully this is due to the “beta” version and the real one will correct the disappointment (unless Canon is really to dumb to do self correction).
Don’t mind about those nasty comments. I can not understand some people. No body put a gun to the heads of those people forcing them to read your review. Photography should be sort of an enjoyment of art. some photographer like to behave stinkingly as a super human hot-shot, they talk with the air out of their nose and write with the bad air come out from their bottom holes. They were not chosen to test the gear and so, the only way for them to call on people’s attention is to issue a childish comments like this.
You did a good thing and I would like to let you know that this photography enthusiast appreciate sincerely your effort and sharing spirit.
David T from VA, USA
Hi Tomas
I have at least 10 USB-cables in my office, but not with me on the test.
Thanks, David
Good to hear that you appreciate this preliminary test.
I would not have been interested in the images from a pre-production camera. Why not? Because as we all should understand, Canon is in the process of optimizing the image quality. They have to do, because they need to deliver the best possible product in order to maximize sales and profit from the new camera. The higher the picture quality, the more people will buy the EOS 1D IV. People will only shell out this kind of money for a high-end camera if it is not only mechanically and functionally superior, it has to yield a similarly high picture quality too.
So, in order to fulfill the needs of demanding photographers (discriminating amateurs as well as professionals) Canon has to ensure that the camera really delivers. Since this work is in progress as we read this, it can be taken for granted that the pictures taken with a pre-production unit is not entirely representative of what we can get from the coming production units which will probably be a bit better.
That is why I am not particularly interested in files from pre-production cameras. I want to see what the finalized cameras are capable of, these are the files I find relevant. That being said, I was and am sufficiently confident in the qualities of the 1D IV to order it.
I wanted to thank you for the time and care you put into this preview.
Would a full review have been more useful? Of course. But that was not possible, given the limitations you mentioned. I think you have done a fine, and useful, job with that you had available.
I will look forward to reading more of your impressions when you have a chance to download images. In the meantime, this is the best hands-on preview I have found.
THANK YOU!
Where did you get your Red Rock Captain Stubling video rig? Anywhere in Norway ?
BTW So far I’m pleased with my EOS 7D. Just got the BG-E7 battery pack. I like it a lot.
Tomas, he had a USB, you had a USB, he had a new camera, you didn’t. He wrote an article best he could. You wrote snide and sarcastic remarks. We like him. We don’t like you. Thanks Ole.
Hello Tarjei
You can buy the RedRock rig from Video4 (56904210) and talk to Øyvind Torp. He know what rig I use…
The battery pack is a must on 7D!!!
admin:
October 24, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Hi i
I didn’t have a USB-cable with me…
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It’s just usb cable. Why don’t you have it ? so weird.. I mean it JUST usb cable that can found everywhere. Look under your table or somewhere in your house even in your office, HEY! It’s there. You guys know what I’m trying to tell.. just USB CABLE …
Sorry, Just found this message “I have at least 10 USB-cables in my office, but not with me on the test”
Maybe you need a messenger
Well, if it was me I’d make a call and HEY! I’ve 1D4 to test just bring that USB cable for me!
lol, i also found it weird… i mean ask your neighbor or something. Tool-ish behavior
anyway some samples can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slvrscoobie/sets/72157622649772276/
How much better is the image quality going to get over a final product?
Thanks for your review. I’m a Canon XSi owner and looking to upgrade to the Canon 7D and just dreaming of the Mark IV, and any info whatsoever is helpful.
No USB cable? LOL.
This review is informative for what it is, but of course the final conclusions will come when the finished product hits the market. I am fully confident that the EOS 1D IV is going to be a killer camera.
Thanks for the review. It is appreciated and informative based on what you were allowed to do at this point. (amazing how many dorks are out there that will not read what you wrote in your preamble, only to leave some unappreciative or clueless comment….oh well…..thank goodness there are enough smart and nice people out there to deal with, when there are so many that aren’t…..)
Tuomo B: I misread, and it is actually 58 in 30 seconds, not until it slows, sorry. However, ExtremeIV is slow compared to current leaders.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-10044-10297
Hey
Thanks for the preview. For what you could have done, you made a lot of effort to show us the most you could. Thank you for that!!
Now let’s see if I can get enough money toghether for this baby before 2049….
Hey Great Review
Please keep taking your time and effort for the rest of us who wont get the opportunity to make opinion’s on this wonderful tool. I greatly appreciate this as it help me to avoid going and dumping 3000 on a 7D when there are obviosly a better unit to serve my needs yes a higher price point but a more satisfying experince
Cheers
Thanks for the preview. Do you have any indication why there has been no buzz for the last few days? There is speculation around the internet about problems, or that they’re changing image parameters. Any news? I’d love to see a white paper.
David