Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II→Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS-1D X Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS 5D Mark IV
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Resolution30MP vs 20MP (+10MP)
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS-1D X Mark II | EOS 5D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.3 | ||
| Street | +0.9 | ||
| Travel | +1.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.5 | ||
| Documentary | +0.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.4 | ||
| Landscape | +1.4 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +0.6 | ||
| Food | +0.4 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.3 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS-1D X Mark II | EOS 5D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £278 used | |
| Released | 2016 | 2016 | |
| Sensor | 20.2MP full-frame CMOS | 30.4MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 30MP | ↑ |
| Video | DCI 4K/60p, Full HD 120p | 4K (4096×2160) /30p Motion JPEG (1.64× crop), 1080p/60, 720p/120 | |
| Autofocus | 61-point phase-detect AF (41 cross-type) with EOS iTR tracking; Dual Pixel AF in Live View / movie | 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder; Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face tracking in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 14fps | 7fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~1210 shots (CIPA) | ~900 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1530g (with battery) | 890g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + CFast | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS-1D X Mark II and EOS 5D Mark IV next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 5D Mark IV against your specific genres — not just specs.
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