Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D Mark II→Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The EOS-1D Mark IV improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS 5D Mark II owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS-1D Mark IV
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Burst rate10fps vs 3.9fps
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Battery life~1500 shots (CIPA) vs ~850 shots (CIPA)
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Generation1 year newer (2009 vs 2008)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution16MP (down from 21MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new 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 5D Mark II | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | -0.7 | ||
| Travel | -1.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.6 | ||
| Documentary | -1.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.1 | ||
| Landscape | -1.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.3 | ||
| Casual | -0.5 | ||
| Food | -0.5 | ||
| Macro | -0.3 | ||
| Architecture | -0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.7 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D Mark II | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £66 used | £102 used | |
| Released | 2008 | 2009 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 21.1MP full-frame CMOS | 16.1MP APS-H CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 45-point phase-detect (39 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 3.9fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ~1500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 890g (with battery) | 1180g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D Mark IV next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS-1D Mark IV against your specific genres — not just specs.
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