Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D Mark III→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 5D Mark III. 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 22MP (+8MP)
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Generation4 years newer (2016 vs 2012)
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 III | EOS 5D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.2 | ||
| Street | +0.2 | ||
| Travel | +0.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.1 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.1 | ||
| Casual | +0.8 | ||
| Food | +0.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +0.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D Mark III | EOS 5D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £219 | £446 | |
| Released | 2012 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 22.3MP full-frame CMOS | 30.4MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 22MP | 30MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | 4K (4096×2160) /30p Motion JPEG (1.64× crop), 1080p/60, 720p/120 | |
| Autofocus | 61-point phase-detect (41 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | 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 | 6fps | 7fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~950 shots (CIPA) | ~900 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 950g (with battery) | 890g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 5D Mark III 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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