Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 5D→Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Strong upgrade
The EOS 5D Mark IV improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS 5D owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS 5D Mark IV
-
Resolution30MP vs 13MP (+18MP)
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Burst rate7fps vs 3fps
-
Generation11 years newer (2016 vs 2005)
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 | EOS 5D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.0 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | +0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.2 | ||
| Documentary | +2.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | +1.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.4 | ||
| Casual | +0.8 | ||
| Food | +0.9 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 5D | EOS 5D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £60 used | £278 used | |
| Released | 2005 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.8MP full-frame CMOS | 30.4MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 13MP | 30MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | 4K (4096×2160) /30p Motion JPEG (1.64× crop), 1080p/60, 720p/120 | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder | 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 | 3fps | 7fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~800 shots (CIPA) | ~900 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 810g (body only) | 890g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | |
| Screen | 2.5" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M 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 and EOS 5D 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 5D Mark IV against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS 5D
Related buying guides
Camera family history