Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 6D→Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS 6D. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS-1D Mark IV
-
Burst rate10fps vs 4.5fps
-
Battery life~1500 shots (CIPA) vs ~1090 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 20MP — optimised for low light)
-
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 6D | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | -1.1 | ||
| Travel | -1.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.4 | ||
| Documentary | -1.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.9 | ||
| Landscape | -1.6 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.1 | ||
| Casual | -0.7 | ||
| Food | -0.6 | ||
| Macro | -0.4 | ||
| Architecture | -0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 6D | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 used | £102 used | |
| Released | 2012 | 2009 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.2MP full-frame CMOS | 16.1MP APS-H CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 11-point phase-detect (centre cross-type, EV -3) 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 | 4.5fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1090 shots (CIPA) | ~1500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 755g (with battery) | 1180g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 97% coverage, 0.71x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 6D 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.
Other upgrades from the EOS 6D
Related buying guides
Camera family history