Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 70D→Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS 70D. 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 7fps
-
Battery life~1500 shots (CIPA) vs ~920 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 20MP — optimised for low light)
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 70D | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | -1.3 | ||
| Travel | -1.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | -0.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.9 | ||
| Landscape | -0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -1.3 | ||
| Food | -1.8 | ||
| Macro | -1.1 | ||
| Architecture | -0.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 70D | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £35 used | £102 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2009 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.2MP APS-C CMOS | 16.1MP APS-H CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 19-point all cross-type phase-detect via viewfinder; first Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face tracking 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 | 7fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~920 shots (CIPA) | ~1500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 755g (with battery) | 1180g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.95x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 70D 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 70D
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Camera family history