Professional full-frame DSLR released by Canon in August 2016 at $3,499, succeeding the legendary 5D Mark III. The Mark IV featured 30.4MP sensor, Dual Pixel autofocus, 4K video, touchscreen LCD, and built-in GPS — addressing every complaint from the Mark III era.
Key Improvements
The 61-point autofocus system gained all cross-type sensors (vs. 41 on Mark III). Dual Pixel CMOS AF revolutionized live view and video autofocus, making Canon competitive with mirrorless systems. The 7fps burst rate (vs. 6fps Mark III) and improved buffer made it capable for sports and wildlife.
4K Video Era
The 5D Mark IV’s 4K video at 24/30fps with MJPEG codec faced criticism for large file sizes and 1.74x crop factor, but the Dual Pixel AF made it attractive for solo video shooters. Canon Log gamma curve improved dynamic range for color grading.
Mirrorless Transition
Released during Sony’s mirrorless A7 series domination (A7III in 2018), the 5D Mark IV represented Canon’s last major DSLR flagship before pivoting to the EOS R system (2018). It remained Canon’s best-selling professional DSLR through 2020, with wedding photographers particularly loyal to the platform.
By 2023, the 5D Mark IV still commanded $1,800-2,200 used as Canon’s final refined DSLR before the industry’s complete mirrorless shift.
Sources:
- Canon USA product launch materials (2016)
- DPReview Canon 5D Mark IV review
- Professional photography forums 2016-2020