5D Mark IV or original 1DX

I know the 5D is not released yet and all we have to go off of are stated specs so there will be more info. coming as people get them into their hands to do some actual tests etc.
I am trying to choose between these two cameras to be my first full frame body to supplement my 7D Mark II.
Here are my interests and non-interests.
No interest in WiFi or video. I shoot primarily birds and wildlife, no portraits.
I am hoping some current owners of the 1DX will chime in with their opinions as far as if any of the new specs on the 5D Mark 4 are a worthwhile improvement over their 1DX. I would say that Focus tracking and accuracy are one of my main areas of interest and I do not know if the 1dx has any issues with either of those.
I could probably live with the 7 FPS but would prefer 9 to 10 ideally.
I rarely if ever shoot over 6400 ISO.
I will be adding more information requests as I think of them.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Heya,

You either need 14 FPS and the 1D build/weather resistance, or you don't. I don't think ISO will be very different at 6400 and less. I also don't think you're going to see a significant difference in AF tracking.

Very best,

Are you going to be FL limited going to a 35mm sensor, or are you going to be able to afford the longer lens that will be necessary to fill the larger frame? There is going to be a very significant difference in what you can crop from each of these two cameras. Unless you need the higher frame rate, and weather resistance of the 1 series body the 5DIV would seem to offer the better features. Having f/8 capable AF on all focus points, compared to just center point, also seems like a great option for the wildlife photographer.

Alan

I'm 100 pct in the same boat and interested in this discussion. I have the 7DII, 500 F4 II and 100-400II and shoot almost exclusively birds, but where I live it's often cloudy, and gloomy light all winter and the 7DII doesn't perform as well as I'd like in those conditions, plus for use where I'm not focal-length limited FF would be great. I want to add full-frame and don't want to spend 1DX II money as I'm only a hobbyist, so it's a used 1DX vs 5D IV. It seems to be a trade of 12 vs 7 FPS for 30 vs 18 MPs. I am a bit worried about 7 FPS being slow for fast action, but for portraits or birds that aren't on the move, the Mk IV's 30 MPs should be great. Do those with more experience with FF think that the new 5D IV will outperform the older 1DX on high ISO noise, or about on par? My biggest challenge is that I often crop, so 18MP may be light, even with teleconverters.

I have a 600 F4 as my longest lens which will have to suffice unless I decide to buy an 800. I'll use my 7D mkii if needed as well.

I too have been looking at the 5D4 with interest - I am not tempted personally but it does look like a very capable camera.

I expect that the AF on the 5D4 will be very good but probably not as quite good as the 1DX. This is only my opinion and could well be wrong.

The 12fps of the 1DX is fun but a bit more than I need for birds/wildlife so mine is set to 6 and 10fps. A lot of the time a high frame rate is not necessary - but it's nice to have when you need it! I find, with the newer Canon bodies, that it is quite easy to take single frames even when they are set to max fps due (I think) to the improved shutter buttons.

The extra MP of the 5D4 looks nice but at what cost in ISO performance? We will have to wait and see......... With my 1DX I tend to stay below 8000 ISO but will go to 12800 if necessary - with a little PP and NR usable images are quite get-able.

I notice that you have a 7D2 (as do I) how do you find the speed accuracy and responsiveness of it? If you like it then I suspect that you might be very happy with the 1DX - it is a significant notch or two up in performance - especially AF speed with big lenses. The files are much better to work with as well. I wouldn't get too hung up on the loss of reach/pixels on target etc etc. We hear a lot about this from various posters and, having both the 7D2 and 1DX, I can assure you that the 1DX gives up little in the reach department. The 1DX files crop much better and retain detail better than those of the 7D2. Naturally the 7D2 has quite a head start but can't take cropping as well so in practice it does have an advantage in reach but nowhere near as much as the narrower field of view would suggest in my experience.

For reference the lenses that I use with these two bodies are, primarily, the 100-400 Mk2, 300 F2.8 L IS and 800 F5.6 L IS.

As to the 5D4? I expect that the AF will be at least as fast as the 7D2 and has a few added refinements = all good. I would be very surprised if it will drive the Big Whites as well as a 1 series, but nothing is impossible. At reasonable ISOs it should be very good indeed, higher ISO - we will have to see. One thing that puts me off here in the UK is the price of £3599! That is QUITE a bit more than a good used 1DX and remember that a pretty heavily used 1DX will have a lot more life left in it.

Just my thoughts.

Regarding 1DX vs 5D4. The 1DX is proven. As far as I am aware the only known problem is the power board and that is not widespread and a relatively cheap fix. It's also not too old so quite a few years of Canon support left.
I won't be buying a 5D4 but I like to evaluate cost and benefits.
I have 7D2 and 1D4. If I was buying now, it would be a 1DX. A used 1DX would cost about AU$3750 and a new 5D4 is $4900 (with a card valued about $170) So it's around $1000 cheaper for a 1DX.
I agree with Johnf3f about the pixel / reach advantage. At low ISO the 7D2 will have some reach advantage over the 1DX but not as much as the 7MP 1.6 cropped 1DX files vs 20MP 7D2 files would suggest.
I would not make decision purely on economics but it does matter to me. I'd guess in 12 - 18 months time I would expect to sell a 5D4 or 1DX for similar money, around $3200 so lose around $500 for 1DX and around $1500 for 5D4 (and then buy a used 1DX2)

I was thinking of selling my 6d and either 7d2 or 1d4 and get the 5d4 but with the price at release and it not having focus point related spot metering I now think picking up a low milage 1dx should the opportunity arise at the right price and selling the 6d and the 1d4 may be the way to go for what I mainly shoot, that being aviation, birds motorsport and ball sports.

For birds and wildlife i will never look at 5D series no matter how good they are in IQ, i am waiting Canon to bring body that i feel it may fit my mind, something in 7D2 or even 5D price as brand new but with 20mp or more and 11-12fps and crop factor of 1.3-1.6 and 1 series body, not a full frame, so for that 1DX series is out of equation with 5D series and 7D2, will see what that may be if they ever think or..... IMPOSSIBLE?!!!!

I really don't know why they will stop in mk4 with their models, so they made 1D4 and stopped, and now 5D4 and who knows if they will stop here and bring 5Dx instead, they didn't make 1Ds4 actually but i think it is 1DX line as combination of 1Ds and 1D line, but when can i afford something in $3000-4000 as brand new?

I got the chance to play with a 5D4 today at a local camera show - unfortunately the card door was sealed so no images!

The handling was just fine and very familiar for a 5 series. There were a couple of improvements , and additions to the menu too. Unfortunately there was no large glass available so I played with it on a 100-400 Mk2 which I am familiar with as I own one. The AF seemed pretty quick to lock on but I had no opportunity to test the tracking - I got the IMPRESSION that the AF speed was somewhere between my 7D2 and 1DX. That is just my impression of the AF, I suspect that with a SuperTele the 1DX would be noticeably quicker, but I could well be wrong! The only possible downside that I can think of is that the 5D4 relies on a single (though very capable) processor to do everything rather than the three processors of the 1 series. Whether this makes much difference in practice I simply don't know yet.

I liked it but without images it is difficult to say.

I'm in this boat too, and it's primarily because I shoot so many different things.

Occasional wedding. Portraits. HS baseball/sports and Landscapes/weather/lig​htning.

I have a 5D4 pre-ordered, but it was a bit knee jerk and not sure I won't cancel it and go another route.

SCMedic wrote in post #18115956
I'm in this boat too, and it's primarily because I shoot so many different things.

Occasional wedding. Portraits. HS baseball/sports and Landscapes/weather/lig​htning.

I have a 5D4 pre-ordered, but it was a bit knee jerk and not sure I won't cancel it and go another route.

If i were you then i will go with 1DX or 1DXii instead of 5D4, if i don't have 1DX and i have to buy now with 5D4 release i will not look at anything less than 1DX, it is like a camera for everything, fast for action and it is full frame so good for portraits and landscapes too, we most of the time want more mp for landscapes, and portraits we may use high ISO and 1DX cameras are still great in that league, 5D4 i feel is just an upper model of 5D2/3 or an affordable 5DsR but the price are very close, Canon is focusing with 5D series to be the best higher mp and better ISO camera regardless of fast AF, and i am lucky enough to buy different cameras so i don't depend on one camera for everything, i am sure if i bought 5D4 i won't use it for sports over 1DX old generation camera.

I could conceivably buy two expensive bodies, but I'm trying to do all with 1. Shot sports with a 5D3 the last couple of years and while I'd be happier with a 1Dx, it wasn't the end of the world. Mountain Dew Dew Tour, X-Games, HS and college baseball/softball. No huge issue.

Thanks for all opinions everyone. I'm still undecided and will wait until the 5D IV is in some more hands.
Some people might have a problem with the 1DX and ask why would you or I go with older technology of the 1DX instead of the new 5D but I'm sure the 1DX is still more than capable for most shooters, myself included.
I think the only thing that would steer me towards the 5D at this point is if the autofocus tracking capabilities and accuracy are noticeably better than the 1DX.
It has been awhile since I've been notified by CPW that the 1DX is available for $4169. Does anyone know if this price is still available as of late?
By the time I add a Canon battery grip to the 5D it'll probably be close to $3800 so price for me between the two is not a factor.

If you're keeping the 7D2, then I think the 5D4 compliments it better. The same ergonomics, FF that's higher IQ, good AF. If you're looking for an all in one camera, then it becomes a harder decision. The 1DX series offers high fps, quicker AF, and more rigid body. Barring the 1D series weather sealing, I think it really boils down to fps or higher MP. The 5D series is my go to since I shoot a mixture of things, and like the higher IQ. I've found the AF and shutter lag are adequate for my needs in event photography (the main sports I've shot are cycling). I've gotten a 7D2 which I don't use that much. I thought I'd be using it for getting into birding, but I've found that the IQ of the 5D3 cropping in seems better. The 5D4 should be that much better. The stills capability of the 5D4 seems like a real winner: most the gripes seems to be video. I'd like to get one for myself, but just paid for a new AC system The IDX is going to have lower IQ, but offer world class sports performance. Do you need that or higher IQ? There is no right or wrong since both cameras can get you good photos; it's just certain nuances that might make one camera better for your needs.