1DX Mark II vs 5D4 AF differences

I know that the AF system on the 5D4 has been adopted from the 1DX Mark II, but is it identical? Or is it less capable? I was wondering what (if any) capability does one lose/give up when going from the 1DX Mark II to the 5D4. This is primarily for birding.

Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with both bodies.

Thanks!

I own a 5D4. I don't own a 1DXII but I did have one in hand for about 3 weeks. My perception is that they are pretty much equal or at least, the gap is much, much closer than it was between the 1DX and the 5D3. There is some argument to say that the 1DXII is better because it has an additional processor dedicated to AF. I didn't see any difference in my keeper rate between the two but I'm not sure if that extra processor is in place because of the 1DXIIs higher frame rate. In any case BIF is not a problem for either but the 1DXII certainly wins in terms of FPS.

Thanks! I have gone round and round about buying a second birding body to go with my 7D2. I've gone from a second 7D2, to a 5DsR, to a 5D4 to now throwing a 1DX II into the mix. Hard decisions!

I have a 7D2 as well. For birding I find the 7D2 more than adequate but so far my experience tells me the AF in the 5D4 is better. If you're happy with the 7D2s AF you won't be disappointed with the 5D4. On paper the FPS and buffer of the 5D4 could be better for a birding body but I don't really see the limitation in real use. I guess it depends on how you shoot.

The 5D3 was sufficient for birding, so the 5D4 certainly would be. I shot pro sports with the 5D3. Sunday, I take the 5D4 for the first season game. The 7D2 was also quite great, the pics I took with it last year and the 5D3 the year before are now on all the season tickets as backgrounds. You cannot go wrong with a 5D3, or the 5D4 I am sure. I will know more Sunday.

The detail from the FF is very nice for birding!

Thanks! I don't plan on ditching the 7D2. It has served me very well. I am also leaning towards the 5D4, as it would allow me to sell my 6D.

I tried today a 5D4 ... The focus points in the left upper corner were not focusing properly ... Center and right side were OK ... Camera had version 1.01 and after the update to .02 the problem was not fixed ...

The 5D4 has a dedicated processor for Metering / AF (a digic 6). But canon class it as a single processor as the 6+ is the image processor and there is just the one of those.

Im pretty sure a user on the long 5d 4 thread had the same issue. Could be worth a search. I think he got an exchange in the end. It was something to do with one side not focusing correctly.

I own the 1Dx2,7D2 and 5D3.....Have not had a 5D4 in my hands yet

Reports I am reading is that they similar to the 1Dx1 & 5D3 breakdowns with performance and that the 5D4 is a little closer with ISO

I can state that the 1Dx2 is substantially better than my 5D3 everyplace I can compare it against, especially with AF low light performance, ability to lock, ISO , servo performance is unbelievable, and there is no comparison of the files because the 1Dx2 files blows the 5D3 files out of the water with dark and shadow performance and recovery of highlights.....Simply no comparison when you start to push darks and shadows in post. This is where the update is at for canon...there is 5 possible 6 usable stops on the files in post.....Not so on the 5D3 and 1DX1...darks and shadows are fixed.

Im betting the 5D4 v/s 5D3 comparison will be the same results

My guess is 5D4 and 1Dx2 are going to be pretty close. AF will go to the 1Dx2, sensor performance will be similar, then you have to factor build, shutter life and if you want to deal with bigger files or the 20 MP files on the 1Dx2......Either way....any decision is good......This update is all about sensor performance with darks/shadows and ISO performance foe both bodies.

Your not going to make a bad decision with either choice

Thanks, Mike! I'm leaning towards the 5D4! Not sure I can justify the near 2X price delta for the 1DX2.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18188443
I know that the AF system on the 5D4 has been adopted from the 1DX Mark II, but is it identical? Or is it less capable? I was wondering what (if any) capability does one lose/give up when going from the 1DX Mark II to the 5D4. This is primarily for birding.

Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with both bodies.

Thanks!

I made a big change this summer. About 5 years ago, I bought a 300 2.8 II and I used it all the time. After the 100-400 II came out, the 300 only got used a few times per year. So I took the 300 and my 7D2 (along with a couple other items) to my local camera store and traded the stuff plus $900 for a 1DX2. I was going to get a refurbished 6D for my 2nd body, but my wife told me to get the 5D4 instead (I love my wife!). So I've had the 1DX2 and 5D4 for a few months.

Coming from the 7D2, the 7 fps of the 5D4 seems a bit slow. The 14 fps of the 1DX2 is awesome! I don't notice any difference in the focusing of the 5D4 vs the 1DX2. However, on a very subjective basis, I tend to like the images from the 1DX2 a little better than the 5D4. Not sure why; maybe slightly richer colors, better contrast, better detail, I'm just not sure. In any case, my usage has evolved to the 1DX2 + 100-400 II for birds, wildlife, airshows, and pseudo-macro. The 5D4 is portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, and just general walking around.

I never had a 5D3, so I can't make a comparison there. I do enjoy both of these bodies much more than the 70D and 7D2 that they replaced. I find I've lost a little reach by not having a crop body, but I'm fine with that. I'm getting the best image quality I've ever had, and I appreciate that.

If I had to choose one or the other, I would pick the 1DX2 mostly because of the 14 fps for birds and airshows. But if I only had the 5D4, I'd still be a very happy camper.

I sold my 6D to get the 5D4....First one had AF issues and wrote corrupted files and the exchange body also has AF issues..If you go for the 5D4 give it a good workout while it is still within the return period.....Im returning mine and going for a 1DX .

Don, what issues did you have on the second body?

Solyad wrote in post #18189791
Don, what issues did you have on the second body?

Inconsistant AF.....Perfectly sharp images using liveview but poor percentage of sharp shots focusing through the view finder.
The issue seems to be worse at distances over about 10 meters when using my 500f4. I have MFAd the lens and it makes no difference.I have even sat shooting deer and trying different MFA settings and none will get me a sharp enough image, yet take a shot using live view and it is spot on..
I know the lens is fine as it was perfect on my 6D a few days before.I love the touch screen and AF features and 7fps but I am getting worse images than when I had my 6D.. It is better on closer subjects but not as it should be..Shutter speed is not the issue as I can handhold it using liveview and the same settings and the images are tack sharp..