5D Mark III to 5D Mark IV Upgrade?

Looking for real world experiences from those that have upgraded.
Do you see significant improvements?
AF Speed and improvements while tracking in AI Servo?
Any other improvements?
Not a Video guy.
The Grips are now included for a short time as I would hopefully be purchasing two.
Thank you in advance.

Biggest improvement I see is sensor performance. 12800 ISO is very usable right off the camera. I dont like to go past 6400 on a 5D3. I really have not pushed the 5D3 for servo performance to see what it can do. But the 5D4 does great. I tracked cheetahs at 60 mph coming at me and the 5D4 did great and nailed the focus

In my opinion, the 5D4 was all about sensor performance and getting one nets you the new clean sensor v/s the 5D3 sensor that the darks and shadows break down in post if you try to push a file in post. I see at least 1 stop to 1+ 1/4 stop ISO performance over the 5D3 sensor. So for event photographers and people that shoot in poor light....its an outstanding upgrade

hope this helps with your decision

Nick5 wrote in post #18875334
Looking for real world experiences from those that have upgraded.
Do you see significant improvements?
AF Speed and improvements while tracking in AI Servo?
Any other improvements?
Not a Video guy.
The Grips are now included for a short time as I would hopefully be purchasing two.
Thank you in advance.

Nick5 - One of the biggest benefits for my use is the firmware/customization features. The 5D3 is rather limited in this regard but with the 5D4 we've gained advanced AF/AI servo customization using BBF. For example you can configure the AF-ON and * button with two completely different sets of AI servo characteristics and then invoke a 3rd completely different set with the DOF preview button. Or, you could configure one button for AI servo and the other for one shot. Combined with the 3 custom user positions you'll be able to program more customs AF scenarios than you might be able to remember. In my use I often have the AF-ON configured with a small AF area selection for when I have perched bird and the * button with a larger AF area selection for a BIF. If you shoot in manual you'll also gain exposure compensation in manual while using auto ISO. The 5D3 lacked this feature as of my last use. Essentially you're getting all the customization features that sports/action shooters enjoy in a body like the 7D2 and then some. One of the first things I noticed when the body came out was that more users were posting pictures of sports/action/wildlife with the 5D4 than I had previously seen with he 5D3. I can only surmise that this was supported by advancements in the AF and customization options. So my real world experience is that I can now pick up a 5D series body for a day of birding/wildlife wheras with the 5D3 I was quite limited compared to a 7D2 or 1D series body. Best of luck with the decision.

I kept my III 6 months and moved to the IV. Don't regret it one bit.

The mk4 has been upgraded across the board. Nothing earth shattering per feature but when you add it all up it provides a much better tool than the mk3. More resolution, faster, f8 lenses can use all focus points, usb 3 from camera, SD slot works with fast cards, better rear screen resolution AND is touch screen, better low light af and cleaner at high iso, af when shooting video, gps and wi-fi built-in. Having wi-fi allows me to mount a camera and remotely control it from my phone. I can change settings or switch from stills to video. Very handy for wedding work. Another improvement is built-in lens correction which saves lots of time in post production (correct vignetting, lens distortion, chromatic aberration, and diffraction on the fly without slowing shooting speed or buffer capacity). Very handy.

The feeling I got when I upgraded was that almost everything was a bit better. No one thing was a huge improvement for me, but the cumulative effect of all those additions and tweaks was substantial.

- Files from the new sensor design can stand up to more manipulation
- The extra resolution is useful without being a bind in cases where you don't need it.
- I've found the AF to be more consistent and sure-footed especially in low light, not that the 5D3 is poor by any means. My only 3rd party lens (Tamron 45) is noticeably better with outer AF points.
- The touchscreen is actually really nice to use.
- In VF level display? Really nice.

That's off the top of my head, but there were many other little improvements I noted and appreciated when I upgraded. The only disappointment for me was the battery life; compared to the 5D2, 5D3 and now the 6DII that I've got as my second body, battery life is definitely reduced.

Technical improvements aside, the biggest difference for me was the ease of use of the touch screen menu. I find it to be much faster and more convenient to use. I was skeptical at first, but now my 5D III sits on the shelf most of the time, while the IV gets most of the work.

5D4

• More resolution
  
• Better low ISO DR / low shadow noise
  
• Banding issues greatly diminished
  
• Better high ISO performance
  
• Better and faster AF
  
• Two processors vs a single one
  
• All cross type sensors, and can focus down in -3EV
  
• Flicker control
  
• Faster SD slot
  
• WiFi supporting Web services that you can configure to different destinations
  
• Touchscreen (fully working, vs what is on the 1DX2)
  
• Face detect in viewfinder, works decently
  
• 4K video, however limited it might be
  
• DPAF focusing in live view/video
  
• GPS
  
• 1 extra FPS
  
• Better rear LCD
  
• Intervalometer built in
  
• Remote control with a phone
  
• Autofocus at f8
  
• True auto ISO capability in manual mode (auto ISO limits, EC, shutter speed limits)
  

The 5D4 uses one image processor (Digic 6+). I think I do remember reading it having an individual AF processor, but uses one main processor. Update: have found out it’s separate Digic 6 for AF.

The 7D2 and 5DS series use dual Digic 6 processors (further showing how a newer single processor might have similar performance).

Digic Processors

The sensor, touch screen, and more customization are some of the main features I found a good improvement on.

The 5D4 has a Digic 6 for AF and 6+ for image processing, so two processors for different things, but the 5D3 has a single Digic 5+ processor for everything.

Right: just updated my post when I found out processor used for AF, as you posted Just thought I should clarify that it’s not 2 central processors.

For weddings, we went from 2, 5D mark IIIs as secondaries, to 2 5D mark IVs as primary.

For us, the biggest improvements were the high ISO performance, the quicker more accurate AF, the HUGE improvement of AF in challenging or low light, and the MUCH better buffer rating for shooting to two cards. The 5D mark III was almost useless for us when we needed to burst, and the 5D mark IVs have been a huge improvement. Its not 1Dx level buffer, but it definitely does not hinder us like the IIIs used to.


The mark IVS have been awesome.

Here's your real world experience. I accidentally shot this on F8, ISO 100 Shutter 200 in post-sunset lighting. 1st image is SOOC. I chickened out on trying to recover all the colors, but I came pretty close before I decided on a B/W image. But I don't believe I could've done this in my Mk3

goalerjones wrote in post #18876393
Here's your real world experience. I accidentally shot this on F8, ISO 100 Shutter 200 in post-sunset lighting. 1st image is SOOC. I chickened out on trying to recover all the colors, but I came pretty close before I decided on a B/W image. But I don't believe I could've done this in my Mk3

Hosted photo: posted by goalerjones in
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forum: Canon Digital Cameras

Hosted photo: posted by goalerjones in
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forum: Canon Digital Cameras

WOW.....that is damn impressive!

cmosman wrote in post #18876487
WOW.....that is damn impressive!

Thats the beauty of the new sensor introduced with the 1Dx2 and 5D4


and NO a 5D3 cant recover like this at all