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Canon EOS 1D Mark IV: AF and Image Quality

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Posted by Patrick on Feb 8, 2010 in Cameras

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV: AF and Image Quality

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Canon EOS 1D Mark IV: AF and Image Quality

We’ve now spent some extended time with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, and no question, we remain impressed. Even before the recent firmware update, the EOS 1D Mark IV was providing more than satisfactory results in AI Servo, but now with firmware version 1.0.6, we can definitely say the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV offers photographers very reliable results when focusing on dynamic subjects (single shot was never in question). What I’m seeing is the Mark IV effectively and responsively acquiring focus, and then tracking focus. Even better, when the subject briefly gets lost, the EOS 1D Mark IV is pretty good about staying locked on to the originally tracked subject. Witnessed live, in the viewfinder it’s all quite impressive.

Now of course the question will be, “Is it superior to the 51 point AF system found in (name your Nikon model)?”. Well, no, it isn’t superior, but it brings Canon very much in line with the Nikon system, which means those frustrated by the Mark III problems have a path forward and at minimum Canon shooters have a platform that offers very competitive performance, when it comes to AF. If you’re a Nikon shooter, or recent Nikon convert from Canon due to AF issues, there isn’t a compelling reason to come back, the AF isn’t superior from what I can see, only very close, which for most will be quite fine.

Where the EOS 1D Mark IV remains inferior to the Nikon D3s is still ISO performance, with the Mark IV giving up at least a stop of ISO, which means I’ve been trying quite hard to keep things pegged at ISO 3200 for optimal results. We mentioned this before, but the D3s clearly provides superior results at ISO 1600-6400, making for smoother and cleaner results out of camera, which then allows for a high shutter speed and sharper results.

All of this talk of ISO capabilities may have led our readers to assume that we’ve been less than pleased with the EOS 1D Mark IV, but nothing could be further from the truth. We’ve had no troubles at all with the AF, and further are quite fond of some of the AF setup possibilities like auto switching AF points when turning the camera’s orientation (amongst many, many options). Also the camera’s resolution is quite remarkable, the EOS 1D Mark IV takes some very sharp pictures if you want it to, and overall image quality is very good, different for sure from the Nikon D3s, but still very, very good.

Availability

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is available for order at B&H Photo.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital Camera at B&H Photo

Get the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the following links at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there help us continue to provide you with more great content.

Camera Body (only)

AF Testing (Firmware Version 1.0.6)

As we mentioned above the 1DM4 had little trouble focusing on dynamic subjects. I used a selected point with assists from surrounding points to get the below results. These are just a handful from several hundreds, and most are nicely focused. Where they weren’t can largely be assigned to poor shutter speed (again, I didn’t want to go past ISO 3200 this time based on previous experience), or simply user error and/or failure to track effectively. If you get your point on your subject and keep it there, you’ll get focused shots. Click each thumbnail for a larger view, or explore the “original size” link


Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 200 mm ISO Speed: 3200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 200 mm ISO Speed: 3200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 200 mm ISO Speed: 3200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 195 mm ISO Speed: 3200 original size

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 200 mm ISO Speed: 3200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 200 mm ISO Speed: 3200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 200 mm ISO Speed: 3200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size

Image Quality

Both of these shots demonstrate some of the resolution possible from the 1DM4. It may not be the 1Ds Mark IV, but there’s plenty of image quality offered by these files.


Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 5 Aperture: f/22.0 Focal Length: 150 mm ISO Speed: 200 Exposure Bias: +1 EV Sigma 150mm f/2.8 APO Macro DG HSM original size	Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/6.3 Focal Length: 150 mm ISO Speed: 200 Exposure Bias: 0 EV Sigma 150mm f/2.8 APO Macro DG HSM original size

Stay tuned for the upcoming review of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV….

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