Canon EOS 1D Mark IV digital SLR camera announcedProfessional-level camera to launch in December
20 October 2009
Canon has revealed its EOS 1D Mark IV professional-level digital SLR. According to Canon, the powerful, high-resolution and high-speed camera will launch in December priced at £4,499
The announcement of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV comes a week after the launch of Nikon's latest professional-level model, the 12.1Mp Nikon D3s.
The new Canon is an upgrade to the Canon EOS 1D Mark III, which launched two years ago.
Watch our video of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV below, filmed at the product's European unveiling at the Business Design Centre in London.
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For help choosing a consumer-level digital SLR check out our Which? digital SLR reviews.
High-speed digital SLR
The Canon 1D Mark IV features a new 16.1Mp APS-H CMOS sensor and it can take up to ten frames per second at full resolution, according to Canon. In burst mode it can capture up to 121 Jpegs or 28 RAW images, says the company.
The standard ISO sensitivity of the 1D Mark IV ranges between 100 and 12,800 - although this can be extended to an incredible 50 to 102,400, allowing the camera to take shots in near dark conditions without the need of a flash according to Canon.
HD video mode
The company says that the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV features a 1080p HD video mode and is able to capture footage at 30, 25 and 24 frames per second. In a reduced resolution (720p) mode it can capture video at 60 and 50 frames per second.
The 1D Mark IV's body is reported to be made of a durable magnesium alloy, features a 3-inch reinforced glass LCD and has 76 rubber seals preventing dust and moisture getting into the body.
Weatherproof camera
Many of the buttons on the new 1D have been reshaped to a more defined click, something that Canon describes as being useful when shooting in cold conditions and you don't want to remove your gloves.
Richard Parris, Which? digital camera expert, said: 'After the launch of Nikon's D3s last week, news of a release from Canon was expected. At £4,500 this top-end model significantly out-prices the consumer-level DSLRs we focus our testing on, but the innovations first introduced in the more expensive models often work their way down to mid and entry-level DSLRs over a period of time'.
The 1D Mark IV is highly customisable, and users can save preferred settings. These profiles can be saved to memory cards and then transferred between cameras. The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV recognises both Compact Flash and SDHC memory cards.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV v Nikon D3s
Obvious comparisons will be drawn between the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and the Nikon D3s. Here is an outline of the key differences and similarities between the two professional-level digital SLRs.
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and Nikon D3s | ||
|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | Nikon D3s | |
| Resolution | 16.1Mp | 12.1Mp |
| Auto focus points | 45 | 51 |
| Standard ISO | 100 - 12,800 | 200 - 12,800 |
| Extended ISO | 50 - 102,400 | 100 - 102,400 |
| Frames per second (stills) | 10fps | 9fps |
| Maximum number of shots in burst (Jpeg) | 121 | 130 |
| Maximum number of shots in burst (RAW) | 38 | 48 |
| HD video | 1920 x 1080 | 1280 x 720 |
| Frames per second (video) | 30, 25 and 24fps | 24fps |
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