REAL WORLD REVIEW OF THE CANON 5D MARK IV BY A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
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I’m not going to lie, it’s not a cheap investment to buy a Canon 5D Mark IV (the body itself is currently priced new at $1999), especially if you want a professional lens to go along with it. But if you’re ready to start a business or to start working as a professional photographer, it’s an absolute necessity to buy an incredible full-frame DSLR camera and lens. And if you buy a used 5D Mark IV on KEH camera or eBay, you can save yourself a LOT of money. I will be the first person to recommend buying used gear, but always make sure that the company is reputable (KEH Camera is great for used gear). eBay is more of a risk but I’ve gotten some amazing deals through eBay. Just make sure the seller has good reviews and ratings, and a LOT of them. Ask the seller questions if you need to and make sure to look at the photos of the item closely for scratches, dings or imperfections and check the return policy.
The Canon 5D Mark IV is the main camera I use for weddings, portrait shoots, events, etc. For my main lens, I use the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens which currently prices new at $1899. Again, buying a gently used one on KEH Camera or eBay can save you tons! This is an incredible zoom lens with great low-light capabilities and sharp, stunning images. With the 5D Mark IV and the 24-70 L lens, this set-up can set you back $4198. BUT, consider buying gently used options to save some money, or buy one of Canon’s more budget friendly lenses. But in my opinion, the lens is the MOST important part of your camera set-up and the L series lenses are WORTH it. Canon also released an RF line of lenses that are supposed to be EVEN BETTER. I just haven’t been able to justify spending the money on them, especially when I have these amazing L lenses at home!
WHY I LOVE THE CANON 5D MARK IV
My very first full-frame DSLR was a Canon 5D Mark II - an earlier version of the 5D Mark IV. I bought it while I was finishing up college as a studio art major. Immediately after college, I created a website, started uploading my best photos and blogging consistently and before I knew it, I was booking photo shoots in my hometown. However, a year after graduation, I decided to move to Portland, Oregon with my boyfriend and two friends. I was thrown into a sea of photographers and had no idea how I was going to stand out. But I kept blogging and began advertising on Craigslist with low prices, and before I knew it, I had booked 20 weddings for my first year. Back in my hometown, I had been working as a second shooter for a few photographers and was using my 5D Mark II. I used these images to help advertise my business and to be honest, I definitely attribute my first bookings to the 5D Mark II. The images were high quality, professional and straight up beautiful, especially compared to the more affordable line of cameras that Canon offered at the time.
Over the next 5 years in Portland, the 5D Mark II made ALL of my money. I was photographing weddings, portraits, fashion, music, food, events. Because of the 5D Mark II, I was able to be a full-time professional photographer, pay all of my bills AND have fun doing creative shoots. Flash forward to today, my 5D Mark II was feeling outdated and it was time to sell it. I’d found myself choosing to use my Canon 6D over my 5D Mark II, simply because the low-light capabilities of the 6D were much better. While I was incredibly sad to let go of my beloved camera, I was so excited to upgrade my main camera to the 5D Mark IV. And I’m 100% glad I did. I also tried out the Canon EOS R for a bit, to see if that would be a sufficient replacement for the 5D Mark II, but I was never able to feel comfortable with the controls and set-up within the camera. There was something not so intuitive about it. When I finally got the 5D Mark IV, I felt right at home again. It felt exactly like the 5D Mark II, but better. Better quality in low light, dual memory card slots, sharp and beautiful images and that professional quality that I love. While overall, I would say the EOS R is technically better in low light, and tends to have sharper images, the 5D Mark IV creates images that are more balanced, natural and eye-catching, in my opinion. Especially when paired with the 24-70mm L lens, that camera set-up is flawless. I use my EOS R as my secondary camera at weddings, with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens. I find this set-up to be best for the EOS R anyway, because the combination of the low-light capabilities and sharpness of the camera with the extra wide aperture and quality of the lens, is an amazing portrait set-up. It’s taken me years to determine what my ideal dual camera set-up is, but THIS is it. Just know that you will need an RF adapter for the Canon EOS R if you plan on using EF lenses with it.
from a professional standpoint, is the CANON 5D Mark IV worth the money?
If you’ve been dreaming of starting a photography business and committing yourself fully, then yes, 100% this will be the BEST investment you can make for your business. These cameras last FOREVER. They’re incredibly sturdy and reliable. I’ve dropped my cameras onto a concrete floor and they’ve survived. In my opinion, they are worth every penny. Think about it this way, if you were starting a restaurant or boutique or other small business, you would need to make an initial investment into the business. I’ve made thousands and thousands of dollars with my camera over the years and have gotten my investment back ten-fold. Now, if you’re looking for a camera just for hobby purposes, there may be more affordable options that can yield amazing results - like the Canon EOS R ($1399) ( check out my video about the Canon EOS R here!), for example, which is substantially cheaper than the 5D Mark IV. Or the Canon 6D ($1399), which I place below the EOS R in terms of quality and sharpness. The 6D is now my back-up back-up camera and is typically used by my second-shooter at weddings. You could even get a 5D Mark II or 5D Mark III - both incredible cameras that are SUPER affordable now, as they are earlier versions of the 5D Mark IV.
WHY DIDN’T I GO WITH OTHER BRANDS?
My first 35 mm film camera was a Canon, so I’ve definitely always had an affinity and loyalty to the brand. However, before purchasing the 5D Mark IV, I spent DAYS comparing every brand and model of camera in a similar price range to see if I wanted to completely switch over. I was truly considering selling all of my lenses and cameras and converting to a new brand. However, for my personal needs as a photographer, none of the cameras were up to par. For example, one of the features I cannot go without is a multiple exposure feature. This cut out all Sony cameras for me, which was one of the bigger contenders for my possible switch. Then there was Pentax, but overall the battery life with the pro level Pentax cameras aren’t great and the cameras themselves were typically quite heavy. And lastly, I was seriously considering switching to Nikon. However, Canon is generally cheaper and in comparison to the Nikon D850, is lighter in weight, does better in low light AND has better video features, which was important for my YouTube channel. And, maybe I’m biased and missed the comfort of the 5D Mark II. I could use that camera with my eyes closed. After years of using that camera under stressful conditions like a wedding, your fingers learn how to quickly switch between settings. Anyway, I finally feel at home again with my 5D Mark IV and I know this camera will last me many more years before I feel the need to upgrade or change again. And I feel better knowing that I weighed every single camera option and brand out there and still ended up coming back to Canon. I don’t think Canon is the best brand for everyone, but in my world it’s the best for me, hands down.
WHERE TO FIND THE CANON 5D MARK IV
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For used options:
MY FAVORITE LENSES
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
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For used options:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
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MORE AFFORDABLE CAMERA OPTIONS
Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera
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For used options:
Canon 6D Mark II
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Used options:
CANON 5D Mark II
Canon 5D Mark III
I hope this helps in your quest to find the perfect camera! I recommend writing out a list of what your ultimate needs are with a camera BEFORE you start hunting for one. That way, you can immediately start crossing some off your list when they don’t meet the necessities. It can be overwhelming when you consider every brand and every camera out there all at once. As a full-time professional photographer for the last 11 years, the Canon brand has been my bread and butter. You definitely can’t go wrong with the 5D Mark IV. People will argue that there are better cameras out there, but not for me and my personal aesthetic and technical desires as a photographer. Everyone is different and I wish you the best in finding your perfect camera set-up!
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<3 Myles Katherine
