Canon's full-frame workhorse DSLR from 2016. Launched at $3,499 body-only. Still worth it in 2026: yes, if you own EF lenses or want an optical finder.
Canon U.S.A. announced the EOS 5D Mark IV on August 25, 2016 at $3,499 for the body. It was the first 5D with 4K video and built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, and it added GPS too. The 30.4MP full-frame sensor and DIGIC 6+ give you about 7 fps. The 61-point viewfinder AF (up to 41 cross-type) works at f/8 across all points, and Dual Pixel CMOS AF takes over in Live View and video.
It's still a camera you can shoot a whole day on: an optical pentaprism finder at about 0.71x with about 100% coverage, a 3.2-inch 1.62M-dot touchscreen, one CompactFlash plus one SD slot, water and dust resistance and about 900 shots per charge with the viewfinder (CIPA, 23°C). The trade-offs, per Canon's spec sheet: no in-body stabilization, 4K recorded as large Motion JPEG files with HDMI out limited to Full HD, one of the two slots is CompactFlash, and the body weighs about 800 g before a lens.
Our gallery comes from six photographers: a raven calling at Point Reyes on the EF 400mm f/5.6L with a 1.4x extender, sunset over Lake Wilcox, waves rolling in at Stegna on Rhodes, a Norwegian El 18 locomotive on the Bergen Line above Finse, agapanthus in bloom on the EF 70-300 II and white-tailed eagles squaring off at 400mm f/2.8. Still worth it in 2026? Yes, for landscape, studio and event stills with EF lenses. Check condition and shutter count when buying used.
The story
Canon U.S.A. announced the EOS 5D Mark IV on August 25, 2016, saying it was scheduled to be available in early September 2016 for $3,499.00 for the body only. Kits were listed at $4,399 with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM and $4,599 with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM (Canon U.S.A., via PR Newswire).
Canon called it the first 5D to offer 4K video and built-in Wi-Fi and NFC.
Specifications
Key specs for the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, from Canon Europe's EOS 5D Mark IV specifications page and Canon U.S.A.'s August 25, 2016 release. Source for each row in brackets.
61 points, up to 41 cross-type (5 dual-cross at f/2.8); all 61 points at f/8; EV -3 to 18 [Canon Europe]
Live View AF
Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection and tracking; touch AF [Canon Europe, Canon U.S.A.]
Metering
About 150,000-pixel RGB+IR sensor, 252 zones; anti-flicker [Canon Europe]
ISO
100–32000; expandable to 50 (L), 51200 (H1) and 102400 (H2) [Canon Europe]
Stabilization
Not listed in Canon's spec sheet (use stabilized lenses) [Canon Europe]
Shutter / burst
30 s to 1/8000 s; X-sync 1/200 s; about 7 fps (4.3 fps in Live View with AF tracking) [Canon Europe]
Viewfinder
Pentaprism, about 100% coverage, about 0.71x [Canon Europe]
Screen
3.2-inch fixed touchscreen, about 1.62M dots [Canon Europe]
Video
4K (4096 × 2160) up to 29.97p, Motion JPEG 4:2:2 8-bit; Full HD up to 59.94p; HDMI out Full HD only; 8.8MP 4K frame grab [Canon Europe]
Cards / ports
One CompactFlash (UDMA 7) + one SD (UHS-I); USB 3.0; mic and headphone jacks; Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS [Canon Europe]
Weather resistance
Water and dust resistant [Canon Europe]
Battery (CIPA)
LP-E6N; about 900 shots (viewfinder, at 23°C) [Canon Europe]
Size / weight
150.7 × 116.4 × 75.9 mm; about 800 g body only [Canon Europe]
Announced / price
Aug 25, 2016; $3,499.00 body-only (US) [Canon U.S.A.]
Sample photos
Six photos taken with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV by six photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Canon
f/8, ISO 200, 1/320 s: a common raven at Point Reyes National Seashore, California (EF400mm f/5.6L USM + Extender 1.4x III). Photo: Frank Schulenburg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)f/8, ISO 100, 70mm: sunset over Lake Wilcox, Ontario (EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM; the file records no shutter speed). Photo: David Zhang via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
f/7.1, ISO 100, 1/250 s: the Levantine Sea at Stegna, Rhodes (EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM). Photo: Manfred Werner (Tsui) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)f/7.1, ISO 320, 1/1250 s: an NSB El 18 between Hallingskeid and Finse, Norway (EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM). Photo: Kabelleger / David Gubler via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
f/20, ISO 100, 1/4 s: agapanthus in bloom (EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM). Photo: Dietmar Rabich via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)f/8, ISO 1250, 1/2000 s: white-tailed eagles squaring off (EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM). Photo: Andreas Weith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Canon: Launched at $3,499.00 in 2016 (US, body only).
Verdict
Still worth it in 2026? Yes, for EF-lens owners and anyone who wants an optical finder, 30.4MP files and a battery that lasts all day for landscape, studio, wedding and event stills.
Look at a mirrorless body such as the EOS R if you want subject tracking through an EVF, lighter weight or modern 4K.
Pros
30.4MP full-frame sensor
61-point AF, all points at f/8; Dual Pixel AF in Live View
Optical 0.71x finder; about 900 shots per charge
CF + SD slots; Wi-Fi, NFC and GPS
Cons
No in-body stabilization in Canon's spec sheet
4K as large Motion JPEG files; HDMI out Full HD only
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