How long will a Canon 5D Mark IV last?

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Canon 5D Mark IV

The Canon 5D Mark IV came out in 2016 as a great option for professional photographers, especially considering its incredibly high price.

But, since it’s 2021, a lot of other cameras have dropped and the Canon 5D Mark IV price has gone significantly down.

Now, we did a complete Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review that you can read, but we figured this needed to be updated for 2021.  

Keep reading to find out if this Canon EOS 5D Mark camera is right for you this year, and to figure out what odd specs you can expect to find when first shooting with it. 

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV IS a Fantastic Hybrid DSLR

The Canon 5D Mark IV is a hybrid DSLR, which means it’s smaller than a traditional DSLR because it doesn’t feature a mechanical mirror.

This is beneficial because Canon was able to add a much larger, 30MP sensor into this camera with the extra space.

I’m going to speak about the sensor a bit later on more in-depth, but suffice it to say that this 30MP sensor means you can use this camera as the perfect all-around camera, for either stills or video. For recording the audio, you can carry a pocket-friendly Rode Wireless GO II microphone with you.  

The Canon HD video in the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is super-sampled and comes at 180Mbps. In fact, the Canon HD video looks a lot better than 4K in other, similar cameras.

Canon Mark IV Features 4K, But It’s Disappointing 4K

It’s definitely a good thing that this Canon EOS 5D Mark camera comes with such incredible HD video, because its 4K video is rather disappointing.

It uses rolling shutter to capture its 4K video and this is a huge negative for people wanting to use the camera for action video, or really any video with a lot of movement. 

Another downside to the 4K video on this camera is that it uses Motion JPEG, which isn’t the most flexible codec and it also burns through 500Mbps. 

Essentially, there’s really no reason to purchase this camera for its 4K video. Although, keep in mind that the Canon 5D Mark IV video performance when shooting in HD more than makes up for this flaw.

Canon 5D MK IV HAS Got a Full Frame Sensor 

Canon is obviously known for its HD look, but the Canon 5D Mark IV pairs this look with a bigger sensor to ensure you get cinematic depth of field with every shot. 

In essence, you can shoot with a tight lens without losing the wide look thanks to the full frame sensor. 

Full frame sensors are also known for producing better bokeh, better low light shooting, and less noise. 

This is incredibly true of the Canon 5D Mark IV, which adds improved dynamic range and color depth, thanks once again to its sensor. 

Learn More:

• Fujifilm X-T4 Review
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It’s Going to Last Forever

If you take a look at the Canon 5D Mark IV specs, then you can see that its shutter is rated for 150,000 actuations. This isn’t as impressive as some other cameras, and I think a lot of people write the camera off because of it.

According to ShutterCheck, which is a website dedicated to tracking the shutter life of popular cameras, there are plenty of Canon cameras which are currently in the 215,000-285,000 range, and a handful that have already surpassed the 500,000 mark.

Shutter life expectancy aside, the Canon 5D Mark IV features incredibly impressive weather-sealing, as seen in this video by ImagingResource. 

Most modern Canons are known for their sturdy build, and this one is no different. It’s typically referred to as a “workhorse” because you can throw it around and expect it to continue performing for years to come. 

It’s Screen Is Fixed

Although this Canon camera is nearly perfect in almost every regard, the one thing I don’t appreciate about its body is that it features a fixed screen.  

The screen is 3.2” and features 1.62m-dots, so it's a phenomenal screen, but I really appreciate using my cameras with an articulating screen for some forms of photography.

As an example, I rarely shoot video without using an articulating screen because most DSLRs are not built for video that allows you to use the viewfinder while shooting. 

Additionally, you aren’t going to be able to frame at odd angles with this camera, unless you yourself are at an odd angle and, while I’m no stranger to embarrassing myself in public for the perfect shot, sometimes it is dangerous or unrealistic to believe you can lay down on the ground to get exactly what you’re looking for. 

The fixed screen, paired with the poor 4K video, makes me question if Canon really had videographers in mind when creating this camera, despite the fact that it has some of the best HD video around.

For more info on all of these points and more, check out the above video by Tech Through The Lens who created a video discussing the ways he uses his Canon 5D Mark IV in 2021.

And, if you’re interested in purchasing a Canon 5D Mark IV, or you want to start shopping around for one once the photography industry picks back up, you can look for used ones from MPB starting at $2,050.

MPB is my go-to choice for used gear because they take the time to grade each camera before listing it for sale.

That inspection process allows MPB to give you a clear picture of what condition the camera is in, that way there are no surprises when you get your new-to-you camera in the mail.

MPB also has a huge selection of cameras, lenses, and other gear, and that selection is constantly changing. You never know what kind of great deal you can find!

Head over to MPB and see for yourself. Whether you want a Canon 5D Mark IV or something else, chances are you’ll find what you want!

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