Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

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It has been 2½ years since Canon introduced the EOS-1D Mark III, a 10.1-megapixel, 10 fps model that proved popular with bird photographers, in particular, and with wildlife and even general nature shooters for its excellent image quality and quick performance. Now, we have its successor, the EOS-1D Mark IV, which is equally fast, but ups the pixel count 60% and adds HD video capability, ISOs to 102,400, a new AF system and more.

A few weeks before the Mark IV was announced, Nikon introduced the 12.1-megapixel D3S (see First Look elsewhere in this issue), with a standard ISO range of 200-12,800 and a top setting of an incredible 102,400. Just as we were wrapping our minds around that—the ability to shoot good images in just about any light level—here comes Canon’s announcement of a 16.1-megapixel camera with the same amazing ISO range.

These are great times for the (somewhat well-heeled) ambient-light shooter. The other Big Thing in D-SLRs of late is HD video, and the Mark IV has it in both 1080p and 720p at a variety of frame rates—and you can shoot those videos at ISOs up to 102,400! Canon D-SLR video pioneer Vincent Laforet already has an amazing example online. “Nocturne” was shot in available light mostly at ISO 6400 (do a Google search to find it).