Should you Buy the Canon 5D Mark 4 in 2023?

In this lesson we take a deep dive into the mighty Canon 5D Mark 4. Should you buy the Canon 5D Mark 4 in 2023? Or is it time to move on and join the mirrorless revolution? Can you still take great images with this ancient camera? And how do the photos and video hold up in today’s market? Join us at Premium Light Academy as we answer these questions and more.
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[@andreawyatt3059]

My 5Ds and 5DMKIV both produce outstanding images, so there is no need to ditch them, just because the mirrorless cameras are the latest craze. They also allow me to use them without having to get my reading glasses out to see the back screen., i also don't need to turn the viewing screen brightness up to see it in strong sunlight.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Agreed. Looking at the back screen is tedious. I'll take a mirror any day of the week.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

@@premiumlightacademyI still need OVF. i actually disable the touch features on the 5dmk4.

[@MichaelNNguyen]

Still uses my 5D Mark III.

[@dbnoho]

I use to be a headshot photographer and while now I don't have time for it, I made a decent amount of side money using a Canon 5d classic, an 85mm and 50mm lens. I've never had a complaint about the images provided. And while now the camera is shelved for the most part, I still break it out for my daughter and holiday shoots and it still blows my mind how good the pictures are. Get good at using what you have, you won't regret it.

[@tinaortiz4177]

Yes - I just got it in October and it has elevated my photography!

[@parmanduke]

Was at a wedding recently and they were using a 5D iv and R6. 5D IV was matched to a 35mm f1.4 and R6 had the 70 200. I love the 5D iv photos. Amazingly good.

[@mikem6796]

What about the R6 images?

[@27chaz]

This is the camera I wanted to buy when it came out but wasn’t able to afford it. This past weekend I purchased the 5D M4, refurbished from Canon. Received it a couple days later and very impressed with my purchase for $1499… Not a mark on it. I believe these are new and stock Canon is clearing out. Love this camera…

[@Azntrutek2012]

$1499 ??? You much had bought the 5DSR. Not 5D mark iv.

[@phant0mdummy]

You can find them used for 7-800 bucks man with lower shutter count.

[@Brain1962]

Many thanks, quite an honest balanced appraisal from you!

[@robertmccutchan5450]

"Is it good for portraiture?" is an interesting question. Many years ago, I shot portraits with an Olympus E20-N 5 megapixel camera, which I believe is a micro 4/3 camera. It was too slow to shoot in raw format, and lightroom wasn't invented yet, so we shot everything in jpeg. I sold MANY 16x20 prints from this camera that looked phenomenal. From there, I moved to a Canon 10D and 20D and shot dozens of weddings and a million senior portraits. I'm pretty sure a 30 megapixel full frame camera will have NO problem with portraits. Thanks for posting@

[@Gleebi]

If I was held at gunpoint to pick 1 camera that works without any issues.... I'd pick this over everything available in 2023....2024

[@mrnobody3952]

Doesn't make sense assuming if you can choose anything choose a Hasselblad or a leica

[@jarit_1495]

Thank you for a very useful review. I have been thinking of getting either the 5DMKIV or 5DsR - your advice is very much appreciated.

[@elimajewski3384]

Me and my wife have both. The m4 is much more versatile than the dsr. If wew were to have one, we'd go for m4.

[@dmjohn65]

Nice video, I agree better to buy a used one today rather than new. I bought a used 5D4 2 yrs ago & love it!

[@Philipe0849]

Thank you for being honest on your review.. You have a new subscriber in me

[@jordigrau_wildlife]

I found on wallapop a 5D Mark IV for €1700 with 25 shots. I didn't think about it. As a teenager it was the camera I always wanted, nowadays I work with an R5 but I can assure you that the design, build, size, feel and weight, the 5D Mark IV is much better. It is like a tank ready for any war

[@premiumlightacademy]

Ready for war! Love it. Nice. Works great for grizzled old soldiers like us.

[@RichardBO9]

One of my bigger regrets is selling my 5DIV to go into the mirrorless world. Mirrorless is just different, not necessarily better. I have come back to dslr with a 5DSR. I appreciate the simplicity. In a world that is increasingly AI oriented, who know how to create with old school techniques will be able to separate themselves from the masses. The peak of Canon color science is the 5DIV and 5DSR.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Super big fan of the 5DSR ourselves! That is my all time favorite camera. I still use it today as my primary. Thanks for the comment!

[@John-Shutterlyphotos]

I have been using the 5D Mark IV for years, I recently purchased the R6, which has great eye tracking. Would I buy another 5D Mark IV in 2023 if needed? Yes, I would absolutely. My go to camera is still the 5D Mark IV, it just works for me over mirrorless!

[@premiumlightacademy]

Agreed. The old DSLR camera batteries last for days compared to the new mirrorless cams. Keep up the good work!

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Going mirror less it’s just a way for camera companies to make money, I still am making $ With my SLR’s

[@andreashaller1479]

Hi from germany and thanks for your good thoughts! (sorry for my bad english) Please dont laugh but i buyed me last week a used 5D4, cause i missed when i looked to the mirrow, sorry to the sensor, on my Fuji GFX 50S, i just feeled not in reality. With the 5D4 i see how it is in real and this help me very much to creat my foto...... May its a little oldschool,but its like it is....... I payes 1200 € for this 5D4 with around 9000 shutters, this is like new i think. The Fuji is a very good kamera, but for me without feeling, if you now what i mean..... the lenses are technical perfect, but also no feeling....... when i take my zeiss apo 135mm on the canon, than its a good feeling....... Cheers Andreas

[@andersbergquist]

I agree with You. In 2020 I thougth to by the 5D iv, but I bougth its sibling, Eos R, which to large extent is an updated 5D to, then, half price and still today can be bougth for a low price.

[@dccd673]

This has always been my dream camera, but couldn’t afford it before until last year. It’s been less than a year since I’ve had it, and I don’t regret the decision to buy it. I’m still trying to learn about which lenses would be good specifically for portrait though!

[@premiumlightacademy]

Thanks for the comment! We have our pic for greatest portrait lens right here... Give it a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmiWgpWjZrONqtk

[@natestain7103]

Lenses are as pricey or more than your body. If you have to have one lens then get a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L II. It will serve you many purposes. But if you’re looking for the best portrait lens for that camera I would suggest the Canon 85mm F1.2 LII. This is just my opinion as many great portraits can be achieved with many different lenses at different focal lengths.

[@p382742937423y4]

I have a sony a7c, but always kept my 5d classic, which somehow makes the best photos. I now also bought a 5d mark iii, and it is my go to camera

[@premiumlightacademy]

The Canon 5D Mark 3 is amazing! Shot with that for years! The re-sculpted the body, making the grip a perfect fit. And the guts that do the photo work... amazing....

[@thomastruitt1250]

I love my first camera the best I Cannon TX it was a tank of a camera and always took great pictures

[@Bikerslife666]

Thank you for video! I could buy Canon R6 mark 2 or even R5, but i bought new 5D mark 4, because i have 6 dslr lenses and i don't want sold them. I am using for commercial and weddigs this camera.

[@zmanagadze]

cool review. keep going

[@premiumlightacademy]

Thank you so much for the encouragement. We appreciate it! We are still goin…

[@mamumonkan]

Great video, would you happen to know if there is a way to set up the viewfinder that there is >>ONLY BLACK

[@lb7144]

Yes, it’s still great in 2024. I have the 5DMKIV & R6MKII. Two awesome Canon full frames. The 1080 video on the 5DMKIV is amazing and the 4k is no joke. Large 4k files but good looking footage. I often marry my 5DMKIV with my C100MKII for 1080 recording.

[@angelah9690]

I really appreciated your review. I just acquired a new 5D Mark IV and love it. The latest photos I took at a concert were amazing, so I'll personally wait for a good while before thinking about going mirrorless. Also, my new EF lenses are much cheaper than the RF and, again, produce amazing images.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Agreed. I only use ancient cameras. I'll take a mirror any day. Nothing can stop you from getting great results as long as you know what you are doing.

[@HaflingerSuedtirol]

I believe a 5dIV in very good conditions costs quite a bit less than a brand new R6II@@Rick-tw9ge

[@nicedward7544]

I had almost every Canon dslr made. What's weird is the original 5d produced sharper images than many of the newer models because of the pretty much non-existent aa filter. I've since switched to Sony because of Canon ditching the ef mount and third party support. No regrets. My L glass works just as good on my Sonys.

[@andyblessett1282]

I've been a Canon guy since the eighties, (yeah I'm that old!). I own and use the 5div, 5dsr and 80D and probably more EF L series glass than I should. I will admit to being tempted to go for the latest Nikon F8, but, the expense of changing a whole system just rules that out! Besides that, I'd sell my granny before selling my beloved Canon gear. ( I'm 72 yrs old now, so there's no chance of my granny being sold anyway😊)

[@Meraduk]

I bought used one in mint condition with 10k shots only for 700 euro. Love it a lot

[@brendancahill3376]

Great bargain there.

[@georgenorthcutt6774]

I use 6D and a 5D Classic. as well as a Fujifilm X-t2. they are still very useable. I actually prefer the colors from the 5D Classic over both the 6D and Fujifilm.

[@natestain7103]

My 5D2 produces amazing colors

[@georgenorthcutt6774]

@@natestain7103 mine did before its shutter broke.

[@keithwiebe1787]

How is the audio on the M4 compared to the M3? On the M3 it has rolled off low end and very noisy unless one amplifies the signal (I used a Juiced Link box).

[@magnus547]

I have the 5D Mark IV with the latest firmware. Unfortunately, the Crop in 4K recording has not been reduced. It's still a 1.74x crop when recording.

[@magnus547]

And it does shoot Canon Log. No Raw, but Canon Log in 8 Bit 4:2:2 color information.

[@Mr___X]

good to know, thnks

[@colnagocowboy]

Im must admity favorite camera is still the Contax 139q

[@creativevisiongaming]

I still use the 5D classic

[@trevor6483]

I own one and shant be moving on.😊😊

[@premiumlightacademy]

I am loving the use of the word Shant. Time to bring that little gem back baby!

[@mamumonkan]

Hello There, can you shoot the 5D IV in silent ELECTRONIC SHUTTER MODE ????? THX !!!

[@DeputyNordburg]

It is an amazing travel camera. For one thing it has gps. Drives me crazy that the R5 And R6 don’t hav it.

[@amapolo1]

I had one for a couple of months, coming from the Nikon D750, the 5D4 totally crushed my beloved Nikon, I went Canon but I found a great deal on the R8 which is an amazing camera, beautiful sensor, and the colors of the R8 are just gorgeous, so i sold the 5D4... A couple of months ago I found a 5D3 for a really nice price and I've been using it all the time, a couple of days ago someone offered me a 5D4 in great condition I'd say it looks brand new I put it in layaway until I sell the 5D3... I'm really excited to own this camera again

[@arthurkhachatryan9708]

hi,what you think 5d IV or R8 should buy?i can buy used 5d for 1000$ and same price brand new R8 :)

[@AirPixelProMedia]

How did it crush the d750? I thought the d750 has better image quality? Also isn't the R8 better than both?

[@MannyScoot]

The R line of cameras do not like heat...... I am in Arizona and out in the desert with 115 degree temps...... the R series overheats and I mean all of them !

[@jameslloydcole8783]

I have owned a 5D iv for 5 years, and can confirm it’s terrible today. I’m craving an R6 mark II. No in body IS, no lens IS on its 24-70. You can’t shoot below 1/60 second without a tripod, useless. The focusing is terrible compared to a new camera. Having an EVF would also make life easier.

[@adriannydegger]

Dude, altough I really enjoyed the video, you are providing some misinformation about the camera. It does not have a 36 Megapixel sensor, it has a 30 Megapixel sensor. What is more, it does have Focus Tracking, but you need to use it in mirror-less mode. I use that quite a bit and it works nice.

[@55whiplash]

My 5D classic still takes great photo's. There are pro's that will be using the 5D's for years.

[@yancyyoung9009]

I love my camara 5D mark VI is the best camara canon 👌

[@jravell]

You speak of the 5D Mark IV the way other photographers speak of the 5D Classic.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Yep. Ran the classic for years. The 5D series changed the world of photography. Reverence. For sure.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

I use center-point focus and recompose 😂 so all the new focus features would be a waste of money.

[@kreadive]

If you don't already have mirrorless then you're getting into an entire new investment which in turn is going to cost a lot more than the 5D IV. You're going to need lenses, batteries, etc. Because of that reason, I'm going to stick with DSLRs for a long while lol.

[@meyrickgriffith-jones3908]

I can see the advantages of mirrorless if you are a sports/action photographer or like shots of flying birds. Beyond that, I see no advantage at all -especially as a landscaper. As a rule there is little size/weight advantage to the system as a whole, as opposed to the body alone, and in some cases such as the R%, the higher iso performance is worse, or less good. Clearly we are on an evolutionary path with sensors and every time pixel densities increase (pixels get smaller) noise performance gets worse. Essentially, for the present the FFT with converts from analogue voltages to digital is at its limits, and little has been achieved in cracking the last approximation in the FFT. Though that may change with with AI software, or another breakthrough like backside illumination on the sensor. But, at present, except in certain very specific cases, mirrorless offers very little.

[@MichaelJazayeriMD]

I am amazed the price of this camera is still $2500 brand new, the same as the R6 mark ii, which is superior in almost every aspect. It shows how in demand this camera still is. I decided to purchase the 5DSR brand new for $1500, as I could not believe purchasing a professional camera with 50 megapixels at that price, knowing it would offer full advantage for my L lenses. I am curious, will you recommend this camera if the price was lowered to $1500? I am sure it eventually will, as it will become discontinued at some point.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Thanks for the question. Having used the new Canon R5 and the R8, I would NOT recommend the 5D4. Those new mirrorless cameras are a joy to use, and they have vastly superior tech. The R8 is my new favorite. That little beast will run circles around the 5D4 (as it should!). Still love my 5DSR though.

[@MichaelJazayeriMD]

I know. That 5DSR images are something!@@premiumlightacademy

[@calon.pengusahaa]

How good the dynamic range of this camera?

[@premiumlightacademy]

Not. Great. It's old school. It's good for 2008 standards, which basically means nada for today's standards. Alway bracket, no matter what.

[@cansisco]

Is shutter count of 140 000 high? Should I look for something else ?

[@4Kandlez]

Yes that's high, Canon rate the shutter good for 150,000 but that's not to say it won't keep going way past that. Better to be cautious and look for one with a low shutter count

[@preven2296]

You mention the EOS 5DS R DSLR Camera...it is not available.

[@premiumlightacademy]

That is true. Unfortunately my favorite dinosaur, the 5DSR has been discontinued. They are still available on the used market. Hope you find one!

[@papabear7875]

Is it a good deal for $1000 on 5D mark 4 in 2023 in good condition?

[@mikem6796]

Yes

[@Kkkk-yz7dl]

Between 5d iv and R7 wich better for wedding photo sessions and short clips??

[@premiumlightacademy]

Honestly I would go with the R7. The intelligent eye autofocus on the new R-Type cameras is a game changer. It will make your life so much better (and more fun!)

[@shichaosun3298]

really regret I sold my 5dsr very cheap. Wish I watched your video earlier.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Not to worry Shichao! Pretty much any Canon camera you get your hands on will be a really great friend to you. Don't fret!

[@BoB-cz9qr]

1:11 end of an error! .. why, what was wrong with it?

[@Newport1930]

Nothing only beautiful images.

[@youkounkoun2]

Do not loose 18:37 min of your time. The answer to the question is YES.

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

This is still worth buying. If one has a full set of ef lenes why buy a camera where one has to buy all new lenes. Yes one can buy ef to rf adapter.

[@dayeah765caoni3]

Would only take one for below 700 bucks in decent shape. Kinda impossible

[@stampydragon2739]

Id still pick my 5DS over everything else

[@videosuperhighway7655]

DSLR for life😂 Just bought a 5d mark IV. If you cant get great output out of this camera, you suck as a photographer.

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

Buy this camera? Yes, if you have a significant amount invested in ef L lenses.

[@premiumlightacademy]

If you do NOT have a bunch of old school EF-L lenses, I would go with a new Canon R-Type camera. Those things are amazing.

[@maxgreen6838]

Good for at least another decade.

[@premiumlightacademy]

And after that decade, I will bury mine with a fist full of seeds and grow a cheery tree. And then photograph that cherry tree with the 2073 Canon R5 Mark 27

[@timetrialist]

$2500 for something this ancient just goes to show Canons are left for the elites

[@jameslloydcole8783]

I mean, how much easier would shooting a full day wedding be, with laser beam eye focus that works 100% of the time with no effort, vs a 5D dinosaur autofocus system. If you disagree, you’re a boomer, stuck in the past. 😅

[@4Kandlez]

But you haven't actually shot a full day wedding, have you? Or done any professional work at all.

[@RogerZoul]

A 5DM4 cannot take a fast card, it is too old for that. Unless one is constrained in terms of funds, one should avoid the told tech.

[@RodrigoAReyes95]

Unless you are taking 1000 photos every second and you can’t wait 10 more seconds for photos to transfers, old cameras and cards should be no big issue.

[@RogerZoul]

@@RodrigoAReyes95 That’s a joke.

[@RogerZoul]

Why would anyone, in mid 2023, buy an 5DM4, then there is a modern, up-to-date, Canon R6 Mark II for basically the same price as you showed in this video? It has a CFe card and an UHS SDII card in there, plus eye AF that goes at 40 fps? Yeah, if you own a 5DM4 you can keep on using it, but you're doing to be working harder trying to nail focus with that thing, than you would with a R6M2, which is also much lighter. A wedding tog would be much better served with a lighter camera. And the 5DM4 is a slow camera, that makes you wait a discernible about of time before it fires a shot! That was one reason I sold mine to get a modern Canon ML camera. Trying to shoot against a fixed gird of AF points is no fun either. Sure, the images look as nice as they ever have, but a tog is going to be working harder just to get focus with that old tech. The only reason to stay with that told 2016 tech is if you don't have the funds to upgrade, plain and simple. And any tog that knows where they are doing with the camera, will get more from these newer cameras.

[@premiumlightacademy]

Anthony you are so right! And also so wrong at the same time! A good "Tog" (adorable) with well-honed skills can nail focus with an old camera without even thinking about it. It's just a matter of talent and practice. Sadly, those are two attributes that modern "togs" seem to resent for some reason. And so, we replace skill with technology. I hope your pictures are always sharp. I know mine always will be, no matter what camera I'm using... Cheers.

[@RogerZoul]

@@premiumlightacademy Dude, my images are always in focus and tack sharp, and i shot with the 70D, 6D, 7DM2, 80D, 5DM4, 5DS R, and 90D all more getting an R5. I shot a LOT, so do even talk to me about skill dude. But the 5DM4 is a slow ass camera, even though it makes lovely images. All the focus points are clustered at the center and anyone trying to get focus on the eye is gonna be working overtime to do a job well. Get the r5 to make your job better and quicker! If you can’t see that, then that is sad. You are behind your competition. And using an r5 requires skill as well, something you would know if you were not caught up in acting like a dinosaur.

[@premiumlightacademy]

@@RogerZoul We have established that your pictures are sharp. It's just too bad that your manners are terrible.

[@RogerZoul]

@@premiumlightacademy Come now. The 5DM4 is still a camera that takes great images. It’s just not a competitive camera in 2023. If one is cash constrained, then this camera is a good choice, but don’t pay too much as the r8, r6, and r6m2 have taken up the space where the 5Dm4 makes sense to own. But it is a 2016 camera, so that makes sense.

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

No - No need to watch the answer is NO> I had one and im irritated i have to elaborate even- IT WAS an virtually already antiqued model when it dropped and meager upgrade from mark 3. Mirrorless isnt just the future its the difference between Tape and CD.... you want to go back to tape and curse your life everyday when for even the used priced you can buy a superior in most ways mirroless camera that wont continue to be antiqueated further... an r8 even with its TINY battery blows it away in almost every way... not to mention if you want to jump ship Sony has a ton of popular models... NO no no no DO NOT in 2023 BUY A DSLR and SPECIFCIALLy this disapointing model that I shot on (heck even this profile pic) for ANY PRICE above $300 USD... Id take an r100 over that ancient antiqued model that will only leave you in REGRET I get that your making VIDEOS for an ALGORYTHM but this is a 5 second VIDEO ---" NO ... the end."

[@Sunstepa]

That a useless comment.

[@babc97]

Sorry disagree, I think it still worth to purchase.