Canon EOS 5D Mark IV5D Mark IV Black 2016

The Canon 5D Mark IV is a tank of a DSLR with a gorgeous 30.4MP sensor and shockingly good 4K video that lands in the 95th percentile. It's heavy, lacks stabilization, and feels dated next to mirrorless rivals, but if you find it near the $1999 mark, it's a steal for stills shooters who love an optical viewfinder. Skip it if you need fast Live View AF or modern video features, but for pure photography muscle, it still delivers.

That 30.4MP full-frame sensor sits at the 65th percentile in our database, which sounds middling until you see the actual images. Colors are rich, dynamic range is solid, and the files hold up well to cropping. The 61-point AF system lands at the 71st percentile, and it's reliable for stills, though it starts to feel its age when tracking fast, erratic subjects compared to newer mirrorless rivals. Video is where this camera surprises everyone, hitting the 95th percentile. The DCI 4K at 30fps with Canon Log is genuinely impressive, even if the massive file sizes and 1.74x crop factor are a pain. Burst shooting at 7fps is just average these days, and the lack of in-body stabilization means you'll lean hard on stabilized lenses for handheld work.

Stacked against the Sony a7R V, the 5D Mark IV gets smoked on resolution and autofocus smarts, but it fights back with that optical viewfinder and a more rugged, familiar feel. The Nikon Z9 is in a completely different league for speed and video, but it also costs a fortune more. The Panasonic S5 II offers better stabilization and modern video features for less cash, though you lose the vast EF lens ecosystem. The Fujifilm X-H2S is faster and lighter, but it's an APS-C sensor, so you trade some of that full-frame depth of field control. The 5D Mark IV isn't the spec king anymore, but it's the only one here that lets you shoot all day without ever seeing a digital screen in the finder.

Pricing is all over the map, with vendors listing this kit anywhere from $1999 to $4483. At the low end, you're getting a phenomenal deal on a professional full-frame body and an L-series lens. At the high end, you're getting fleeced, plain and simple. If you can snag it closer to that $1999 mark, the value is hard to beat for a stills-focused shooter who doesn't need the latest autofocus tricks. Just shop around and don't pay a premium for old stock.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is the DSLR that refuses to retire. Even with mirrorless cameras taking over, this body keeps finding its way into the hands of wedding photographers and landscape shooters who just want a tank that works. The 30.4MP sensor still delivers gorgeous files, and that optical viewfinder gives you a clear, lag-free view of the world that some folks simply prefer over an EVF. It's not the newest kid on the block, but it's a proven workhorse with a massive lens library behind it.

If you shoot a lot of video handheld or need reliable autofocus in live view, look elsewhere. The lack of IBIS and the sluggish Dual Pixel AF in Live View mode make this a frustrating choice for vloggers or run-and-gun shooters. Mirrorless bodies like the Panasonic S5 II will serve you much better for that hybrid workflow.

The 5D Mark IV is for photographers who value reliability and a traditional shooting experience over cutting-edge specs. If you're a wedding pro who needs a second body that won't let you down, or a landscape shooter who wants GPS tagging baked right in, this camera still makes a ton of sense. It's not the right pick for hybrid shooters who split time evenly between photo and video, but for pure stills work with a dash of high-quality 4K, it remains a deeply satisfying tool.