Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A1

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Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A1

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35mm 864.0mm²
30.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark IV Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 5D Mark IV in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark IV.
Compare Canon 5D Mark IV image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark IV conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
50.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A1.
Compare Sony A1 image quality against competitors.

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Sony A1

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$2899 vs $4998*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 5.36 vs 4.16 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

900 vs 530 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
540k vs 360k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 165 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A1 advantages over Canon 5D Mark IV

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Slower slow-motion
240 fps vs 120 fps
Supports slower slow-mo
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher max flash sync
1/400 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
4 years vs 8 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.90x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
50.1 vs 30.4 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
30.0 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
155 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Adorama
Read A1 User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 5D Mark IV

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Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm Lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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Buy the Sony A1

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Review Excerpt

Superb image quality from RAW files; Improved dynamic range; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 7fps burst rate with unlimited JPEG buffer; High-quality cinema 4K video; Built-in Wi-Fi; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is very good.
JPEG files look soft at default settings; 1/200s flash sync; 4K video codec is cumbersome; 29:59 continuous video recording limit.
Read our Canon 5D Mark IV Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A1, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Sony A1 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A1

Canon 5D Mark III

$5498
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A1 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2246
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Sony A1

Nikon D810

$5498
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2246
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A1 vs Nikon D810

Compared to Pentax K-1

Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Pentax K-1

Sony A1

Pentax K-1

$5498
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1800
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A1 vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Pentax K-1 II

Sony A1

Pentax K-1 II

$5498
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A1 vs Pentax K-1 II

Compared to Sony A7R IV

Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A7R IV

$2099
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$3120
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R IV

Sony A1

Sony A7R IV

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Longer video battery life

$3120
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A1 vs Sony A7R IV

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