Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R IV

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Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R IV

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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 849.7mm²
61.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R IV Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R IV in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R IV.
Compare Sony A7R IV image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R IV conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7R V

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Sony A7R IV

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Bigger pixels
~ 5.36 vs 3.76 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 670 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 70 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A7R IV advantages over Canon 5D Mark IV

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7R IV test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark

3,344 vs 2,995 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Newer
5 years vs 8 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
665g vs 890g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
61.0 vs 30.4 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
32 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

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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Read A7R IV User Reviews

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Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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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

Outstanding image quality; Excellent high ISOs; Fast AF performance with Eye-AF tracking; 10fps bursts at full-resolution; Improved ergonomics; Dual UHS-II card slots; Higher-res EVF.
Expensive; No 4Kp60; Buffer clearing could be faster; Menus are still frustrating; Touchscreen underutilized; No built-in flash.
Read our Sony A7R IV Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

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

Sony A7R IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$3220
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2997
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Sony A7R IV

Nikon D810

$3220
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2997
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Nikon D810

Compared to Sony A99 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A99 II

$2249
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$3198
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A99 II

Sony A7R IV

Sony A99 II

$3220
35mm

Touchscreen
High resolution composite

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Sony A99 II

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

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

Sony A7R IV

Pentax K-1 II

$3220
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Pentax K-1 II

Compared to Canon R5

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon R5

$2249
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$3349
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Canon R5

Sony A7R IV

Canon R5

$3220
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

$3349
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R IV vs Canon R5

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