Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A9

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Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A9

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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 847.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Sony A9 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A9 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A9.
Compare Sony A9 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A9 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A9 II
Compare A9 vs A9 II
Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A9 II

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Sony A9

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.2 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 650 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
More pixels
30.4 vs 24.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 364 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A9 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
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.
A9 test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark

3,517 vs 2,995 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Lighter weight
673g vs 890g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 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
240 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

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 A9 User Reviews

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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

New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.
Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.
Read our Sony A9 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 A9

Canon 5D Mark III

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Lens selection

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2291
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Sony A9

Nikon D810

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2291
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A9 vs Nikon D810

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 5D Mark IV

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2249
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Thinner

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2995
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3802
35mm

Built-in GPS
Top deck display

Compare Sony A9 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

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 A9

Sony A99 II

$2995
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A9 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 A9

Pentax K-1 II

$2995
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A9 vs Pentax K-1 II

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