Mastering The EOS 5D Mark IV Preview
Mastering The EOS 5D Mark IV Preview
Mastering The EOS 5D Mark IV Preview
A simple, modern
approach to mastering
the advanced features
on your Canon EOS 5D
Mark IV camera which
allows you to take more
control, customise your
camera and take even
better images
The EOS 5D Mark IV sets new standards for focusing There is no one setting that works for every subject
and overrides for a camera that is targeted at the that you are likely to tackle, you get the best results
high end enthusiast market. The extensive range of by learning to use the settings that are relevant to
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IT IE103W
About chromatic aberration correction IO
About the 5D Mark IV 6 Initial AF point AI servo AF 55 Digital Lens Optimizer - Summary
Key changes compared to the EOS 5D Mark III 7 Auto AF pt sel: iTR AF 56 104
INFO button display 8
INFO display on menu screens 9
AF point selection movement
AF point display during focus
58
59
About diffraction correction
Dual Pixel RAW shooting
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106
VF display illumination 60 Dual Pixel RAW - Image Microadjustment 107
New features 10 AF status in viewfinder 61 Dual Pixel RAW - Bokeh Shift 109
About the layout of the 5D Mk IV compared to 5D MK III 11 AF Microadjustment 62 Dual Pixel RAW - Ghosting Correction 110
Viewfinder changes 12 Focusing and drive selection 63 HDR mode 111
Touch controls 14 Focusing and its connection with metering systems 64 Multiple exposure 115
Custom quick control 15 Focusing and button customisations 66 In camera RAW processing 116
AF area selection lever customisation 67 Image processing summary 121
The focusing systems 17 Multi controller customisation 68
About the focusing system 18 AF-ON button customisation 69 Camera customisations 122
Understanding the focusing system 19 One Shot to AI Servo instant switch 70 About the camera customisations 123
Focus lock 21 Register/recall shooting functions 71 Custom shooting modes 124
Why focusing sometimes fails 22 Register/recall AF functions 72 Custom shooting modes - Warning! 127
The focusing basics 25 Focusing summary 73 Custom functions 128
One Shot AF 26 Exposure custom functions 129
One Shot AF mode - Customisations 27 Advanced image processing 74 Exposure level increments 129
AI Focus AF 28 What is image processing 75 ISO speed increments 129
AI Servo AF 29 The RAW vs JPEG debate... 77 Exposure bracketing auto cancel 129
Focusing point selection 31 About Picture Styles 79 Exposure custom functions 130
Flashing AF points 33 Customising picture styles 80 Exposure bracketing sequence 130
Lens focusing and extender compatibility 34 What can be customised - Sharpness 81 Number of bracketed shots 130
Key lenses affected by f8 compatibility 36 What can be customised - Contrast 83 Safety shift 130
Auto selection - 61pt AF 37 What can be customised - Saturation 84 Exposure custom functions 132
Large area zone AF 38 What can be customised - Colour tone 85 Same exposure for new aperture 132
Zone AF 39 Using monochrome picture style options 86 Exposure/Drive functions 133
Manual select 1 pt AF 40 About White Balance 89 Set shutter speed range 133
Single point spot AF (manual selection) 41 Understanding white balance 90 Set aperture range 134
AF point expansion 42 The K setting 91 Display and operation custom functions 135
Case settings 44 How to set the K setting 92 Warning in viewfinder 135
Case setting options 47 Custom white balance 93 LV shooting area display 135
Focusing customisations 48 White balance shift 95 Display and operation custom functions 136
AF menu 2 - AI Servo 49 White balance bracketing 96 Dial direction whilst shooting 136
Lens drive when AF impossible 50 Lens aberration correction 97 Custom controls 136
Selectable AF point 51 About peripheral illumination correction 98 Display and operation custom functions 137
Select AF area selection mode 52 About distortion correction 99 Add cropping information 137
AF area selection method 53 Digital Lens Optimizer 100 Default erase operation 137
Orientation linked AF point 54 Digital Lens Optimizer - What it does 102 Retract lens on power off 137
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Display and operation custom functions 138 ITI IEW
Add IPTC information 138 O
Custom controls 139
Custom controls - Shutter button 141
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Custom controls - AF-ON button 142
Registering focusing settings 143
How to register shooting functions 144
Custom controls - AE Lock button 145
Custom controls - Depth of field button 146
Custom controls - Lens AF Stop button 148
Custom controls - M-FN button 149
Custom controls - Set button 150
Custom controls - Main dial 152
Custom controls - Quick control dial 153
Custom controls - Multi controller 154
Custom controls - AF area selection lever 155
Camera customisation summary 156
Basic Wi-Fi usage 157
Introduction to Wi-Fi functions 158
Basic set up of Wi-Fi functions 160
Connecting the camera to a smart phone or tablet 161
Connecting the camera to a computer 164
Remote shooting 166
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The most obvious change to the 5D Mark IV for lens and extender combination. has been available for some time using Canon’s
many photographers will be the increase in the pixel Digital Photo Professional software when processing
number with a 30.4 megapixel CMOS sensor that This has been made possible by the new DIGIC 6+ RAW images, however with more photographers
has a wider exposure latitude. processor. choosing to shoot JPEG, this feature has been added
There are also some features that wildlife onto the camera to allow the same data to be used
Despite this increase in file size the camera now in camera when shooting JPEG files.
supports shooting at 7 frames per second with photographers will appreciate such as a better
unlimited burst on JPEG images and up to 21 images choice of silent shooting options as well as enhanced There is also the introduction of a new type of RAW
when shooting RAW. The camera also supports water and dust resistance making the camera even image. This utilises a pair of images shot from a
shooting 4K video and there is the option to extract more tolerant to working in challenging conditions. slightly different viewpoint, this allows three types of
frames from that video to give an images with The 5D Mark IV is the first camera at this level to image adjustment when the image is processed in
approximately 8 million pixels. feature built in Wi Fi allowing control via Smart Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software using its
devices and easy transfer of images. In addition the image micro adjustment.
Although the focusing at first glance looks the same
with 61 AF points, these cover an expanded sensor camera has GPS enabling you to pinpoint exactly The mirror system has also been given an overhaul
area and have a better low light compatibility, where the image was taken. For professionals there to reduce vibration caused by the mirror with cams
allowing focusing down to EV -3. is also now the option to embed IPTC data from the that control both the up and down movement.
camera with specific details of a shoot, to save time
However, the focusing is even more upgraded than in the workflow stages. There are also a lot of smaller differences that have
that, with much better f8 compatibility allowing been designed to update the camera and make it
extenders to be used with just about all compatible The camera now offers the option to perform Digital more flexible in use, which are found throughout the
lenses and with up to 61 AF points depending on the Lens Optimization in camera, a technology which camera’s menus and customisation options.
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INFO button display PR
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As the camera comes out of the box the rear LCD ITI IEW
panel on the camera has no information on it. If you O
have been used to one of the more basic EOS models N
you may have been used to seeing a summary of
settings displayed when the Q button is pressed, but
of course the Q display disappears after only a few
seconds.
When the camera is switched on it is possible to bring
up a variety of displays by simply pressing the INFO
button on the rear of the camera.
This allows a general information screen (bottom
left), an electronic level (bottom centre) and the INFO
screen (bottom right). When the INFO screen is being
displayed pressing any of the buttons on the top of
the camera or the focusing point selection button will
bring up the displays as shown to the far right.
Having this screen active all the time makes sense,
especially when you move onto shooting in the creative many photographers have overlooked it. On the higher level models it is important
modes where you need to understand and check the to know about as it allows access to setting the focusing options on the rear screen
current settings that are set up on the camera. rather than having to use the camera’s viewfinder. Having this turned on all the time
does have an effect on the battery life though I find the camera will still easily do a
This feature has been on EOS models since 2009, though day’s shooting with it turned on.
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INFO display on menu screens PR
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As time goes by the cameras are becoming ITI IEW
increasingly complex. On the all the basic models, this O
is been overcome to a degree by something called a N
feature guide. Although in principle a good idea, it is
something that for most experienced photographers,
quickly becomes irritating and therefore gets turned
off. Therefore in the more advanced models there is
a slightly more sophisticated system that has been
introduced.
On many of the features that set within the menus,
there is now a display at the bottom that says INFO
and then the word help by it. When this is showing,
pressing the info button on the camera will bring
up a detailed description of what the function does
and how it is used. This was on the 5D Mark III, and
all advanced models since, though I have found that
many photographers have missed that it’s there.
Some of the descriptions are quite long and therefore
once in this setting you often see the word INFO
plus an image of the quick control dial. When this is
showing, whilst still holding down the info button,
turning the quick controlled on the rear of the
camera will allow you to scroll down the description.
This works well, as now the information is only shown
when you want it to come up and therefore does not
get in the way and can be left on at all times.
If items are greyed out try pressing the set button
whilst they are selected as this may will bring up the
probable cause for not being able to set them. This is a
welcome addition and it’s not always obvious what is
preventing the options from working.
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New Features
About the layout of the 5D MkIV compared to the 5D MKIII PR
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The layout on the two cameras looking from the top ITI IEW
is just about identical, with the main changes being O
seen on the top LCD panel. In all comparisons the N
5D Mark III is at the top and the 5D Mark IV at the
bottom.
When you enter this command there are a number This works for those photographers who actually
of things that you can choose to turn on or off in the do read the viewfinder information. I know from
viewfinder. There are options for the viewfinder level experience of training many photographers, that
and the viewfinder grid display, both of which I’m there is a group of photographers out there that
going to look at on the next page, and an option to don’t even read the essential information such as
show or hide in the viewfinder, which is where these shutter speed, aperture and ISO and are therefore
options are found. not likely to read this additional information either.
When you go into this menu there are tick boxes The idea behind this function, is to allow the
available for the mode, white balance, drive, AF, photographer to set more of the camera overrides
metering, quality and flicker detection. Only the without having to move the camera away from their
flicker detection option is turned on as standard. eye.
The set button will put the ticks in the boxes and Interestingly, even if this information is not switched
you will need to highlight the OK button and then on to display, if the white balance, metering, drive,
press the set button for the changes to take effect as or AF buttons on the top of the camera are pressed,
in many of the other menus found on the camera. then the information will automatically appear in
the viewfinder, to allow the setting of the function.
In theory, the benefit of having this information
displayed, is to remind the photographer of the
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Touch controls PR
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The EOS 5D Mark IV is one of the first of the more ITI IEW
advanced models in the EOS line up to feature touch O
controls. The 1DX Mark II does have some touch N
options available but they are more limited than are
found on the 5D Mark IV.
If you are used to using touch controlled devices
such as smart phones and tablets then this is a very
intuitive way of operating your EOS camera.
All the normal navigations will work. There are
options in the camera’s menu to have the standard
options which will work best for most photographers,
sensitive, which is more responsive which may be
better for people that use touch devices a lot and
disable options for those that do not get along with
touch controls.
If you press the Q button to enter the playback
controls whilst playing back images, the touch
controls will automatically be active.
Tap - This allows you to select items. Within the
menu you simply tap the item you want. On the
Quick screen, if it is permanently displayed on the
rear of the camera you have to tap the Q at the and stretch can allow you to zoom in or out on parts the menus that the touch controls can be at their
bottom left corner to activate the touch controls. of the image. best as it cuts out some of the stages within the
This changes to a return arrow which then allows more traditional menu navigation.
you to go back a step. If you have the Q screen active at all time on the
rear of the camera then you will need to press the Q If you want the touch controls to work at their best
Drag - this allows you to set a feature such as button on the screen at the bottom left to turn on use the screen on the camera as it is. Attaching
exposure compensation, all you do is to touch the the touch controls for the rest of the screen. If you various third party sheets and protectors will have
screen where the cursor is and then drag left of right access the Q options through the Q button then the an effect on its operation and may stop it working
to set the required amount. touch controls are active automatically. entirely. The camera’s rear screens does not generally
If playing back images then swipe will allow you to need any additional protection.
If you go to the camera menus, then as soon as the
flick through the images you have taken. The pinch menu is active the touch controls will work. It is in
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Custom Quick Control PR
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ITI IEW
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Custom Quick Control PR
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When you select OK, you go onto the Custom quick ITI IEW
control screen and you need to move the highlighted O
box to the place where you would like the feature N
and then press the Q button to enter the menu
where you can select items from. The navigation
around the menus is using the main dial, the quick
control dial or the multi controller.
There are three screens of options that can be added
to the Custom quick control screen. Select the
option that you want and press the set button and it
will take you to the customisable screen.
Here you can either confirm the item or move it
around to the location you require. Pressing the
INFO button will allow you to resize the item with a
choice of options that will vary a little according to
the item you are using.
This is a very powerful option that can make the
camera much quicker to set up and use. If you have
been used to the normal layout of the Q screen for
many years then you may still prefer to use that
option.
This takes a little time to set up, though personally
its best option is the ability to have the focusing area
selection options displayed on the screen to select,
which saves the use of the button controls.
However, like the standard Quick Control screen,
you still need to understand the icons and what they
allow you to set. So spending some time learning
the key controls on the camera will make your
photography easier and the camera quicker to set
up.
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Understanding the focusing system PR
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I am going to take a look at all aspects of the focusing ITI IEW
system. Over the last few years I have taught more O
focusing events that all the other types of events added N
together, which shows just how much photographers
are struggling with the set up on the cameras.
What has become clear through the courses is that many
of the people I see are struggling with the real basics of
how focusing works as they lack the basic knowledge
they need to get the rest of the system to work.
So in this book I am going to go right through the
focusing system and explain first of all why the
cameras sometimes cannot get a subject into focus
and then move on to look at the specific options
that this camera has.
Reality check
You need a subject that is going to fill a reasonable
amount of the frame. I try to frame images so they do
not have to be cropped at all but I will not crop down
to less that 1/4 of the frame as the quality drops too
much. The image to the right is a good example of
this. This was taken on the 5D Mark IV but the bird
was quite a distance away. The pixel dimensions of many photographers I see on events are trying to
the original image is 6720 x 4480 or 30.1 million pixels capture and then enlarge up.
appx. The cropped image drops this to 2259 x 1506
or 3.4 million pixels appx. That is losing 26.7 million of The smaller the bird is in the frame the harder it is
the pixels you started with and so the quality of the going to be for the camera to find it to focus on in
cropped image drops significantly. It was taken at a the first place and then to keep it in focus.
shutter speed too slow (1/320th) to effectively freeze
In this instance the camera has got the subject sharp,
the movement of the bird so the cropped image
the softening of the image is due to the crop and
shows up much more the movement of the bird in
insufficient shutter speed that the image was taken
the image. Interestingly the bird in the original image
at, not the fact that the camera focused incorrectly.
bottom right is much larger in the frame than what
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Understanding the focusing system PR
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What’s important ITI IEW
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To get a successful image of a moving subject you
need a number of things to work together.
N
Fill the frame as much as possible - long lenses are
a reality for this type of photography. The camera
will not focus well on a subject that is just a tiny dot
in the viewfinder.
Use the shutter speed that will freeze the action
- this will need to be a minimum of 1/1000th if the
subject is moving, I prefer to shoot at 1/2000th if the
subject is moving a lot. Even at that shutter speed
the wing tips of some birds will still not be sharp.
Have the focusing mode set up for action - for
things that move you need to shoot on AI Servo AF
and keep you finger part depressed on the shutter
button whilst shooting to keep the focusing working.
If your subjects are static - have the camera set up
for static focusing - One Shot AF. Remember this
allows you to lock the focus using a half pressure on
the shutter button you then re-frame the image and
take the shot.
Beware of using overrides you do not fully focusing and some of the options used within it are a
Use the focusing area that works for the subjects understand - there are a number of settings on the good example of this. I have seen them causing more
that you shoot - you have a choice of 7 focusing cameras that can make the focusing better for some problems than if the camera was being used in its
areas that you can use, so choose the area that will things but considerably worse for other things. The default settings.
work best for the subject that you are shooting. This defaults are set up they are for a good reason - they
will mean that the focusing mode and focusing area Accept the fact that there is not a magic setting
work well for lots of things.
will need to change a lot. that works for everything - you need to look at the
Be careful of customising buttons - you need to conditions and subject and evaluative what is going
Accept that not all shots will be sharp - The understand what the changes mean for the images to work in that place at that time for that subject.
camera’s focusing is good but it will still take images that you are taking. Do not assume that as it works
that are not sharp so you need to take plenty of for someone else it will work for you. Back button
images.
20
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