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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810A

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

CanonEOS 5D Mark IVNikonD810A
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2016May 2015
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions36 × 24 mm35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution30.4 MP36.3 MP
Largest image6720 × 44807360 × 4912
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–32000200–12800
Sensor detailApproximately 30.4 million effective and 31.7 million total pixels; 36 × 24 mm CMOS with fixed low-pass filter and integrated sensor cleaningFX CMOS with 36.3 million effective pixels USA/global or 36.35 million Japan, 37.09 million total; no optical low-pass filter. Modified IR-cut filter transmits four times more H-alpha light than D810. Nikon warns of red casts under near-infrared-rich lighting or with reflective subjects and does not recommend general photography. Image Sensor Cleaning and Image Dust Off; FX 7360 × 4912, 1.2× crop 6144 × 4080, DX 4800 × 3200 and 5:4 crop 6144 × 4912
Image formats14-bit RAW, M-RAW, S-RAW and Dual Pixel RAW; JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG, including different formats to separate cards12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, lossless-compressed or compressed; Small RAW fixed at 12-bit uncompressed. TIFF RGB, JPEG Fine/Normal/Basic with size-priority or optimal-quality compression, simultaneous RAW/JPEG; Flat and adjustable/custom Picture Controls
ISO detailStandard still-photo ISO 100–32000, expandable to ISO 50, 51200 or 102400; movie sensitivity depends on resolution and exposure modeStandard ISO 200–12800 in one-third, half or whole stops; Lo expansion to ISO 100 equivalent and Hi expansion to ISO 51200 equivalent; automatic sensitivity control
Image processorDIGIC 6+ image processorEXPEED 4
Lens and shooting
Lens mountCanon EFNikon F mount
Stabilisation–Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst7 fps5 fps
Lens detailCanon EF mount; EF-S and EF-M lenses incompatible; photographed with EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM, whose specifications and weight are separate from the bodyF mount with body AF coupling and contacts; G/E/D, other AF and AI-P lenses with restrictions; non-CPU AI lenses usable in A/M/M* with registered lens data, DX lenses use DX crop. Non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses excluded; USA G/H notation conflicts with Japan A/M/M*
AutofocusDedicated 61-point phase-detection system with up to 41 cross-type points, including five dual-cross at f/2.8; up to 61 points and 21 cross-type at f/8 depending on lens; Dual Pixel CMOS AF for live view and moviesAdvanced Multi-CAM3500FX phase detection with 51 points, 15 cross-type and 11 f/8-compatible points; -2 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C. AF-S/AF-C, fine-tuning, single-point, dynamic nine/21/51, 3D tracking, group-area and auto-area. Live view uses contrast AF-S/AF-F and face/wide/normal/tracking areas; current USA detection-range -1 EV entry conflicts with its own -2 EV sensitivity entry and Japan, while AF-A listings conflict with Japan modes
ShutterElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter, 30–1/8000 second plus BulbElectronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter, 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode. M* adds 4/5/8/10/15/20/30/60/120/180/240/300/600/900-second presets. X-sync 1/250 second, up to 1/320 with reduced flash range
Burst detailApproximately 7 fps with AF/AE tracking, or 4.3 fps live view with AF tracking; maker claims unlimited JPEG or 21 RAW under specified UDMA7 CompactFlash test conditions; exposure, card, scene and settings can reduce speed and bufferApproximately 5 fps full FX or 5:4 and 6 fps DX or 1.2× crop on EN-EL15. DX reaches 7 fps with MB-D12 using batteries other than EN-EL15, or qualifying AC power; 1.2× remains 6 fps. Quiet continuous approximately 3 fps. M* continuous shooting at exposures of 4 seconds or longer removes the 100-shot limit, subject to battery/card capacity
Stabilisation detail–VR depends on attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashExternal EX Speedlite E-TTL II support, hotshoe and PC terminal; sync 1/200 secondBuilt-in i-TTL pop-up flash, guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C; commander mode, hot shoe, PC sync terminal and compatible Auto FP Speedlights
Exposure controlsScene Intelligent Auto, P, Tv, Av, M, Bulb and three custom modes; 150000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor and 252-zone evaluative metering; up to ±5 EV still-photo compensationP/S/A/M and long-exposure M*; 91000-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering; ±5 EV compensation and exposure/flash/white-balance bracketing; HDR, interval timer and virtual horizon. Japan centre-weighted default 12 mm and spot range 2–20 EV differ from USA 8 mm and 0–20 EV
Video
Highest video resolution4096 × 2160 at 29.97 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailDCI 4096 × 2160 up to 29.97 fps using internal Motion JPEG, 8-bit 4:2:2 at approximately 500 Mbps; cropped 4K sensor area; Full HD up to 59.94 fps and HD 1280 × 720 up to 119.9 fps slow motion; normal clips up to 29 minutes 59 seconds; HDMI outputs Full HD rather than 4KFX- or DX-based 1920 × 1080 at 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p and 1280 × 720 at 60p/50p; MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with linear PCM. Full HD 60p/50p limit 10 minutes high quality or 20 normal; other modes 20 minutes high or 29 min 59 s normal. Time-lapse movies; current USA general 20-minute limit omits mode/quality differences
AudioBuilt-in monaural microphone; external stereo microphone/line input and headphone socketsBuilt-in stereo microphone; external 3.5 mm stereo input and headphone output, adjustable microphone sensitivity
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots1,620,0001,229,000
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 3.2-inch Clear View LCD II capacitive touchscreen with approximately 1.62 million dots and reinforced glass; separate illuminated top status LCDFixed 3.2-inch TFT, approximately 1229000 dots, 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; brightness adjustment and top status LCD. Exposure preview simulates 30 seconds for longer exposures, with up to 23× live-view enlargement; viewfinder virtual horizon illuminated red
Viewfinder detailOptical pentaprism with approximately 100% horizontal/vertical coverage and 0.71× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinityPentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% DX/1.2× and 100% vertical/97% horizontal 5:4. Approximately 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 17 mm eyepoint, grid and depth-of-field preview
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)900 photographs1200 photographs
Body weight800 g880 g
Release detailCanon Camera Museum records first marketing in September 2016; no exact first-sale day inferredMay 2015 release month; Nikon Japan records actual sale on 28 May, with global announcement dated 10 February. The regional day does not establish earliest worldwide sale
Recording mediaOne CompactFlash Type I slot supporting UDMA7 and one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot supporting UHS-I; no CompactFlash Type II or Microdrive supportOne Type I CompactFlash slot with UDMA and one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with UHS-I; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG split and copying between cards
PortsSuperSpeed USB3.0; mini HDMI Type C, external microphone/line input, headphone socket, N3 remote terminal, hotshoe and PC flash syncUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, PC sync and 10-pin remote/GPS terminal; wired LAN requires optional UT-1
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz with Dynamic NFC; built-in GPS, GLONASS and QZSS geotagging; UK maker states FTP/FTPS removed from units shipped from August 2025 and removable by optional firmware for earlier unitsNo built-in Wi-Fi or GPS; optional WT-5 with UT-1, GP-1/GP-1A GPS, WR-R10 with WR-A10 or WR-1. Japan marks WR-1 unsupported in M* mode
Battery life detailLP-E6N supplied, LP-E6 supported; maker CIPA viewfinder claim approximately 900 photographs at 23°C or 850 at 0°C; Camera Museum live-view claim approximately 300 at 23°CEN-EL15, approximately 1200 CIPA shots. Original global announcement separately claims up to 3860 without built-in flash or immediate playback, and up to 10660 using body EN-EL15 plus grip EN-EL18a under those conditions; these are distinct from CIPA. Optional MB-D12 takes EN-EL15, EN-EL18/EN-EL18a with BL-5 or eight AA cells
ChargingSupplied LC-E6E external battery charger; optional AC adapter and DC couplerExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5B connector
DimensionsApproximately 150.7 × 116.4 × 75.9 mm (width × height × depth)Approximately 146 × 123 × 81.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 800 g body only or 890 g with battery, CompactFlash and SD cards; photographed kit lens is not includedApproximately 880 g body only; 980 g with battery and SD card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMaker specifies dust- and water-resistant constructionDust- and water-resistant sealing; magnesium-alloy body documented on Nikon USA refurbished product overview
Colours–Black
In the box–EN-EL15, MH-25a, UC-E22 USB cable, AN-DC16 strap, BF-1B body cap, DK-17 eyepiece, USB/HDMI cable clips and BM-12 monitor cover (Japan package)

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