The Canon 5D IV is a great FF DSLR, but let’s see how it compares to the much less expensive Pentax K-1. Both have a full frame sensor with plenty of megapixels.
Our comparison table below covers all the important specifications of each camera. Below that, we specifically talk about the new improvements and which model is better suited for your needs.
| Canon 5D IV | Pentax K-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Megapixels | 30.4 | 36.4 |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Format | Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Crop Factor | None | None |
| AA Filter | Yes | On/Off |
| Image Resolution | 6720 x 4480 | 7360 x 4912 |
| Body Image Stabilization | No | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF | Pentax K |
| ISO | 100 - 32,000 | 100 - 204,800 |
| Expanded ISO | 102,400 | None |
| AF Points | 61 | 33 |
| Cross-type AF Points | 41 | 25 |
| Continuous Mode | 7fps | 4.5fps |
| LCD | 3.2" - Fixed | 3.2" - Articulating |
| LCD Resolution | 1,620,000 dots | 1,036,800 dots |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Focus Peaking | No | Yes |
| Top LCD Display | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical | Optical |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | 0.70x |
| Video Resolution | 4096x2160 (30/25/24p) | 1920x1080 (60i/50i/30/25/24p) |
| 1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p | 1280x720 (60/50p) | |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Card Type | CF + SD | SD + SD |
| Dual Card Slots | Yes | Yes |
| SD UHS Support | UHS-I & UDMA7 | UHS-I |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Slowest Shutter Speed | 30" | 30" |
| Bulb Mode | Yes | Yes |
| JPEG Buffer Size | Unlimited | 74 |
| RAW Buffer Size | 19 | 17 |
| Time Lapse | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| Max Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| Startup Time | 0.5s | 1.2s |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Built- in NFC | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| USB Type | USB 3.0 | USB 2.0 |
| Environmentally Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 900 shots | 760 shots |
| Battery Included | Yes (LP-E6N) | Yes (D-LI90) |
| Weight | 31.4 oz (890g) | 35.8 oz (1,015g) |
| Size | 5.9 x 4.6 x 3.0" | 5.4 x 4.3 x 3.4" |
| Price | Amazon | Amazon |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2016 |
Canon 5D Mark IV Advantages:
- Auto Focus – The 5D IV is quite better here, with almost 30 more AF points, and 16 more cross-type ones.
- 7 vs 4.5fps – Noticeably faster for sports and wildlife
- LCD Resolution – The 3.2″ screen sports a higher resolution
- Touchscreen – The 5D IV supports touchscreen so you can navigate through the menus or select the focus point directly on the screen itself
- Dual Pixel AF – Canon’s DPAF technology results in faster and more accurate video focusing, especially for moving subjects
- 4K Video – Available in 30/25/24p
- Buffer – Unlimited JPEG buffer versus 74, 19 vs 17 RAW
- Startup Time – The 5D IV turns on 0.7s faster (1.2 vs 0.5s)
- NFC Connection
- USB 3.0 vs 2.0 – Faster file transferring directly from the camera
- Battery Life – 140 shots longer battery life
- Weight – The 5D IV is a little bit over 100g lighter
Where does the Canon 5D IV win by a big margin? Definitely the AF system. With more points, especially cross-type, the camera can be more accurate in difficult conditions. The K-1 will do good, but the 5D IV can do it a little bit better.
For video, Canon wins hands down. 4K video, DPAF, touchscreen, no other DSLR currently comes close to Canon’s video performance.
You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews here.
Pentax K-1 Advantages:
- Sensor – 6 more megapixels
- AA Filter – The K-1 allows you to turn on/off the effect of an AA filter
- Body Stabilization – You get built-in 5-axis image stabilization that works with every lens you mount
- Higher ISO – 1 stop higher maximum ISO
- LCD Screen – It’s fully articulated compared to the fixed one, so it’s better for shooting in awkward positions
- Focus Peaking – The K-1 can highlight what’s in focus! Excellent when focusing manually
- Less Expensive – The K-1’s body costs around $1700 less
For the money, the Pentax K-1 is an excellent all-around FF DSLR. First, the 36MP sensor provides plenty of resolution and having an option of turning off the AA filter is absolutely fantastic. The built-in stabilization is another Pentax’s strong suit and it’ll be handy for traveling or when shooting in low light. If you like Pentax’s lenses or just want an affordable, good performing DLSR, the K-1 rocks.
You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews here.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.