Get the most out of the Canon 5D MK IV

The Canon 5D MK IV has a range of exciting and useful specifications that make it the perfect camera for a variety of different subjects. If you need a full-frame DSLR for a particular event or job, there are lots of reasons why the 5D MK IV could be the camera to choose, and we’ve highlighted a few things worth trying out.

Dual Pixel Raw
The 5D Mark IV’s party trick is a nifty little feature called Dual Pixel Raw. This utilises the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system to take two images which are saved as one raw file. By using Digital Photo Professional (Canon’s image processing software), you can later make micro-adjustments to sharpness and bokeh. In short, if your focus is almost there, but just slightly off - you should be able to bring it back. You won’t be able to completely alter an image which has gone badly wrong, but it can be useful for making subtle adjustments to subjects including portraits which use a very shallow depth of field. 

Continuous shooting
While the 5D MK IV doesn’t have a super-fast frame rate which competes with the likes of the Sony A9, at 7fps, it’s perfectly respectable. If you’re photographing subjects which are reasonably fast-moving, such as sports and wildlife, you can still get some superb action shots which capture the moment perfectly. 
Why not try switching to JPEG only to enhance the 5D K IV’s buffer capability - that is, how many photos it can take in one go before needing a break. If you’re shooting in raw format, the buffer will top out at 21 images. However, ditching raw and going JPEG-only limits you simply to when your memory card runs out of space.

4K Video Recording and frame grab
The 5D range has often been favoured by videographers, and with the ability to shoot in 4K, that’s also true of the MK IV. Not only is there DCI 4K, but you also have the capability to extract stills (at 8.8 megapixels) from the 4K footage, something you could utilise for fast-moving subjects, such as wildlife and sports to get the exact moment you need.

Customise the quick menu 
Using the quick menu is a great way to get speedy access to various settings changes without having to delve into the more extensive main menu. Customising it to suit your needs and preferences makes even more sense - you can get rid of any settings you don’t use, and add in whatever is useful for your particular needs. 

AF Case Studies
If you’re photographing moving subjects, give the very useful AF “case studies” a go. These can be found in the main menu and give you options to fine tune focus settings depending on a variety of factors. So, if your subject is moving erratically or if there are likely to be obstacles in the way or if you want the subject appearing under the AF point to be in focus and so on. 

Touch-sensitive screen Although some wished for a movable (either tilting or articulating) screen for the 5D MK IV, the fact that it is touch-sensitive is very useful. When shooting macro and still life, use Live View to trigger the shutter or pick an AF point - saving you the need to use buttons which may be more fiddly to reach. You can also use the touchscreen in playback to flick through your shots or pinch to zoom. It’s also available to move quickly through both the quick and main menu.

Share your shots as soon as you take them 
Inbuilt Wi-Fi is pretty common among cameras now, but it took professional level cameras like the 5D MK IV a little longer to join the party. Now it has it, you can use Wi-Fi (or NFC if your phone/tablet has it) to transfer your shots for super quick sharing while out and about. 

Add IPTC Metadata 
If you’re a working professional you may already be familiar with IPTC Metadata, which can now be added in-camera to images shot with the 5D MK IV. But it’s not just professionals who might find this function useful - being able to add all manner of shot information, including copyright information can make file organisation so much easier and quicker. Note - you will have to register the IPTC information using your computer first.

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