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Canon 80D vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Introduction

It’s really interesting how sometimes budget cameras can compete with high-end ones. Well, I’ve mentioned it before, many entry-level cameras have premium features built within, but they differentiate from high-cost cameras mostly in performance, and that’s exactly what we have here.

The Canon 80D and the Canon 5D Mark IV are two different categories, whereas the 5D Mark IV has a pretty expensive price, the Canon 80D comes in a more affordable range. Nonetheless, we’re still going to try to compare them, even if it’s going to be hard, we’re going to mention every feature, the slightest differences, and details, so you know exactly which camera meets your requirements the most.

No matter if you’re just starting out, or you’re someone who wants to change to a DSLR, for this article we have two different cameras for those two different purposes.

For those of you who don’t know, a DSLR camera translates to a digital single-lens reflective camera, unlike a mirrorless camera, the light goes directly through the optical viewfinder in a DSLR camera, thus, outputting a more quality image with sharp details and vibrant colors.

Okay, now, let’s get more into the specifics and see what these cameras are really made of.

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Head To Head Comparison

Canon 80D

Just as I mentioned above, I’ve used the 80D for over a week, and there are some serious things that this camera can do, while there are also some bad parts which this camera can’t do. It is an entry-level DSLR, well for the most part if you want to call it that because of the price, but it delivers stunning image quality, it’s fast, and it has a very unique autofocus system for which we’ll talk later in this review. For now, let’s just start by pointing out a couple of things about the design, shall we?

Design-wise, the Canon 80D has a sealed body that prevents dust and moisture from building, while it boasts a polycarbonate exterior and magnesium alloy chassis. It’s mostly the same as its predecessor, however, it comes with a couple more features, for example, now you can change settings via the articulating rear touchscreen. Since we mentioned the settings, the button layout is pretty decent, everything is reachable and the camera has a natural handgrip that delivers exceptional comfort while holding it, and the camera can also be operated one-handed, so there’s that.

Speaking of the rear touchscreen, for those of you who want the most features in an affordable DSLR package, the 80D is the perfect choice, since it has a 3-inch 1.04m-dot articulating touch LCD, thus, allowing you to change settings via the touch panel, while you can also scroll through images, and for the most part, you can also manual focus and some other features with only one touch of a finger, pretty impressive right?

But that’s not all, since the screen also tilts, which means that you can shoot from different angles and viewing positions, while it also adds extra points to the camera’s versatility.

Okay, but what about the performance?

Firstly, the 80D features a 24-megapixel sensor that runs the DIGIC 6 image processor, therefore, if you combine these specs into one piece, you get a continuous shooting speed of 6.5frames per second.

Although, we said that this camera has a very unique autofocus system, and we weren’t lying, in fact, it has the best autofocus system from all the other cameras found in this price range. More precisely, it has two autofocus systems, one is for using the camera conventionally and composing images in the viewfinder, while the other is for Live View and Video mode. Now, in terms of specifics, it has 45-AF points which enable the camera for incredible tracking abilities, while it is able to maintain focus even with fast-moving subjects. Other than that, all the AF points are cross-type with lenses that boast a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or greater, but for more convenience, 27 of them can also operate at f/8 and nine of them are cross-type at f/8.

Now, regarding the ISO range, the Canon 80D has a native ISO sensitivity of 100-16,000, and a boosted ISO sensitivity of 25,600.

When it comes to video recording, this camera lacks one of the most in-vogue video features, 4K. For some, this may be an issue, but for photographers, this isn’t a big deal. However, 4K has become pretty common with low-cost cameras nowadays, while this is the only area where this camera disappoints, however, it can record Full HD 1080p video without any problems or whatsoever.

In terms of connections, this camera has a headphone port for audio monitoring, it has built-in Wi-Fi, as well as NFC. So, you can share your images or transfer them using only a compatible smartphone device or tablet.

All and all, this camera delivers great value for money, it’s one of my favorite DSLRs which has a mid-range price, and it doesn’t sacrifice performance nor features for it.

Canon 80D Sample Footage:

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Canon 5D Mark IV

As for our second camera, we have a high-end DSLR camera which has been a top option for many professionals out there, while it is also widely being used for commercial applications, sports, action, wildlife, and so on. Well, in terms of specs, the 5D Mark IV has a huge advantage over the Canon 80D, however, when it comes to features, they’re pretty much similar.

In terms of the design, the 5D Mark IV has a similar design to its predecessors, with an identical button layout, well almost identical except the handy new switch on the rear of the camera which serves as a scrolling dial to change a setting, while the switch is held in place. Same as its predecessors, the 5D Mark IV is also weatherproof, but it has been improved for sure, thus, it can withstand in different weather conditions, such as light rain on snow.

Now, unlike the Canon 80D, the 5D Mark IV has a fixed-screen design, which means you can’t tilt it in any direction, but same as the 80D, the 3.2-inch 1,620,000 dot LCD monitor is touchscreen-enabled, which means you can scroll through images, navigate through the menu, and use some features using the touchscreen.

Now, let’s get more into the specifics, and see what is this camera truly capable of.

That being said, this particular camera has a 30.4-megapixel camera, which is a huge boost from its predecessor, while it delivers dazzling image quality, sharpness, details, vibrancy, everything you could ever ask for.

But what’s really special is that the 5D Mark IV uses both a DIGIC 6 and a DIGIC 6+ processor, which means that the camera is a lot faster since one of them is used for metering, the other handles everything else, including the autofocus system.

Speaking of the autofocus system, with this camera, you’ll get incredible tracking abilities, having a 61-point AF system, and with 41 of them being cross-type, you can record some serious videos with the 5D Mark IV.

Regarding the ISO, this camera has a native ISO range that stretches from 100-32,000, and a boosted ISO sensitivity of 50-102400.

Now, in terms of video recording, unlike the Canon 80D, the 5D Mark IV can capture 4K at 4096×2160 pixels, at 30/25/24fps, but you can also take 4K pictures using the Motion JPEG file format, you basically extract 8.8MP JPEG images from the 4K video. It’s one of my favorite cameras for black & white photography, because it’s very versatile and lets me capture great shots.

However, one of the most appealing features of this camera is the Dual Pixel AF technology, which means that the camera has phase-detection points in the imaging sensor itself, while with this, you’ll get a quicker AF acquisition than most other high-end cameras at this price range and some of the above.

Before we end, let’s not forget to mention that the 5D Mark IV has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, so as you can see, this camera has everything you could ever need indeed. Thus, you can share or transfer files easier than ever, just by connection wirelessly with a smartphone device or tablet, you’ll be good to go.

Simply put, the Canon 5D Mark IV sits among the most high-end DSLRs out there, it has a top-notch performance, while it packs the latest technologies with the most premium features that there are. However, I don’t recommend this camera to people that are just starting out, it has a more complex and sophisticated set of features which can sometimes be confusing for novice users.

Canon 5D Mark IV Sample Footage:

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Canon 80D vs Canon 5D Mark IV Feature Comparison

  Canon 80D Canon 5D Mark IV
Camera Type DSLR Full-Frame DSLR
Megapixels 24.0 30.4
ISO Range 100-16,000(25,600) 100-32,000(50-102400)
Flip-Out Screen Yes No
AF Points 45 AF Points 61 AF Points
Viewfinder Yes Yes
Touchscreen Yes Yes
Video Recording Yes Yes
Sensor Size APS-C CMOS

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Conclusion

In the end, the comparison table speaks for itself. Almost in any situation, the Canon 5D Mark IV performs better, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should get the 5D Mark IV, because the 80D comes at a way more affordable price if you compare them, and it definitely has some premium features within, including the articulating touchscreen, the autofocus system, its ability to shoot perfectly in low-light situations, and so on.

If you’re just looking for a second camera to go with, or if you want to change from another type of camera to a DSLR, then the 80D will serve you good for still photography, portrait photography, and landscape.

However, if you’re looking for a high-end DSLR option, with the latest technologies and the most premium features out there, the 5D Mark IV would be your ideal choice. It can shoot 4k, it has dual pixel AF technology, it has a full-frame sensor with 30.4-megapixels, while the combination of all of these enables this camera to be great for commercial applications, sports, weddings, events, wildlife, and so on.

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