I'd like to start a unique and hopefully useful Mark IV thread. Please post here your own actual, hands-on experience with the Mark IV. Samples are great, as are detailed discussions of settings and conditions. So are comparisons to your experience with other bodies — if it is really your own hands-on experience.
Others, feel free to ask questions about settings or conditions or whatever, but let's keep comments to a minimum, and arguments, ad hominem attacks and general grumbling to zero.
Galbraith's longest lens used in his testing was 400mm (I think). I believe from other threads that the problems encountered with the change from 1.04 to 1.06 FW were more acute with the 500 mm lens and longer; any comment?
I got my 1d4 on 2 Feb 2010, started charging the battery and read some stuff on FM and the manual while waiting. I got concerned about the 1.04 v 1.06 thing; but since mine had 1.06 it became a non issue. Later I read RG was unable to tell any difference between 1.04 and 1.06.
I have pressed the shutter about 2,700 times so far and taken maybe 25 videos. For both stills and vids I have not settled on settings that best fit my shooting style. Mostly I shoot wildlife and birds, but sometimes I will do a landscape. I also do macro stuff, but with the cold and lack of insects that will have to wait till spring.
I am coming from a 1d2 and 7d background. My most used lens is a 500/f4 but I also have used my Sigma 300-800 a lot with the 1d4, and the 16-35 II as well.
Since I am still playing around with settings my AF results have been somewhat mixed. It is quite possible to get OOF images with the 1d4, but I have also been able to do this with other bodies. I have noticed that with 11 AF points and surrounding as settings I seem to get a lot of good BIF images. I have been getting more sharp images with the 1d4 and my funky and not completely tested settings than I get with my 1d2 or 7d; and I suspect this will only improve with time.
I am mostly a RAW shooter. My limited tests to see if jpg and TIFF worked on a new camera produced OK images with the original settings in the camera. I may play around with picture styles and such later, but want to get what I consider the more important settings dialed in first. I have noticed that all images, RAW or otherwise, are much sharper straight out of the camera than the 1d2; and even the 7d which is sharper than the 1d2.
There is also lots of detail in the images. I took a head shot of a gator with a branch partially obstructing its snout. I was messing around in CS trying to clone out the branch when I noticed there was an insect crawling on the branch; you could see detail in the legs, head, and body of the insect. You could also see detail in the teeth of the gator.
All in all a very positive experience. The 1d4 produces a lot more keepers than the 1d2 or the 7d.
I have not experienced any problems with the AF in the Sigma 300-800, Canon 500/f4, Canon 70-200/28 non IS, or Canon 16-35 II. I still have some other lens I need to test. No MA on anything so far. The movie feature is a big OK.
Less than two weeks is not nearly enough time for me to figure out how to use the 1d4; even if I did not have a life. But so far the only complaint I have is that I did not get it sooner.
I got my 1DMKIV about 2 weeks ago. Was already loaded with 1.06. Tested against BIF and the AF is fine, though I used my 200L + TC's since I am not a birder and don't have a lens longer than that.
PROBLEM:
My LCD went out on me the other day when I was shooting in the NYC blizzard. I tried to be careful with my gear. I mean, I didn't baby the MKIV b/c it is a 1D series after all and I've shot in much worse condition that this. Basically, the LCD started to only work intermittently, then it eventually completely gave out. The camera worked fine otherwise but without a working LCD, it was pretty useless. Leaving the camera in the house with batter out for a few hours revived the LCD. Not sure if it was temperature related or moisture related or both. Pretty disappointed and I will be exchanging it for a new one, whenever they get new stock...Talk about a confidence crusher...
Great shots, thanks for posting!!!
But I belive it is too late. RG already stated: "Canon lost his AF mojo" or whatever he is normally saying and since 98% people trust him your shots automatically ignored ... Mine test shots coming this week-end I hope
Discussion of RG and reviews and opinions and who's biased and who doesn't know what they're talking about and whatnot is precisely what I'm hoping to avoid in this thread. There are more than enough other threads for that.
Nill Toulme wrote:
Discussion of RG and reviews and opinions and who's biased and who doesn't know what they're talking about and whatnot is precisely what I'm hoping to avoid in this thread. There are more than enough other threads for that.
Please keep the hands-on reports coming.
Thanks,
Nill
Well I am the first to say "I don't know what I am talking about".
I would like to see more peeps post the settings they are using as I am still playing around with mine and quite frankly am tired of reading Canon white papers and trying to figure out how I need to change the settings I am using.
Based on very limited testing since getting the rig this week, I don't think I'll ever use the ring of fire or all 45 points available to assist the selected point. I don't foresee a lot of situations where I want the camera to guess where I want to shoot.
Hope to shoot a soccer scrimmage/training this weekend purely to experiment. I will probably revert to the general approach I've used on other D's, which is to limit the number of selectable points, select one, and do my best to pin it on the subject, and will see where that takes me as far as using any expansion assist points. I am excited to explore registering different point for landscape and vertical orientation. I don't expect to mess with the tracking sensitivity until I have a reason to.
Nill Toulme wrote:
Discussion of RG and reviews and opinions and who's biased and who doesn't know what they're talking about and whatnot is precisely what I'm hoping to avoid in this thread. There are more than enough other threads for that.
I recieved my MK4 on 1-28. I had 3 hours to charge the battery, read the manual and then shoot the first softball game of the season. Overall I was pleased with the results but not blown away as they did not look that much better than my MK2N. I spent all day the next day going over the CF's and testing as the next day was the first all comers track meet of the season. The results of the track meet were much better. I shot hurdlers & 100 meter dash head on and focus was spot on every frame. Same for the relays and pole vault and high jump.
Since this meet everything has been rained out. I have spent that time setting the MA on my long glass and testing different CF combinations. We finally have another softball game today so I am off in a couple of hours to see what happens.
Nick Nishizaka wrote:
I would sincerely hope that my new copy will be able to handle shooting in this type of weather and not have the LCD flake out on me...
...
Looks like your enjoying that new 100mm L though Nick!
Seriously though, I shot in weather like that with my 5d and now my 5d2 all the time without a problem. I just use my fancy plastic grocery bag set up for a little extra protection.
Mine test shots coming this week-end I hope 
!