On the surface, the EOS 5D Mark IV might not have any major changes. Take a closer look though, and you’ll find numerous improvements such as a more firm and secure grip, and a lighter shutter, that closely reflect the needs of photographers. In this article, find out what makes the EOS 5D Mark IV so ideal for landscape photography as we showcase some works by photographers taken with the camera. (Reported by: GOTO AKI)

 

Reason 1: The Bokeh Shift function with DPRAW lets you reposition any foreground bokeh interfering with your subject

Although you might see fences telling you to “Keep Out” at many popular spots for landscape photography, who hasn’t felt that you would be able to get the perfect shot if only you were able to get that little bit closer? Bokeh Shift is one function of DPRAW that comes in handy when you find yourself in such a bind.

You can leave undesirable foreground bokeh as is while shooting your intended subject, before using Digital Photo Professional (DPP) during post-processing to reposition the bokeh and depict your subject more clearly.

Thanks to the Bokeh Shift function, photographers can even capture photos of scenes that they might have given up on previously. As a guide, setting to an ISO speed of 1600 or below, focal length of 50mm or more, and an aperture of at least f/5.6 should make the effectiveness of this function more noticeable.

EOS 5D Mark IV/ EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM/ FL: 400mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5.6, 1/800 sec., EV±0)/ ISO 400/ WB: Daylight
During the shoot, the yellow of the foreground bokeh ruined the colour of the flowers. However, by processing the image using Bokeh Shift with DPRAW, I was able to clearly depict the flowers and their colour. The position of the bokeh can be adjusted by adjusting the parameters with DPP (Digital Photo Professional). However, because the file size is almost double when shooting with the DPRAW format, be sure to enable it only when needed.

 

Without Bokeh Shift, the foreground bokeh obscures most of the subject and the colour of the flowers is spoilt.

 

To learn more about Bokeh Shift and other new DPP functions, check out:
EOS 5D Mark IV Tips: 3 Handy New DPP Features for Correcting DPRAW Images

 

Reason 2: The newly added AF Area Selection Button lets you capture the exact moment when sunlight hits a cloud

Landscapes always appear different in different lighting and wind conditions. Previously, to change the AF Area Selection mode when using Auto Focus (AF) during handheld photography, you had to press the AF Point Selection button with your thumb, before pressing the Multi function button with your index finger, which was a hassle. However, on the EOS 5D Mark IV, after pressing the AF Point Selection button with your thumb, you simply need to press the newly added AF Area Selection Button with your thumb to select the AF area. By being able to quickly change the AF area using just your right thumb, you can select the AF point position more smoothly and easily. And through simplified button operations, it is now possible to change the AF area selection mode and determine the position of the AF point in an instant while looking through the viewfinder, allowing you to capture any minute changes in the lighting and wind conditions.

EOS 5D Mark IV/ EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 200mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/16, 1/800 sec., EV-0.3)/ ISO 400/ WB: Daylight
For this shot, I used the AF Area Selection button and Multi-Controller button to rapidly focus on the instant when the sunlight pierced through the clouds like a spotlight. You can really feel the improvements in the operability for handheld photography.

 

Landscapes that are dependent on lighting and wind conditions are ever changing, so there might not be another opportunity once you miss that instant. In the above photo, the spotlight effect has disappeared and the cloud that was in the foreground has blended into the background, so the scene has lost its liveliness.

 

Rapid AF selection with the AF Area Selection button
The AF Area Selection button is located where it can easily be reached with your right thumb while looking through the Viewfinder. Assigning this function to a button with Custom Controls will allow you to quickly select the AF area and determine the AF position in scenes that require to react quickly.

 

To learn about the AF system on the EOS 5D Mark IV and its development process, check out:
EOS 5D Mark IV Interview with Developers (Part 4): The Live View and Viewfinder AF Systems

 

Reason 3: Low noise even at high ISO speeds makes it easier to make the most of the shadows

There are numerous scenes where you can benefit from the high ISO speed of your camera for landscape photography, including subjects with strong shadows such as waterfalls, and scenes with low light such as a dark forest in the evening or under cloudy skies. The maximum normal ISO speed of the EOS 5D Mark IV is ISO 32000, and not only is green and red digital noise in shadow areas suppressed, the camera has also advanced in its ability to reproduce colour and detail.

As it is now possible to do more practical photography with high ISO speeds, you can enjoy shooting scenes with an abundance of shadow, allowing you to feel the sense of space, depth and expanse of the scenery, even in dark scenes that were previously difficult to capture.

EOS 5D Mark IV/ EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM/ FL: 200mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5, 1/50 sec., EV-1.0)/ ISO 3200/ WB: Daylight
This photo shows the deep shadow of the trees reflected on the surface of a blue pond. It turned out well even at the now mid-range ISO speed of ISO 3200 on the EOS 5D Mark IV, which I had hesitated to use previously,. You can feel the rich colour and space in the midst of the shadows.

 

Read about how the large improvements to high ISO speed performance on the EOS 5D Mark IV were possible in this article:
EOS 5D Mark IV Interview with Developers (Part 2): DIGIC 6+ and the 30.4MP Resolution

 

Reason 4: The Remote Control Terminal has been moved to the front of the camera, making it a cinch to shoot in the vertical position at a slow shutter speed

On earlier models up to the EOS 5D Mark III, the Remote Control Terminal was located on the side of the camera together with the other terminals, so it was easy for the cable to fall off when shooting in the vertical position, and I had to be careful not to let droplets of water get in the camera on rainy days.

Because the Remote Control Terminal has been moved to the front on the EOS 5D Mark IV, the remote control stays firmly attached to the camera even when shooting in the vertical position, allowing me to relax and focus on the shoot.

EOS 5D Mark IV/ EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 16mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/16, 30 sec., EV±0)/ ISO 100/ WB: Daylight
I used a shutter release cable with a slow shutter to depict the smooth surface of the sea in contrast to the texture of the rock faces. The Remote Control Terminal is protected with a rubber cover so you can shoot by the waterside without worry.

 

The cable does not fall off when shooting in the vertical position
I mounted the release onto the Remote Control Terminal on the front of the camera, and took shots in the vertical position. When releasing the slow shutter, I had to pay attention to factors such as the wind as well as any vibrations, so it was great not having to worry about the cable falling off.

 

Reason 5: You can shoot remotely using your smartphone, allowing you to capture a bird’s eye view of the water’s surface

Remote shooting is handy for scenes where it is hard to shoot by looking through the Viewfinder, such as when above a body of water. By connecting your camera and smartphone via Wi-Fi and using the free application, Camera Connect, you can use your smartphone as a remote Viewfinder.

Whenever you mount a camera onto a monopod and hold it up in the air, it is as if you are capturing a whole other world even if the camera might only be 1m in front of you. However, the battery will drain a little more quickly when using remote shooting, so I recommend carrying a spare battery if you plan to use the function frequently.

EOS 5D Mark IV/ EF24-70mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 62mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/8, 1/40 sec., EV-0.7)/ ISO 1600/ WB: Daylight
This photo of the water’s surface was taken in a forest. I connected the camera and smartphone via Wi-Fi before mounting the camera onto a tripod and extending it above the water to fill the frame with the surface of the water and the reflected colours. In this way, I was able to shoot from a height that would not be possible when shooting by hand.

 

Shoot freely from any position
At places where trespassing is prohibited such as tourist attractions and scenic spots, you can easily enjoy photography from a fresh angle up high by mounting your camera onto a tripod or monopod and extending it. You just might find that it is entirely possible to shoot from a prohibited area using the camera’s remote functions, without having to enter it.

 

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