Canon 5D Mark IV Review: a workhorse full-frame DSLR that still holds up… if you buy it right

I picked up this "Canon 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR Camera Body Earplug, 6 cm, Black" mainly because the listing title made no sense and the price looked tempting for a 5D Mark IV. I already shoot Canon and I know this body fairly well, so I had a good idea of what to expect from the camera itself, and what could go wrong when buying it from a random seller. Short version: the camera body as a product is pretty solid, but the way it’s sold here gives off strong grey-import / used-as-new vibes.

From the spec sheet and the GTIN/ASIN, it’s clearly the real Canon EOS 5D Mark IV on paper: 30.4 MP full-frame CMOS, 61 AF points, 7 fps burst, 4K video, Wi‑Fi, etc. That’s all standard for this model. Where it gets weird is the nonsense like "earplug", "6 cm", and some messed-up lens data in a listing that also says "Camera Body Only". That kind of mismatch is usually a red flag when you’re about to drop this much money.

In actual use, the 5D Mark IV body itself is way above “average consumer camera” level. It’s more for people who already own Canon EF lenses or plan to invest in them. It’s not a casual holiday camera you toss in a backpack without thinking. You feel the weight, you feel the price, and it really shows you the limits of your lenses. Old or cheap glass suddenly looks soft or flawed, which a couple of Amazon reviewers also noticed when they upgraded from older gear.

So my angle in this review is simple: I’m judging two things separately. First, the 5D Mark IV as a camera, which I actually like a lot for stills. Second, this particular Amazon-style listing, which I’d treat with caution because of the odd title, the "contact me before buying" legal disclaimer, and user reports about grey imports and used items sold as new. If you separate those two, the camera is a solid tool, but the way it’s being offered here is not fully reassuring.

On value, you really have to separate the 5D Mark IV as a camera from the way it’s being sold here. The body itself is not cheap, and it never really was. You’re paying for a full-frame sensor, solid AF, and a proven platform that a lot of professionals still use. If you already own a bunch of EF lenses and you mainly shoot stills (weddings, portraits, events, landscapes), the 5D Mark IV still makes sense in 2026 as a work tool. It’s not trendy, but it gets the job done without fuss.

Where the value gets shaky is when the price looks a bit too low and the listing is confusing. Grey imports usually shave some money off the official price, but you lose official warranty and sometimes end up with foreign manuals, weird plugs, or used gear. In theory you’re saving a few hundred, in practice you’re taking a risk on after-sales support. One Amazon reviewer bought from a marketplace seller, then discovered it was a grey import with no Canon warranty, and had to send it back and buy again direct from Canon UK for only slightly more. That pretty much sums it up: the "bargain" wasn’t really worth the hassle.

Also, remember you’ll probably need better lenses to really see the benefit of this body. Several users (and I agree) found that older EF lenses suddenly looked weak on this sensor. So if you’re upgrading from a cheaper Canon body and only have basic kit lenses, factor in the cost of at least one good lens (ideally an L-series or a recent enthusiast EF lens). Otherwise you’re paying a lot for a body and then feeding it mediocre glass, which is a waste.

So in my view, the 5D Mark IV is "good value" only under certain conditions: you already have decent EF glass, you care more about stills than advanced video, and you buy from a trustworthy source even if it costs a bit more. Buying this specific messy listing from a random seller just because it’s a bit cheaper feels like false economy. You might save on the sticker price and lose on warranty, condition, and peace of mind.

Physically, the 5D Mark IV is very much in the "pro Canon DSLR" family: chunky, solid, and familiar if you’ve used a 5D Mark III or similar. It’s not small at about 1.24 kg for the body with battery, and once you put a 24–105mm or 70–200mm on it, you really feel the weight. Personally, I like that for serious shoots because it balances well with bigger lenses and feels stable in the hand, but it’s not what I’d call travel-friendly. If you’re thinking of throwing this in a handbag, think again.

The grip is deep and comfortable, with that typical Canon rubber texture that doesn’t feel fancy but does the job. The buttons and dials are where you expect them if you’re used to Canon: top LCD, main dial by the shutter, big rear dial, joystick near the viewfinder. I barely needed the manual to get started because the layout is so close to the 5D Mark III and even mid-range bodies like the 6D series. The optical viewfinder is bright and big enough that I never felt cramped, and the 0.71x magnification is perfectly fine for long days shooting.

One thing that does feel a bit dated now is the screen design. You get a 3.2" LCD with touch, which is nice, but it’s not a fully articulating or flip screen like you see on newer mirrorless bodies. The listing even calls it "articulating", but in reality the 5D Mark IV screen is fixed. That’s just wrong info. For low angles or vlogging-style stuff, you end up bending or lying on the ground instead of just tilting the screen. If you mainly shoot stills at eye level, it’s not a big deal, but for video it’s pretty limiting.

Overall, the design is practical and proven, not exciting. It feels like a tool, not a gadget. If you’re coming from a smaller DSLR like a 600D/700D, it will feel heavy but also more serious in the hand. If you’re used to mirrorless, it’ll feel like a tank. Personally, I’m fine with the size because the ergonomics are good and the camera becomes an extension of your hand after a day or two, but if you’re sensitive to weight or want something discreet, this body is not it.

Battery-wise, this is classic DSLR territory, and that’s a good thing. The 5D Mark IV uses the standard Canon LP‑E6 series batteries, so if you’ve had a 5D Mark III, 6D, 7D, etc., you’re probably already sitting on a small pile of them. In actual use, shooting stills through the optical viewfinder, I can get through a full day of mixed work (events, some portraits, some chimping on the back screen) on one battery without stressing too much. If I know I’ll be hammering the shutter or doing long bursts, I throw a second battery in the bag and forget about it.

The listing says nothing useful about battery performance, just that "batteries are included", which usually means you get one official Canon battery in the box when it’s a genuine new unit. With some grey imports or used bodies sold as new, you sometimes see third-party batteries or older, more worn packs included instead. That’s something to check as soon as you open the box: look at the label, and check the battery info in the camera menu to see the recharge performance level.

Where the battery drains faster is when you lean on Live View and video. Constantly using the rear LCD and shooting 4K clips eats through power at a much faster rate, so for any video-heavy day I’d say bring at least two good-condition batteries, three if you’re cautious. There’s no crazy overheating behaviour like some mirrorless bodies, but power consumption is just higher when the sensor and screen are running all the time.

Overall, I’d call the battery situation "boringly fine". It doesn’t shine, it doesn’t cause headaches, and it benefits from the huge ecosystem of LP‑E6 compatible batteries and chargers. As long as the seller actually ships a proper OEM battery and not some random no-name one, you’re set. Just don’t expect mirrorless-style USB‑C charging or anything modern like that; this is old-school brick + charger life.

The 5D line has a reputation for being workhorse cameras, and the Mark IV follows that pattern. The body feels solid, with a magnesium alloy chassis and weather sealing that’s good enough for light rain, dust and typical outdoor abuse, as long as you’re not careless. I’ve used 5D bodies in drizzle, on the beach, in dusty fields – they pick up marks and scratches, but the camera just keeps going. The buttons and dials have a firm, reassuring feel, not loose or cheap. It’s the kind of camera you can use for years without babying it.

Durability, though, depends heavily on whether you’re truly getting a new unit. One Amazon review mentions receiving a camera with the Canon box seal broken, tapes removed, protective films missing, and no manual. That screams "used or open-box" rather than fresh-from-factory. With a camera at this price, that matters. A brand-new 5D Mark IV should come with intact hologram seals, all the plastic films on the screens, and a complete set of accessories in sealed bags. Anything less and you’re basically buying a used or refurbished body at a new price.

Another issue is the grey import warranty problem. Canon’s official 1-year warranty usually depends on having a VAT invoice from an authorised reseller in your region. One reviewer checked with Canon UK and was told their camera was a grey import tied to VAT avoidance schemes, which meant Canon refused warranty service. That doesn’t mean the camera will fail, but if something does break – shutter, mainboard, sensor issues – you’ll be stuck dealing with the marketplace seller’s "warranty", which often means shipping it abroad and hoping it comes back fixed.

So physically, the 5D Mark IV is built to last and can handle heavy use if it really is in new or low-mileage condition. The weak point isn’t the hardware, it’s the supply chain. If you care about long-term reliability, I’d rather pay a bit more from a known authorised shop and be sure about the warranty and the actual condition. Buying this listing from a random third-party seller feels like rolling the dice: you might get a perfectly fine body, or you might get one that’s already seen a few weddings before it lands on your desk.

In terms of pure performance, the 5D Mark IV body is still very capable. The 30.4 MP full-frame sensor delivers detailed files with a lot of room for cropping, which is exactly what one of the Amazon reviewers talked about: you can crop pretty aggressively and still end up with a sharp, usable image. Coming from older Canon bodies or APS‑C, you really notice the jump in dynamic range and how much you can push shadows before the image falls apart. It’s not on the level of the latest mirrorless sensors, but for most real-world shooting it’s more than enough.

The autofocus system, with 61 AF points and phase detection, is fast and reliable for stills. In good light it just locks on and you don’t think about it. One user mentioned focusing on a single star in the night sky and the camera just grabbed it, and I’ve seen similar behaviour when shooting small subjects or low-contrast scenes: the camera often finds focus where older bodies would hunt. In Live View, the touch-to-focus works well and is actually handy for static subjects and tripod work.

Where you see the limits is video. Yes, it does 4K UHD 2160p, but with a heavy crop, big file sizes, and no fancy modern video features. The 30-minute recording limit is also there. The autofocus in video is okay, but it’s not on the level of the latest Canon mirrorless with eye AF and all that. If you’re mainly a videographer, this body feels dated, and the digital-only stabilisation is not a full replacement for in-body stabilisation. You’ll want stabilised lenses or a gimbal if you care about smooth footage.

The other thing I noticed, and this matches what one reviewer said, is that the sensor is so sharp that it exposes weak lenses instantly. Old EF glass that looked fine on a 20 MP body suddenly looks soft or has nasty chromatic aberration. When I used newer lenses (like the 24–105mm f/4 L), the camera finally showed what it can do: crisp details, clean files, and good autofocus tracking in continuous mode. So the performance of the body is strong, but you really need decent lenses to get your money’s worth out of it.

On paper, this product is the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV body only, no lens in the box. The specs match the real deal: 30.4 MP full-frame CMOS sensor, 61 autofocus points, 7 fps continuous shooting, 4K UHD video, Wi‑Fi and NFC, and Canon EF mount. That’s the same camera that a lot of wedding, portrait and event photographers have been using for years. The Amazon data also shows Canon as the manufacturer, the correct model number (5DIVB / 1483C002), and typical stuff like 1-year warranty mentioned.

But the listing itself is a bit of a mess. The title talks about "Earplug, 6 cm" which has nothing to do with a DSLR body. The description is super vague and even says "Please contact me before buying this product", which you almost never see on a legit, straightforward Canon body listing. Some specs in the details are obviously wrong or copy-pasted from some generic lens: things like "minimum focal length 0.1 mm" or "maximum aperture 0.1 f" and "lens type 18–55mm" while the box contents say "Camera Body Only". That’s sloppy and doesn’t inspire trust.

On top of that, user reviews mention classic grey import scenarios: no VAT invoice, Canon UK refusing warranty, and cameras being traced as non-UK stock. One buyer even got what looked like a used camera sold as new: broken seals, missing manual, protective films already removed. That matches what I’ve seen before with some marketplace sellers: the camera itself is a real 5D Mark IV, but the source is dodgy and support is basically “good luck”.

So in practice, if you buy this exact listing, expect: a 5D Mark IV body that probably is genuine Canon hardware, but with a real chance of non-official import or second-hand gear dressed up as new. If you’re unlucky, you’ll end up using Amazon’s return policy to sort it out, which is annoying for such an expensive item. If you’re set on this body, I’d honestly cross-check the seller, look for mention of Canon-authorised status, and be ready to walk away if anything feels off.