yo, congrats on the 5D IV! Honestly, it's such a beast of a camera, but man, I've had some annoying experiences with gear that didn't quite live up to the hype. I remember being so stoked to get mine, but then I cheaped out on cards and it literally ruined a shoot for me because of buffering issues. Not fun, i mean, seeing that "busy" light blinking while you're missing shots is the worst feeling ever. For your situation, here's what I recommend based on my trial and error: 1. **Fast Cards (The most important thing!!):** Don't make my mistake. The 5DIV has that weird mix of CF and SD. To avoid that annoying lag, I basically only trust the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB CompactFlash Memory Card for my primary slot. It keeps up way better than others I've tried. For the SD slot, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I Card is solid, but remember the SD slot in this camera is limited to UHS-I speeds, so it'll always be the bottleneck if you're writing to both simultaneously. Kinda sucks, right? 2. **Batteries & Grips:** So, I actually bought the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip because I do a lot of portraits. Tbh, I was a bit disappointed with the bulk... it makes the camera feel like a literal brick after 4 hours. It's great for the extra shutter button, but your wrists will feel it. Also, seriously, avoid cheap third-party batteries. I tried Wasabi Power Battery for Canon LP-E6N and they started swelling after a year. Stick to the Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery Pack. It's more expensive but worth the peace of mind. 3. **Screen Protection:** I lowkey hate scratches, and I had issues with cheap film protectors peeling off. I switched to the Vello Screen Protector for Canon 5D Mark IV which is tempered glass. It’s way better and you don't even notice it's there. My top 3 non-negotiables? High-speed CF cards, genuine batteries, and a really good strap like the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap. Anyway, hopefully that helps you avoid some of the gear headaches I had! what lenses are you planning to pair with it tho? Cheers!

In my experience, you really wanna prioritize that CF slot for burst speed cuz the SD slot in the 5DIV is actually limited to UHS-I. If you're doing heavy action, the Lexar Professional 1066x 128GB CompactFlash is a solid workhorse, but the Delkin Devices 128GB Black CF Card is basically bulletproof and clears the buffer way faster in my tests. For batteries, I've tried cheap ones but honestly, the newer Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery is the best bet since it has more capacity than the old N version. My top 3 non-negotiables:
1. A high-speed CF card (Delkin is my pick).
2. The Expert Shield Glass Screen Protector for Canon 5D Mark IV—super clear.
3. An L-bracket! Idk, I prefer the Kirk Enterprise Solutions L-Bracket for Canon 5D Mark IV over a grip cuz it's lighter but still helps with portrait orientation. Anyway, gl with the new beast! 👍

> What are your top three 'non-negotiable' accessories for the 5D IV? Curious about one thing: what's ur budget for this? I'm fairly new to the 5D world but already learned that name brands are *super* overpriced. Like, the Powerextra LP-E6N 2-Pack with LCD Dual USB Charger is only about $26, which is a steal compared to official batteries. But are you shooting mostly video or stills? Just wanna be careful cuz some cheap gear might fail under heavy 4K use... lmk!

Seconded!

> Are there any specific LPE6N battery brands or high-quality screen protectors you swear by? I'd love to hear what stays in your camera bag. I have used this body for years and the technical performance of your accessories really matters for consistent results! After testing several options, here is my take on the essentials. For batteries, the Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery is truly superior for its voltage stability. It offers 2130mAh of capacity and communicates perfectly with the camera's internal battery info menu. I have found that the BM Premium LP-E6NH 2250mAh Battery is a fantastic high-capacity alternative. While the BM Premium has a higher rated mAh on paper, the Canon cell actually maintains its peak discharge rate longer during high-speed bursts which is vital for the mirror mechanism. Regarding screen protection, the Expert Shield Glass Screen Protector for Canon 5D Mark IV is amazing. It uses a specialized silicone layer for air-bubble-free installation and the optical clarity is fantastic. In contrast, the ULBTER 5D Mark IV Tempered Glass Screen Protector is a budget-friendly pack of three. The ULBTER is surprisingly durable for the price, but the Expert Shield has a much better oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints during heavy touchscreen use. My top three non-negotiables:

• Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery
• Expert Shield Glass Screen Protector for Canon 5D Mark IV
• Kingston Canvas Go! Plus 128GB SDXC UHS-I

Saved for later, ty!

Looks like the previous replies covered the card slot bottlenecks and the battery trade-offs pretty well. To add some market perspective, I've noticed a lot of seasoned shooters moving toward specific niche brands lately. If you want the most reliable CF card, the ProGrade Digital CF Memory Card (Gold Series) is basically the pro choice right now. It’s a bit pricier, but the quality control is usually better than the mass-market stuff. On the other hand, the Transcend 128GB CompactFlash 800x is a great 'value' pick if you aren't shooting rapid-fire sports all day. For the screen, definitely go with a Larmor GGS Glass Screen Protector. It’s tempered glass and stays on way better than those flimsy plastic films that usually peel off in a month. Also, if you’re debating the grip, the Pixel BG-E20 Battery Grip is a fantastic alternative to the expensive Canon version. It’s got a much better build quality than the bottom-barrel knockoffs and matches the camera's texture pretty well. Basically, for a body this good, it’s worth finding that middle ground between overpriced name brands and the super cheap junk.

Can confirm

Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.