What are the must-have accessories for a Canon 5D Mark IV?

Question

I finally pulled the trigger and upgraded to a Canon 5D Mark IV! I found a great deal on a body with a low shutter count, and I am honestly so stoked to start using it for my weekend landscape and portrait sessions. Moving up from my old Rebel feels like a huge leap in quality, but now that I have the camera in my hands, I am realizing that my old bag of tricks might not cut it anymore for a professional-grade DSLR like this.

I want to make sure I am setting myself up for success without wasting money on gear that is just going to sit in my bag. Since the 5D Mark IV has dual card slots, I am a bit confused about the best combination of CF and SD cards to ensure I am getting the best write speeds, especially since I want to try out some 4K video. Are there specific brands or speed ratings that you guys swear by for this specific body? I do not want to hit a buffer wall right in the middle of a shoot.

Also, I have noticed this thing is a bit of a battery hog compared to what I am used to. Should I stick strictly to the official Canon LP-E6N batteries, or are there third-party brands that are actually reliable? I am also thinking about getting a battery grip for those longer portrait shoots to help with the ergonomics, but I am worried about the extra weight and whether it makes the setup too bulky for travel.

Lastly, the stock neck strap is already driving me crazy. It is pretty uncomfortable for a body this heavy, especially once I throw a 24-70mm f/2.8 on there. I would love to hear what kind of sling straps or harnesses you all use to keep the weight off your neck. I have a budget of about $400 to $500 left to round out my kit, so I am trying to prioritize the essentials first.

What are the absolute must-have accessories that every 5D Mark IV owner should have in their bag to get the most out of this camera?

Cameron · Accepted Answer

Official Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery vs cheap clones... stick to Canon.BlackRapid Classic Retro RS-4 Camera StrapIts way more comfy than that stock strap!

rooseveltislander · Answer

yo, congrats on the 5D4!! it's such a tank. Just catching up on this thread and I'm stoked for you. Before I give advice tho, I'm curious about one thing: are you planning on shooting long 4K clips or just short bursts? I ask cuz that 4K MJPEG codec is a literal monster for storage and it'll eat your cards alive. Since the SD slot is capped at UHS-I speeds, you really gotta lean on the CF slot for speed if you want to avoid the buffer. I'd suggest looking at:

Lexar Professional 1066x 128GB CompactFlash Card

Watson LP-E6NH Li-Ion Battery Pack

BlackRapid Sport Breathe Camera Strap I mean, the battery grip is cool for portraits but it's heavy for travel... maybe just grab extra batteries for now? I've used Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual USB Charger for Canon LP-E6N, but be careful cuz the camera sometimes acts weird with third-party juice levels. Definitely prioritize a fast CF card first tho! gl

ElmerWex · Answer

Unfortunately, the internal architecture of the 5D IV is a bit of a letdown when it comes to data throughput. That UHS-I SD slot is a massive bottleneck that usually causes the buffer to choke during high-bitrate recording. I even tried a DIY hack with a high-speed reader and an adapter once, but it was just a buggy mess.

You really need something like the Delkin Devices 128GB Cinema CompactFlash Memory Card because it handles the MJPEG write speeds without dropping frames. The SD slot is basically only good for JPEGs or as a slow backup.

Since you hate the strap, maybe look into Op/Tech USA Pro Loop Strap. It uses neoprene which is way better for shock absorption than the stiff stock one. I actually spent last weekend trying to sew my own custom padding onto an old leather strap using a heavy-duty needle and some upholstery thread. I ended up stabbing my thumb so many times I had to stop and find some bandaids. Then I realized I had accidentally sewn the strap to my jeans. It was a whole ordeal and I basically wasted four hours for nothing. My dog just sat there watching me struggle with this look of pure judgment on his face. But yeah, the 5D IV is a solid machine once you get the storage sorted.