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

Question

I finally treated myself and upgraded to a Canon 5D Mark IV, and I am absolutely loving the image quality so far! However, coming from a much smaller setup, I am realizing that I need a few things to really round out my kit. I mainly shoot portraits and local events, so I need gear that is reliable and can handle a full day of shooting without any hiccups.

I have been looking into memory cards specifically because of the dual slots. Which CF and SD card combinations do you recommend to ensure I am not bottlenecking the write speeds during high-speed bursts? Also, this body feels quite substantial in the hand, so I am debating between getting a high-quality hand strap or a more ergonomic shoulder strap like a Peak Design or BlackRapid. I am also curious if the official Canon battery grip is a game-changer for vertical shooting and ergonomics, or if it just adds too much unnecessary bulk for most of you.

I want to make sure I am investing in accessories that actually improve the shooting experience rather than just filling up my bag with extra weight. If you have been using this camera for a while, what are the top three must-have items you would suggest to a new owner? Any specific brands or models you swear by for this specific body?

CrystalHarbor · Accepted Answer

Ok so I actually just picked up the 5D Mark IV myself and I totally get what ur saying about the weight... it is lowkey a tank compared to mirrorless stuff. I've been experimenting with a few things to make it easier to handle during long event shoots and here is what I found so far. For memory cards, u gotta be careful because the SD slot in this camera is actually slower than the CF slot. It is only UHS-I compatible.

Option A: High-speed CF like the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB CompactFlash Memory Card. This is basically the fastest way to clear your buffer for bursts.

Option B: Using a fast SD like the SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-I Card.

Best choice: Honestly, I would suggest using the CF card for your main shots and the SD just for backup. If u write to both at once, the camera slows down to match the SD speed anyway, but it is worth it for the peace of mind. About the strap situation, I think the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap is a total game changer. I tried a hand strap but with a heavy lens, my wrist started hurting after like 20 minutes lol. The Slide lets u distribute the weight across ur shoulder way better. As for the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip, it definitely helps with vertical portraits, but man it makes the kit feel huge. If ur doing a full day of events, maybe just stick to carrying extra Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Batteries in ur pocket instead to save ur back from the extra bulk. Anyway gl with the new gear!! It is seriously a beast once u get it dialed in. Peace.

batteryparker · Answer

sooo basically before you buy anything you gotta understand the buffer situation... the 5d4 has a bit of a quirk where the sd slot is way slower than the cf slot. if you put a super fast sd card in there it wont actually make the camera faster cuz the slot itself is the limit!! i mean honestly for reliable event work i have always used the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB CompactFlash Memory Card 160MB/s as my primary. since memory cards were brought up already i would suggest sticking specifically to udma 7 cf cards for your main buffer to avoid lag during bursts. as for the weight... yeah its a tank lol. i know battery grips are a common suggestion but i would look at the Vello BG-C14 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV instead of the canon one. its like a fraction of the price and basically feels the same for vertical shots... just be careful cuz it does add massive bulk to your bag. plus if you are doing long days i highkey recommend the BlackRapid Classic Retro Breathe Camera Strap over a hand strap... your neck will thank you later!! anyway hope that helps... gl with the new gear!!

nycforeverhome · Answer

Story time: I went through this last year and ngl the dual slot setup was confusing. I basically found that sticking with Lexar for my storage worked best for high-speed bursts without any lag.

I would suggest Lexar for reliability

Maybe try any padded leather hand strap

So be careful with weight and try a cheaper third-party grip first Doing this really helped me figure out what worked for me during long events. gl!