yo, congrats on the upgrade!! ngl I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with mine... the 4K is awesome but the storage requirements are actually insane. I learned the hard way that cutting corners here ends in lost footage or the camera just stopping mid-take, which was super disappointing. Here's what I'd recommend to save some cash but still stay safe: 1. Skip the UHS-I SD cards for video. Honestly, I tried using one and the camera just choked. For 4K, you REALY need a high-speed CF card. I suggest the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB CompactFlash Memory Card 160MB/s which is usually around $80. It's pricey but way more reliable than SD for those huge MJPEG files. Don't risk it with cheaper brands tbh.
2. Don't bother with the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip. I bought it thinking it'd help with ergonomics for weddings, but it just made my arm cramp up after 4 hours... totally not as good as expected for the weight. Plus, it's like $300! Save ur money and just get a few Wasabi Power Battery 2-Pack and Dual USB Charger for Canon LP-E6 LP-E6N for about $30. They've been pretty solid for me, tho some people say they don't last quite as long as the originals.
3. Grab a Vello Screen Protector Ultra for Canon 5D Mark IV. It's like $15 and basically essential cuz that back screen scratches way easier than you'd think. I already have a tiny scratch on mine and I'm still annoyed about it lol. Just be careful with those 4K file sizes... they'll fill up ur hard drive before you even realize it!! gl! 👍

Sooo just saw this and wanted to chime in! For 4K on the 5D4, honestly dont even try fast SD cards because the write speeds just arent there for those massive Motion JPEG files; I've been super satisfied using the ProGrade Digital 128GB CompactFlash Card for total reliability. Regarding power, the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip works well for ergonomics, but if youre being budget-conscious, just stick to a few genuine Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery units since theyre safer for event work anyway. My top 3 must-haves are definitely a fast CF card, official batteries, and a sturdy strap like the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap Black. I've had no complaints with this specific setup for portraits and it keeps everything secure. The CF card is the biggest priority for that 4K workflow tho! Good luck!!

Saw this earlier but responding now... Honestly, I learned the hard way that 4K on the 5D4 is a total storage hog! I remember my first wedding shoot where the buffer just died on me lol. To save cash, skip the official grip and get the Neewer BG-E20 Replacement Battery Grip for like $50—it feels great for portraits! Also, grab the Lexar Professional 1066x 128GB CompactFlash Card for about $85. It's way cheaper than other brands but handles that heavy 500Mbps video bitrate perfectly tho!! Gl!

Commenting to find later

@Reply #6 - good point! Honestly, it's so frustrating that Canon handicapped such a beastly camera with that slow UHS-I SD slot. It really limits your options for 4K. Just found this thread and everyone is right about the storage bottleneck. For long-term use, you're basically forced into the dying CF format because the internal bus for SD is just too sluggish. It's a bummer having to spend so much on old tech to make a modern camera work right, but here are some solid alternatives:

• Delkin Devices 128GB Cinema CompactFlash Card: These are built like tanks and handle the heat from long 4K recordings better than most, though they're unfortunately getting harder to find in stock.
• Hahnel HLX-E6N Extreme Battery: If you decide against the grip weight, these are great. They're shock-proof and way more reliable in cold weather for outdoor portraits, but they don't always communicate perfectly with the camera's battery info menu.
• Hoodman Steel 128GB CompactFlash Memory Card: Incredibly rugged with very consistent write speeds for that heavy MJPEG video. The only downside is the casing is a tiny bit thicker than standard cards. Its a bit of a pain to kit out properly, but once you have the right cards, that sensor still produces beautiful work. Lemme know if you need more info on the write speeds!

Did this last week, worked perfectly

Ok so I totally agree with what everyone is saying about the storage situation. I've been doing a ton of research because the prices for some of those 'pro' CF cards are honestly kinda scary when you're just starting out? Like, I'm not 100% sure if you need to go for the most expensive brand immediately just to get the job done. From what I’ve seen looking at the market for price-to-performance ratios, here are 3 things I’d look at: * Transcend 128GB CompactFlash Memory Card 800x - This seems to be a solid middle-ground choice. It's way more affordable than the high-end cards but still seems to handle the 5D4's bitrate without the camera choking.
* Anker USB 3.0 Card Reader - I noticed people often forget about the transfer side! Since the 4K files are massive, a dedicated reader is basically a necessity so you aren't waiting hours for files to move over a basic cable.
* SmallRig L-Bracket for Canon 5D Mark IV 2117 - Instead of a heavy battery grip, maybe consider an L-bracket for your portraits? It's way lighter and makes switching from vertical to horizontal on a tripod so much faster. I basically think you can save some money by looking at these types of brands instead of just the big names. But then again, I'm still figuring some of this out too... do you guys think going for 'budget' storage brands is actually risky for event work or is it mostly just marketing?

Ok so catching up on this thread, it sounds like everyone is on the right track regarding the storage bottlenecks. The 5D4 is a legendary workhorse, but its reliance on that older CF architecture for the high-bitrate video really dictates ur spending. Tbh, the consensus here is spot on: fast CF cards are non-negotiable if you are shooting 4K because the SD slot just cant keep up with the data throughput of those massive files. From a long-term ownership perspective, I would add that you should focus on ur workflow outside the camera too. After a few years of heavy use, I have realized that the peripherals are just as important as the cards themselves:

• Get a high-quality external card reader from a brand like Sony or Delkin.
• Invest in a solid L-bracket from any of the major manufacturers instead of a grip if you want to keep the weight down for portraits.
• Look into some decent protection filters from Tiffen or Hoya to save the front element during hectic event work. Honestly, just get any high-speed media from Kingston or Delkin and you will be fine. You dont always need the most expensive brand on the shelf, but you definitely need that write speed consistency for the 5D4 to perform like it should haha. It is a tank of a camera, so as long as you dont starve it of power or speed, it will last you forever.