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

Question

Hey everyone! I finally pulled the trigger and upgraded to a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. I’m moving up from an older Rebel series, and the jump to this full-frame beast is both exciting and a little overwhelming. I’m planning to use it primarily for wedding photography and some landscape work on the weekends, so I want to make sure I’m fully prepared before my first major outing.

Since this model has dual card slots, I’m a bit confused about the best memory card strategy. Do you guys find it better to use a high-speed CF card for the primary slot and a standard SD for backup, or does that slow down the buffer? Also, I’ve heard this body can be quite thirsty when it comes to power, especially if I’m using Live View for focusing. Are the official Canon LP-E6N batteries a must, or have you had good luck with specific third-party brands to save some cash?

I’m also debating whether a battery grip is worth the extra weight for the improved ergonomics during vertical shooting. I have a budget of around $500 left for extras. For those of you who have been using this camera for years, what are the absolute essential accessories that you think every 5D Mark IV owner needs to have in their bag?

Mason · Accepted Answer

Oh man, congrats on the upgrade! The 5D IV is a total workhorse, but ngl, its got some quirks that used to drive me crazy. So basically, the big thing you gotta know is that the SD slot is way slower than the CF slot. If you use 'Record to Multiple' for weddings, your buffer is gonna crawl because the camera literally waits for that slower SD card to finish. I tried using cheap cards before and it was a nightmare during a fast-paced ceremony... not as good as I expected at all. I suggest the SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card for your main and a SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-I Card for backup. Also, about the power... unfortunately, I've had issues with cheap clones. Theyll say they're full then die in 10 mins. Honestly, just get two Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery packs. They're pricey but wont fail you mid-shoot. I tried some third-party ones, but they just werent as reliable. If you have $500, maybe skip the Canon BG-E20 Battery Grip for now. Its heavy and youll feel it after 8 hours on ur feet. gl!

MysticMango · Answer

+1 to what was said earlier! That SD bottleneck is highkey annoying. Basically, the camera writes at the speed of the slowest card... so it drags. Since youre shooting weddings, honestly skip the grip and get a Peak Design Slide Camera Strap Black. Carrying that beast all day hurts!! Also grab a Giottos Rocket Air Blaster Large for dust. TL;DR: Focus on comfort and cleaning over extra bulk! gl!

BreezyBison · Answer

Quick question first, what lenses are u planning to use with this? If ur mostly using heavy L-series zooms for weddings, it totally changes how u should think about ergonomics. Also, what is ur current backup workflow like? Tbh, I'm pretty cautious about my gear, so I always worry about the fixed screen getting scratched up since it doesn't fold in like the newer mirrorless ones. I’ve done some research and Expert Shield Glass Screen Protector is usually the safest bet over the cheap plastic films that just bubble up after a week, maybe? Also, basically everyone mentions cards, but have u considered a high-end reader? I shifted away from generic ones to the ProGrade Digital Dual-Slot SD & CF Workflow Reader. From what I can tell, ProGrade has way tighter quality control than the current Lexar stuff since that company changed hands a few years back. I’ve heard horror stories of cheap readers corrupting files during the ingest process... not 100% sure but I'd rather spend a bit more to ensure the data actually makes it to the PC safely. Don't want to lose a whole wedding cause of a bad bridge!