Canon EOS 1D Mark IV vs Canon EOS 1D X: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV 16.9 e⁻ (ISO 100), Canon EOS 1D X 30.7 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV

The Canon EOS 1D Mark IV was measured at 26 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 102400. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 5.03 DN, or 16.9 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 5000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 12800 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 48,272 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 340.

Canon EOS 1D X

The Canon EOS 1D X was measured at 31 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 204800. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 5.31 DN, or 30.7 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 10000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 51200 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 82,802 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 580.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV vs Canon EOS 1D X read noise table

ISO	Canon EOS 1D Mark IV	Canon EOS 1D X
50	5.063	5.242
100	5.028	5.315
125	6.233	5.352
160	4.287	5.389
200	5.205	5.028
250	6.498	4.959
320	4.959	5.028
400	6.021	5.134
500	7.568	5.315
640	6.233	5.540
800	7.516	5.464
1000	9.580	5.696
1250	9.063	6.063
1600	11.392	6.453
2000	14.420	6.916
2500	15.348	7.890
3200	19.427	8.815
4000	23.752	11.632
5000	25.107	12.996
6400	32.000	15.242
8000	39.397	19.562
10000	47.835	22.471
12800	56.886	26.723
16000	–	34.535
20000	–	43.111
25600	110.661	53.817
32000	–	66.718
40000	–	83.865
51200	218.275	103.968
102400	333.144	198.088
204800	–	362.039

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