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

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV 16.9 e⁻ (ISO 100), Canon EOS 1D X Mark II 15.1 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 Mark II

The Canon EOS 1D X Mark II was measured at 31 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 409600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 2.22 DN, or 15.1 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 51200 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 108,359 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 680.

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

ISO	Canon EOS 1D Mark IV	Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
50	5.063	–
100	5.028	2.219
125	6.233	2.567
160	4.287	2.071
200	5.205	2.362
250	6.498	2.828
320	4.959	2.412
400	6.021	2.848
500	7.568	3.434
640	6.233	3.138
800	7.516	3.864
1000	9.580	4.659
1250	9.063	4.790
1600	11.392	5.816
2000	14.420	7.311
2500	15.348	7.621
3200	19.427	9.514
4000	23.752	11.632
5000	25.107	13.086
6400	32.000	16.111
8000	39.397	20.252
10000	47.835	25.457
12800	56.886	32.000
16000	–	40.224
20000	–	50.914
25600	110.661	63.119
32000	–	79.341
40000	–	100.427
51200	218.275	123.640
102400	333.144	216.767
204800	–	349.706
409600	–	617.374

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