Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Canon EOS 5D Mark IV: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Canon EOS 5D Mark II 27.1 e⁻ (ISO 100), Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 11.5 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II was measured at 22 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 6.77 DN, or 27.1 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 1250 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 6400 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 61,399 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 400.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV was measured at 29 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 2.69 DN, or 11.5 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 32000 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 67,871 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 430.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Canon EOS 5D Mark IV read noise table

ISO	Canon EOS 5D Mark II	Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
50	6.821	2.928
100	6.774	2.694
125	8.515	2.848
160	5.426	2.313
200	6.869	2.751
250	8.574	3.160
320	5.938	2.949
400	7.413	3.706
500	9.383	4.170
640	6.821	4.257
800	8.574	5.389
1000	11.004	6.774
1250	9.918	6.964
1600	12.381	8.754
2000	15.562	10.853
2500	19.562	11.959
3200	24.420	14.825
4000	30.910	18.379
5000	38.319	20.252
6400	49.867	25.634
8000	–	31.559
10000	–	38.854
12800	97.006	49.522
16000	–	61.820
20000	–	76.639
25600	194.012	97.006
32000	–	122.786
51200	–	186.108
102400	–	306.555

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