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

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Canon EOS 5D Mark III 27.7 e⁻ (ISO 100), Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 11.5 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III was measured at 28 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 6.45 DN, or 27.7 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 8000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 25600 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 61,512 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 430.

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 III vs Canon EOS 5D Mark IV read noise table

ISO	Canon EOS 5D Mark III	Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
50	6.498	2.928
100	6.453	2.694
125	8.056	2.848
160	5.464	2.313
200	6.727	2.751
250	8.456	3.160
320	5.979	2.949
400	7.311	3.706
500	9.318	4.170
640	6.774	4.257
800	8.574	5.389
1000	10.778	6.774
1250	9.318	6.964
1600	11.632	8.754
2000	14.420	10.853
2500	14.320	11.959
3200	18.126	14.825
4000	22.471	18.379
5000	27.096	20.252
6400	34.297	25.634
8000	42.518	31.559
10000	47.505	38.854
12800	59.714	49.522
16000	74.028	61.820
20000	92.411	76.639
25600	114.563	97.006
32000	–	122.786
51200	218.275	186.108
102400	380.038	306.555

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