Just Announced DPRAW File Format Allows Sharpness, Bokeh of Still Photos to Be Adjusted After the Fact

Canon has upgraded its EOS 5D DSLR to shoot 4K (4096×2160) video at 23,98p, 24p or 29.97p in M-JPEG format. The new EOS 5D Mark IV allows Canon's dual-pixel CMOS auto-focus system to be used in 4K mode — the camera's touchscreen can be used to select the auto-focus area — and also adds Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity to the stable of 4D features.

The 5D Mk IV has a full-frame CMOS sensor measuring about 36mm x 24mm. The camera's ISO range is 100–32,000, expandable to 50–102,400. One big caveat for 4K shooters: 4K video is recorded from the center of the imager, effectively cropping the view you'd expect from the full sensor. It translates to a 1.74x "crop factor," which may cause headaches if you're trying to get a wide-angle shot at 4K.

Source: Brent Ramsey; Canon Knowledgebase article

In addition to 4K M-JPEG, the 5D Mk IV supports MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 MP4 and .MOV 1080p recording at up to 59.94 fps and .MOV 720p recording at up to 119.9 fps. The 5D Mk IV uses CF (UDMA 7-compliant with 100MB/sec or faster write speeds) and SD (UHS-I compliant with Speed Class 3 or higher) memory cards.

​Source: Canon

Autofocusing has been improved this time around. The 5D Mark IV features a new 61-point autofocus sensor that improves its focusing in low light and allows autofocus at maximum effective apertures of f/8 when certain telephoto lens and tele extender combinations are used.

One of the new features of the 5D Mark IV, the Dual Pixel Raw (DPRAW)  file format, is available only to still photographers but still represents an interesting development in imaging technology. Canon's dual-pixel autofocus relies on a sensor design that features two separate photodiodes for each RGB pixel, each capturing images with a slightly different parallax. Dual-pixel autofocus works by analyzing and comparing the signal differences for each photodiode pair. To date, each pair has simply been combined to generate a single pixel for image output.

Source: Official Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Introduction [YouTube video]

The DPRAW format, however, allows photographers to record extra image data derived from the parallax between the photodiode pairs, which can be accessed in post to make tweaks to still images. Canon is demonstrating it being used to dial in extra sharpness in an image, to reduce ghosting effects, and even to manipulate the placement of bokeh. For more background on dual-pixel raw, see Canon's Knowledge Base article on the subject from Rudy Winston or watch Canon's intro video on YouTube for a quick demo.

As tantalizing as this technology is, there is no indication yet of when or if the system may eventually be applied to video footage in addition to still imagery.

Canon said customers will be able to try out the camera at its customer support centers in Melville, NY, on Monday, August 29; in Costa Mesa, CA, on Tuesday, August 30, and in Itasca, IL, on Friday, September 2. Follow the links to sign up.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR is scheduled to ship early in September with an estimated retail price of $3,499 for the body only, $4,399 for a kit with Canon's EF 24–70mm f/4L lens (also in early September), or $4,599 for a kit with Canon's new EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM lens.