Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review: Dual Pixel Raw

Dual Pixel Raw, which is a new innovation that is unique to the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, utilises both photodiodes on the camera’s 30.4-million-pixel sensor. During Dual Pixel raw shooting, a single raw file saves two images into the file. One image consists of image data from both photodiodes, while the other image is designed to record image data from just one set of photodiodes. This means the Dual Pixel Raw files contains a normal image as well as parallax information, which can be measured and subject distance information extrapolated.

Dual Pixel Raw is located from the main menu and is enabled only when the image quality is set to raw

When a Dual Pixel Raw file is processed through Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, photographers are given the option to perform one of three types of unique image adjustments – Image micro adjustments, bokeh shift and ghosting reduction.

The Dual Pixel RAW Optimizer is located beneath the Tools drop down menu within Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software

Image micro adjustment allows users to fine-tune the position of maximum sharpness – just imagine you’ve shot a super shallow-depth-of-field portrait where the eyes aren’t quite as pin-sharp as you’d hoped before having the option to correct it during post-processing. This is exactly what Dual Pixel raw has the power to do. The other two adjustments you can make in DPP include bokeh shift, which allows out-of-focus highlights to be shifted horizontally so they coincide better with in-focus elements, and ghosting reduction, which can be used to reduce the appearance of artefacts like flare. But does it work? You can find out how well it works in practice in the performance section of this review.