Canon super SLR will set you back $5,000

The EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR camera will set you back a cool $5,000 when it becomes available in late December. But the expensive baby packs quite a bit of punch.

The camera includes a 16 megapixel Canon sensor, dual DIGIC 4 imaging processors and 14-bit analog/digital data conversion at 10 frames per second.

Canon claims the “crowning achievement” is an autofocus system with 45 AF points that include 39 high precision cross type focusing points that can capture moving things – whether they’re athletes or red kites, at up to 10 frames  asecond.

The company will also offer a WFT-E2A wireless file transmitter although pricing and availability for that gizmo hasn’t yet been announced.

The camera includes ISO speed settings ranging from 100 to 12,800 in one third or one half stop increments with expansion settings for bright and very dimly lit places or scenes.

If you’ve got a spare $5,000 lying around, your buddies are going to pretty impressed by this baby.  But it’s a serious amount of money probably only really suitable for the really serious snapper.