Canon EOS-1D X 18.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera

by Canon

• Full-frame 18.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor.
• All-new Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors deliver high quality image capture at up to 12 fps (14 fps in Super High Speed Mode).
• Powerful ISO range of 100 - 51200 (up to 204800 in H2 mode).
• An all-new, 61-Point High-Density Reticular AF that uses a dedicated DIGIC 4 Image Processor.
• Durable construction, including shutter durability tested to 400,000 cycles.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 6.2 x 6.4 inches ; 7.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B005Y3T1AI
• Item model number: EOS-1D X
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #80 in Camera & Photo > Digital SLRs
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 18, 2011

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Ultimate EOS

Canon has brought the best of the EOS-1D Series of digital cameras into one phenomenal model: the new flagship of the EOS line, the EOS-1D X*. Its full-frame 18.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor and all-new Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors deliver high quality image capture at up to 12 fps (14 fps in Super High Speed Mode) and a powerful ISO range of 100 - 51200 (up to 204800 in H2 mode) provides sharp, low-noise images even in the dimmest low-light conditions. An all-new, 61-Point High-Density Reticular AF and 100,000-pixel RGB Metering Sensor that uses a dedicated DIGIC 4 Image Processor, makes the EOS-1D X reach new levels of focus speed and accuracy delivering advanced tracking even for the most challenging shooting situations. Taken all together, the EOS-1D X’s improved HD video capture, numerous connectivity options, combination of processing power and durable construction, including shutter durability tested to 400,000 cycles, make it the ultimate EOS.

Brilliant Sensor, Supercharged Processors

18.1 Megapixel full-frame SMOS sensor

The EOS-1D X features a newly developed Canon full-frame 18.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor that’s designed from the ground up to create high resolution, perfectly detailed images with unprecedented speed and clarity. A full 24 x 36mm, the sensor captures 5184 x 3456 large individual 6.95 µm pixels and has a much-improved S/N ratio resulting in better images from the start. A new photodiode structure with an increased photoelectric conversion rate increases the sensor’s sensitivity by approximately 2 stops over previous models, meaning higher ISOs with the lowest noise of any EOS digital camera. And a 2-line 16-channel simultaneous signal readout means speeds of up to 12 fps (RAW + JPEG) and even 14 fps (Super High Speed Mode) are possible!


Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors for enhanced noise reduction and blazing processing speed
For a whole new level of performance, the EOS-1D X uses Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors. Working with four 4-channel A/D converter front-end processing circuits, and delivering speeds of up to 12 fps (RAW + JPEG), and 14 fps (JPEG), and the Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors improve data processing performance up to 30% over previous processors and feature new algorithms that promote greater noise reduction at higher ISOs. In addition to conventional image processing functions the Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors offer real-time compensation for Chromatic Aberration in both still and motion images. With the power of these two processors, speed improvements are noticeable from the instant the camera is turned on and the stunning results speak for themselves

Canon's Most Sophisticated AF, Period

All new 61-Point High Density Reticular AF
The newly designed 61-Point High Density Reticular AF features an Offset Array Sensor (with staggering AF point arrangement) to deliver greater accuracy, no matter the situation. It offers multi-zone wide-area AF for better tracking, has 5 central dual cross-type points (f/2.8 diagonal), 21 central cross-type points (f/5.6 horizontal & vertical) and 20 outer cross-type points (f/4.0 horizontal), and is sensitive in extremely low-light situations (EV-2 for a central point with a f/2.8 lens).


Intelligent Exposure, Fast

EOS iSA (Intelligent Subject Analysis System) Powered by Canon DIGIC 4 Image Processor
The EOS-1D X features a brand new 100,000-pixel RGB Metering Sensor with a dedicated DIGIC 4 Image Processor that delivers substantial improvements in evaluative ambient and flash metering. The sensor has 252 distinct zones, with 35 zones specifically designed for low-light metering. The meter’s DIGIC 4 Image Processor uses a new EOS iSA (Intelligent Subject Analysis System) that incorporates face and color recognition data for more stable performance under rapidly changing lighting situations.


Sopisticated Full 1080 HD Recording at the Touch of a Button

EOS HD Video Recording
Addressing the requests of the pros, the EOS-1D X captures HD video with an unprecedented level of sophistication for a digital SLR. It offers both All-I and IPB compression, supports H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile, and automatically splits files greater than 4GB (FAT specifications) for extended recording up to 29:59 minutes without interruption. It offers the option of timecoding only during recording (Rec Run) or at all times (Free Run)—useful for multi-camera shoots. The EOS-1D X offers easy operation with the new Live View shooting/Movie shooting button. Improved sound recording adjustment capabilities offer 64-step volume control; and a sound recording level meter that is accessible through the Quick Control screen during video shooting. With the Silent Control function, adjustments can be made quietly with a touch pad located on the inner portion of the Quick Control Dial. The built-in wind filter helps suppress unwanted wind noise that can distort or muffle sound.

AII-I	Compresses each frame. Although the file size is larger than IPB, each frame is not affected by the previous and next frames, making it suitable for editing and extracting frames.
IPB	Compresses the movie frame by referencing the previous and next frames. High compression is used, making it suitable for recording long movies.

Live View shooting/ Movie shooting button Quick Control button Touch pad

Multi-Function Button 2 Depth-of-Field Preview Button Vertical-Grip Depth-of-Field Preview Button Vertical-Grip Multi-Funciton Button 2

Extraordinary Ergonomics


Easier, More Enjoyable Photography

Improved handling with addition of new customizable controls
Reconceived based on the experience and feedback of professional users, the EOS-1D X’s new ergonomic design is more comfortable and intuitive than ever. With a refined and intelligent layout of all control buttons and dials, shooting settings can be made with just the right hand, and quick image check and image processing operations with just the left. New, assignable and tactile function buttons located on the front of the camera enable fast access to features the photographer uses frequently. The vertical grip has been redesigned for comfort and familiarity, and combined with a vertical position Multi-Controller, Mfn2 and Depth-of-Field preview buttons provides every option found with horizontal for uninterrupted, intuitive shooting no matter the camera’s orientation.

During shooting, the EOS-1D X’s dedicated Quick Control button enables speedy changes of nearly every shooting parameter with the touch of a button. During playback, pressing the Quick Control button enables the photographer to protect images, rotate, rate, resize, view highlight alert, AF point and much more. Plus, with the EOS-1D X’s new Multi Function Lock, the Main Dial, Quick Control Dial and Multi-Controller can all be locked, individually or together.

3.2" TFT LCD Monitor The EOS-1D X’s 3.2" TFT LCD monitor has 1,040,000 dots, anti-reflective construction and features Canon’s Clear View II technology for bright, sharp display in any number of shooting situations.	Optional Canon Wireless File Transmitter & GPS The EOS-1D X is compatible with the new WFT-E6A Wireless File Transmitter for wireless LAN and Bluetooth transfer with the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, performing up to 2.5x faster than previous models.

What's in the Box

• EOS-1D X Digital SLR Body
• Eyecup Eg
• Battery Pack LP-E4N
• Wide Neck Strap L7
• Cable Protector
• Stereo AV Cable AVC-DC400ST
• USB Interface Cable IFC-200U
• EOS Digital Solution Disc
• Software Instruction Manual

Product Description

Canon EOS 1D X Digital SLR Camera - BODY ONLY 5253B002

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

211 of 240 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars 1DX is Good, not Perfect July 23, 2012

By S. Meyer

This is a summary of my experience with the Canon 1DX for the first three months. My previous camera was the 5DII, used mainly for weddings and portraits. What I mostly look for in a camera is low light performance. Here's my review.

1st Day 7/20/2012: I took several photos of my 13 year old daughter in dark incandescent light at 6400 and 25,600 ISO with an 85/1.2II lens at f/2.0. I ran both photos through LR4 with +10 noise reduction. I always shoot in RAW, so some post processing noise reduction is a must. Here's what I noticed. At 6400 ISO, I could see the downy blond baby hairs on her forehead and there wasn't much noise in the dark areas, just a bit of grain. At 25,600 ISO, the dark areas had grainy noise and those little downy hairs disappeared. But, the image was totally usable. My wife really liked it. I noticed that at these high ISO's any underexposure results in a significant increase in noise. So, overexposing a little minimizes noise at the higher ISO's. The autofocus is blazing fast in good light, and in dim light slows down. It takes about 1 to 3 seconds to focus in low light, and as long as there is an area of contrast, it will focus. Low light AF is about a third stop improvement over my 5DII, which was a pretty solid low light focuser (because I had sent it in to have AF tweaked). I was expecting more, but I'll take it because it's better than the 1DIV. I borrowed a 1DIV for 5 weddings and it hunted badly in low light, about a stop worse than my 5DII. Up to 12,800 ISO, I wouldn't hesitate to use the images from the 1DX. Images up to 25,600 ISO are usable depending on how much noise and detail are desired. There is one deficiency I noticed.... In Manual mode, the exposure indicator does not show up on the top LCD, but only when looking into the viewfinder. It really should. I called Canon and it turns out this is unique to the 1D's. It is displayed for Av and Tv modes, where it is centered until exposure compensation is used. When posing a group I take a quick exposure reading on the top of 5DII without looking through the viewfinder because once I put the camera up to my face, people expect me to start snapping. Well, since weddings are my mainstay, I can usually guess to within 1/2 stop anyway, so I suppose I can live without this feature.

7/26/2012 Update: I wanted to see how long it took for the buffer to fill up with a UDMA card. It got to around 200 or 300 and error code 30 appeared. It didn't go away and Canon CPS said it was a locked shutter. I sent it in for a new unit and I'm waiting for it.

7/30/2012 Update: I received the replacement, took it out of the box and snapped photos for a half an hour. When I put the cap on the 85/1.2II I accidentally pressed the shutter button halfway and got an error code 80. It went away after taking the cap back off. Canon said it wasn't mechanical, likely software or electrical. That was good enough for me.

8/8/2012 Update: I went to the park and photographed my daughter swinging using the 85/1.2II lens. This is probably Canon's slowest focusing lens because of the way it moves the entire heavy internal glass. It's meant for portraits, not for sports. With my daughter coming toward me, the AF tracked her in AIServo. To give some perspective, this is something I have never been able to do with the 5DII and 40D. The glass takes over a second to move from one end to the other. Looking at them in LR4, I had a 50% keeper rate, which is excellent given that the 5DII would have had none. This camera pushes AF very hard. I'm liking this. What I'm not liking? The AF point doesn't light up when I press the shutter halfway down until it locks focus. That means in very dark conditions, I have to guess where the AF point is so I can focus it on the intended spot. This kind of defeats the super low light capability. I could press the AF selection button to light it up, but that's a delay which defeats the element of speed and it also lights up all the AF points like a Christmas tree. It took several calls to Canon CPS for me to realize that this feature, which was on the 5DII, is now gone. Some of Canon's CPS techs were convinced it was there and it just needed to be turned on. It's really gone.

8/13/2012 Update: I shot two weddings. One was very dark and went late into the night. I did some portraits of the couple walking around the gardens in the dark as I experimented with off camera flash. These images are usually my clients' favorites because of the dramatic light effects. But, it's usually the end of the day and clients are tired. I have to work fast. The AF not blinking with a half-press of the shutter button was a problem. It took nearly 10 to 20 seconds to lock focus versus 3 to 5 seconds with the 5DII. After a few of these, the couple wanted to head back. With the 5DII, I half press the shutter button and the AF point blinks to let me know where it is. Then, I move this AF point to focus on a high contrast area of the face or edge of the white dress, recompose, and take the shot. Then, it's off to the next pose or location for another shot or two. With the 1DX, I was unable to locate a high contrast area without knowing exactly where the center AF point was. It was grayed out. As a workaround, I tried using the AF point selection button on the back. It lit up all the AF points and blinded that eye to the dark. Using this camera in low light now requires a minimum of 2 to 3 seconds more to lock focus versus the 5DII. I'm baffled as to what Canon was thinking when they decided to eliminate this feature.

8/28/2012 Update: I shot another wedding with the 1DX in relatively good light. I did the formals at ISO 1600 as I generally do with the 5DII. I used a tripod and dragged the shutter, which results in images that are sharp, yet with the look of balanced lighting. What I noticed is that at 1600 ISO, the 1DX was maybe 1/2 stop ahead of the 5DII in terms of noise and detail rendition. I expected the images to be a full 2 stops cleaner at 1600 ISO, more like 400 ISO on the 5DII. I also noticed that 4000 ISO images weren't all that different from ones at 1600 ISO. Noise hardly changed. The lighting at this wedding was dim incandescent with backlighting from windows. At an outdoor wedding I did two weeks ago, 1600 and 4000 ISO were much cleaner in the dark areas throughout the entire wedding. So, now I'm wondering if mixed lighting affects noise.

I used auto white balance for the entire day and it was very accurate. It got confused on a few images with mixed light, but even then it wasn't far off. It was a small wedding and I shot just under 1200 images, with about 400 repeats in the mix. The battery was still at half charge at the end. One issue I ran into was that on three separate incidents, with the 85/1.2II and 16-35/2.8II lens, AF quit working. Nothing would happen when I pressed the shutter button, even when I depressed it all the way to take the photo. Focusing on something else worked for the first two instances, and for the third, I had to restart the camera. I remember having this issue when I first got my 5DII and I had to send it in twice before it was fixed completely. So, I'm hoping this was operator error and not the same issue.

8/29/2012 Update: I installed the new firmware. This had a fix for error code 80 from 7/30/2012.

9/4/2012 Update: I shot two more weddings. I wanted to better understand how mixed lighting affects noise in the dark areas at higher ISO's because I had noticed some high noise levels from 1600 to 4000 ISO in my 8/28/2012 update. At one wedding, skin tones were very dark and so were the suits, and lighting was mixed. The wedding party had many people, so for group shots I used f/11 to get enough depth of field with a 35mm/1.4 lens. I went to 8,000 ISO, then to 12,800 ISO. The 8,000 ISO images looked fine with +25 noise reduction in LR4. I would not hesitate to blow these up to 11x14 or even larger. ISO 12,800 came close to looking like the 8,000 ISO with more noise reduction applied. I'm conservative, and another photographer said he would use these up to much larger sizes. What I did differently at this wedding was to overexpose the entire image by 1/2 stop by exposing for the darker areas, then bringing exposure down in post processing. This minimized noise in the dark areas, even though I dodged some exposure back into them. What I had encountered in my 8/28/2012 update - high noise levels from 1600 to 4000 ISO - was the result of underexposing the dark areas of the image.

No issues with the AF freezing.

1DX colors are more accurate than the 5DII. If a scene is cloudy, the 1DX will produce an image that is cooler, not necessarily more blue, but more true to what it is. At first I thought these images had a more dead-looking skin tone and didn't like it. But, now I'm realizing it's just more accurate than what it was with the 5DII. Also, now that I've examined a couple thousand 1DX images next to 5DII images taken by my assistant, I'm noticing that 5DII images have a slightly purple tint that creeps in when I reduce color temperature of an image that was shot in strong yellow incandescent light. Not so much with the 1DX.

Conservatively here's how I see the noise levels on the 1DX compared to the 5DII (for example, noise at ISO 4000 on the 1DX looks roughly like noise at ISO 1600 on the 5DII). These comparisons are AFTER noise reduction was applied in LR4 on RAW files.

5DII 1DX
800 1600-2000
1600 4000
2000 6400
3200 12,800

1DX noise looks more like film grain and cleans up better than 5DII noise. So, at times I can get ISO 6400 on the 1DX to look like ISO 1600 on the 5DII by overexposing and bringing it back in post processing.

9/24/2012 Update: I shot another wedding this past Saturday. AF froze twice, once with an 85/1.2II and the second time with the 35/1.4. On the second incident the bride threw her bouquet and I missed it completely. I had just put the 35/1.4 lens on, and this time, not only did AF freeze, but I couldn't change any settings. I jiggled the lens, made sure the power switch was set to full ON, pulled the 580EXII flash off and reinstalled it (since it comes loose throughout the day), removed and re-installed the lens, and finally I made sure the top LCD (that shows the settings) was on - it was. Then, I turned the camera off and on (I think twice), which got it working again. Either way, I wanted to be methodical about my troubleshooting before turning the camera off to make absolutely sure it was not operator error. That cost me some crucial shots. I called Canon CPS and they recommended I send it in. Being an intermittent occurrence, I will wait and see if it becomes more repeatable so Canon has a better chance of catching it when I send it in. I'm hoping there's a firmware update that resolves this and that it's not really the camera. My 5DII had this issue when it was new, mostly with heavy lenses. The fix took two repair visits - a tighter lens mounting pad.

10/3/2012 Update, two weddings: Off-center AF points are at least 1 stop less sensitive than the center AF point. In dim light, they tend to hunt, so I use the center AF and recompose.

10/13/2012 Update, three weddings later: AF froze twice, and I was able to get it going again so I didn't miss critical shots. It happens most reliabily with the 70-200/2.8 IS II, right about the time the bride is coming down the aisle. It's like it needs a much stronger contrast with that lens. It will simply not work on the groom or bride's outfits. I have to aim it dead center at the hairline on their faces. Then again, that's if I can find the darkened focus point in low light to put it there. It's gotten to the point where I almost never use the 70-200/2.8 IS II anymore because focus with it is now an issue on this camera. In reception low light? That lens stays in the bag. It can't focus. And then, there's the issue with AI Servo. AI Servo does not work reliably in low light, say with people dancing at the reception. And, it is much worse with non-center AF points. It will hunt and never lock in time to get the shot. The worst was AI Servo with 61-point automatic selection AF, where the camera focuses on its own. This combination made AF useless. So, in low light I use the exact same focusing method I used with the 5DII - center focus/recompose, and no AI Servo, even with people moving. Another issue I have been fighting, and I finally figured it is the camera and not me, is that the playback button works intermittently when a 580EXII flash is camera-mounted while a pocket wizard is plugged into the camera sync port. Those two bring this issue out reliably. The problem is that when I press the playback button it will only show the image for a fraction of a second. If I press it again, it will not play back the image, just go black. At first I thought surely I had my finger on the shutter button or I was resting the camera on something that caused the other shutter button to be pressed halfway. Tonight, I made sure nothing was touching the shutter buttons when I pressed the playback button and it happened on 7 separate occasions. It happens about 20% of the time and is especially annoying when the bride and groom want to see an image on the back of the camera. I will have to either turn the camera off or hammer the playback button about 10 times.

10/21/2012 Update: Canon released a firmware update v1.1.1 that addressed the grayed out AF point for AI Servo, but not for single shot mode, which is what wedding and portrait photographers need. I spoke with Canon CPS representatives and they explained that on the 5DII and 40D, the AF points are etched onto the glass that you look through. So, they can be lit up individually before focus confirmation with a half press of the shutter button. On the 1DX and 5DIII (and the 7D?), AF points are not etched onto a glass, but displayed through an LCD and thus cannot be lit up until focus is achieved. The firmware fix for AI Servo doesn't really light up the AF point anyway - it turns on a light at the edge of the screen that illuminates the entire screen. So, it's not really a fix, but better than nothing if you're a sports/wildlife photographer. I'm still not clear as to why Canon took this route in the 1DX's screen design. It's supposed to be the way all their new focusing screens work. The 7D, 5DIII, and 1DX all have grayed out AF points. It is a big step backward for me as a wedding photographer because over half my images are in low light. Even in the studio, having to spend an extra couple of seconds searching for the focus point is an impediment to getting natural-looking expressions from my clients. I'm seriously considering switching camera brands at some point because of this.

My enthusiasm has diminished significantly from when I purchased this camera. If you're a sports photographer in relatively good light, this camera is for you. I can't imagine a better sports camera on the market. But, if you're a wedding photographer, I would recommend looking at the 5DIII. The 1DX isn't worth the extra $3500, particularly since the 5DIII is lighter, has more megapixels, has the same 61 point AF system, has similar noise performance at high ISO's, and is reasonably weather sealed. The only advantages of the 1DX are its 12 fps, sturdy build, and additional weather sealing. That's not much for the extra money, if you ask me, particularly if you're a wedding photographer who doesn't need those features. But, keep in mind that the 5DIII also as the darkened AF point.

4/8/2013 This is one more update after setting the camera down for a few months and picking it up to do my first wedding of the season a couple of days ago. Watching the customers twitch while I spent an additional two to three seconds trying to locate the center AF point in low light more than confirmed my earlier discomfort about the issue. It is definitely a handicap for low light photography. This was a particularly stressful wedding due to delays. My assistant and I had to pick up the pace to make up for lost time. Thankfully, it was a very nice couple. But, because of the delays, their expectation was that I should be able to take my shots quickly after getting my settings worked out on the first group or two. Waving my camera side to side for an additional two to three seconds to find the darkened AF point, while my assistant had already taken the shot with her Nikon D700, was unacceptable. I was like molasses compared to her, and people's smiles would fade while I fiddled. If this is Canon's new direction with their AF design, I'm out for the longer term. In the short term, this is what I have to work with. I would never have made this purchase had I known Canon would disable a feature that I so heavily depended on. Other photographers I've spoken with have learned to live with the issue, putting up with it because they're invested in the Canon system. I'm the odd one who doesn't take no for an answer. Read more ›

45 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Canon 1DX versus Canon's 1D Mark IV August 24, 2012

By Mark Kitaoka

Although I didn't purchase my 1DX through Amazon, I'm posting this review. My local retailer obtained my camera before it became available on Amazon...regrettable!

I was never really a 'full frame zealot' and liked the 1.3 crop of the Mark IV. Gave me that extra bit of reach when I needed it, but conversely I was sometimes frustrated that I could not get as wide a shot as I wanted because of it. I purchased a 5D Mark III earlier this year since the 1DX was so delayed. I figured I would sell the 5D once the the 1DX came out. Bought the battery grip for it because I really missed the portrait grip and it had the extra joystick I was SO looking forward to on the 1DX. Then I got use to a full frame camera. The bokah on them is really stunning. Never really missed the extra reach losing 30% bought me with the Mark IV. Loved the new autofocus points too. Gave me more places to put my single focus point since I'm not a big focus and recompose guy. I find that technique for many of the apertures I shoot at caused me to lose DOF and as a result out of focus shots.

I also compared the ISO performance of the 5DIII with my Mark IV. Not a lot better on the 5DIII in what I shoot so I was a bit concerned about how much better the 1DX would be when it was released. Remember that I OFTEN shoot at high ISO for live theatrical performances. The average is around 6400-12800. If the scene has 'good' light I'm down around 1600-3200. In that 6400-12800 range the 5DIII was on par with the Mark IV.

The menu layout on the 5DIII is the same as the 1DX so when the 1DX was finally available I was better suited to get into the 1DX right away. What I really appreciated were the new AF menu layouts.... Rather than having to go through all of the trial and error of figuring out how to configure AI Servo situations reading through the menu examples really helps me out. I'm not sure how often you use AI Servo, but I use it about for about 20% of my work both in studio and during live performances depending on the subject matter. Dance is one area where I find AI Servo to be very useful. I especially like the expansion point options on the 1DX, Zone expansion that was not available on the Mark IV.

The part that I absolutely HATE about the 1DX focusing versus the Mark IV is the elimination of the constant red illumination of the focus point. Let me explain. On the Mark IV even when you have not depressed the shutter or back focus button the focus points remains illuminated red. On the 1DX (and 5DIII too) unless you have pressed either focus button the focus point remains black. In the heat of the moment (where I am always at!) it's almost impossible to know where your focus point is at the time before pressing the shutter halfway or the back focus button. I have missed several shots because of this. Apparently Canon is working on a 'fix' but it's not as easy as it sounds. Apparently the exposure will change based upon the red illumination points and vary again depending on where that point is in the viewfinder. In my world I would gladly give up a slight change in exposure which can be fixed in Post versus having an out of focus shot. I hope they resolve this since it's my biggest bitch with the camera. (both of them)

I have found that with the 1DX ISO 25600 is VERY usable and about on par with the Mark IV's 12800. 25600 is better than the 5DIII's 12800, so for double the price you get 1 stop better low light performance. I rarely used 25600 on the Mark IV because it was just too noisy for my needs. My personal comparison is the 1DX's 25600 is on par with the Mark IV's 12800. BUT what I like is the ability to move up from 25600 to 51200 in 1/3 stop increments. I have used 32000 with great success when needed. But for me that's just one part of the overall equation.

I have not been able to print very large format images yet from the 1DX. I just finished an assignment up in Seattle and will report my findings once the billboards are printed. I can say this, with the Mark IV my images have been used on five billboard campaigns without any up-sizing through programs like Genuine Fractals or such with great success.

Handling
Now this area is VERY hard to explain, quantify, etc. When I was using the 5DIII in both a studio and live performance environment it just felt 'sluggish' to me compared to my Mark IV. Now don't assume I'm talking about the FPS difference as I rarely use that mode since I tend to be a single shooter. Most experienced action shooters including myself will tell you that anticipation and timing is the BEST way to get the 'moment' and although the high frame rate is great, it will never guarantee (and often miss) that defining moment we all strive to capture. No what I'm talking about is the absolute IMMEDIATE reaction from me thinking about pressing the shutter to actually having it 'click.' The 5DIII almost seemed like a point and shoot compared to the Mark IV and the 1DX makes the Mark IV feel sluggish! My best comparison is the feeling of driving a Porsche to a Lexus. There is a sharpness of turn in and handling that Porsche just seems to have down pat in my view. It's almost intuitive really. The 1DX feels like a Porsche Cayman in my hands.

Having that extra joystick in portrait mode is a real godsend. I don't know how many cuss words I've uttered having to span my short thumb across the back to the Mark IV to get to the single joystick. And it's as perfectly positioned as the one in horizontal position. I haven't had time to configure all of the other buttons on the camera, but am looking forward to using those features.

I own and use Canon's 85mm f1.2 II L lens for portraiture, but rarely used it for performance shooting. The reason is it's just too slow to focus quickly enough in low light theatre or dance. BUT the 1DX now drives autofocus on all lenses much quicker than the Mark IV or 5DII. Fast enough that I am now able to use the 85 for certain live performance sessions. Not sure what Canon did, but it's a welcome improvement.

Image Quality
Image quality on the 1DX is superior to the Mark IV in terms of dynamic range and the Mark IV was no slouch! For web work it's impossible for me to tell the difference between the Mark IV, 5DIII or 1DX. BUT in high quality print in large format both the 5DIII and 1DX have such a richness in color and color depth over the Mark IV.

Weather Sealing
Haven't been on assignment with the 1DX yet, but I am going to assume it's just as if not better weather sealed than my previous 1D bodies. When I've returned from harsh weather sessions in full rain, salt water or severe dust, I routinely held the camera under my sink's faucet to remove mud, dust and salt without ever worrying about moisture getting into the internals. I will do the same with the 1DX when the need arises.

Ethernet and WFT-E6A
I was both happy and sad that the 1DX utilizes dual CF card slots. Sad because I like to shoot wirelessly tethered to my iPad during client studio sessions using Eye Fi cards. No it wasn't the fastest on the Mark IV or 5DIII (the 5DIII is actually faster in transmission because it has a dedicated Eye Fi optimization) but it served me well. What I did love with the 1DX is the gigabit Ethernet connection which I'd use to replace the Eye Fi option for my clients. I was shocked at how fast the transmission from shutter press to the image appearing on my laptop screen transmitted. Less than a second with a 25 foot CAT 6 cable. But the more that I thought about going to a wired tether the more I worried about people tripping over the wire. You see in my studio sessions I have all kinds of folks around from Marketing types to Art Directors, hair and makeup, set people, etc.

So I figured I'd buy the WFT-E6A module and try it out for my session. If it didn't work well I thought I'd just return it and go with the wired option. I tested the performance before I left for the assignment. Keep in mind I'm using the smallest JPG size along with RAW files to my cards. I am only sending the JPGs to the laptop wired or wireless. I was shocked to find that the performance using those parameters was about the same as my wired option using Canon's EOS Utility software. Now for those who like to pixel peep or just 'have to be right' (like an old girlfriend I had to get away from!) I am not sure the actual time difference between wired and wireless transmission, but in human terms it is negligible. My client had started to complain that my camera to iPad to Shuttersnitch through Eye FI was a 'bit slow' during the sessions, so I was hoping he'd like this solution better. He was shocked and very pleased at the immediate performance of the new setup and felt it helped our workflow immensely and made our studio sessions even more efficient. So much for returning the transmitter after the session.....

Which leads me to being irritated with Canon for NOT including a wireless option in a 7K camera! Granted the WFT-E6A is weather proof and very small, but come on $600.00 for a wireless option that's not built in? Geesh. On personal work I missed not being able to wirelessly transmit small JPGs to my iPad like I can with my 5DIII and Mark IV using Eye Fi cards. So I searched several sites and found a way to do so with my new 1DX using the WFT-E6A WITHOUT a router using its Ad Hoc mode. YAY!

That's it for now, more after I have more experience with The Beast! Read more ›

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast, Sharp and Easy to Use August 19, 2012

By T. Cayton

We pre-ordered the 1dx on Amazon back in March. After 4.5 months, it arrived. And it was worth the wait.

One notable improvement is the control buttons. The improvements over the 7D demonstrates Canon's focus to continually improve their product line for every release. The 1DX controls are highly intuitive. Setting bracketing, changing modes, etc. is much more intuitive. It is clear Canon engineering took the time to do this right, not only by keeping the best of their earlier features, but also revamping the product to improve easier use. Based on the cost of the 1DX, this is targeting the professional market, but any pro would appreciate the 1DX updates that help ensure the photographer captures the best picture regardless of the underlying technology.

My main work is sports photography. For sports photographers, there is no question the 12 to 14 fps will be much appreciated, and 12 fps more than sufficed in all cases I have encountered. Also, the camera's ability to focus while shooting in high speed continuous mode is truly amazing. The 1DX available two CF card slots are UDMA 7 compatible. 12fps was amazingly fast and met all my needs as long as I am using a fast card. The Lexar 1000x UDMA 7 memory card addressed that need.

There are some good articles that explain the value of pixel size, and the almost 7 micron pixel size on this camera provides great results both for pictures and video. I have taken photos in all conditions, cropped some and also performed a bit of post processing while I get familiar with the camera. If you are considering the 5D Mark III versus the 1DX, note the 1DX specifications have one more f/stop of ISO performance than the 5D mk III.... At some point it will come down to what is in the price range and your specific need.

As stated in many review, ISO on this camera is amazing. I have pushed this camera to ISO 6400 on football fields with Tungsten lighting at night and the results are excellent after applying some quick post processing adjustments in Adobe Lightroom. In fact, when depth of field is important with wide angle shots, I'm finding the higher ISO settings are working extremely well. One cautionary note: I have found when in AF mode the 1DX generally does not select the ISO setting I prefer. In most cases I use manual mode for best results.

Weather protection is second to none. Even better is the ability to remove the memory cards from the camera, very simple and solid release!

The battery charger hasn't received much press, but it has multiple LEDs to let you know battery charge status (50%, 80% and fully charged), and supports charging two batteries, although you only get one battery with the camera. The provided battery is the LP-E4N - 11.1V, 2450mAh. This canon battery new cost $168. I purchased a third party LP-E4 battery that is compatible with the 1DX and costs $22. I am finding the third party battery holds a slightly shorter charge, but more important, it doesn't communicate with the camera. The impact is you will not know the charge status of the battery. Also, the third party battery is a very tight fit. To top it off,one of the post have smartly advised against third party batteries as any leakage would void the warranty. I believe it is best to stick with canon batteries despite the additional cost.

I didn't think I would use the hard wired gigabit Ethernet port, but now finding it is fast, easy to set up and includes features I did not know were available when I purchased the camera. I now carry a dedicated laptop to most of my shoots to capture pictures on a large screen for quick review. In addition, using an ftp server, you can transfer files as you are shooting or wait until you are done and transfer all files at once. You can also hook up two camera's directly in a master - slave configuration, or connect one or multiple cameras together using a hub. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you can use a web browser to capture, download and view images remotely. Simply supply the IP address of the camera in the web browser. You can also set up the camera as a media server, where images on the memory cards can be viewed on a DLNA compliant TV or digital photo frame! It would have been nice to have wireless capability but that is a product that will need to be purchased separately.

While I always use external flash whenever possible, I would have appreciated a built in flash for those few times I am without an external flash and a direct camera flash would yield a better result.

To top it off, I was happy to see the TC-80N3 timer remote control I like and use on the 7D is compatible with the 1DX. No need to purchase another accessory, especially one that already works well.

Way to go Canon! You have helped me feel that my investment in your lenses was the right choice, as this camera is a perfect match!

Update 9/23/2012:
Flying in a small aircraft at 1500 to 2000 feet above a football field using the 1dx and the 200mm Canon f/2.0 lens and mostly shooting at a shutter speed of 1/2000, I captured some amazingly good clarity photos of the band players on the field. We can recognize each specific player on the field regardless of the distance and 100 mile/hour aircraft speed. Just make sure you match this camera with a great lens.

Update 10/31/2012:
I'm finding the transfer rate from camera to my laptop computer through Ethernet cable is quite fast. Transferring large individual raw files occurs under 3 seconds. Using cannon software, the pictures initially appear in a grid display within digital photo professional. It is a simple click to display a full screen picture. Read more ›