Canon Introduces New Flagship Professional DSLR, EOS-1D X

Looking for the ‘ultimate’ DSLR camera? It pains me to say this as a Nikonian, but it’s Canon that has the right to that title, with its just-released EOS-1D X. Replacing both the 1Ds Mark III and 1D Mark IV, the EOS-1D X is designed to suit all sorts of professional shooters. It’s faster, even more capable and brings a couple of new things to the table.

Something that stands out right away is that the EOS-1D X boasts an 18.0 megapixel sensor, while the Mark III had a 21.1 megapixel one. Less megapixels on a replacement model isn’t something that’s too common, and Canon is making a rather blunt statement with that decision. 18+ megapixels might be important to some, but not most who will take advantage of this camera, it seems.

Where to begin? Perhaps the most impressive spec here is the ISO, which can reach heights of 102,400 at H1 and 204,800 at H2 – both of which Canon targets being useful for law enforcement, forensic applications and so forth. Super-high ISO modes like these are made possible with the help of dual DIGIC 5+ image processors, which Canon claims are 17x faster than the DIGIC 4.

Speaking of the DIGIC 4, there’s one of those packed in here also. Its purpose is to improve metering and auto-focus control, so overall, we’re dealing with a smart camera here. A brand new 61-point reticular AF has also been introduced, offering an expanded coverage area and greater low-contrast subject detection compared to earlier EOS AF systems.

Performance-wise, the camera can shoot up to 12 FPS in RAW mode or 14 FPS in JPEG mode. Video capabilities have also been improved thanks to the new full-frame sensor, allowing for standard recording rates that we’ve come to expect (up to 1080p/30). A moire effect has long been a problem for some DSLR cameras when recording video, and that’s a problem that’s lessened with this model – but not eliminated.

The EOS-1D X is packed as it is, but taking things to another level, it includes a 1Gbit/s LAN port right on the body. This can be used to transfer photos at a rate much faster than USB 2.0, and also be used to daisy-chain multiple cameras together.

There’s a lot more to this camera than just what I’ve mentioned here, but it’d take an entire article to talk about everything. I recommend checking out the URL below for the full scoop, and if you have $6,800 kicking around, by all means pick one up.