While I was waiting around for my back-ordered Canon EOS 1D Mark IV to become available, Canon-following websites and top photographers were abuzz with rumors that Canon was going to release a new camera and rid itself of the APS-H sensor. In many cases I was to told to wait and save my money for the upcoming flagship camera.
On November 18, Canon made it’s move announcing the Canon EOS 1D X, a camera which marks an interesting shift in the company’s usual approach to upgrading it’s line: dramatic increases in megapixels. I guess with the rave reviews of the Canon EOS 7D, Nikon D3s, and the severe unavailability of Canon EOS 1D Mark IV bodies, Canon re-evaluated its line-up and stance. In many ways it took the good of those three cameras and melded it into one body with some additional magic to sweeten the deal.
I could go on to list the specs of the 1D X, but you can read the specs yourself on pretty much every photography-related website right now.
Here is what I like:
- Full-frame sensor
- 18MP
- Dual CF slots
- 12fps
- 61-AF points with zone-AF
- Dual joy-sticks
- Enhanced movie controls
There aren’t too many negatives about the camera, but I can foresee a few annoyances that could creep up when the camera is released. The first complaint will be the price. $6800 is pretty steep especially since the Mark IV’s just started to become available again at major retailers. Yes, the camera’s stats look to be an excellent step in the right direction, but I don’t think the camera sets itself far enough apart from the Mark IV to justify the additional $1800. Another sore spot for photographers who have invested in the the 1D line since the Mark III, are all those SD/SDHC cards that are now going to be useless with the X’s dual CF slots. It behooves any professional photographer using the Mark III or Mark IV to at least have a much memory in SD/SDHC cards as CF cards. But if that photographer drops the $6800 for the X, their memory capacity could be halved.
Finally, is the AF system. It’s not that it is bad, but I do feel that the Mark IV got the short end of the stick when compared to the X. The Mark IV’s AF is an incredible performer in terms of speed and accuracy, even out of the box. However, since it came out after the 7D, I think it should have had zone-AF. The zone-AF a la 7D is missing from the Mark IV, but present in the X. This shouldn’t be and if it could be corrected via a firmware update, then it needs to be done.
Aside from these issues, Canon made a lot of good decisions, particularly not cramming more pixels into the same-sized sensor as it usually has done, particularly with its APS-C sensors. I’m actually surprised they didn’t keep the 21MP and just strap on a turbo engine, movie mode, and better processing, but scaled back the MP-count to improve image quality at higher ISO settings. I guess they found out that 18MP is damn plenty for their target audience.
I’m certain that there is a MP monster in the works at Canon as rumors of the 5D Mark III and 7D Mark II are floating about. However, Canon aimed to make this camera extremely versatile. The 7D and the Mark IV are some of the most versatile and well-balanced cameras I have seen in a long time. They have the speed, resolution, and image quality that can cover a wide range of photographic applications and needs. The 1D X is aimed to be a melding of the best of those worlds in a full-frame, 12fps package.
Is the 1D X the best, most versatile camera Canon has to offer?
Yes.
Is it worth the upgrade from the Mark IV?
No.
Although the 1D X quells a lot of pet peeves the APS-H sensors and multi-format card slots, it creates a set of new ones because its release date is just a half-year away. It is certainly not Canon’s fault that a massive earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster delayed Mark IV deliveries so badly, but releasing such a camera so soon is problematic to those who’ve invested in Mark IV’s. I’m personally a proud and happy owner of Canon’s current flagship and don’t regret my investment at all (Allen’s Camera Shop). I also don’t envy the 1D X, even though it is going to be an incredible camera. It just doesn’t set itself far enough apart from the Mark IV to do it.
I’m happy that Canon has decided to take it’s line in this direction and provided the particular upgrades presented in the 1D X, the lower MP count, full-frame sensor, and powerful processing is going to give the camera incredibly clean images at those high ISOs. It could have waited, but I’m sure the market forces couldn’t.