Canon EOS-1D X first hands-on (video)

Professional photographers know the drill: every few years, Canon or Nikon announces a game-changing DSLR, often prompting top photogs to unload their complete kits and turn to a different system in a never-ending try to shoot with the most effective . This time, Canon is first out of the gate, with its flagship EOS-1D X — the newest in a chain that dates back to 2001 with the EOS-1D. As you’ve probably noticed, the company’s new top model looks virtually the image of its decade-old ancestor, but is otherwise a much cry from that four megapixel CCD sensor-sporting dinosaur. We’ve been anxiously awaiting a chance to take a look at Canon’s new $6,800 18.1 megapixel full-frame model since first getting word of the beastly camera last week , and just had a bet to head hands-on in the course of the company’s Pro Solutions event in London. Jump past the break for our impressions and a video walkthrough.

Though Canon’s 1D series caters to all of the pro gamut, from sports and news photojournalists to wedding and commercial photographers, those two major demographics were previously split between a parallel set of bodies — most recently the 0 EOS-1D Mark IV 0 , which offered high-speed shooting and catered to the previous group, and the four-year-old 1 EOS-1Ds Mark III 1 , which packed a whole-frame sensor and better megapixel rating, appeasing commercial shooters preferring higher-res images over high-speed shooting. The X replaces both models, however, providing enough power for both categories.

Just like the nearly identically-sized models that came before, the EOS-1D X is very large. Once you haven’t already gathered from the cost tag, this is not the camera on your next trip to the beach or perhaps a casual African safari — it’s absolutely geared towards pros, who care rather more about speed, accuracy and image quality than physical appearance and body size. The X feels very familiar, and because we’ve shot with every pro model that Canon’s released because the 1D, we had no problem picking it up and firing off several images without taking even a second to get accustomed. It feels heavy — and does in reality have more heft than the models that came before it — there isn’t any question that your arm gets quite a workout during a whole day of shooting. For photographers that demand quality, however, that trade-off is predicted, and quite worthwhile.

Canon says that it’s still a number of months out from allowing anyone to shoot and save images from its pre-production models, so we weren’t ready to walk away with samples, unfortunately. We did look at a published shot on the top native ISO of 51,200, which looked quite crisp and clean, though there has been a noticeable jump in noise from the same frame shot at ISO 25,600. We did notice a component of noise with a grid-like pattern within the higher-sensitivity version, which is not ideal, however the sample we saw have been shot with a pre-production model, so Canon still has your time to determine any kinks before these hit the assembly line. The highest extended ISO is 204,000 (!), that’s a whole stop higher than the 1D Mark IV — the equivalent of jumping from f/4 to f/2.8, for instance — allowing you to get crisp images in very low light. Canon did not have any images to be had shot at that sensitivity, however.

The X could be virtually identical in size to each previous model within the 1D series, but its button layout has changed a piece. Canon has added dedicated controls on the bottom of the camera, enabling quick access to additional functions when holding it vertically. The system menu has also been completely redesigned, and is less complicated to navigate, as you will see within the gallery below.

We’re just as anxious to take home sample images as you’re to look them, so we’ll be reporting back just once Canon gives us the golf green light to begin shooting. An analogous goes for 1080 / 30p video — no samples just yet, but there isn’t any question that the X could be a well-liked choice among DSLR video shooters to boot. Canon U.S. has estimated pricing at $6,800, but currency fluctuations can cause that sticker price to leap between now and the camera’s expected March release.

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This post is tagged: commercial photographers, eos 1ds mark iii, physical appearance, professional photographers, speed accuracy, speed shooting