This is my review of Canon’s New 1DX. From CES 2012
Overview
At the top of the pile of their 29 current models of cameras is the NEW EOS 1D X. This is bound to be a hugely successful HIGH END DSLR camera. I played with the camera on two different occasions at CES. My first pass with the camera revealed a couple of nice features. The menu system has changed, again. At first I was a little confused going to where I expected to find settings on my Mark IV. After the Canon tech explained the new system it didn’t take long to start comfortably navigating my way around. But when I couldn’t find the custom functions area to look at AF settings I was confused again. That’s when he (the Canon guy) showed me that the autofocus has it’s own dedicated tab. COOL! AND…. in the AF menu there are six presets like Versatile Multi Purpose or Continuous Shooting – Ignore Obstructions, or Erratic Subject Movement. And within each of these six presets you can customize the tracking sensitivity. For me this is a very nice feature. Plus you can choose what features to use when auto focusing: AF info only, AF and color information or AF and face detection information. With the new iTR (Intelligent Tracking Recognition) the AF recognizes and tracks on face and color detection. And the new iSA (Intelligent Subject Analysis) incorporate face detection and color recognition for proper exposure. All this new autofocus information comes from a new more sophisticated 100,000 pixels metering sensor. Which has it’s own dedicated processor. There are now 61 AF points with 21 cross-type in the center which will work with lenses as slow as f/5.6. The main group of 5 center AF points will work with f/2.8 lenses. Then there’s an additional group of 20 points, 10 on each side of center that will work as cross-type with lenses at f/4 or faster. And 21 central cross-type points the will work with f/5.6 or faster. From my limited shooting I think this will be Canon’s best and fastest focusing camera ever.
The camera feels comfortable (I’m used to the full size body) and Canon added a couple of buttons. There’s a second joystick button so during vertical or horizontal shooting it’s easily accessible in either orientation. There are two sets of two buttons, again for access in either camera position, on the front of the camera by the lens. One button is depth of field preview, and the second is a programmable multi-function button.
And like the 7D there is a live view button and a “Q” Quick Menu features button. The new touch pad button allows for silent video changes. The superimposed viewfinder allows for simultaneous viewing of AF points and the build in level. During playback you can now protect, rotate, rate, resize, view highlight alert and AF points. The camera is fast and easy to use.
Now let’s look under the hood.
For starters the 18MP full frame CMOS sensor has a pixel size bigger than the Mark IV or the 5D Mark II. Bigger pixels means better light gathering capabilities, and that means a higher signal to noise ratio and that means increased dynamic range. This should be Canon best ever low light, high ISO camera. I can’t wait to see some images at higher ISO settings. All the cameras at the show had the memory card doors glued shut, so I couldn’t record any images. Canon says they don’t want any pre-production shots getting out, and I can’t really blame them. There are 3 processors in this bad boy, 2 Digic 5’s (which are supposed to be 17x faster than the Digic 4) and 1 Digic 4 dedicated to the metering and in turn the autofocus system. Like the Mark IV there is in camera vignette correction and now lens profiles can be uploaded into the camera which will correct for geometric distortion and chromatic aberration, all in real time. The multiple exposure features lets you shoot from two to nine images using one of 4 distinct exposure settings.
New Mullti-Exposure Menu
The camera shoots an amazing 12 frames per second, (14 in mirror lock up mode, jpeg). The new carbon fiber shutter is rated at 400,000 cycles. (that’s about 9 1/4 hours of continuous shooting at 12 fps) The addition of a second CF card slot, doing away with the second SD card slot in the Mark IV, doesn’t hurt my feelings. It makes more sense for me to carry one media type. Canon added a gigabit Ethernet port which should make for faster file transfer and the possibility of a slew of computer to camera controls.
Video
And for you movie shooters. (You may not be one now, but the more video I shoot, the more opportunities I find). The addition of a dedicated video tab in the menu makes a ton of sense. The 1D X has 2 video compression options, a very low compression (All i-frame) that offers a lot of post-edit ability. This low compression eats up memory. An 8GB card gets about 3 minutes of video. The second compression (IPB) gets about 36 minutes on a 8GB card. Videos can now be up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds long. The 1D X has manual microphone input control, a wind filter and mute options. There is also a sound recording level meter available through the Quick Control Screen. In 1080p mode you will be able to shoot 30, 25 or 24 fps. In 720p you will be able to go to 60fps. In the 60fps mode you will be transferring close to 50mbps. The 1D X also offers 2 modes for timecoding. Only during recoring (Rec Run) or at all times (Free Run) This is important for multi-camera shoots.
So here’s my take away.
For Still Photographers:
For Videographers:
The 1D X is scheduled for release the March/April timeframe, and should hit the streets at $6,800.