Canon 18.2 Megapixels EOS-1D X DSLR Hands-on Review by RegHardware

On October 18 2011, Canon announced a completely revolutionized EOS-1D series camera, the Canon EOS-1D X DSLR camera. The EOS-1D X replaces both the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark IV models in Canon's lineup, combining the image quality of the EOS-1Ds and speed capabilities of the EOS-1D Mark IV model. It features a 18 Megapixels full-frame Canon CMOS sensor, Dual DIGIC 5+ Imaging Processors, 14-bit A/D data conversion, 12 fps RAW continuous shooting, a 61-Point High Density Reticular AF (21 focusing points in the central area are standard precision cross-type), a top ISO setting of 204,000 (51,200 native), a 252-zone metering system, and a built-in wired gigabit ethernet network connection for remote shooting and image transfer. 

"Test images on these pre-production models taken at ISO 204,800 showed a pretty vast amount of noise, even on the small preview screen on the back, but it's the 1D's performance at more practical higher speed ISO settings - say ISO 2000-6400 - that will be of most interest to professionals. For those who are either photographing Really Fast Things or are Really Bad Photographers, a frankly berserk 14fps mode has been included as well. This comes with a few catches - it works by not returning the mirror to the start position after every shot, which will make tracking harder, and it only evaluates autofocus and exposure on the first frame. Still, at slightly faster than half cinema speed, your excuses for missing shots are going to start looking rather sparse. Like previous EOS-1D models, when it's at full chat it sounds like a pack of cards flying uncontrollably out of a shuffling machine. The processing power is supplied by no fewer than three computers: a DiGIC 4 processor for exposure and autofocus evaluation, and two DiGIC 5+ processors for handling the incoming tidal wave of data. Naturally a video mode comes as standard, with the much-requested live audio monitoring included. Video specs are standard, although the full-frame sensor will allow greater depth of field, and the 1080p mode is superior to the best available in Nikon's high-end DSLRs, with the D3s offering only Motion-JPEG and the D700 doesn't shoot video at all. Usefully, the EOS-1D X is Canon's first DSLR to skirt around Compact Flash's 4GB maximum file size; hit the upper limit of the file and a new one is automatically created. The same goes for video files which run longer than 29 minutes, which will come in handy for time lapse recorders, albeit at the cost of annoying EU customs and excise pen pushers.

The EOS-1D X has its work cut out for it. The Nikon D3s has carved itself a neat little niche thanks to entirely respectable performance and outstanding ISO capabilities, and the EOS-1D X is much more expensive: £5,299 on release, versus the two year-old D3s' price of £3,577. The next few months will be interesting, with Nikon much-rumoured to release a high-end DSLR before Christmas, and the Canon EOS-1D X set to touch down in the first quarter of next year. Until then, photographers will have to salivate and save in equal measure."