Canon EOS 1D X Mark III announced

Tuesday 7 January 2020, 10:01 by Elja Trum | 6,219 views | 1 comment

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Canon announced its new flagship this morning, the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III. As usual, this camera is announced just before the new Olympic Games. The Canon 1D X is therefore a favourite among sports photographers.

Logically, its predecessor, the 1D X Mark II, is now already four years old. So there are also quite a few upgrades to be found in this camera.

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III specifications

- 20.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
- 16 frames per second (20 in live view)
- DIGIC X processor
- 191-point autofocus system (155 cross-type points)
- 10-bit HDR photos in HEIF format
- 5.5K video (12-bit, 60p)
- 2x CFexpress memory card slots
- Built-in Wi-Fi

The autofocus system has been significantly revised, with a new two-dimensional pixel arrangement (previously they were 'lines'). This allows the camera to focus even better, including when there are few differences in contrast.

The autofocus now also offers head and face tracking using 'deep learning'. In live view, you also get eye and face detection.

The 1D X Mark III can actually maintain those 16 frames per second almost indefinitely. This is thanks to the new DIGIC X processor and the much faster CDexpress memory cards.

The new camera is also much more economical than its predecessor. You can now shoot around 2,850 photos before your battery runs out. Roughly twice as many as before. Canon manages this despite using exactly the same battery. Quite an achievement.

HEIF

The new HEIF format (High Efficiency Image File Format) supported by the camera allows you to store more image information than Jpeg (twice as much at the same file size). These HEIF files are also smaller than Jpegs.

The Canon 1D X Mark III can of course still save Jpegs. HEIF is used automatically when you enable the HDR function. In the camera, you can also convert a HEIF into a Jpeg image if you want. This preserves more detail in the highlights and dark areas.

Body

The most noticeable differences to the body are the illuminated buttons on the back of the camera and the redesigned AF-ON button. This now has a touch sensor. This allows you to select an autofocus point.

I had a quick play with the touch AF-ON button and personally I find it immediately faster and more pleasant to use than the old joystick (which is still on the camera as well, by the way).

The touch button works optically, using a different technique from a touchscreen, for example. The advantage is that you can also use the touch function with wet hands or even while wearing gloves.

The 1D X Mark III also has built-in Wi-Fi. There is also an external Wi-Fi unit available. If you use this, you get a greater range (up to 150 metres), and it even gives you the option of granting someone else remote access to the images you are shooting.

While you are taking photos, someone else can then look at the images you are shooting on your camera and download the files they want in advance. This means you can work incredibly quickly as a team at an event.

Video

Photographers usually are not that interested in it, but the new Canon is also very suitable for video. With the option to shoot 5.5K video in RAW format, many videographers will, in my opinion, be impressed.

Canon also shows that the 1D X Mark III is well suited to video with the video below, featuring a photographer using his 1D X to photograph surfers. The video was shot entirely with the 1D X Mark III.

Price and availability

The Canon EOS 1D X Mark III should be available in mid-February for a price of 7,420 euros.

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