Canon has announced its latest top of the range professional DSLR, the EOS 1D X. The camera, which marks the tenth generation of the company’s professional system, is also a culmination of 40 years worth in developing professional cameras, explained the company.

While the magnesium alloy body is similar in appearance to the EOS 1 D Mark IV and the EOS 1Ds Mark III, which it replaces, it is packed with new features.

Feature Flurry

Amongst these is a new 18.1 megapixel full-frame sensor, a redesigned autofocus system, as well as dual DIGIC 5+ processors. Additionally, the EOS 1D X offers an ISO range of 100 - 51200, which is further expandable up to an unheard of ISO 204 800, while the dual processors offer a 2-stop improvement in noise performance. This, explained Canon, will make it easier to capture high quality, low noise images in extreme low-light conditions.

A new 61-point wide-area autofocus  (AF) system is also onboard, with 41 cross-type points, and five dual cross-type points. Additionally, new AF pre-sets are specifically designed for photographing common challenging subjects. Furthermore, a 100 000 pixel RGB metering sensor is linked to the AF system and powered by its own dedicated DIGIC 4 processor. This detects faces and colour to ensure correct exposure levels while offering improved AF tracking.

 

The EOS 1D X has a similar appearance to preceding pro DSLRs in the EOS range.

Another noteworthy feature integrated into the DSLR is full HD video (1920 x 1080p), while sound levels can also be displayed and adjusted on the 3.2” LCD screen, which offers a 1040K dot resolution. As in taking still images, videography can also be adjusted and tweaked, using a full range of manual settings to control exposure, focus and frame rate. Additionally, EOS Movie now offers longer recording options, automatically creating a new file once the 4 GB file limit has been reached.

As is expected in professional cameras, the EOS 1D X boasts 400 000 shutter cycles, as well as protective sealing around the controls and cover seams, making the camera dust and water-resistant when combined with the company’s range of weather-resistant EF lenses. This, Canon explained, makes using the camera suitable for use in extreme weather conditions.

Additionally, the EOS  D X sports  “larger, more tactile buttons” that are intended to enable users to control settings in extreme conditions where gloves are required. Two multi-controllers and a touch-sensitive control wheel, for use in movie mode, cater to changing settings on the fly. A range of customisable function buttons further allows users to set-up the camera to suit their individual needs, by allowing shortcuts to the features and pre-sets they use most.

 

 

The EOS 1D X boasts an integrated gigabit ethernet port to transfer images from on-location events or in a studio, without the need for an adaptor, while the camera is also compatible with a new GPS receiver – the GP-E1. This enables photographers to add location information to EXIF data and geographically tag and track their photographs.  

The camera is further joined by a new, compact Wi-Fi transmitter, the WFT-E6, which will enable users to transfer images wirelessly when a wired connection isn’t available. The transmitter supports the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard as well as Bluetooth, for connectivity to external GPS devices, and enables uploading of images and video to an FTP server.

“The EOS-1D X is the ultimate camera for all types of photographers,” commented Roger Machin, photo video product manager at Canon South Africa.

“Professionals often shoot in fast-paced, high pressure situations, and the EOS-1D X provides the features and performance they need. We’ve carefully listened to the needs of professionals and created a versatile, powerful camera that will meet the requirements of more photographers than ever before,” he continued.

While a local price has not yet been announced, photographers can expect it to be hefty, as the EOS 1D X has a RRP in the US of $6800 (R54 970).

In recent news, Canon SA announced that a creative competition with prizes worth R150 000 will accompany its forthcoming free to enter Canon SA Expo.