Canon Has A Need For Speed: The EOS-1D X Mark III

[ThePointblank]

So, Canon has ended the rumours around the EOS-1D X Mark III with this announcement:

 

Off PRNewswire:

 

 

Spoiler

 

Quote

POWERFUL, FASTER AND RUGGED: CANON ANNOUNCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EOS-1D X MARK III CAMERA

MELVILLE, N.Y., October 24, 2019 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc. is developing the highly anticipated Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Camera – the successor to the world-renowned and award-winning EOS-1D X Mark II. Ideal for sports and wildlife, the flagship DSLR is being engineered and designed using feedback from the worldwide community of EOS-1D X and EOS-1D X Mark II photographers. Continuing Canon’s rich heritage of creating first-rate optical products, the EOS-1D X Mark III offers an enhanced autofocus system, with dramatically improved still and video image quality and communication. When using this camera, professionals will have the confidence they will get ‘the shot’ and can deliver it at a competitive speed – faster than ever before – ideal for the increasingly fast-paced industry.

“The innovations put forth by the new EOS-1D X Mark III will set the new standard for professional DSLR cameras and further cement Canon’s commitment to its professional photographers,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “In developing the new camera, Canon listened to extensive user-feedback from professionals out in the field. The result is a camera that has evolved from its predecessor and maintained the overall quality that professional photographers have come to expect from the Canon EOS-1D series.”

Need for Speed

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III will be blisteringly fast - offering exceptional precision, reliability, high-performance autofocus and subject tracking – providing photographers with a tool that will help to capture the shot they are chasing. The camera’s new autofocus algorithm will improve stability and tracking when using both the Optical Viewfinder and in Live View shooting mode, using Deep Learning Technology and adapting to help facilitate accurate focus tracking for every shot.

When using the optical viewfinder the camera will use a new autofocus sensor, with approximately 28 times the resolution in the center of the EOS-1D X Mark II. Offering the ability to autofocus in even brighter and darker situations than before and with greater precision, the camera will have a range of autofocus capabilities, which will enable the photographer to get their shot. In Live View mode, users will be able to make use of 525 AF areas using the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system will cover approximately 90x100 percent of the image sensor. The camera will support significantly faster frame rates with full AF and AE, using either the optical viewfinder (up to approximately 16fps mechanical shutter) or Live View (up to approximately 20fps mechanical or electronic shutter). Additionally, the camera’s dual CFexpress card slots will enable more than five times the RAW burst depth of its predecessor.

Powered to Dominate

The development of EOS-1D X Mark III is a clear example of Canon’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovative imaging products featuring optically excellent technology. The camera will support an all new, Canon-developed, CMOS sensor and DIGIC processor, that will deliver greater image quality, at even higher ISOs, with the ability to capture stills in 10-bit using the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) file format. HEIF produces wider dynamic range and greater color representation compared to JPEG. The power of 4K resolution brings stories to life – shoot 4K videos including 4K60p with 10-bit 4:2:2 Canon Log internal recording.

Conveniently Connected

For professionals, content delivery is just as important as image capture – the EOS-1D X Mark III will make it easy, featuring built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® low-energy connectivity in addition to GPS technology. To keep pace with ever-shortening deadlines, the camera will transfer data at more than twice the speed of the EOS-1D X Mark II when using the built-in Ethernet connection, or the new optional wireless file transmitter – the WFT-E9, which is also compatible with Canon’s recently launched Cinema EOS C500 Mark II camera. Coupled with simpler network set-up the camera will greatly enhance the professional workflow.

A Familiar Feel with Improved Attributes

Existing EOS-1D series users will be familiar and comfortable handling the EOS-1D X Mark III allowing seamless navigation with trusted ergonomics – whilst the magnesium alloy body will offer the durability expected from Canon’s EOS-1D cameras. Professional photographers can trust the same impressive build-quality as the EOS-1D X Mark II – with phenomenal weather-sealing, standing up to harsh conditions, including wind, rain and humidity. With incredible low-light shooting capabilities, the camera will now feature select illuminated buttons that allow for precision operation in challenging, dark and dimly lit conditions.

The camera will also offer a new additional control for selecting AF points, built into the AF-ON button, allowing photographers to change AF points on-the-fly for the best composition – further helping to simplify their work. In addition, dramatically improved battery life – with the same LP-E19 – will allow professionals to shoot for longer periods of time, without having to change batteries, helping reduce the chance of missing a shot.

 

So, basic info and specs as follows:

• Basically same body as the existing EOS-1D series camera, using the same LP-E19 battery
• New backlit buttons on the back!
• New AF control built into the AF-ON button for selecting AF points
• Claimed dramatic improvement in battery life with the existing LP-E19 battery
• No specs listed for the sensor, but assume about 20MP or higher
• New DIGIC processor as well for better image processing
• New AF control unit with 28 times the resolution in the center compared to the outgoing model
• 525 AF points in live view with Dual Pixel AF
• Will have the ability to output 10-bit HEI (High Efficiency Image File) format files
• 16 fps with AF tracking with the optical viewfinder 20fps with AF tracking in live view with the mirror locked up in either mechanical or electronic shutter
• Dual CFExpress card slots
• 4k60p 10bit 4:2:2 with C-Log recording internally (no mention of any crop), can also record RAW movies internally
• Will have built in WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Ethernet, or the optional wireless file transmitter – the WFT-E9

No clue on pricing, or when this will be available, but I would expect this out and in the hands of photographers before the upcoming 2020 Olympics.

[berberries]

oh my... the specs of the 1D-X Mark III look amazing, now time to wait for the 1D-X Mark II to crash in prices. finally able to replace my OG 1D-X

[jasonvp]

43 minutes ago, berwynhan said:

oh my... the specs of the 1D-X Mark III look amazing, now time to wait for the 1D-X Mark II to crash in prices. finally able to replace my OG 1D-X

I'd beware of that, speaking from (painful) experience.  I don't know how long you typically keep your cameras, but Canon has a point in time that they stop supporting the older ones.  And by "support" I mean all support.  Even if you pay them, they'll refuse to help you.  They stop building and stocking parts to fix the older cameras, and won't perform any service (even sensor cleaning(!)) on them.

 

If you're OK with that, then cool.  The MkII is a superb camera; had one for a couple of years and loved it.

[berberries]

Just now, jasonvp said:

I'd beware of that, speaking from (painful) experience.  I don't know how long you typically keep your cameras, but Canon has a point in time that they stop supporting the older ones.  And by "support" I mean all support.  Even if you pay them, they'll refuse to help you.  They stop building and stocking parts to fix the older cameras, and won't perform any service (even sensor cleaning(!)) on them.

 

If you're OK with that, then cool.  The MkII is a superb camera; had one for a couple of years and loved it.

in my experience, going 1 generation back is still ok. i last had my 1D-X for a focusing screen replacement and pentaprism assembly cleaned late 2018, they still carried the parts for a 6 year old camera. sensor cleaning IMO canon charges too much, i usually get them cleaned at a reputable camera shop i know and they usually get it done in the 5-10mins i can spend chatting with another employee there rather than wait 2 hours at canon's service center to get it cleaned. i used to also own a 5D2 up till mid 2018 and canon's service center was able to replace the shutter mechanism and prism with parts they just had to order in from japan. but i do remember them mentioning they don't repair 5D classics anymore and usually advise customers not to as the repair cost is greater than the whole camera value now. so i guess 2 generations back is the limit? seeing how canon usually refreshes their cameras every 4 years so as long as its less than 8 years old should be fine i guess.

 

i have tried a 1D-X mk2 before and IMO the user experience is almost the same as the mk1. only difference was the newer UI in the mk2 and better ISO performance. but what really got me was the video features, 4K60 and 1080p120 with no crop, clean high ISO video performance. I have since sold my 1D-X for an EOS R 3 months ago as i have stopped picking up photo gigs so that i can focus more on school where i do alot more video work. but oh how i wish i didn't pick up a new EOS R and just spent a little more on a used 1DX mk2, i really miss having an OVF for photos.

[williamcll]

Looks great, too bad I don't have the money to buy it.

[ThePointblank]

I find it interesting that Canon is talking up the deep learning capability of the 1D X Mark III, specifically when it comes to autofocus:

 

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/amp/news/canon-eos-1d-x-mark-iii-announced-hybrid-dslr-has-deep-learning-af-with-28x-more-resolution-than-1d-x-mark-ii

 

Quote

It features a brand new AF sensor with 28 times the resolution of the Mark II, which featured a ludicrously accurate 360,000-pixel RGB+IR sensor. By our maths, that gives this new sensor over 10 million pixels of resolution – and, combined with the bleeding-edge AF deep learning algorithm, promises truly ferocious performance.

 

“This is an autofocus system we haven’t seen before,” we were told by David Parry, Canon UK’s product intelligence specialist. “This is something very new, very different.” We’ve seen AI subject detection in cameras like the Olympus OM-D E-M1X, which could recognize and track things like cars and aircraft, but an AF system that actually learns as you shoot is an incredible prospect.

As noted, there are cameras out there with deep learning capabilities in them, but this is the first time I've seen it in a pro-level body.