In addition to serving as a replacement for the original 1D X, the Canon EOS-1D X Mk II may also be used in place of the EOS-1D C professional video camera. And while the Mk II appears to be only a little improvement over the technology found in the 1D X in some respects, in others it pioneers whole new territory.
The remarkable continuous shooting mode, the upgraded focusing system, and the capacity to record video in 4K resolution are the main talking points of the Mark II. In an effort to provide photographers with a “competitive advantage,” Canon built a camera with the intention of delivering “the ideal mix of image quality, resolution, and speed.”
The sensor of the EOS 1D X Mk II is entirely new, although the resolution it offers is only a marginal improvement over that of the original 1D X. It goes from 18.1 million effective pixels to 20.2 million effective pixels. That may seem like a fairly low number in contrast to the 50 million pixels of Canon’s 5DS and 5DS R, but the 1D X Mk II is meant to be a workhorse for professional sports and news photographers, thus it focuses on speed and shooting in low-light conditions.
Canon EOS-1DX Mark II DSLR Camera (Body Only)
- Fastest shooting EOS-1D, capable of up to 14 fps full-resolution RAW or JPEG, and up to 16 fps in Live View mode with new Dual DIGIC 6Plus Image Processors
- Achieves a maximum burst rate of up to 170 raws in continuous shooting at up to 16 fps, and 4K movies using CFast cards in the new CFast 2.0 slot
- Fastest shooting EOS-1D, capable of up to 14 fps full-resolution RAW or JPEG, and up to 16 fps in Live View mode with new Dual DIGIC 6Plus Image Processors
- Achieves a maximum burst rate of up to 170 raws in continuous shooting at up to 16 fps, and 4K movies using CFast cards in the new CFast 2.0 slot
- Improved AF performance through 61-point, wide area AF system with 41 cross-type points, improved center point focusing sensitivity to -3 EV and compatibility down to f 8
- Turn your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam Learn more: Canon.us livestream
- Use the EOS Utility Webcam Beta Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam, or do the same using a clean HDMI output.
Focus
It’s all very well having super-fast continuous shooting rates, but you’ll need an autofocus system that can keep up. The autofocus (AF) system in the Canon 1D X Mk II appears, at first glance, to be the same as the 61-point AF system that was present in its predecessor. Both systems contain 41 cross-type sensors and five dual cross-type sensors.
However, Canon has made a number of modifications behind the hood, including an increased AF area and a brand new AI Servo AF III+ technology, which enhances the tracking sensitivity for subjects that are moving in an unpredictable manner. The most recent iteration of Canon’s adaptive 3D tracking system adapts to not just your motions but also those of the subject you are photographing, such as when you swivel the camera to follow a subject that is passing past you.
An intriguing illustration of how metering and focusing work closely together in modern cameras is provided by the new 360,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor that can be found in the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera. This sensor helps autofocus tracking by providing superior subject identification. All 61 autofocus points can now focus at an aperture of f/8, which is a significant advancement for photographers who frequently use extended telephoto lenses in conjunction with teleconverters.
Although Canon’s APS-C format cameras, such as the 80D (and earlier the 70D), have previously used Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology, this is the first time that the technology has been implemented in a full-frame camera model. It indicates that the 1D X Mk II has phase-detection autofocus points on the sensor, which enables the camera to focus more quickly when shooting in live view and video mode. On the other hand, you may slow down the focusing speed in the menu if you find that having a quick focus isn’t always an advantage while you’re shooting a video.
Video Quality
Still, images can be captured with the EOS-1D X Mark II at a quicker rate and for a longer period of time than ever before. However, the camera also adds a significant new capability for video recording: 4K resolution. It has been available on mirrorless cameras for some time, but this is the first time that Canon has included it on a DSLR that is geared toward still photography. This indicates that the camera will be appealing to the increasing number of professional photographers who are increasingly being commissioned to capture video footage in addition to still photographs.
However, devoted filmmakers will be better served by a specialist video camera that features an electronic viewfinder, more video-centric handling, and Log-modes that reduce contrast. Having said that, it is wonderful that the 1D X Mk II can shoot 4K at 30fps and 60fps – this needs a significant amount of processing power, and it indicates that you will be able to capture smooth 2x slow motion film at 4K quality.
It is interesting to note that the Mk II shoots in “true” 4K at a resolution of 4096 by 2160 pixels, as opposed to the slightly smaller UHD format that the majority of other cameras refer to as “4K.” The one thing that may be a problem is that the aspect ratio of this 4K video is far closer to 17:9 than it is to the conventional 16:9 ratio that is utilized by UHD, full HD, and standard HD. This could be a problem.
Performance
The image that appears on the screen of the Canon EOS 1D X Mk II offers a very excellent idea of the photographs that it records, and the captured images do not disappoint when opened on a wide screen on a computer. The exposure and color reproduction are both typically accurate and attractive, and the level of detail is good throughout a significant portion of the dynamic range.
When looking at photographs that were shot at ISO102,400, it becomes very evident why this option has been preserved as an expansion level. Certain features become very fuzzy when seen at 100%, and even when shrunk to generate A3 prints, certain parts have a subtle diffuse shine. Additionally, the camera has difficulty capturing reds, and as a result, some tonal gradation is lost.
Reduce the ISO to 51,600, and you’ll see a significant improvement. When scaled for A3 prints, the raw files show a decent degree of detail, but there is a little amount of visible chroma noise due to the lack of any noise reduction being performed on them. In the meantime, the JPEGs that were recorded at the same time show no discernible noise when viewed at the same size, but some of the information has been lost. Adjustments made after the photo was taken give you the ability to strike a good balance with the raw files.
Image Quality
Dynamic range is quantified in exposure values (EV) (EV). The higher the number, the greater the dynamic range of brightness levels that the camera is able to record. This decreases when the ISO setting is increased because the camera is forced to magnify a signal that is becoming increasingly feeble. Because the image data in raw files have not been processed, the files capture a wider dynamic range.
Analyses of the JPEG dynamic range show that the D5 is superior in many aspects of the sensitivity range; however, this comparison isn’t just about dynamic range; it’s also about how the two businesses want the JPEGs produced by their cameras to look. The Canon files have a somewhat higher contrast, which indicates that their dynamic range is likely to be smaller; yet, it is possible that they are more attractive even without any post-capture modification being done.
Analyzing the dynamic range of the raw image (after it has been converted to TIFF) Due to the fact that the 1D X Mk II earns a superior score for a significant portion of the sensitivity range, the raw file findings appear to validate our concerns concerning the JPEG scores. This indicates that the Canon camera is capable of capturing a wider range of tonal gradations, at least at the lower sensitivity settings.
Conclusion
The Canon EOS-1D X Mk II, much like its predecessor, has the appearance and the feel of a contemporary camera. It is intended for use by professional photographers who want a camera that they can rely on even when the weather is poor. These users will also like the fact that the control structure of the new camera is quite similar to that of the 1D X, which means that they will have an easy time transitioning to the new camera.
The market for the 1D X II, which is comprised of professional photographers who cover sports and news, are aware of the need to strike a balance between the number of pixels and the size of those pixels. The level of noise can be kept within acceptable limits at high sensitivity settings when using a full-frame sensor with 20,2 million pixels because this produces an image that is large enough to make full-bleed double-page spreads for printing. In addition, the noise levels can be kept within acceptable limits when using a cropped sensor with 12,8 million pixels.
It is abundantly clear that Canon has invested a great deal of thought and effort into the development of the 1D X Mark II, in addition to incorporating some very potent technological advancements. Refinements such as situating the A/D converter on the sensor, which reduces the length of circuitry the image signal must travel through before being converted to a digital signal, help to improve image quality. This is because fewer circuits are required for the conversion.
When high-sensitivity photographs were captured with the Nikon D5 and the Canon EOS-1D X Mk II under the same lighting and shooting settings, it was discovered that the Nikon camera had a somewhat greater ability to control noise. However, there isn’t much of a difference, and I wouldn’t use either model at ISO409,600 if I could help it (or higher in the case of the D5).
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Price
