Canon EOS 1D X Digital Camera Review

Conclusion

When we first saw the Canon 1D X way back in the fall of 2011, it became immediately clear that Canon was looking to produce a camera that would be right at home in the bags of world-class photographers and videographers alike.

Even amongst pure still photographers, the Canon 1D X's dove-tailing of the sports-centric 1D Mark IV and the studio-centric 1Ds Mark III lines seemed to be an ambitious move designed to capture the majority of the pro market with a single professional body. After seeing the test results and shooting with the Canon 1D X for an extended period of time, we have to say that Canon has largely succeeded in that mission.

The Canon 1D X combines the speed and autofocus improvements of the Mark IV with the full-frame image quality of the 1Ds series. Throw in a big helping of professional video features that match Canon's own 5D Mark III, a new 61-point autofocus system, and improved connectivity features like wired LAN support and you have a flagship camera that can appeal to almost the entire professional imaging community.

In truth, this camera is built more for speed than for comfort, inheriting more 1D Mark IV than 1Ds. While it does have a full-frame sensor—a feature that has become increasingly common throughout the market in 2012—this camera shoots as fast as any DSLR on the market. The 1D X captured RAW files at 13.3 frames per second (15fps for JPEG) in our tests, edging out even the mighty Nikon D4.

On top of that, the 61-point autofocus system is once again top-of-the-class. The woes of the 1D Mark III are well and truly behind Canon, thanks to an autofocus system that is as customizable as it is accurate. With six different adjustable "case" settings, the autofocus can be tuned to adjust to multiple scenarios, no matter what kind of subject you're shooting.

For news, sports, and wildlife photographers needing the highest-quality images captured with speed and accuracy, the 1D X should become the go-to body for everyone not already shooting with a Nikon D4. For studio shooters looking for full-frame resolution, the choice isn't as clear, but the Canon 1D X's extreme color accuracy, expansive dynamic range, and suite of tethered controls should make it a popular choice.

For video, we found the 1D X produced video sharper than the 5D Mark III, though the Mark III is likely the better option for professional shoots. The 1D X has basically every feature that Mark III does, but it's more expensive, less portable, and lacks the Mark III's headphone jack.

Still, it's clear that Canon has succeeded in creating a jack-of-all-trades professional DSLR. The integration of greater control across the entire body is certainly welcome, with nearly all the additions succeeding in making the camera easier to operate. Whether you shoot stills or video, studio models or wildlife, the Canon 1D X has features to make your job easier—and it produces fantastic images, too. It may have taken 10 months to get the camera to market, but it appears the 1D X was worth the wait.