Canon EOS 1D X Digital Camera Review

Recording Options

The Canon 1D X offers two forms of compression at the full 1080/30p resolution: ALL-I and IPB. ALL-I compressed each frame individually, which will produce larger files of a higher quality that is easier to edit. IPB compression uses keyframes to compress multiple frames of a video, resulting in smaller files that are harder to trim in post.

The 1D X can record in either of these compression methods for shooting at 1080/30p, 1080/24p, 720/60p, and 720/50p. The camera reverts to just IPB compression when shooting at 480/30p. The camera records video into .MOV files using H.264 compression, with linear PCM audio. Find out how the performed in our video image quality test./r:link_to_content

Video Controls

When recording video, you are able to make use of any of the camera's main PASM shooting modes. The camera lets you adjust ISO, shutter speed, and aperture while recording, depending on which shooting mode you are engaged in. The 1D X also lets you adjust audio levels on the fly, offering a truly professional level of control relative to most DSLRs.

Auto Controls

If manual control in video isn't your thing, you can simply record using program automatic. This mode will take over the exposure decisions for you, letting you adjust exposure compensation if you wish. You can also make use of the camera's picture control modes (color modes), letting you fine-tune the ultimate image quality that the camera puts out.

Zoom

When shooting video with the 1D X, you can zoom in to check focus, with a magnification of up to 10x. This will let you make slight adjustments when necessary. Unfortunately, this zoom goes away when you begin recording video, so you're unable to confirm that focus has been kept, and there's no "crop zoom" available for capturing video.

Focus

Continuous focus was quite good in live view and when shooting video with the 1D X. It doesn't have the smooth gradual focus shift that we like to see on camcorders, but it's quick and effective in establishing focus. You're still going to need to focus manually if you want to pull focus between two points, however. There's no focus peaking feature on the 1D X, but the camera does have the 10x digital zoom that you can use to check focus prior to pressing record.

Exposure Controls

Nearly the entire exposure range is available to users when shooting video with the 1D X. As you'd expect, shutter speed can only be set to speeds faster than the current frame rate you're shooting in (so 1/30th of a second and faster for 1080/30p). The full aperture range is available for adjustment both before and during recording. If you're planning on capturing low light video you'll be happy to know that the full ISO range is available for video recording, all the way up to 204800. It's certainly grainy video plague with banding, but the ability is there if you need it.

Audio Features

The Canon 1D X includes a standard 3.5mm microphone jack on the camera. This lets you capture high-quality audio, even though it lacks the 5D Mark III's headphone jack for monitoring it. You can let the camera automatically determine audio levels when recording or set audio level caps manually. If audio is set to manual control you will see the audio levels displayed on the rear LCD, with control available even while recording.