The future of the Canon EOS-1D X series [CR1]

Feb 28, 2013
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Canon launched over the last two years a fair number of new EF lenses including updates to the tilt-shift lenses, the IS 70-200mm lenses and the EF 400 f2.8L III etc. Why spend that kind of money to have the RF lenses kill them off. As good as the EOR R is, it still has weaknesses not least the EVF verses the optical finder. The optical finder is sharper & it doesn't freeze between shots & for a Pro that's not acceptable. The 1D series is built like a tank and these cameras can take a battering, sure you could build a 1D type camera to that standard for the RF mount but Canon know the agencies & photographers have many EF mount lenses and tend not to like adaptors.
Canon have already stated they will run both series in parallel and it will be the market that decides if EF mount cameras fall away.

What is not yet apparent in Canon strategy with the EOS R / RF series is the release of high end RF lenses yet lower entry cameras especially in the RP. I see my EOS R as more a replacement for the 6D MKII not the RP which I see as more as full-frame Rebel yet the 35mm f1.8 lens is the only non- L lens and the announced lenses address the holy trinity of L lenses plus the pro 85mm with again only one non L zoom lens. I would be totally surprised if Canon did not launch a Pro EOS R series camera in late 2019 given Sony offering and Nikon with the Z7. Can anyone really see EOS RP owner buying the RF28-70mm f2L or the RF50mm 1.2L in any great numbers? No.
 
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Canon is DOOOOOOOMED !!!!! I tell you! Doooooooooooooooomed !!!!!!!!!!!!

The CRUEL NATURE of this is something I cannot speak about as of yet.... but I can tell that a NEW company now has 100 reasons compared to Canon's 93! Guess what Canon! Sometimes the 1000 pound Gorilla SMACKS EVERYONE and TRULY -- TRULY --- demonstrates with monstrous proof that he IS King of the Beasts!

Oooooh BOOOY !!!!! OUCH! This is gonna hurt! You're going to be KILLED on still image and video quality, feature set, price AND QUALITY OF BOTH body and lenses! And on the lenses, they will be EXCEEDING Zeiss Quality at in-between Xeen and Sigma Prices! And wait until you see the "Mobile Devices!"

YOU'RE DEAD IN THE WATER !!!
.
 
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1dx is not really news here, only new thing is that Canon decided for sure to create unsellable glass. Like why on earth we have R pro glass with no pro body for SO LONG ! That doesnt make any kind of sense. Yes glass looks nice but what should we do with that. Look at it online and think : maybe one day someone will realize at canon that they actually have to work on a pro body ?!?

It's a guess, but I suspect you don't own the EOS R

I have the 5DS and EOS R, and understand why the glass available now is useful, both EF and RF
 
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I am on the flipside of that thought. I bet sales will only be minimally impacted by those interested in the R system.

1D's are dependable workhorses and have been for decades. They aren't about bling. They are about getting the job done. There is some nice RF glass coming, but there is already so much good EF glass, I can only see that causing a smallish ripple.

I haven't owned a IDX mk ii, but would certain enjoy one. Even though they are not smaller, the testimonials I hear about them have me guessing a good number of photographers would enjoy a mk iii. Apparently its a tough piece of gear as well as a proven piece of gear. I'm partly acquiring the RF system, but I still find myself price-shopping the 1DX ii used.
 
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FramerMCB

Canon 40D & 7D
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Canon launched over the last two years a fair number of new EF lenses including updates to the tilt-shift lenses, the IS 70-200mm lenses and the EF 400 f2.8L III etc. Why spend that kind of money to have the RF lenses kill them off. As good as the EOR R is, it still has weaknesses not least the EVF verses the optical finder. The optical finder is sharper & it doesn't freeze between shots & for a Pro that's not acceptable. The 1D series is built like a tank and these cameras can take a battering, sure you could build a 1D type camera to that standard for the RF mount but Canon know the agencies & photographers have many EF mount lenses and tend not to like adaptors.
Canon have already stated they will run both series in parallel and it will be the market that decides if EF mount cameras fall away.

What is not yet apparent in Canon strategy with the EOS R / RF series is the release of high end RF lenses yet lower entry cameras especially in the RP. I see my EOS R as more a replacement for the 6D MKII not the RP which I see as more as full-frame Rebel yet the 35mm f1.8 lens is the only non- L lens and the announced lenses address the holy trinity of L lenses plus the pro 85mm with again only one non L zoom lens. I would be totally surprised if Canon did not launch a Pro EOS R series camera in late 2019 given Sony offering and Nikon with the Z7. Can anyone really see EOS RP owner buying the RF28-70mm f2L or the RF50mm 1.2L in any great numbers? No.
Well, the money you save on the body can be put towards the awesome glass right??? ;-)
 
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FramerMCB

Canon 40D & 7D
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Keeping the 1D DSLR and not mirrorless is soooo obvious and logical, just as much as changing 5Ds to mirrorless. Soon. I don't see why the two developments and announcements would have to do anything with each other. I'm still expecting pro R this year, makes absolute sense.
I don't believe that Canon necessarily views a 5DSr/S replacement with a mirrorless, higher MP sensor model as a "Pro" model. It will certainly be purchased and used by professionals but their main Pro bodies (at least by their own, internal standards/nomenclature) are the 1 DX and 5D series (Mk I, II, III, and now IV). The 5Ds and 5Ds R were more of a niche type of camera (and I'm sure a lot of Pros bought and use these too but so do a fair number of well-heeled enthusiasts/hobbyists).
 
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If they plan on releasing a mirrorless pro body (which I take to mean a 1d equivalent) AFTER the 1dx3, then we might actually expect the 70+mp 5ds-equivalent out sooner.

I take part of this as good news, as it means the 5ds replacement may be coming before or at least near the 1dx announcement. The bad news is that if Canon's expectations are that it can't produce a 1d equivalent in mirrorless sooner, then it means it is likely not confident it can fix the throughput/processing issues its tech stack appears to have. That means that the 5ds replacement we get will be a sloooooow shooter; and worse, the 1dx3 won't see much of a jump in megapixels. Yes, as heretical as it may be, the 1dx2 would be a better camera with 20 percent more mp.

If the rumor is true, it smells like Canon is throwing a 1d bone to keep the high end of the market interested in the in the Canon system, because it is unable to offer them what it really wants to offer them: a fast fps, mid-range mp monster that cooks the files well and is able to apply various computational processes to the images, such as DLO, etc., rather than offloading those calculations in the RAW to the post processing. It looked for a long while that this computational stuff had been a very high priority to set their lenses up as having advantage over the third parties. We've seen a bit less of that of late, and they've reverted to putting out amazing glass instead. Not complaining.
 
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Aug 26, 2015
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I don't believe that Canon necessarily views a 5DSr/S replacement with a mirrorless, higher MP sensor model as a "Pro" model. It will certainly be purchased and used by professionals but their main Pro bodies (at least by their own, internal standards/nomenclature) are the 1 DX and 5D series (Mk I, II, III, and now IV). The 5Ds and 5Ds R were more of a niche type of camera (and I'm sure a lot of Pros bought and use these too but so do a fair number of well-heeled enthusiasts/hobbyists).
Depends on the definition of what 'Pro' means. If it means dual cards, stabilisation and a joystick, it means that in the current generation of mirrorless cameras, right now the 'border' has been laid out at the EOS R and any models (probably two of them) placed above it can have these things.
There is a good chance that the EOS R Mark II will have these things, crossing that border next time, but that's a long way.

It used to be the same with other things in the old days, for the full-frame you had to get the 1Ds, after that came the 5D which made that more accessible, then the 6D, now the EOS RP, same with the 4k with the 1DC, then the 1DXII then the 5DIV, etc.
 
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Oh dear just another mild bump like the 1DXII itself it seems. Will be left for dead by D6 and A9 II if this is the case. So sad to see Canon just limp along barely doing the minimum to survive.

1DXII was woeful update if you don't care about 4K. 1DXIII needs to be a bigger update than the change form 1D4 to 1DX to be viable.
 
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Don Haines

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Depends on the definition of what 'Pro' means. If it means dual cards, stabilisation and a joystick, it means that in the current generation of mirrorless cameras, right now the 'border' has been laid out at the EOS R and any models (probably two of them) placed above it can have these things.
There is a good chance that the EOS R Mark II will have these things and cross that border next time, but that's a long way.

It used to be the same with other things in the old days, for the full-frame you had to get the 1Ds, after that came the 5D which made that more accessible, then the 6D, now the EOS RP, same with the 4k with the 1DC, then the 1DXII then the 5DIV, etc.
“Pro” is a marketing term.....

A professional uses the appropriate camera for the job and has to also bring affordability into the equation. The most expensive camera and lens is not always the best for the job.... just look at the number of GoPro cameras in professional motor Sports! Sometimes tiny is everything. Sometimes the camera is disposable. Sometimes (pro sports) there is no substitute for a 1DX2 and a 600F4, but you never see a wedding shot with that combo.

The right tool for the job!

( speaking of tools, any tools sold as “pro” are usually of moderate to low quality, it’s a label slapped on my the marketing people)
 
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Aug 26, 2015
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“Pro” is a marketing term.....
In any case, most people (even some ambassadors) who like and use the EOS R camera still state these two things for photography (dual slots, joystick) as the biggest drawbacks for some professionals, some complaining about IBIS as well(and uncropped 4k, but I can already guess that it will not be featured) and it seems that Canon will put these nice things in with higher-end models, first with a specialised model focused on resolution and another one focused on speed and video.
This last one looks like the best all-round camera from all of them in theory, although we already know that besides the huge pricetag, it will have some sort of limitations to make it specialised and not good for everything, we just don't know what those might be.
 
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kaptainkatsu

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The 1DX3 will sell. Pro sports photographers and other users of the 1DX series bodies need a tough reliable body. The big body balances out the bigger lens and having identical controls portrait and landscape is key.

Photographers at the olympics will have multiple 1DX3s and 1DX2s at the games. If canon has a preproduction 1D-R, it will be a C cam. These photographers NEED to get the shot and will use what works and is familiar.

I own a 1DX2 (well did until someone stole mine, replacement coming this week) and have also used an EOS R. EOS R can’t touch the 1DX2. I would be hesitant to use the 1D-R as a primary camera for the olympics.

The 1DX-R will come, but I feel that it will run parallel with the standard 1DX for quite some time.
 
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Oh dear just another mild bump like the 1DXII itself it seems. Will be left for dead by D6 and A9 II if this is the case. So sad to see Canon just limp along barely doing the minimum to survive.
Yes, poor Canon...limping along with barely 50% market share and having been #1 globally for barely 15 years and counting.

:rolleyes:
 
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What could possibly 1DX3 bring that's not already good enough on 1DX2? I expect maybe a new processor, a bit better ISO and DR, but that's it.
No there’s a pretty good list of incremental improvements that should be made, personally I'd like:-
  1. 30MP
  2. Illuminated buttons
  3. Full touch screen
  4. Tilt/swivel screen
  5. Built in intavalometer
  6. Built in wireless
  7. 240fps 1080
  8. Same stills fps
  9. C-Log
  10. .CR3
  11. Much fuller wireless control
  12. Uncropped 4k
  13. Built in RT flash controller
  14. Dual pixel sub image RAW option
  15. Dual CFast
 
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No there’s a pretty good list of incremental improvements that should be made, personally I'd like:-
  1. 30MP
  2. Illuminated buttons
  3. Full touch screen
  4. Tilt/swivel screen
  5. Built in intavalometer
  6. Built in wireless
  7. 240fps 1080
  8. Same stills fps
  9. C-Log
  10. .CR3
  11. Much fuller wireless control
  12. Uncropped 4k
  13. Built in RT flash controller
  14. Dual pixel sub image RAW option
  15. Dual CFast
eye AF would be too much to ask for HaHa
 
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Jan 29, 2011
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Oh dear just another mild bump like the 1DXII itself it seems. Will be left for dead by D6 and A9 II if this is the case. So sad to see Canon just limp along barely doing the minimum to survive.

1DXII was woeful update if you don't care about 4K. 1DXIII needs to be a bigger update than the change form 1D4 to 1DX to be viable.
I disagree, but I disagreed in practice and bought two 1DX MkII’s, maybe you haven’t actually used both and compared them?
 
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