1DX or 1DX2 - that is the question

[mbiedermann]

I might consider used (or refurb maybe) 1DX while waiting... I'm sure it's great body, but I feel it's not great enough compared to 5D3 to justify the cost. That's why I think I should wait for 1DX2. OTOH, if Canon had great deal on refurb (w/ warranty), buying one and selling when 1DX2 comes out wouldn't be much waste of money.

There have been several sales of brand new 1DX's in the ~$4300 range. Not refurb.

Probably grey market, which may or may not matter, depending on where you are located.

That is roughly the same price people are trying to sell "used" models for.

ATM looks like it's $4624 for grey market.

Not sure if I want to drop that much on a camera without knowing for sure it's covered under warranty.

Given the characteristics you mentioned wanting (AF and FPS) and since you presumably are focusing (pun intended) on sports photography should you consider a 7D2. Many reviewers describe it as an APS-C version of the 1DX. This might give you an acceptable compromise...

 

[PureClassA]

I've been intentionally paying way too much tax withholding through the year. Come February, I should get decent amount money back. So the big question is, should I get 1DX for ~$5k, or wait for 1DX2 for (maybe) $7k around late-summer (or early winter) (just guessing, no knowledge on price or release date).

I've been trying to read the speculations on the 1DX2 features, but nothing solid there. Will it have enough improvements to make it worth the extra money and wait?

Current 5D3 does great, so no immediate need to upgrade. There's big sports tournament in May, but I've already given hope of having 1DX2 by then.

That isn't the best way to save money to make a purchase. Put the money in a savings account and let it earn some interest, albeit a small amount. That's better than letting the Feds hang out to it and use it.

AMEN +10000 Good Lord I think my brain just exploded upon reading that. Have we really fallen apart so badly as to entrust the government with making us a short term savings account? You just gave them interest free use of your money for a year. Ugh sorry, it's the financial planner in me, not the photographer on this one. Maybe I should create a financial planning for independent photographers program?? Haha!!

 

[PureClassA]

Now for the camera itself. You either buy the quintessential, most highly regarded and most widely used professional sports and wildlife camera body produced today or you wait for a unicorn that doesn't exist and have no idea what specs it will have, when it will come, and how much it will be. I too require a body like that but right now its more cost effective for me to rent it once a year when i really really need it.

I assume the new body will almost certainly have DPAF, built in Wifi (maybe) and probably no more than 20-24MP with the same caliber or better of low light performance and an even more ridiculous AF system with 14+ FPS.

But that's total pie in the sky nonsense because it doesn't exist yet. I do however think we will be hearing something of one at some point in 2015.

If you really need it now and the work you do with it will pay for the camera in under a year, then get it. If not. Wait. Rent for now when you need it...unless of course you'll need to rent it 10 times and spend over 3k doing so. Then it makes sense to buy it because of the resale value

 

[Greatland]

Well I was shooting a MK IV, that I still have and I thought that it was the provbial end of the rainbow camera, UNTIL I GOT MY 1DX.....Made me a better photographer and I know that I have much to learn with that camera...having said this I can't wait for the next generation 1DX to come out...I am having fun trying to figure out just what the improvements will be though! Faster shutter speed? That is somthing that all of us action shooters would love to see....better auto-focus? Yep.....better low light capabilities? Ditto on that one too....

 

[tpatana]

AMEN +10000 Good Lord I think my brain just exploded upon reading that. Have we really fallen apart so badly as to entrust the government with making us a short term savings account? You just gave them interest free use of your money for a year. Ugh sorry, it's the financial planner in me, not the photographer on this one. Maybe I should create a financial planning for independent photographers program?? Haha!!

Let me ask question, which one is better way to save for $5k+ camera:

1: Spend all my money each month
2: Pay extra $400 on tax withhold each month, spend all the remaining money each month, and get $5k return at one time the following year

I do small amount of other investments too, I'm happy to discuss with you if my plans are good or not. Feel free to PM me if you want to give me some advice.

 

[tpatana]

One strange thing is that there has been almost no rumors about 1DX2 lately. Is that normal?

I could guess two reasons:

1: There's not much happening, and/or there's been problems and it's been delayed
2: It's pushing closer to announcement and they are making extra effort to keep it secret so 1DX sales don't tank

[Wishful thinking]
There's currently $800 MIR on the 1DX. Maybe they already have plan to announce 1DX2 soon, and they know the 1DX sales will slow down after that. So currently they'll try to reduce the inventory as much as they can before the announcement. Maybe even start reducing the factory lines? Anyone here work at the factory? Inside insight?

 

[danski0224]

I would think that the last cycle of development announcement to general availability of the 1DX would be considered a failure. What would Canon gain by repeating this event with a 1DXII or 1DsIV?

I suspect that the next model will be announced when it is ready to be shipped. There is a (seemingly) large pent-up demand for a 1DsIV, so having inventory onhand would be a smart move. Certainly better than ~1 year from announcement to availability.

The $800 MIR on the 1DX could be taken as a way to lower MSRP without actually changing the numbers. The pro's that needed one already own it. Now Canon is trying to sell to the people that didn't want to pay MSRP.

Canon is very good at keeping secrets. Look at all of the 100-400II lenses that were stockpiled and not one single leaked photo or spec sheet until things were at the distributors.

If you buy a 1DX now, it will not become worthless when the 1DXII comes out, nor will it stop taking pictures, even if the replacement is announced "next week"- if anything, the prices on the 1DIV would tank.

Just get one and enjoy it until the $8k replacement comes out.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

If you buy a 1DX now, it will not become worthless when the 1DXII comes out, nor will it stop taking pictures, even if the replacement is announced "next week

These are wise words for the OP.

If the 1DX meets your requirements, than buy it if you can afford it. Only wait for the mythical 1DX2 if the 1DX would not satisfy your needs and you know for a fact that the 1DX2 would.

What do you think that you could not do with a 1DX that you would be able to do with the imaginary 1DX2?

The best time to buy a camera is always about 2 years from now. ;D

 

[tpatana]

If you buy a 1DX now, it will not become worthless when the 1DXII comes out, nor will it stop taking pictures, even if the replacement is announced "next week

These are wise words for the OP.

True, wouldn't be bad option to get used or refurb 1DX while waiting. One problem is that no-one wants to sell theirs, so used ones are really rare.

 

[danski0224]

True, wouldn't be bad option to get used or refurb 1DX while waiting. One problem is that no-one wants to sell theirs, so used ones are really rare.

Check out the Buy and Sell section at Fred Miranda's site.

Plenty of them for sale.

There was a recent deal on a grey market one recently in the Canon section.

Seek and ye shall find.

 

[telemaq76]

there is still no information about 1dx2, maybe first rumours in august, for a camera available in january....plus a delay of 4 monthes..+ a 2 monthes to wait the adobe upgrade to edit the raw files, then maybe from now you can edit the raw of 1dx2 in 18 monthes or 2 years !...i think we have time to buy a 1dx

 

[mackguyver]

there is still no information about 1dx2, maybe first rumours in august, for a camera available in january....plus a delay of 4 monthes..+ a 2 monthes to wait the adobe upgrade to edit the raw files, then maybe from now you can edit the raw of 1dx2 in 18 monthes or 2 years !...i think we have time to buy a 1dx

Given the great prices - I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if it fits your needs. The 1D X Mark II will certainly be a better camera, but will also be far more expensive, especially at full MSRP!

 

[telemaq76]

absolutly and maybe 1dx2 will be better camera ...or just different camera, better in low light but less pixels ( 16? ) on more pixels but slower or IQ not tthat good, or better in high iso and bad in low iso with banding..i don t consider the 1dx better that my current 1ds3 wish delivers better image quality at iso-200.
the 1dx is a great balance camera ( except low iso quality not that great ) . I really don t know what to except from the 1dx2, maybe a sony/canon foveon like sensor with a huge gap in quality

 

[Hector1970]

I'd assume a 1DX2 would first appear at the Olympics and then general sale afterwards.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bust.
The 1DX is fantastic. You've want to be a hell of a photographer to be better than it.
When you better than it then buy the 1DX2

 

[IgotGASbadDude]

You have a great body already ,flaunt it

"That's what she said" . . .

 

[StudentOfLight]

I'm sold on not buying a 1D-X, it doesn't have a silent shutter or headphone jack.

 

[IgotGASbadDude]

I'm sold on not buying a 1D-X, it doesn't have a silent shutter or headphone jack.

How interesting our differences are. I shoot mostly concerts and sports, neither of which do I give a care about the sound of the shutter. Especially the concerts . . . ;D And if I have to shoot silently, I'll break out the 5D3.

As for the headphone jack, who shoots video with a 1DX anyway? ???

 

[charlesa]

I'm sold on not buying a 1D-X, it doesn't have a silent shutter or headphone jack.

How interesting our differences are. I shoot mostly concerts and sports, neither of which do I give a care about the sound of the shutter. Especially the concerts . . . ;D And if I have to shoot silently, I'll break out the 5D3.

As for the headphone jack, who shoots video with a 1DX anyway? ???

Try shooting ballet or a classical concert with the 1DX shutter cluttering away... you will get plenty of killer looks from patrons and organizers alike.

AFAIK usually 1D body updates tend to revolve around major sporting events; 2016 is Olympics and European Football championship year.

 

[IgotGASbadDude]

I'm sold on not buying a 1D-X, it doesn't have a silent shutter or headphone jack.

How interesting our differences are. I shoot mostly concerts and sports, neither of which do I give a care about the sound of the shutter. Especially the concerts . . . ;D And if I have to shoot silently, I'll break out the 5D3.

As for the headphone jack, who shoots video with a 1DX anyway? ???

Try shooting ballet or a classical concert with the 1DX shutter cluttering away... you will get plenty of killer looks from patrons and organizers alike.

Exactly my point.

If I need silence I have the 5D3.

Otherwise, who cares what the sound volume is . . .